12 Easy Easter Sides to Spruce Up Your Spread

By Jenn Segal

From asparagus salad to potatoes au gratin, brighten up your holiday table with lots of delicious Easter sides.

Raw Asparagus Salad with Almonds & Ginger-Sesame Vinaigrette

This vibrant and crunchy spring salad is made with thinly sliced raw asparagus, scallions, almonds, and a ginger-sesame dressing. One reader called it “a revelation.”
Focaccia

Focaccia is a flavorful and easy-to-make Italian flat bread that feeds a crowd. This classic version is topped with coarse salt and fresh rosemary but feel free to get creative with other toppings.
German Potato Salad

This potato salad is made with a tangy vinaigrette instead of the typical mayo dressing. The onions get pickled in the vinaigrette, which tempers their sharp edge and makes them tangy and sweet. They are 100% the best part of the salad!
Roasted Green Beans with Garlic, Lemon, Pine Nuts & Parmesan

Forget those squeaky boiled green beans. These roasted beans are tender and caramelized, and then tossed with mellowed chunks of garlic, lemony olive oil, pine nuts and nutty Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Potatoes Au Gratin

This dish involves layering thinly sliced potatoes with heavy cream and grated cheese, and then baking until the cream reduces and blankets the potatoes in a rich, creamy sauce. Definitely special occasion-worthy!
Grilled Asparagus Salad with Lemon & Feta

This salad is the kind of dish that makes you wonder if you might possibly be a very happy vegetarian. Serve it with a loaf of crusty bread for mopping up the lemon scented olive oil.
Broccoli Purée

Gorgeously (or shockingly?) green, this purée is a welcome change from the usual steamed or roasted broccoli. It’s also a great low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes.
Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing

Combine thick-cut bacon, spinach, mushrooms, and soft-boiled eggs in a warm bacon vinaigrette and you’ve got a hearty salad fit for a special occasion.
Cornbread Muffins

These tender and sweet cornbread muffins are the perfect side to ham. You can whip up the batter in ten minutes, and enjoy them with your feast 20 minutes later.
Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweet potato casserole makes a wonderful Easter side dish. Everyone loves this version topped with a pecan streusel. Make it a day ahead of time and reheat until the top is crisp.
Creamy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

These ultra-creamy mashed potatoes can be made two days ahead of time and reheated in the microwave. Perfect for the busy holidays!
Moroccan-Spiced Carrot & Chickpea Salad

With fragrant spices, bright colors & savory flavors, this exotic twist on the carrot-raisin salad is a feast for the senses — and you can make it ahead of time.