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Home Easter

Make Ahead Easter Lunch Ideas (Menu Plan + Shopping List)

Updated: 5/15/22

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

collage image of Easter Brunch recipes that you can make ahead

Try these simple and delicious make ahead Easter lunch ideas. This free menu plan is complete with printable recipes and a shopping list. Couldn’t be easier!

collage image of Easter lunch recipes that you can make ahead

Hosting an Easter brunch or lunch doesn’t have to induce stress. With the help of our easy Easter recipe ideas, you can enjoy time with your guests rather than slave away in the kitchen that day. This plan serves 8-10 people, likely more.

Make ahead Easter brunch recipes on a wooden table, including ham, breakfast casserole, salad, fruit, and rolls.

We’ve even created a free printable of all these make-ahead recipes and a complete shopping list for you. Snag it now or at the bottom of this article.

Easter Lunch Main Dishes

These two delicious main dishes will please all ages and feed an army.

Sliced Honey Glazed Ham

Get a fully cooked ham that is ready to be warmed the day of your brunch.

Make ahead Easter spiral sliced ham on a serving dish with parsley and grapes

Watch this short video that shows just how easy it is to prepare a ham.


Crockpot Breakfast Casserole with Bacon and Gruyere Cheese

Guests will oooh and ahhhh over this gourmet Crockpot Breakfast Casserole at your next brunch or holiday gathering.

Make ahead Breakfast Casserole in a Crockpot on a wooden cutting board for serving at an Easter brunch.

Its depth of flavor and beautiful color come from the bacon, onions, garlic, kale, roasted red peppers, and Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses.

Breakfast Casserole slice on a plate with fruit

3 Easter Lunch Side Dishes

Keep your table colorful and your life simple with these make-ahead side dishes.

1. Strawberry Fields Spinach Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

This Spring-inspired salad packs a flavor punch with every bite! Spinach, strawberries, bacon, feta, red onion, and more are topped with a mild, lemony, sweet dressing that’s sure to please all ages.

A make ahead spinach salad on table for Easter.

Put together the salad and the dressing (separately) the day before your event and store in the fridge.

spinach salad on table and dressing

2. Fruit Salad

I’ve found that putting together a simple bowl of mixed fruit is not only a colorful addition to the table but always gets snatched up quickly by kids and adults alike. Ideas: grapes, sliced strawberries, blueberries, and/or chopped pineapple would be nice this time of year.

3. Dinner Rolls

Take it easy on yourself by buying dinner rolls in the bakery or frozen section of your local grocery store. We usually go for rolls which will quickly bake from frozen the day of your meal.

Easter Dessert Ideas

Easter brunch calls for light, fruity desserts and we’ve got just the (unique!) answer.

Fruit Pizza Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

These are such a beautiful and fun dessert for a group, because they can be individualized. Prepare everything the day before and simply store the fruit and icing in the fridge.

The day of, just set out the chopped fruit, cream cheese frosting with butter knives, and sugar cookies. Let your guests do the rest of the work.

Other Dessert Ideas:

  • Lemon Bars – Make the day before, and these can be stored and served at room temperature.
  • Very Berry Crumble – Make ahead, store in the fridge before baking, and cook in the oven the day of your brunch.
  • Pretzel Rolo Bites – A super easy, bite-sized dessert that the kids can help make. Use spring-colored M&Ms.
  • Raspberry Crumble Cookies – This cookie recipe is a great one to make ahead of time. Simply store them in an airtight container, and they will last for 3-4 days. Or, you can freeze them for at least 4 weeks.

Printable Easter Lunch Recipes & Shopping List

To make your Easter celebration as painless as possible, we’ve created this free printable that includes the two main dishes, salad, and dessert recipes PLUS a shopping list for all four recipes.

Make ahead Easter brunch recipes and shopping list printable

We hope you can relax and enjoy your Easter gathering with friends and family, knowing that most of the prep is already done! 

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Rachel Tiemeyer

Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

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  1. AvatarKatie says

    Posted on 4/6/22 at 7:04 am

    Thanks for being open regarding your faith. I’m new to this blog and was drawn in by the yummy recipes and fun dialog. Big blessings on you❤️

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 4/6/22 at 10:51 am

      Hi Katie! Welcome and thanks for your kind comments! So glad to have you. Please reach out if we can help in anyway.

      Reply

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