Traditional Easter Dinner Ideas: Your Complete Menu Guide

Spring has arrived on the Eastern Shore, and with it comes one of our favorite family traditions: gathering around the table for a beautiful Easter dinner. Whether you're hosting your first Easter celebration or you're looking for fresh inspiration, this complete menu guide will help you create a memorable feast featuring the best of spring's bounty—with raw honey as your secret ingredient.

At Bee Inspired Goods, we believe the best Easter dinners balance tradition with creativity. From honey-glazed mains to vibrant spring sides and decadent desserts, we're sharing our complete Easter menu with timing tips and Maryland-inspired touches that celebrate the season.

Planning Your Easter Dinner Menu

Creating an Easter dinner doesn't have to be overwhelming. The key is choosing complementary dishes that can be prepared ahead, leaving you free to enjoy time with loved ones. Here's how to build your perfect Easter menu:

A Complete Easter Spread Includes:

• One impressive main course (ham, lamb, chicken, or fish)
• 2-3 complementary side dishes featuring spring vegetables
• A fresh salad or soup to start
• Warm dinner rolls or bread
• One showstopping dessert

Timing Strategy: Start planning 3-4 days ahead. Many components can be prepped in advance—desserts, dressings, and vegetable prep. On Easter morning, focus on your main course and sides that need to be served hot.

Traditional Easter Appetizers

Honeycomb Charcuterie Board

While your guests arrive, set out an impressive honeycomb charcuterie board featuring raw honeycomb as the centerpiece. There's something magical about honeycomb straight from the hive—guests love the unique texture and natural sweetness paired with aged cheeses, cured meats, fresh fruits, and toasted nuts. This sophisticated spread sets the tone for your Easter celebration and gives everyone something to enjoy while you finish the final touches on dinner.

Spinach Fruit Salad with Honey Lemon Vinaigrette

This vibrant Spinach Fruit Salad announces that spring has truly arrived. Fresh baby spinach provides the perfect canvas for colorful berries, juicy peaches, and toasted pecans, all dressed in our signature Honey Lemon Vinaigrette. The natural sweetness from honey balances the tart lemon beautifully, while fresh fruit adds seasonal flair. This salad pairs wonderfully with rich main courses like ham or lamb, providing a refreshing contrast that cleanses the palate.

Carrot Ginger Soup

Start your meal with this warming Carrot Ginger Soup that celebrates spring's first carrots. The ginger adds a gentle warmth while raw honey provides natural sweetness that complements the earthy carrots. Top it with toasted pine nuts and fresh herbs for an elegant presentation. This soup can be made 1-2 days ahead and actually improves overnight, making it perfect for busy Easter preparations.

Easter Main Courses: The Showstoppers

Honey Glazed Ham: The Classic Easter Centerpiece

A beautiful honey-glazed ham is perhaps the most traditional Easter main course, and for good reason. It's relatively easy to prepare (most hams come pre-cooked), feeds a crowd, and the leftovers are endlessly versatile. The key to an exceptional ham is the glaze—and that's where raw honey shines.

Selecting Your Ham: Choose a bone-in, spiral-cut ham (7-10 pounds) for the best flavor an presentation. Look for one without a pre-applied glaze so you can create your own. Most grocery stores feature excellent sales on ham in the weeks before Easter.

Our Signature Honey Glaze:

• 3/4 cup Bee Inspired Honey
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1. Prepare the Ham (1 hour before cooking):

• Remove ham from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 30-45 minutes
• Preheat oven to 325°F
• Remove ham from packaging and place in a large roasting pan
• Score the surface in a diamond pattern about 1/8 inch deep
• Add 1 cup of water to the bottom of the roasting pan
• Cover ham tightly with aluminum foil

2. Make the Glaze:

• In a medium saucepan, combine honey, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, and spices
• Heat over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until sugar dissolves completely
• Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened
• Remove from heat and set aside

3. Bake the Ham:

• Place covered ham in oven and bake for 10-12 minutes per pound (about 2 hours for an 8-10 lb ham)
• Internal temperature should reach 120°F

4. Apply the Glaze (the secret to perfection!):

• Remove foil and increase oven temperature to 400°F
• Brush ham generously with about 1/3 of the glaze, making sure to get between the spiral slices
• Return to oven uncovered for 15 minutes
• Brush with another 1/3 of the glaze
• Bake another 10-15 minutes
• Apply final layer of glaze
• Bake 5-10 more minutes until ham is beautifully caramelized and internal temperature reaches 140°F

5. Rest and Serve:

• Let ham rest for 15-20 minutes long before carving
• Serve with any remaining warm glaze on the side

Pro Tips:

• The multiple glazing creates that gorgeous, sticky-sweet exterior everyone loves
• Don't skip the scoring—it allows the glaze to penetrate the meat
• Watch carefully during the final glazing to prevent burning
• Save the ham bone for soup!

Honey-Glazed Chicken for Smaller Gatherings

If you're hosting a smaller Easter celebration, our Honey Glazed Chicken is an excellent alternative. This recipe was developed by Kara's friend Karlen Poma and features chicken leg quarters marinated in a mixture of garlic, olive oil, and fresh orange juice, then grilled to perfection with a glaze made from honey, cilantro, rosemary, thyme, and balsamic vinegar. The honey creates a beautiful caramelized coating while keeping the meat incredibly juicy. It cooks faster than ham, works well for 4-6 people, and pairs beautifully with roasted potatoes and grilled Brussels sprouts.

Honey Marinated Rib Roast

For an extra-special Easter celebration, our Honey Marinated Rib Roast is an unforgettable centerpiece. This elegant cut requires overnight marinating but becomes incredibly tender and flavorful. The combination of honey, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and fresh herbs creates a rich, savory-sweet crust while keeping the meat incredibly juicy. This is your showstopper for formal Easter dinners or when you want to really impress your guests—it's absolutely worth the extra effort and planning.

Alternative Main Courses

Chicken with Sautéed Mushrooms: An elegant, lighter option featuring chicken breasts with earthy mushrooms, garlic, and fresh herbs. The honey adds subtle sweetness that balances the savory mushrooms beautifully. Perfect for a more intimate Easter dinner when you want something sophisticated but not as heavy as ham.

Slow Cooker BBQ Brisket: When you need something effortless, this set-it-and-forget-it brisket is your answer. The slow cooker does all the work while you focus on sides and family time. The honey-sweetened BBQ sauce becomes rich and complex over the long cooking time, and the meat practically falls apart. This is perfect for busy Easter hosts who don't want to stress about timing.

Spicy Sweet Salmon: For a lighter, seafood-focused Easter, this honey-glazed salmon with lemon and fresh herbs is spectacular. The glaze combines honey with a touch of heat for a sweet-spicy balance that's absolutely addictive. It's quick to prepare (under 30 minutes!) and perfect for spring when you want something fresh and light.

Maryland Crab Cakes: Bring an Eastern Shore tradition to your Easter table with authentic Maryland crab cakes. Made with sweet blue crab, minimal filler, and traditional Old Bay seasoning, they're a taste of the Chesapeake Bay. Serve them as a special appetizer before your main course, or make them a featured part of your main course lineup for seafood lovers.

Easter Side Dishes: Celebrating Spring's Bounty

Honey Mustard Roasted Carrots

No Easter dinner is complete without colorful spring vegetables, and these Honey Mustard Roasted Carrots are always a hit. Rainbow carrots are especially beautiful for Easter! The honey brings out the natural sweetness of carrots while mustard adds a sophisticated tang. Roasting caramelizes the edges for irresistible flavor and texture. This glaze also works beautifully with Brussels sprouts, parsnips, or beets—feel free to mix your root vegetable for a colorful medley that showcases spring's bounty.

Honey Grilled Artichokes

These Honey Grilled Artichokes are a special treat that showcases spring at its finest. While they require a bit more effort (boiling, then grilling), the result is absolutely worth it—tender artichoke hearts with a sweet honey glaze and smoky char from the grill. Your guests will be impressed by this restaurant-quality side dish. Select large, heavy artichokes with tightly closed leaves, and don't skip the step of removing the fuzzy choke before grilling!

Easter Desserts: Sweet Endings with Honey

Salted Caramel Candy

These homemade Salted Caramel Candies made with honey are the perfect Easter treat. They're buttery, smooth, and just a little salty—absolutely addictive. Wrap them in wax paper and tuck them into Easter baskets, arrange them on your dessert table, or package them as take-home favors for guests. The honey adds complexity to the caramel that you just can't get with corn syrup, and that touch of flaky sea salt on top makes them irresistible.

Guilt-Free Healthy Fudge

This plant-based Healthy Fudge offers a lighter dessert option that still feels indulgent. Made with dates, almond butter, and raw honey, it's rich, creamy, and naturally sweetened—no refined sugar needed. The honey binds everything together while adding depth of flavor. Serve this fudge alongside a platter of fresh spring fruits—strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and sliced peaches—for a dessert spread that balances richness with freshness. This is actually better made 1-2 days ahead as the flavors develop and deepen.

Parisian Honey Rum Cake

This Parisian Honey Rum Cake is a showstopper that brings a touch of European elegance to your Easter table. The honey keeps the cake incredibly moist for days, while the rum adds sophisticated depth. In Paris, you'll find this served in delightful variations—atop a custard puddle (crème anglaise), with a bottle of rum for a personalized pour, or filled with jelly. However you serve it, this cake evokes nostalgic holiday charm and makes Easter dessert truly memorable.

Honey Cocoa Truffles

Quick, elegant, and utterly delicious, these Honey Chocolate Truffles are perfect for Easter. They require just five ingredients (dark chocolate, heavy cream, honey, butter, and cocoa powder) and come together in minutes. The honey adds a subtle floral sweetness that elevates chocolate to something truly special. Roll some in cocoa powder, others in crushed pistachios or toasted coconut for variety on your dessert table.

Maryland Easter Traditions: Regional Favorites

Here on the Eastern Shore, Easter dinners often include regional specialties that celebrate our Chesapeake Bay heritage. Maryland Crab Cakes are a beloved local tradition—made with sweet blue crab, minimal filler, and Old Bay seasoning. Our local raw honey varieties each bring unique flavor profiles to Easter glazes. Wildflower Honey offers complex, robust notes that stand up beautifully to savory ham, while lighter varieties provide more delicate sweetness. Browse our complete selection of Eastern Shore Honey to find your perfect Easter glaze.

Simple Easter Dinner Menus

For 8-10 Guests:

• Appetizer: Honeycomb Charcuterie Board
• Starter: Spinach Fruit Salad
• Main: Honey Glazed Ham (recipe above)
• Sides: Honey Mustard Roasted Carrots, Honey Grilled Artichokes
• Dessert: Parisian Honey Rum Cake with Honey Cocoa Truffles

For 4-6 Guests:

• Starter: Carrot Ginger Soup
• Main: Honey-Glazed Chicken
• Sides: Honey Mustard Roasted Carrots
• Dessert: Healthy Fudge with Fresh Fruit

Easter Timeline & Planning

3-4 Days Before:

• Order/purchase main course
• Make Honey Rum Cake (it improves with age!)
• Prepare Salted Caramel Candies
• Shop for ingredients

2 Days Before:

• Make Healthy Fudge
• Prepare Honey Lemon Vinaigrette
• Wash and prep vegetables

1 Day Before:

• Make Honey Cocoa Truffles
• Prepare Carrot Ginger Soup
• Boil artichokes if making Grilled Artichokes

Easter Morning:

• Remove ham from refrigerator (1 hour before cooking)
• Assemble charcuterie board
• Prepare honey glaze

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance can I prepare Easter dinner?

Many components can be made 1-3 days ahead. Desserts like fudge, caramels, and cakes actually improve with time. Make soup and vinaigrette 2-3 days ahead. Cook ham the day of, but prep vegetables the day before.

What's the best way to keep ham moist?

Keep it covered with foil during most of cooking time, add water to the roasting pan, and don't skip the multiple glazing steps. The honey in the glaze helps lock in moisture naturally.

How do I time multiple dishes to finish together?

Work backwards from your planned dinner time. Ham takes longest (2-3 hours). Roasted vegetables take 20-30 minutes. Start your ham first, then add other dishes to the oven as space allows.

Can I make Easter dinner for a smaller group?

Absolutely! Choose Honey-Glazed Chicken instead of ham, scale down the side dishes, and consider individual desserts like truffles instead of large cakes.

What wine pairs with honey glazed ham?

Semi-sweet whites work beautifully—try Riesling, Gewürztraminer, or Viognier. If you prefer red, choose something fruity and light like Pinot Noir.

What are traditional Eastern Shore Easter foods?

Maryland Easter tables often feature ham with locally-made honey glaze, fresh spring vegetables from local farms, Maryland crab cakes, and desserts showcasing regional honey.

Create an Easter Experience

This Easter, go beyond just a meal—create a complete sensory experience. Set a beautiful table with fresh spring flowers, light naturally-scented soy candles to create ambiance, and consider small gifts at each place setting.

Browse our Spring Awakening Collection for gifts, candles, and honey varieties that celebrate the season. Easter is about renewal, growth, and fresh beginnings—let your table reflect that joy.

Living Seasonally Through Food

At Bee Inspired Goods, we believe in Living Seasonally—aligning our rhythms with nature's cycles. Spring is about awakening, growth, and fresh beginnings. Easter dinner is the perfect time to celebrate these themes through food.

By choosing fresh spring vegetables, local honey, and recipes that honor the season, you're not just creating a meal—you're participating in a timeless tradition that connects us to the earth's natural rhythms.

Explore More:

• Spring Awakening Collection
• Living Seasonally Philosophy
• Browse all our honey recipes

Have a "Hoppy" Easter!

Easter dinner is more than just a meal—it's a celebration of spring, family, and tradition. Whether you're preparing a grand feast for a crowd or an intimate gathering for your closest loved ones, the key is choosing dishes you can prepare confidently, incorporating fresh seasonal ingredients, and leaving time to actually enjoy the day with your guests.

From our family at Bee Inspired Goods to yours, we wish you a joyful Easter filled with good food, laughter, and the sweetness of spring.