Easy Easter Brunch Menu

Hosting with an easy Easter brunch menu should be as joyful and stress-free as the spring season itself. Whether you’re a seasoned host or this is your first Easter gathering, these uncomplicated yet delicious Easter Brunch Recipe Ideas will help you create a memorable occasion without the fuss

What do you eat for Easter Brunch?

Easter food can depend largely on family tradition, but there are some foods that are traditional to Easter brunch menu’s.  The centerpiece of a traditional Easter meal is usually ham or roast lamb. You can add a couple of traditional items to the menu if you like.  For instance, my family has always served kielbasa along with the ham.  It’s up to you. So here’s what I recommend for an Easy Easter Brunch Menu:

What to Include in Your Easter Brunch

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When pondering over Easter Brunch Ideas, it’s worth considering some traditional favorites alongside novel dishes that might just become new family staples. The star of most Easter Brunch Menus tends to be a beautifully prepared ham or a succulent roast lamb. Here’s how you can build an impressive yet Easy Easter Brunch lineup:

The Joy of Easter Charcuterie Boards

Think of Easter grazing boards or charcuterie boards as the conversation starters of your brunch. They’re a feast for the eyes as much as for the palate. But why stop at cheese and charcuterie? Let’s mix it up. Picture a board laden with mini hot cross buns, small bowls filled with vibrant beetroot hummus and a vibrant green pea mint dip, alongside blanched asparagus spears and crunchy radishes. Add some boiled quail eggs – their petite size is perfect for nibbling. A scattering of chocolate eggs and jelly beans can add a playful touch because, after all, it’s Easter. Your Easter charcuterie board can be as traditional or as whimsical as you like – it’s all about creating moments of connection and joy.

Easy Easter Brunch Menu

• Ham or Roast Lamb
• Hard Boiled Eggs
• Easter Charcuterie Board
• Glazed Carrots
• Prosciutto Wrapped Roasted Asparagus
• Hot Cross Buns
• Scalloped Potatoes
• Fresh Fruit
• Cheddar & Green Onion Quiche
• Green Salad with Fresh Citrus
• Easy Easter Cupcakes

Expanding Your Main Dish Horizon

Ham and lamb? Classics for sure, but why not add a vegetarian or vegan main that could steal the show? A savory mushroom and leek tart or a hearty lentil shepherd’s pie offers something unexpected and inclusive for all your guests. For a lighter touch, a spring vegetable frittata bursting with seasonal greens and fresh herbs not only looks stunning but tastes of spring itself. A majority of this meal can be made in advance.  In fact, if you choose ham, it can actually be served cold, which lets you cook it the day before.

How to bake a ham:

• Remove the ham from the package. I usually use a bone-in spiral ham.
• Place the ham face down in a low sided baking dish.
• Cover tightly with aluminum foil.
• Bake in a pre-heated 275 degree oven for 14 minutes a pound.
• During the last 15 minutes of cooking pour your glaze over the ham.  Be careful! The ham is super hot.
• Allow the ham to sit for 15 minutes before serving.

Hams can be purchased in a variety of different flavors, so really, it’s all about the flavors your family prefers.  I try to find one that has maple and brown sugar.

How to Roast a Leg of Lamb

Roasting a leg of lamb can seem a little intimidating, I get it.  My cousin Ann Marie once made a leg of lamb for dinner for my family and I can’t even explain to you how good it was.  I had never made one, but my family was hooked, so it was off to the drawing board!

• Purchase a leg of lamb that is about 5 pounds.
• Make sure that the lamb is dried off with paper towels.
• Spread seasoning over the top (fat side): 1 tsp rosemary, 1/4 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, 1/4 cup ground mustard.
• Cook the lamb at 350 for 1 hour 45 minutes.  Check it at 1 hour 30 minutes. The perfect temperature for lamb is 135 degrees.
• Let the lamb rest for 10 minutes while you get everything else on the table.

Dress with some sprigs of rosemary and you’ll be ready to serve!

Elevating Sides and Salads

Sides and salads are where you can really let the fresh produce of the season shine. A salad of arugula, strawberries, and goat cheese, drizzled with a balsamic glaze, offers a perfect balance of peppery, sweet, and tangy. Or how about roasted baby potatoes with a hint of rosemary and sea salt? Simple, yes, but oh-so-delicious. For a pop of color and flavor, try a beet and citrus salad, a vibrant dish that’s as beautiful as it is tasty.

Perfect Glazed Carrots

There probably isn’t a more fitting vegetable to serve at Easter brunch other than carrots.  I’m a huge asparagus fan, and have included that as well, but carrots are my go-to ham side.

Our favorite carrots are the multi-colored ones you can pick up at Trader Joe’s and other markets. My son has always loved munching on these, and they are SO impressive when they are roasted.

Here’s how you roast the carrots:

• Rinse your carrots and slice in half
• Toss in olive oil, and a 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, pepper, and garlic powder
• Roast at 400 degrees for 30 minutes
• If the carrots are especially thick, slice them down the middle.

It’s that simple.  Honestly.  This dish is sure to take center stage next to the protein for your Easter brunch menu.

Prosciutto Wrapped Roasted Asparagus 

This asparagus recipe is almost as easy as roasted carrots! You cook them exactly the same way.  In fact, you can even cook them at the same time.  Simply wrap a thin slice of prosciutto around each asparagus spear. Season and place into the oven with the carrots! (If you want to make little bundles, simply bunch three to four spears and wrap with the prosciutto.

Tips for making your Easter Brunch Menu vegetables ahead:

Make your vegetables the day before! Simply spread them out on a sheet pan when the meat comes out of the oven to reheat!

Hot Cross Buns:

Here’s where you can take a shortcut.  If you have a good bakery around, just go and pick up a dozen or so. They’ll be amazing.  However; if you want to make yours at home, this is the recipe that I follow!

Scalloped Potatoes

Here’s another meal you can make in advance and warm up (even microwave) for your Easter brunch menu! My neighbor Linda made these and I fell in LOVE with them.  Scalloped potatoes are a must on the Easter table! You know what my favorite recipe is? It’s from I Heart Naptime.  Don’t make any changes.  Just make it as Jamielyn spells it out.  They’re perfect – and super easy.

Fresh Fruit Platter

Putting together a fresh fruit platter for any occasion is a simple way to bring color, seasonal fruits, and a refreshing, light twist to the table.  Simply grab your favorite fruits and arrange them on a pretty platter.  A fruit platter belongs on all brunch and breakfast tables in my opinion.

Breads and Fruits: Beyond the Basics

Breads are the backbone of any great brunch. Serve up some freshly baked cheddar and chive scones or sweet, lemon-glazed mini scones that add a punch of bright flavor. And fruits? Go beyond the basic platter. Try a refreshing fruit salad tossed in a honey-lime dressing for a zesty twist or grill some pineapple and peaches for a smoky-sweet addition to your Easter spread.

Mini Quiche Appetizers (Onion & Cheese)

These mini quiche will take center stage for your Easter Brunch! They’re so simple to make that I will often make much more than I need and freeze them to have available as appetizers for any get together.

Orange, Mango & Avocado Salad

A green salad rounds out any brunch table, and you can take it a step further by adding fresh, seasonal citrus and avocados.  Simply add a squeeze of lime oryour favorite light dressing – I will often use a poppyseed around springtime, and enjoy.  For added color you can garnish with cranberries or pomegranate seeds (but you don’t need them – it’s great on its’ own).

Delectable Desserts to Dream About

For the grand finale, your desserts. Think beyond the basics to sweet treats that will have your guests saving room for more. A lemon tart with a perfectly bruleed top, individual berry trifles layered in Mason jars for that personal touch, or classic carrot cake cupcakes topped with cream cheese frosting and a sprinkle of cinnamon. And for that extra touch of Easter whimsy, how about chocolate nests filled with mini eggs? They’re not only adorable but absolutely delicious. You could try something completely unexpected – how about an Easter Dessert Board? Combining all sorts of different sweet Easter treats would be a welcome and unexpected end to such a special brunch.

Easy Easter Brunch Desserts and More

To conclude your feast on a sweet note, consider easy store-bought Easter cupcakes or invite your guests to bring along their favorite desserts. This keeps the preparation manageable and lets everyone contribute something special to the meal.

Easy Easter Brunch Dessert Idea: Store Bought Cupcakes!

I am a HUGE proponent of making entertaining simple.  Don’t go complicating things when it comes to dessert.  Visit your local bakery and find Easter decorated cupcakes, or ask them for a plain version and simply use some frosting and a few robins blue colored eggs to decorate.  Leave additional desserts to your guests for when they ask what they can bring!

Keep it simple.

Keep entertaining simple.

Creating an Easter brunch that’s filled with joy and great food doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s all about those special touches, the love you pour into your dishes, and the joy of bringing your loved ones together.  You don’t have to get crazy when you’re entertaining for Easter or for any other holiday.  Keep it simple. Happy Easter hosting!

Cheers,

JJ