Making a Small Easter Dinner
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Easter looks very different this year. Our dinners will be much smaller and without our extended family. We’re providing menu options and tips for Easter Dinner for a small family to help you celebrate while keeping your distance.
Are you at a loss when it comes to making Easter dinner this weekend? Our families were struggling with how to celebrate too so we thought we would help our community out. Of course, we are not celebrating with family members outside of those in our homes. That means that in order to celebrate, the meal will need to be on a much smaller scale and without a wide variety of dishes.
It definitely makes us a little sad. But, it’s more than worth it to help keep our community safe. We don’t hug or visit now so that we have those in our lives to hug and visit later. Our commitment to bending and flattening the curve is steadfast and truly does impact so many people in our communities that we will never meet.
So, what do you make for your small Easter Dinner this year? We’ve provided a few options for main dishes, side dishes, and desserts. Many of these recipes are sized for a typical family dinner so it makes it easy to convert to Easter Dinner. For each recipe, we’ve outlined some tips and tricks to reduce the size of the dish, make substitutions, and/or other options that make cooking a tiny Easter Dinner for your family not only possible but enjoyable, too.
We recommend choosing one main dish, two side dishes, and one dessert. But, maybe deviled eggs are a requirement not included in our two side dish recommendation? They are just that good!
Making Easter Dinner for a small group
Small Easter Dinner Main Dishes
Juicy Primavera Pork Tenderloin (pictured)
The nice thing about this recipe is that it is very easy to make a small portion. Simply prepare half the recipe and it will serve two people. Use whichever veggies that you have on hand. And bacon makes a good sub for the prosciutto.
Curried Vegan Shepherd’s Pie with Sweet Potato Topping
This recipe serves 4 but leftovers are amazing and keep well for many days. If mushrooms aren't in your fridge, simply omit them.
Lamb is a great option for a small group; One rack of lamb feeds 2 people.
Lemon Herb Butter Roast Chicken
If you don't have the veggies to put under the chicken, simply omit the ones you don't have on hand. And if you need to, substitute dry herbs for the fresh herbs, using half of the amount listed in the ingredients.
Modern Pineapple Ham with Balsamic Honey Glaze
For a small group, look for a small ham. Also, feel free to use canned pineapple rings instead of fresh.
Side Dishes for a Simple Easter Dinner
Lazy Deviled Eggs (pictured)
These eggs not only make a great appetizer, they make great snacks, too. Cook a bunch, then only use what you need for an Easter appetizer. Save the rest for snacks during the week!
Mashed Purple Yams with Sesame Brown Butter
This recipe is just as tasty with easier to find sweet potatoes. Or frozen ube works, too!
Herb and Garlic Butter Smashed Sweet Potatoes
This recipe can easily be cut in half. If you're out of pecans, walnuts make a great sub!
Whole Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic
Only cook as many brussels as you need for dinner. If you don't have fresh lemons, sprinkle a little bottled lemon juice over them after they come out of the oven.
Healthy Vegan Green Bean Casserole
This recipe can be easily be cut in half. But leftovers taste amazing so you might want to make extra.
This is another recipe that uses staple ingredients and you can easily make half if needed.
Festive Desserts for a Little Easter Dinner
Healthy Carrot Muffins (pictured)
These last for several days and are amazing for breakfast. And you can freeze any leftovers!
These nests are just too cute to eat only one.
These bars work just as well with frozen and thawed blueberries!
Lavender Lemon Angel Food Cake
If lavender isn't in your pantry, you can replace it with ¼ teaspoon of rosemary. Or simply omit it.
Glazed Coconut Lemon Sugar Cookies
You can use bottled lemon juice if that's what you have available. And these cookies freeze very well so you can save a few for later.
