Making a Small Easter Dinner
Updated: 12/11/2025
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Your Easter dinner menu is sorted! As someone who celebrates Easter with just the three of us in my family, I’ve learned how tricky it can be to make a festive dinner without drowning in leftovers afterward. That’s why I’ve pulled together this roundup of small Easter dinner ideas – for an Easter menu that’s easy to make, special, and delicious!
I LOVE Easter – the weather starts getting warmer (at least it does here in Canada) and I especially adore having the long weekend to soak up quality time with my family. We have one daughter, so as a wee family of 3, our Easter menu doesn’t need to feed an army – but I still like to prepare something that feels a bit special, all while keeping it easy.
I’ve rounded up some of my favorite recipes for small Easter dinner ideas – with main dishes, sides, and desserts. Most of these recipes are sized for a typical family dinner so it makes it easy to convert to Easter Dinner. Whether you’re making an Easter dinner for 2, or for a small group, you can still have an Easter feast on a different scale!
Small Easter dinner ideas – main dishes
When it comes to Easter dinner ideas for a small family, I like to see protein dishes on my table that feel comforting, but also a little festive. For the main dishes, I like to whip up something that my family of 3 doesn’t often eat as part of our regular weeknight meals to make the occasion feel special.
This juicy spring pork tenderloin is great for Easter – it uses the best of the season’s harvest while bringing the comfort factor to Easter. It’s easy to make it as 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.
This curried vegan shepherd’s pie with sweet potato topping is great for Easter because the vibrant sweet potatoes add a bright touch, and the hearty, spiced filling is so satisfying. And the best part is, the recipe serves four, but leftovers are amazing and keep well for many days!
Lamb is the classic choice for Easter! This herb roasted rack of lamb is an excellent option for a small group. One rack of lamb feeds two people – plus, it’s heavenly delicious!
If you want to keep it easy, bright, and zesty, lemon herb butter roast chicken is the way to go. The oven does the heavy lifting for you and goes well with a glass of white wine!
Pineapple ham with balsamic honey glaze isn’t something you make every day, so it feels special for Easter. For a small group, look for a small ham. Also, feel free to use canned pineapple rings instead of fresh.
Side dishes for a small Easter dinner
So, let’s talk about the side dishes. We want sides that are full of flavor and complement the main dish, yet can be scaled down if you’re looking for smaller servings.
These lazy deviled eggs are named so, as they’re an easier rendition of the classic recipe. They work as an appetizer or as a snack for later, so you can cook some eggs for Easter and then save the rest for snacking throughout the week.
These mashed purple yams with sesame brown butter or smashed sweet potatoes with garlic butter add a pop of color and satisfaction to your plate. Both can be scaled down by using fewer yams or sweet potatoes – simply cut the recipe in half!
Whole roasted brussels sprouts with garlic is another recipe where you can simply scale down, only cooking as many brussels sprouts as you need for dinner. I like to make these when I’m doing roasted mains, as you grab another sheet pan while the oven is already on!
This Vegan Green Bean Casserole is creamy and nostalgic, and the recipe is easily cut in half. However, leftovers taste amazing, so perhaps it’s worth making extra. Store them in the refrigerator and enjoy them all week long. Or make some sauteed asparagus, which is beautiful this time of year.
Spicy Honey Roasted Carrots bring a sweet and spicy combo to your Easter spread, using staple ingredients. It’s a low-effort, high-reward Easter side dish.
Festive desserts for small Easter dinner
Now for the sweet part – Easter desserts! Making small-scale desserts is simple – you can always half the recipe. But honestly, my favorite thing is to make a whole batch and enjoy a little treat for the week or freeze some for another occasion.
Carrots are an Easter icon thanks to the Easter bunny, so celebrate them with these carrot muffins – they’re moist and delicious, and leftovers make a perfect grab-and-go breakfast! This is what I make when I want a carrot cake, but easier.
Is it even Easter if there is no chocolate on the menu? These chocolate Easter nests are almost too cute to eat – but trust me, you’ll find a way.
These blueberry jam bars bring a sweet and tangy burst of goodness to the meal. Plus, you can use frozen or thawed blueberries.
This lavender lemon angel food cake feels particularly special, as lavender isn’t an ingredient I use often. Sometimes, if I’m out of lavender, I’ll use ¼ teaspoon of rosemary instead.
These coconut lemon sugar cookies are chewy and bright – plus, they freeze super well, so you can always save some for later! (or eat them all – it is Easter, after all!)
