6 Sporked-Approved Sides for Easter Dinner

When it comes to holiday feasts, Thanksgiving tends to get all the attention. But, c’mon. Easter dinner kind of rules. There aren’t many occasions when you can justify buying a whole-ass spiral-cut ham. And you know deviled eggs are going to be part of the pre-dinner spread—who doesn’t love that? Whatever you do, don’t give short shrift to the sides for Easter dinner. Whether you’re hosting or you’ve simply been tasked with bringing something tasty to the Easter gathering, don’t go nuts googling recipes, buying a million ingredients, and missing out on the Easter egg hunt—there are lots of tasty side dishes for Easter dinner that are pretty much ready to just heat and eat from the grocery store. Basically, if you’ve been looking for easy Easter dinner ideas, you’ve come to the right place. Here are seven Sporked-approved sides for Easter dinner that should be in your cart this year.

Beecher’s Gluten Free “World’s Best” Mac & Cheese

Okay, you’re looking for Easter dinner ideas. We’ve established that. Premade mac and cheese is obviously a solid option (and not just because it comes frozen), but that’s especially true if the mac and cheese in question doesn’t contain gluten so more people on the guest list can enjoy it. Beecher’s GF mac and cheese is one of the elite side dishes for Easter dinner. From the firm, wonderful texture of the corn-and-rice-based pasta—it’s made with penne rigate rather than macaroni, but we’ll forgive them this—to the sharp, complex flavor of the cheddar cheese sauce, this stuff is so damn good, no one will care that it’s gluten free or that you didn’t spend hours making it yourself. —Vinz Karl

Read the full ranking of the best gluten free mac and cheese

Idahoan Monterey Pepper Jack

Easter dinner ideas need flavor. And in order to have flavor, homemade mashed potatoes need a lot of sprucing up—we’re talking loads of heavy cream, butter, and salt. Or you could simply make a few packets of these Idahoan instant mashed potatoes, which are bursting with flavor and also zero effort. They’re super cheesy, creamy, and rich, plus the pepper jack cheese gives them a little kick of heat. This is one of those sides for Easter dinner that feels traditional and unexpected at the same time. —Vinz Karl

Read the full ranking of the best instant mashed potatoes

Taylor Farms Thai Chili Mango Chopped Salad Kit

Speaking of sides for Easter dinner that are traditional but unexpected, we’re gonna suggest serving this Thai chili mango salad from a bag. Seriously, you’re probably going to have a side salad with the meal, but settling for mixed greens tossed in a vinaigrette is downright lame. This salad? Very far from lame. As Sporked’s Jordan Myrick described it, this salad has it all. “The dressing is sweet and salty and has a little kick of heat. The dried mango and crispy quinoa add great texture. The base of cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and radicchio is so hearty and crisp.” Shoo your judgmental aunt out of the kitchen, dump this in a bowl, and move on with the rest of your meal prep. —Vinz Karl

Read the full ranking of the best Asian salad kits

Reser’s Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad

If you didn’t have time to mash up a million hard boiled egg yolks with mayo to make deviled eggs, we feel you. This deviled egg-inspired macaroni salad will prevent an all-out riot at the Easter dinner table. It has that familiar mustardy kick, along with chunks of egg white mixed in with the tender pasta. Yes, macaroni salad is usually a spring picnic dish, but no one will be mad to see this among the rest of the side dishes for Easter dinner. If they are, tell them to take it up with us! (Not really, though.) —Vinz Karl

Read the full ranking of the best macaroni salad

Bob Evans Roasted Garlic & Herb Mashed Cauliflower

That really good salad we recommended up above? If there are kids on the guest list for Easter dinner, you can bet they aren’t going to eat it. In fact, they probably aren’t going to touch anything besides the mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. Here’s a cool trick you can pull on them: Include Bob Evans Roasted Garlic & Herb Mashed Cauliflower among your sides for Easter dinner. Easter side dishes can be yummy and full of fiber, a lesson they probably won’t even realize they’re learning as they eat this delicious, creamy mash. It’s super garlicky and slightly salty. And it’s a whole lot of deliciousness for kids (or for yourself if you need to be tricked into eating veggies). —Navya Hari

Read the full ranking of the best potato alternatives

Trader Joe’s Palak Paneer

Creamed spinach is a classic side dish and we’ve tasted some very good frozen versions. Trader Joe’s Palak Paneer is kinda like creamed spinach, but just so much more flavorful and enticing. According to Sporked editor-in-chief Justine Sterling, “It has a hint of heat (just enough to keep you coming back), the paneer is squeaky but still creamy, and the spinach is deeply flavorful and complex.” No matter what your hypothetical judgmental aunt has to say about it, Easter dinner sides should be fun and flavorful, and this one will blow everyone away. —Vinz Karl

Read the full ranking of the best Indian food at Trader Joe’s