25 Traditional Easter Foods for Dinner Around the World

In Italy, crispy stuffed artichokes are a classic Easter vegetable side dish. True to the traditional Sicilian preparation, these artichokes are filled with a flavorful mixture of olive oil, seasoned breadcrumbs, garlic, cheese, and fresh parsley.

Get the Stuffed Artichokes recipe.

SHOP BAKING DISHES

Comforting lentil soup plays a significant role in Greek Easter traditions. Typically enjoyed during Lent, this hearty dish is made with just a few simple ingredients, including protein-packed lentils, fresh vegetables, and aromatic spices.

Get Ree’s Lentil Soup recipe.

A colorful spring quiche often steals the spotlight at Easter spreads across America! Asparagus quiche, a popular variation served during Easter brunch, highlights fresh, vibrant flavors with ingredients like asparagus, dill, and green onions.

Get the Asparagus Quiche recipe.

This beautiful braided loaf is a cherished tradition across Central and Eastern Europe. Often enjoyed with a sweetened cheese curd known as “hrudka,” it’s just as delicious paired with ham, butter, or jam—or even turned into your favorite French toast!

Get the Paska Bread recipe.

No Orthodox Easter feast is complete without a heaping plate of baklava to finish off the celebration! This beloved Greek dessert features countless layers of delicate phyllo dough, chopped nuts, and a rich syrup made from honey and cinnamon.

Get Ree’s Baklava recipe.

SHOP BAKING PANS

A leg of lamb makes a show-stopping centerpiece in many French and British households. Tender and flavorful, it’s coated in a garlicky Dijon mustard rub featuring fresh rosemary, parsley, and capers.

Get the Roast Leg of Lamb recipe.

In many Scandinavian nations, salmon is a traditional component of the Easter menu. It can be baked, poached, or cured, often enjoyed as smoked salmon like in this recipe. Serve it on cucumber slices with sour cream and fresh dill for a delightful start to your Easter celebration.

Get the Cucumber-Smoked Salmon Bites recipe.

Lamb stew isn’t just for St. Patrick’s Day! In Ireland, the hearty soup filled with tender lamb, carrots, leeks, onions, and parsnips is often served on Easter.

Get Ree’s Lamb Stew recipe.

As Ree Drummond says, “In Oklahoma, ham is everything on Easter!” The same remains true for much of the United States, where a large, glazed ham serves as the centerpiece of the Easter feast. The tradition of eating ham became popular partly because pigs were slaughtered in the fall, cured throughout the winter, and ready to enjoy by springtime!

Get Ree’s Honey-Mustard Glazed Ham recipe.

This quiche-adjacent Italian dish roughly translates to “stuffed pizza.” Dating back to the Middle Ages, this dish has been a traditional way for Italians to break their Lenten fast. The custard filling is packed with savory ingredients like deli meats and cheese.

Get the Pizza Rustica recipe.

SHOP SPRINGFORM PANS

Sweet braided loaves, like this beautiful one, are a cherished Easter tradition in many countries. The three-strand braid symbolizes the Holy Trinity, while the colorful eggs represent rebirth and renewal.

Get the Easter Bread recipe.

You can find this crisp spinach pie on Greek dinner tables all year, including Easter Sunday. A tray of this flaky dish can feed a crowd and is filled with seasonal spring spinach, scallions, and fresh herbs.

Get the Spanakopita recipe.

Ukraine, Poland, and many other Eastern European countries serve up some variation of these potato-stuffed dumplings on Easter. Luckily, you can find frozen pierogies at many grocery stores these days, which makes it easy to whip up this skillet dish with rich pan gravy and bite-sized meatballs.

Get the Pierogi recipe.

In both Europe and the United States, candied carrots are a common side dish for the Easter ham. Not only do they remind people of the legendary Easter Bunny, but the sweet flavor pairs perfectly with the saltiness from the roast.

Get Ree’s Candied Carrots recipe.

While hot cross buns date back to ancient Greek times, today, they’re enjoyed in an array of different countries, including England, Australia, and New Zealand, on Easter! One common trope associated with the treat is that friends who gift one another with hot cross buns are said to remain friends for life.

Get Ree’s Hot Cross Buns recipe.

SHOP MIXING BOWLS

Eggs are a common symbol of rebirth during the Easter season so it’s no wonder dying them became such a worldwide tradition. Some say it started with early Christians in Mesopotamia who dyed eggs red, but these days you can find them in all sorts of colors, including vibrant pink in these beet-pickled eggs!

Get the Beet Pickled Eggs recipe.

Another Greek speciality, Tzatziki (pronounced “za-zeekey”) is a creamy yogurt-and-cucumber dip that’s eaten year-round. But on Easter, it’s particularly delicious with lamb, pita, or gyros.

Get the Tzatziki recipe.

In Spain, these sugar-coated doughnuts are known as Rosquillas de Semana Santa. They’re typically made without yeast, so they have a cake-like texture similar to our apple cider doughnuts.

Get the Doughnuts recipe.

Of the many side dishes that go with ham, asparagus is one of the most colorful and delicious! It’s a seasonal vegetable that pops up in early spring (just in time for Easter). It also happens to be a traditional side in Greece and Italy, too.

Get the Sautéed Asparagus recipe.