You don’t need a glazed ham to steal the show this Easter. These 17 dishes bring bold flavor, eye-catching presentation, and serious crowd appeal. Whether they’re served at brunch or dinner, they’re the ones guests finish before the carving knife even touches the ham. This list proves that sometimes, it’s the sides, casseroles, and sweets that carry the whole meal.
Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé
Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé brings a soft, slightly sweet touch that blurs the line between side dish and dessert. It bakes up fluffy and golden, and it's easy to prep ahead for a stress-free holiday. This dish fits the theme by being the kind of side that vanishes long before anyone reaches for the carving knife. Even grandma might nudge the ham aside for one more scoop of this.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Carrot Soufflé
Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins
Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins combines comfort and nostalgia with every bite of its creamy, custardy noodles. The raisins add a grown-up note, while the cinnamon and cream cheese give it a dessert vibe that still fits in as a brunch dish. It’s the type of side that’s scooped up before the ham even gets unwrapped. It never makes it to the leftovers container.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins
Cheesy Cabbage Casserole with Cracker Topping
Cheesy Cabbage Casserole with Cracker Topping shows how cabbage can go from simple to craveable when mixed with cheese and a crispy finish. It bakes in one pan and brings an old-school comfort vibe that fits perfectly next to Easter staples. This dish is exactly what the title is all about—something that leaves plates cleared before the main dish shows up. The crunchy topping alone is enough to make it disappear early.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Cabbage Casserole with Cracker Topping
Roast Air Fryer Asparagus
Roast Air Fryer Asparagus cooks up crisp and tender with a bit of bite, and it only takes a few minutes to make. Topped with almonds and capers, it brings just enough flair to feel like a holiday dish without any heavy lifting. It works with everything and always gets scooped up early in the meal. It's one of those sides people pretend they’re grabbing “just to be healthy”—then go back for more.
Get the Recipe: Roast Air Fryer Asparagus
Creamy Vegan Broccoli Casserole
Creamy Vegan Broccoli Casserole hits that comfort zone with a cheesy, soft texture and a golden topping. It’s plant-based, but you wouldn’t know by taste—people go in for seconds without asking what’s in it. This is one of those sides that doesn’t stick around long and totally fits the theme. By the time someone asks for it, the dish is already scraped clean.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Vegan Broccoli Casserole
Carrot Casserole
Carrot Casserole brings a balance of sweet and savory with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg baked right in. It slides in perfectly on an Easter table, working as a side or even a brunch dish. It belongs here because it’s the kind of dish people finish fast without even waiting for the main course. You could double it and it still might not be enough.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Casserole
Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks with Goat Cheese and Balsamic Glaze
Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks with Goat Cheese and Balsamic Glaze feel fancy without being difficult, and they cook up quickly with crisp edges and a creamy topping. The goat cheese melts into the cabbage for a savory bite that keeps people coming back. They line up perfectly with the idea of dishes disappearing before the ham makes its entrance. These might be the only cabbage dish that gets compliments.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks with Goat Cheese and Balsamic Glaze
Roasted Carrots with Hazelnuts
Roasted Carrots with Hazelnuts mix crunch, sweetness, and a little salt to bring something elevated to a basic vegetable. This is the kind of side dish that works across the whole meal and still feels right at the start. It supports the theme by being something people serve themselves generously before eyeing the bigger plates. A pan of these doesn’t hang around for long.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Carrots with Hazelnuts
Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes With Spring Frosting
These Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes With Spring Frosting bring a pop of color and that familiar vanilla flavor that signals dessert is ready. They’re simple to bake and easy to share, making them perfect for Easter tables full of guests. Cupcakes like this get snatched up before plates are cleared. No one’s missing the ham when the frosting’s this good.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes With Spring Frosting
Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots
Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots are glossy, sweet, and built to win over anyone who thinks vegetables are just filler. They cook quickly and don’t require much prep, but the result is still crowd-worthy. These carrots belong here because they get picked clean while everyone else is still setting their plate. The kind of dish people swipe with a fork even after they said they were “just looking.”
Get the Recipe: Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots
Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potato Slices
Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potato Slices bring cinnamon and ginger together on thick, caramelized rounds that almost taste like dessert. They smell incredible while roasting and look like something you’d see at every holiday meal growing up. This is the definition of a dish that vanishes before the ham makes it out of the oven. It’s the kind of recipe that has people circling the kitchen early.
Get the Recipe: Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potato Slices
Berry Croissant French Toast Bake
Berry Croissant French Toast Bake is buttery, fruit-filled, and practically made for spring mornings. It’s easy to make ahead, which means you can slide it into the oven while guests start arriving. This kind of dish earns its spot by being one of the first to vanish—people go back for seconds before the rest of the food’s even ready. There’s no such thing as leftovers when this is involved.
Get the Recipe: Berry Croissant French Toast Bake
Easy Easter Sugar Cookies
Easy Easter Sugar Cookies show up looking festive and go fast once they hit the table. They’re soft, simple, and perfect for decorating ahead of time, making them feel like part dessert, part tradition. These are the kind of treats people reach for before the main meal is even mentioned. The candy eggs don’t stand a chance next to these.
Get the Recipe: Easy Easter Sugar Cookies
Bunny Butts Cupcakes Easter Dessert
Bunny Butts Cupcakes Easter Dessert delivers on the cute factor and gets scooped up fast by kids and adults alike. With marshmallows and candy toppers, they double as a table decoration and sweet treat. They’re quick to assemble and don’t last long once the meal’s over. It’s the dessert people remember more than the ham.
Get the Recipe: Bunny Butts Cupcakes Easter Dessert
Savory Easter Charcuterie Board
Savory Easter Charcuterie Board pulls together meats, cheeses, fruits, and nuts in a way that hits every craving. It’s the kind of grazing board that guests start nibbling on as soon as they walk in. By the time the rest of the meal is served, this tray’s been picked clean. The ham might be late—but no one’s waiting.
Get the Recipe: Savory Easter Charcuterie Board
Pecan Praline French Toast Casserole
Pecan Praline French Toast Casserole bakes into a rich, nutty showstopper that sets the tone for an Easter morning feast. It’s built for sharing and requires little effort beyond tossing everything in a dish and baking it until golden. This is the kind of brunch dish that disappears before the main even makes it out of the oven. By the time the ham hits the table, this pan’s already empty.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Praline French Toast Casserole
Homemade Coconut Easter Egg Cookies
Homemade Coconut Easter Egg Cookies bring in that sweet, chewy texture that makes people reach for seconds without even thinking. They’re colorful, easy to prep, and fit right in with the holiday’s playful vibe. These cookies are the kind that vanish before the second tray comes out. They’re as photogenic as they are fast to disappear.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Coconut Easter Egg Cookies
Tell Me What You Think!