Confession: Ham is overrated. Pork chops are a go-to dinner in my house, but if you ask me, ham is just glorified bologna (which I also hate). And with Easter coming up, it’s time once again to scour the internet for Easter main dishes I can serve in place of my food nemesis.
For many, ham becomes the star of special meals like Easter and Christmas because it’s a time of year that calls for a special menu, and whole hams aren’t something most families invest the time and money in for normal weekly meals. So this collection of recipes features memorable mains fit for a holiday meal in addition to dressed-up daily dinner favorites for less adventurous palates. Lamb, brisket, chicken, salmon — these company-worthy entrees cover all the bases, and are perfect for ham-hating guests. There’s even a vegetarian recipe or two snuck into the line-up.
If you’re searching for ham-free Easter dinner recipes, then you’ve come to the right place. Take a look at the Easter dinners without ham below, bookmark your favorites, and get ready for a meal to remember.
A version of this article was originally published March 2019.
Butter Garlic Roasted Chicken
Image Credit: Natasha’s Home.
We’re suckers for anything with garlic butter, and the golden, crispy skin and juicy meat of this garlic butter roasted chicken proves that it’s a flavor combo worth adding to pretty much any savory dish. Serve with mashed potatoes, rice, rolls, or your favorite carb for soaking up the rich, flavorful pan drippings.
Get the recipe from Natasha’s Home.
Instant Pot French Onion Pot Roast
Image Credit: My Farm and Table.
The rich flavors of French onion soup keep this Instant Pot beef roast succulent and company-worthy. Pair with mashed potatoes or creamy polenta for Easter dinner.
Get the recipe from My Farm and Table.
Pistachio-Crusted Salmon
Image Credit: Eat Mediterranean Food.
Pistachio-crusted salmon with blistered cherry tomatoes sounds like a restaurant-worthy dish, but your ham-hating Easter guests will never guess it was made on a sheet pan in just 30 minutes.
Get the recipe from Eat Mediterranean Food.
Vegan Stuffed Bell Peppers
Image Credit: Clean Plate Mama.
If you have family or friends who don’t eat meat, then consider making this protein-packed stuffed bell peppers recipe. Sweet bell peppers are baked until tender and are filled with a savory mixture of spiced quinoa, beans, corn.
Get the recipe from Clean Plate Mama.
Hearty Dutch Oven Beef Barley Soup
Image Credit: The Rooted Farmhouse.
Depending on where you live, the weather can still be chilly on Easter. Warm up on cool spring nights with this hearty Dutch oven beef barley soup. It’s a beautiful, comforting dish that’s just begging to be served with buttery homemade biscuits or fluffy dinner rolls.
Get the recipe from The Rooted Farmhouse.
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Image Credit: Country At Heart Recipes.
Stuffed cabbage rolls are a labor of love, but the recipe transforms a handful of affordable, simple ingredients into an Easter-worthy entree. The savory beef, tangy tomatoes, and tender cabbage are loaded with comfort food flavors your family will love.
Get the recipe from Country At Heart Recipes.
Miso-Glazed Salmon
Image Credit: Steamy Kitchen.
Miso paste adds an extra punch of umami to the sweet Japanese sake and mildly acidic mirin (rice wine) in the glaze for these flaky, meaty salmon fillets. Serve the miso-glazed salmon over steamed white rice and top it with thinly sliced green onions for garnish.
Get the recipe from Steamy Kitchen.
Honey Mustard Chicken Drumsticks
Image Credit: Julie’s Apron.
I can’t think of a better flavor for a spring holiday than honey mustard. It’s perfectly sweet and savory and feels elegant enough to be served as the main course at Easter.
Get the recipe from Julie’s Apron.
Slow-Cooked Leg of Lamb
Image Credit: The Scatty Mum.
Luxurious red wine is the star of the show in this recipe. The slow-cooking yields incredibly tender and juicy meat, making this an excellent contender for your Easter menu.
Get the recipe from The Scatty Mum.
French Onion Chicken
Image Credit: Chef Elizabeth Reese.
Attention French soup lovers! If you’ve ever wanted to turn your favorite soup into a delectable main course, this is the recipe for you. Bonus? You don’t have to spend 30-60 minutes on the onions alone because the onions will continue to carmelize as the chicken cooks.
Get the recipe from Chef Elizabeth Reese.
Smoked Meatloaf With Quail Eggs
Image Credit: Ramona’s Cuisine.
While meatloaf is a weeknight staple for many, you probably don’t consider it to be worthy of the main course at Easter. Well, let us prove you wrong with this smoked meatloaf with quail eggs recipe from Ramona’s Cuisine. How perfect are those little surprise eggs for Easter?!
Get the recipe from Ramona’s Cuisine.
Honey Sriracha Salmon
Image Credit: Rasa Malaysia.
This salmon couldn’t be easier to make and you can easily adjust the spice level by adding more or less sriracha.
Get the recipe from Rasa Malaysia.
Braised Lamb Shanks
Image Credit: Cafe Delites.
These fall-off-the-bone-tender lamb shanks are seared to lock in flavor, then braised in a flavorful gravy of beef broth, a quality dry pinot noir and tomato seasoned with rosemary, garlic and onion. The best part of this recipe is that you can cook it on the stovetop or in your slow cooker or Instant Pot.
Get the recipe from Cafe Delites.
Pork Milanese
Image Credit: Leite’s Culinaria.
Not only is this dish delicious, you can make the whole thing in one pan for super easy clean up. Perfect time to pull out that cast iron pan you’ve been dying to use.
Get the recipe from Leite’s Culinaria.
Spring Skillet Roasted Lemon Chicken & Veggies
Image Credit: Half Baked Harvest.
This Easter, whip out your cast-iron skillet and get to work on this roasted lemon chicken and veggies. The butterflied chicken is rubbed down with an oil infused with plenty of thyme, ginger, paprika and cayenne and baked with aromatic lemon slices, onions and garlic atop spring potatoes, seasonal asparagus and marinated artichokes for briny punch of flavor. Add some dry white wine, and as the chicken cooks, the peppery ginger-infused juices from the chicken will drip down into the wine to create a flavorful au jus pan sauce for this one-pot Easter dish.
Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.
Herb-Crusted Salmon With Goat Cheese Polenta
Image Credit: The Cookie Rookie.
Tart and earthy goat cheese polenta and sweet roasted cherry tomatoes are the perfect companions for this herb-crusted salmon, brushed with spicy Dijon mustard and topped with garlicky, herb-seasoned breadcrumbs to create a crisp and delectable crust.
Get the recipe from The Cookie Rookie.
Grilled Vegetarian/Vegan Cauliflower Steaks
Image Credit: Well Plated.
For a vegetarian or vegan alternative, these grilled cauliflower steaks are nobody’s side dish. They’re brushed with oil, lemon, garlic and honey (or agave to make it vegan), then roasted until tender and caramelized. Serve them topped with red pepper and parsley and a scattering of walnuts for added texture.
Get the recipe from Well Plated.
Juicy Slow Cooker Beef Brisket
Image Credit: Cafe Delites.
Since Easter falls during or near Passover each year, there should be plenty of brisket on sale at the grocery store. If you can’t talk your pal out of his grandma’s Passover brisket recipe, try this juicy slow cooker brisket seasoned with a spicy rub and cooked low and slow in a kicked-up barbecue sauce.
Get the recipe from Cafe Delites.
Stuffed Chicken Breasts With Mushrooms & Goat Cheese
Image Credit: Striped Spatula.
Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts are stuffed with a mixture of cooked, wine-deglazed mushrooms, shallots, garlic and herbs and a smattering of creamy, salty goat cheese, then roasted until golden-brown.
Get the recipe from Striped Spatula.
Bison Steak With Herbed Brown Butter
Image Credit: Nugget Market.
Garlic- and rosemary-infused brown butter is the ideal complement to the tender, buttery mouthfeel of bison in this bison steak recipe.
Get the recipe from Nugget Market.
Sun-Dried Tomato & Garlic Roasted Leg of Lamb
Image Credit: Cafe Delites.
This showstopping roasted leg of lamb is rubbed with a piquant paste of sun-dried tomatoes in oil and garlic, stuffed with more thinly sliced garlic and cooked until the center is warm and red and the outside is chargrilled. Serve it with a lemon-dressed potato salad for a refreshing contrast of flavors.
Get the recipe from Cafe Delites.
Keto & Paleo Garlic & Dijon Chicken Drumsticks
Image Credit: Paleo Leap.
Everyone gets in on the best cut of the bird with garlic and Dijon chicken drumsticks. Marinate the drumsticks in a bright and zesty mix of hearty whole-grain mustard, spicy Dijon, garlic and lemon juice and bake them until the skin is just charred and the juices run clear.
Get the recipe from Paleo Leap.
Paleo Roasted Duck With Herb Ghee
Image Credit: Paleo Leap.
Stuff your duck with a mixture of aromatics and tart berries to imbue the meat with flavor and keep it tender and juicy, then rub it down with a ghee flavored with rosemary, thyme, sage and garlic. After roasting until the herb ghee duck is cooked through and the skin is dark brown and crisp, make a succulent brown gravy with the drippings. This recipe uses cranberries, but any tart in-season berry or fruit will do.
Get the recipe from Paleo Leap.