ComScore

66 Easter Brunch Ideas That Are Quick, Easy and Festive

There will be ham (and so much more)

PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and some items may be gifted to us. Additionally, PureWow may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here.

easter brunch recipes: mini carrot cakes with cream cheese frosting on a table with tulips in a vase
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

April 20 is Easter Sunday, and it’s not the time for soggy cereal and toast. If you’re celebrating the day with brunch (you know, in between holiday crafts and copious amounts of pastel candy), might I suggest one of these 66 Easter brunch ideas?

They’re festive and spring-y—think kale quiche, a whole wheat feta tart and carrot cake doughnuts—as well as ridiculously easy to prepare. They’re special enough to impress your guests and relatives. But even better, some can be made in advance, which will leave you with plenty of time to take part in the egg hunt between courses.

80 Easter Dinner Ideas That Go Beyond Glazed Ham


1. Bitter Greens Salad with Herby Ranch Dressing

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: no cook, vegetarian, gluten free
  • Serves: 6

All delicious feasts should have a fresh salad to brighten up the menu, and Easter is no exception. "I love a good ol' Caesar…but when a salad needs to have enough pizazz to cut through a rich meal, I reach for a recipe that's more complex," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen writes. A mix of frisée and radicchio is pleasantly bitter, while the creamy dressing balances everything out.

2. Bacon Roasted Rainbow Carrots

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4 to 6

Drumroll, please…introducing a four-ingredient recipe that proves side dishes don’t need to be overly complex. "If you can’t find rainbow carrots, use standard orange; they’ll taste just as good," Gillen asserts. (They are awfully pretty though, no?)

3. Jalapeño Popper Omelet

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, gluten free
  • Serves: 2

"Don’t be intimidated by the idea of making an omelet—it’s actually one of the easiest ways to prepare eggs, if you follow a few key steps," Gillen claims. "Make sure to preheat your pan, then start stirring the second the eggs go in. Once you have large curds, stop stirring so the bottom can set."

4. Blackberry-Brie Upside-Down Pastries

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 8

Remember when upside-down pastries took over food TikTok in 2023? They're timelessly delicious, if you ask me. "My version features a blackberry-Brie combination that's a little bit sweet, a touch savory and as easy to devour as it is to assemble," Gillen explains. Substitute strawberries, blueberries or thin-sliced pears if you'd prefer.

5. Cast Iron Cornbread

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 12 to 16

This skillet treat has a delicious secret: brown butter. "You’ll want to keep an eye on it once it starts to melt, because it can go from toasty, nutty and golden to charred in a matter of seconds," Gillen explains. "Just keep swirling the pan until the foaming subsides and the butter solids start to turn golden."

6. Individual Breakfast Shakshukas

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, <500 calories, vegetarian
  • Serves: 6

While traditional shakshuka calls for serving bread on the side, this riff calls for baking the eggs and tomato sauce in single-serve bread boats. The carbs-to-protein ratio is on point, and you’ll score bonus points for the Insta-worthy presentation.

7. Poached Egg with Frisée and Arugula Salad

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, <500 calories, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 1

This feels like a fancy restaurant salad, even though it’s super easy to pull off in your own kitchen (just don’t tell anyone that). The secret to a perfectly poached egg lies with vinegar, which helps it hold its shape as it cooks.

8. Veggie Niçoise Salad with Red Curry Green Beans

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

Come for the tender potatoes; stay for the impeccably cooked hard-boiled eggs. "Parisians top theirs with canned tuna, but I decided to bulk up this veggie Niçoise salad with loads of colorful veggies," recipe creator Erin McDowell explains.

9. Cherry Tomato Galette with Garlic and Herbs

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, <10 ingredients, <500 calories
  • Serves: 8

This is like a fancy pizza that got dressed up in its Sunday best. (Psst: The crust is store-bought puff pastry.) "It would be great alongside eggs at breakfast or a big salad at dinner, and it's fantastic to cut into bite-size pieces for a party appetizer," McDowell asserts.

10. Baked Cheddar Pesto Egg Boats

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, sheet pan recipe
  • Serves: 6

Your BEC just reached new heights. These fluffy, cheesy eggs are speckled with pesto and topped with bacon, then tucked inside a crispy-edged ciabatta. The everything bagel seasoning is optional, but highly encouraged (at my house, anyway).

11. Tempeh Bacon Bagels

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegan, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
  • Serves: 2

Even non-vegans will gobble up these breakfast sammies. The four-ingredient glaze gives the dish its smoky-meets-sweet, bacon-like flavor. "Try to find an organic [tempeh] if you can," recipe creator Gaz Oakley suggests. "Tempeh is made from fermented soybeans, and because the whole bean is used, the protein content is high and the flavor is maximized."

12. Breakfast Caprese with Soft-Boiled Eggs

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <500 calories, <30 minutes, high protein, low sugar
  • Serves: 1

Salad for breakfast is a thing, friends—and it’s better than you’d expect. Slice the eggs and drizzle on some olive oil and it basically makes its own dressing. (P.S.: Don't let the single serving deter you. This recipe is a breeze to double, triple, quadruple—you get the picture.)

13. Eggs Benedict with Easy Hollandaise Sauce

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why I Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

The secret to making rich, creamy homemade hollandaise lies with your blender. (Trust me, it’s much easier than whisking until your bicep starts to hurt.) The egg yolk-based sauce is emulsified with a slow and steady stream of butter.

14. Sheet Pan Eggs with Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese and Dill

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <500 calories, low carb, sheet pan recipe
  • Serves: 12

I'll be the first to admit that cooking eggs for a crowd isn’t the easiest task. Enter this one-pan wonder, which leaves you with minimal holiday cleanup. "It's tasty with toast and a mimosa—and even better on a bagel sandwich," McDowell adds.

15. Eggs in a Basket

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 6

Since the entire dish is baked in the oven, you can quickly assemble this Easter brunch idea and let it cook while you sip coffee and catch up with guests (or better yet, dip into the hidden Easter baskets).

16. Green Shakshuka

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, <500 calories, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 4

The original is made with tomato sauce, but I like to mix things up every once in a while, so this one features jalapeños and spinach. (I'd never skip the crusty bread for dipping, though.) Might I suggest serving this one al fresco if the weather allows?

17. Bacon-Wrapped Eggs

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, low sugar, low carb, keto
  • Serves: 4

When it comes to entertaining, I'd be lost without my muffin tin. The bacon cooks to savory, crispy perfection with the help of this modest bakeware piece. These babies are going to disappear the minute you pull them out of the oven, FYI.

18. Waffle Iron Sweet Potato Hash Browns

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, <10 ingredients, <500 calories
  • Serves: 6

The ratio of crispy-to-soft spuds is going to rock your world. (The three-item ingredient list will too.) "Thanks to all the nooks and crannies, pale and mushy hash browns are officially a thing of the past—not even the best diner can say that," McDowell notes.

19. Roasted Potato Galette with Crème Fraîche and Smoked Salmon

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <500 calories, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 6

I’ve never met a potato recipe I didn’t like, but this one takes the cake. "As you layer the slices in the pan, every layer gets sprinkled with Parmesan cheese," McDowell explains. "The Parm and natural starch of the potatoes help adhere everything together, making it easy to slice." Pile it high with all the fixings and wait for the oohs and ahhs.

20. Spicy Orange-Honey Glazed Ham

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <500 calories, sheet pan recipe, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 20 to 25

Glazed ham for brunch? On Easter, it’s fair game. Not only does it pair with brunch staples like eggs and potatoes, but the leftovers also make for some deliciously luxurious sandwiches.

21. Joanna Gaines’s Asparagus and Fontina Quiche

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 6 to 8

It’s not a real Easter brunch until a gorgeously flaky quiche hits the table. This one stars seasonal asparagus, because...well, duh! The stalks are thinly peeled for an elegant appearance and delicate texture. Good looking out, Joanna Gaines.

22. Asparagus, Pea and Ricotta Tarts

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 minutes, <500 calories, low sugar, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 6

Spring produce + store-bought puff pastry = the crowd-pleaser that looks much more sophisticated (and time-consuming) than it is. Your guests won't suspect the shortcut dough; they'll be too distracted by the fresh mint and verdant, peak-delicious peas.

23. Quiche with Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Crust

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, gluten free, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 6 to 8

I guarantee at least one person at the table won’t be eating gluten. Luckily, this beauty will please the whole guest list. It’s filled with kale, leeks and cheese, but you can try any combination of greens and aromatics. (Garlic and Swiss chard? Sounds delish.)

24. Everything Bagel Tomato Galettes

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 6

Quick, easy, cute and ready to eat straight out of the oven—any questions? You might want to make a double batch; I have a feeling they'll go fast. (Chalk it up to foolproof store-bought pie crust.)

25. Layered Smoked Salmon Dip with Mini Bagel Chips

  • Time Commitment: 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, low sugar
  • Serves: 8 to 10

Everything tastes better when it’s three times smaller, even bagels and lox. "Picture everything you'd smear onto a bagel—from smoked salmon to chives to capers—bountifully stacked up on a plate," McDowell says. This Easter brunch idea also takes ten minutes to put together, so everybody wins.

26. The Best Potatoes au Gratin Ever

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
  • Serves: 8

If you're going the savory route, I highly recommend something cheesy or potato-y. And if it checks both boxes, that's even better. This crowd-pleaser can be assembled ahead of time and held in your refrigerator until you're ready to bake it to boot.

27. Slow-Cooked Salmon

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, low carb, high protein
  • Serves: 2

I get it—not everyone is a ham person. Serve them a fancy (yet secretly easy) fillet of salmon instead, crowned with a generous dose of fresh dill. The preparation method involves cooking the fillets undisturbed on super-low heat, so it's basically foolproof.

28. Broiled Citrus Ricotta Toast

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, 10 ingredients, <500 calories, vegetarian
  • Serves: 4

Regular old buttered toast just won’t cut it on a holiday. Add a schmear of ricotta and honey-soaked citrus, and now you're talking. "It's so simple to prepare, but manages to look beautiful enough on the plate that folks around the table gasped when I set it down," McDowell claims. "The bread is only toasted on one side, so it's firm enough to hold up to the toppings, but soft enough that it still melts in your mouth."

29. Spring Pea Soup with Mint

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, make ahead
  • Serves: 6

To keep this soup from tasting one-note, it starts with lots of aromatics—here, leeks, celery and garlic. Any mix of soft herbs will work, but I'm partial to the flavor combination of parsley, mint, dill and chives. Toss in some diced ham, or top each bowl with crumbled bacon.

30. Deb Perelman’s Carrot Tarte Tatin

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
  • Serves: 6

This gorgeous tart is as impressive as it is (shockingly) easy to pull off. Stash a round of prepared puff pastry in your freezer and you’ll be the talk of the Easter table. "This one is as easy as sautéing carrots in all of the things that make sau­téed carrots delicious—butter, salt, pepper, thyme, balsamic vinegar and a little honey," recipe creator Deb Perelman explains.

31. Spring Pea Fritters with Whipped Feta

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, high protein, one bowl
  • Serves: 4

This light and fresh spring appetizer seems high-effort, but it actually comes together in one bowl—and all in less than one hour. If you have frozen peas and eggs on hand, you’re essentially already halfway there. Serve them with dollops of the tangy whipped feta and a simple green salad.

32. White Shakshuka with Roasted Crispy Eggplant

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: one pan, high protein, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 3 to 4

Unlike the tomato- or herb-based shakshuka you've had before, this version stars dairy. "The yogurt base, seasoned with lemon and herbs, turns almost ricotta-like," recipe creator Adeena Sussman writes. "I layered tomatoes and onions underneath, and while the shakshuka is cooking, [the] eggplant crisps up in the oven to create the tastiest little veggie croutons you've ever had."

33. Hawaiian Roll French Toast

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 4

These mini slices are sweet, fluffy and (obviously) kid-pleasing, so making a batch for the kid's table is a given. "It's versatile (use whatever stale bread you have!), balanced (carbs, protein, fat and, ahem, syrup) and easy to make on a whim," Gillen asserts. Serve them with fresh fruit and a dusting of powdered sugar to gild the lily.

34. Mimosa Bar for a Crowd

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 16 to 18

Orange juice is fine and all, but let's switch things up. Would you prefer a paloma, tropical or strawberry-basil variation? (One of each works too, if you're seated next to the uncle who asks personal questions at brunch.) "As for serving, a one-to-one ratio of juice to bubbly is the typical recommendation…but few guests will complain about a heavy pour of the latter," Gillen assures.

35. Baked Strawberry and Cream Stuffed Croissant French Toast

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 8

Decadent? Yes. Impressive? You bet. If there’s ever a morning to splurge on an OTT Easter brunch idea, this is it. "To make it ahead, complete the recipe through step five," recipe creator Tieghan Gerard advises. "Cover and place it in the fridge overnight. When ready to bake, remove the French toast from the fridge and let it sit on the counter while the oven preheats." Cut yourself a break and use store-bought croissants—you deserve it.

36. French Toast Sticks

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

"Once a novelty of our childhood, French toast sticks are now a reality of our adulthood," McDowell writes. "This recipe is slightly more sophisticated (think a rich egg custard for cooking and a honey-vanilla syrup for serving)." You could serve them with maple syrup...but I think the honey-vanilla dipping sauce is worth a try.

37. Sheet Pan Pancakes with Chocolate Chips

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 6

It's Easter—you don’t have time to flip pancakes while everyone hunts for eggs. With this sheet pan wonder, you don't have to flip a thing. "Sliced into squares, the pancake makes excellent leftovers," McDowell raves. "Even better, cut it into strips and serve it like French toast sticks with maple syrup for dipping."

38. Nutella Pancakes

  • Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes (includes chilling time)
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 6

Slathering chocolate-hazelnut spread on top of a stack is fine, but I much prefer to stuff it inside. (You know, for effect.) The trick is freezing small rounds of Nutella to drop into the pancakes as they cook for easy, even melting.

39. Pizza Dough Cinnamon Rolls

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly, vegetarian
  • Serves: 9

Store-bought dough shaves off hours the prep time. Tell everyone you've been up since 4 a.m. for bragging rights; once they taste them, they'll totally believe you.

40. Cherry-Almond Baked Oatmeal

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: one bowl recipe, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
  • Serves: 4

Oatmeal is usually reserved for weekdays. This baked version, however, feels special enough to serve to a crowd. Prep it the night before for the ultimate convenience.

41. Sunday Morning French Toast

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, one pan recipe
  • Serves: 6

It’s a classic with the best kind of twist: A whole batch is made in one pan, so you can skip the frying-slices-at-the-stove thing. The bread is cut hasselback-style, meaning it's sliced into pieces but not all the way through the bottom, so they stay attached until they're served.

42. Johnnycakes with Rhubarb and Sour Cherries

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 4

Rhubarb season will be gone in the blink of an eye, so take advantage if you’re fortunate enough to get your hands on some. (FYI, johnnycakes are kind of like pancakes but with cornmeal for added texture.)

43. Maple Candied Bacon

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 6 to 8

Sweet and salty is my favorite flavor combination. This Easter brunch idea is way easier to make than you might think.You just slather thick-cut bacon in maple syrup, sprinkle it with brown sugar and a hint of black pepper and wait for everyone to say, "Oh my gosh, I need another piece."

44. Giant Cinnamon Roll

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: one 9-inch cinnamon roll

You have two options here: Slice the cinnamon roll into pieces and plate it like a fancy-pants, or set out forks and let everyone dive right in. "The secret lies in a few tubes of store-bought Crescent roll dough, which bake up flaky and buttery without a ton of effort on your part," McDowell adds.

45. Sheet Tray Pancakes with Peaches and Strawberries

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <500 calories
  • Serves: 6

Pancakes that don’t need to be flipped are like the best thing since sliced bread. You can swap the fruit for whatever looks best at the farmers market, but you can never go wrong with ruby-red spring berries and sweet-tart stone fruit.

46. Glazed Blueberry Cake

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: one 9-inch cake

Cake for breakfast? I wouldn’t dare. Cake for brunch, on the other hand…you'd better pass me another slice. Especially when it's topped with a mountain of icing-kissed blueberries. (C'mon, it's basically fruit salad, right?)

47. Classic Banana Bread

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: one 9-inch loaf

I found the perfect use for those sad, sagging bananas you've been ~saving~ on your counter for weeks. "A stand mixer will make this recipe come together the fastest, but you can also use a hand mixer," Gillen says. "And if you don't have sour cream, it can be swapped in equal amounts for plain yogurt, mascarpone cheese or even buttermilk."

48. German Potato Salad

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, make ahead
  • Serves: 6

Save the mayonnaise-based salad for your next picnic. This zippy alternative somehow feels more appropriate for a sit-down Easter brunch. "The dish is good warm or room temp, and with a tangy-sweet vinegar-based dressing, it can hang at your outdoor party, no problem," Gillen explains.

49. Sweet Potato, Bacon and Broccoli Egg Muffins

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <500 calories, kid-friendly, Mediterranean diet-friendly, Paleo-friendly
  • Serves: 12

"My secret weapon to making great-tasting egg muffins [is] salsa," recipe creator Kirsten Buck writes. "It adds great flavor that complements sweet potato, bacon and broccoli." Want to shake things up? Swap the veggies for whatever you have—just don't skip the bacon.

50. Avocado Deviled Eggs

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <500 calories, low carb, keto
  • Serves: 20

I really do like green eggs, at least when they're these delicious bites. A touch of hot sauce is optional, but adds welcome flavor—just warn your guests beforehand in case anyone is spice averse. (For them, a sprinkling of fresh chives should do.)

51. Skillet Blueberry Cornbread

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, <500 calories, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 12

If coffee cake and cornbread had a very tasty, crumb-topped baby, this would be it. "It's sweet from the fruit, but it definitely doesn't taste like dessert," McDowell notes. "Plus, it's easy to make—all in one skillet—and it has a really beautiful texture on top, thanks to the streusel."

52. Doughnut Muffins

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 12

The only thing tastier than a dozen doughnuts? A dozen of these fluffy, sugary treats, which are brushed with butter before getting a generous coating of confectioners' sugar or cinnamon. You'll want to put a second pot of joe on, trust me.

53. Meyer Lemon Loaf Cake

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 8

Is it a cake or is it a quick bread? I'm not sure, but I'm *definitely* having a second slice. If you can't find Meyer lemons, just use the regular ones. (BTW, it also freezes really well unfrosted, so this is a nice thing to make ahead and serve whenever you need something special.)

54. Chocolate Banana Bread Babka

  • Time Commitment: 2 hours and 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
  • Serves: 12

She is beauty, she is grace and she is positively going to steal the brunch show. The bananas add tons of moisture to the dough (as well as the streusel), so the end result is basically the opposite of the sad, dry babka you might be used to.

55. Deviled Eggs, Three Ways

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, make ahead
  • Serves: 12 pieces

It isn't Easter without a bunch of deviled eggs—that goes without saying. The real question is, which variety will you try first, roasted garlic, sriracha or capers? (The correct answer is all three.)

56. Citrus, Fennel and Avocado Salad

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why I Love It: one bowl, <500 calories, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 4 to 6

You know how sometimes it's freezing, raining or snowing on Easter? I'm so glad we have the last of peak-ripe winter citrus to remind us of the sunny days to come. I'm talking oranges, blood oranges and grapefruit.

57. Beet and Goat Cheese Tart

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, <500 calories, vegetarian
  • Serves: 10

A good cook always has a little frozen puff pastry hidden up her sleeve…er, in her freezer. Not a fan of beets? Swap in potatoes, white or sweet. Either way, you can serve this Easter brunch idea as an appetizer, side dish or main course (with a side salad, obvi).

58. Slow Cooker Mediterranean Frittata

  • Time Commitment: 3 hours and 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, slow cooker recipe, <500 calories
  • Serves: 6

Drop everything into the slow cooker the night before, then wake up to an Easter brunch masterpiece, ready and waiting to be devoured. As if that wasn't easy enough, you'll only need eight ingredients to make it.

59. Mini Carrot Cakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Time Commitment: 2 hours
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 8

If you're going to serve a post-brunch dessert, Easter is the time to do it. And mini carrot cakes? C'mon, they've got to be bunny-approved. "I baked the batter in a rimmed cookie sheet, cut out tiny rounds using a cookie cutter, then stacked them with dollops of rich cream cheese frosting in between," McDowell explains.

60. Monkey Bread Danish

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 12

Cinnamon streusel, meet cream cheese filling. You're going to be best friends, I can tell. Can you guess the secret to making these pastries at home? (It's my BFF once again, store-bought puff pastry.)

61. Bacon, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Muffins

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 6

They'll think you made regular old muffins until they take a bite. (You knew that jumbo muffin tin would come in handy; kudos.) Use any melty cheese as the topping—I'm partial to cheddar—and serve them with ketchup and hot sauce for dipping.

62. Kale Quiche with Cheddar-Rice Crust

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten-free, vegetarian
  • Serves: 6 to 8

The easiest way to get your requisite greens is to bake them into a pie. Since the crust is made with rice, it’ll be hit for any gluten-free guest at your gathering. I won't judge you if you throw extra cheese in the egg filling for good measure.

63. Carrot Cake Doughnuts with Cream Cheese Glaze

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
  • Serves: 12

Is it breakfast or dessert? All I know is that it's delicious, no matter when you eat it. Baking doughnuts is, in my opinion, way easier than deep-frying them. The only trade-off? You’ll need a doughnut pan. (Gillen likes this nonstick one from Wilton.)

64. Whole Wheat Feta Tart with Caramelized Onions and Herbs

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 6

The easy crust and quick filling make this impressive, savory pie a no-brainer addition for your Easter spread. It's a little bit sweet, a little bit salty and extremely delicious. "[The crust] is made with olive oil, so you can mix it by hand in a bowl with just a wooden spoon or spatula, then press it into an even layer," McDowell explains.

65. Mini Citrus Monkey Bread

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
  • Serves: 12

"Why bake a whole cake when you could whip up an adorable batch of mini citrus monkey bread?" McDowell inquites. "It's definitely OK to devour two (er, five) in rapid succession." They’re even better than the ones from that upscale bakery down the street, and no one needs to know that you started with store-bought pizza dough.

66. Spanakopita Egg Muffins

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead
  • Serves: 8

Inspired by the savory Greek pastry, these egg bites are packed with feta, spinach, parsley and mint. They'll keep in the fridge for three to four days, so feel free to make them ahead. (P.S.: A pinch of baking powder will make the egg muffins superbly airy.)


headshot

Former Senior Food Editor

  • Headed PureWow’s food vertical
  • Contributed original reporting, recipes and food styling
  • Studied English Literature at the University of Notre Dame and Culinary Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education

taryn pire

Food Editor

  • Spearheads PureWow's food vertical
  • Manages PureWow's recipe vertical and newsletter
  • Studied English and writing at Ithaca College