The Best Easter Sunday Brunch Menu Ideas (Make-Ahead & Easy)
About three weeks before Easter, I start planning my menu, and if you’re hosting this year, this post has everything you need to pull off an impressive, stress-free Easter Sunday brunch.
Whether you have little ones to get ready for church or you’re hosting a big family gathering, the key is preparing as much as possible ahead of time. In this post you’ll find make-ahead breakfast casseroles, easy side dishes, Easter brunch drinks, and even ideas for Easter dinner. All tested and loved in my own home.
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Make-Ahead Easter Breakfast Casserole
The centerpiece of any great Easter brunch menu is a make-ahead breakfast casserole. Why? You prep it the night before, refrigerate it, and simply pop it in the oven Easter morning while the kids are hunting for eggs. No stress, minimal cleanup.
My go-to base uses some type of bread soaked in an egg-and-milk custard mixture. Here’s how to build your perfect casserole:
Choose Your Base
- Bread-based: croissants, brioche, crescent rolls, or sliced bread
- Potato-based: tater tots, hash browns, or thinly sliced potatoes
Choose Your Protein
- Diced ham (our family favorite)
- Cooked crumbled sausage
- Crispy bacon
- Smoked salmon (for a more elevated brunch)
Add Vegetables
- Asparagus (very spring-forward)
- Spinach or baby kale
- Cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, green onions, or yellow onions
Cheese & Finishing Touches
- Shredded sharp cheddar, a classic crowd-pleaser
- Parmesan or Gruyère for a more sophisticated flavor
- Crème fraîche or cream cheese for extra creaminess
- Fresh thyme, rosemary, or chives for a garden-fresh finish
Egg and Ham Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 loaf whole wheat bread
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 2 cups diced ham
- 6 eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 6 tbsp melted butter
Instructions
- Cut the crust off the bread and cube. I do it in piles of 4-5 slices and cut the crust off the bread with a serrated knife. Then I cut the slices into cubes. Discard the heels of the bread.
- Grease the 9 x 13 casserole pan. Layer bread, cheese, and ham. In a large bowl mix the eggs, eggs, salt, and pepper. Pour over the bread, cheese, and ham. Cover with plastic wrap and then foil. Refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning pre-heat the over to 400°.
- Take the plastic wrap and foil off the casserole and evenly pour the melted butter over the whole casserole.
- Make a tent with the foil over the pan. Bake for 40 minutes. Take the foil off and bake for 10 more minutes to get a little crispy.
- Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
If you prefer something sweet rather than savory, a French toast bake is another great make-ahead option. Just assemble it the night before, and it bakes up golden and custardy the next morning.
Best Side Dishes for Your Easter Brunch Menu
The beauty of an Easter brunch spread is that everything can be prepped or purchased ahead of time. Here are my favorite sides to round out the table:
All of these can be prepared or purchased ahead of time.
Sweet Sides & Pastries
- Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes—bright, spring citrus flavor (recipe below)
- Carrot Cake Muffins—festive, easy to make ahead, and on-theme
- Coffee Cakes—a brunch classic that travels well
- Hot cross buns—a traditional Easter staple
Savory Sides
- Deviled Eggs—Use the hard-boiled eggs from your Easter egg dyeing
- Bagel Board with cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers, and red onion
- Spring Quiche—I like asparagus and Gruyère, but you can make it your own
- Shrimp Cocktail—elegant and easy
Fresh & Light Sides
- Yogurt Parfait Bar: Set out Greek yogurt, fresh berries, granola, banana, honey, and brown sugar for guests to build their own
- Fresh Fruit Salad with a honey-lime drizzle
- Jello Molds—a nostalgic Easter tradition
If anyone from my family is reading this, they are laughing because I can’t make a Jell-O mold to save my life.
Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
Ingredients
For Muffins
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp poppy seeds
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1-1/2 cup plain whole milk yogurt
- 2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1-1/2 tbsp grated lemon zest
- 2 large eggs
- 8 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled
For the Glaze
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- course sugar for sprinkling
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat the oven to 375°
- Place muffin cups into the muffin pan
- Whisk all dry ingredients together and set aside
- In a separate bowl, whisk the yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest and eggs until smooth
- Gently fold the yogurt mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in the melted butter. Do not over mix as that can make the muffins dense.
- Using an ice cream scoop, divide the mixture evenly into the muffin cups.
- Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes or until they are golden brown and a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Rotate the muffin pan 1/2 way through the baking process.
Glaze
- While the muffins are baking, stir the lemon juice and sugar together in a small saucepan. Stirring until it makes a light syrup. About 3-5 minutes.
- Remove baked muffins from the oven and brush the top with lemon syrup and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Let them cool for about 10 minutes before you serve.
Nutrition
Sample Easter Brunch Menu (Feeds 8-10)
If You Have More Time: Classic Easter Brunch Recipes
Have a slower morning? These from-scratch dishes are worth the extra effort:
- Eggs Benedict-toasted English muffins, Canadian bacon, poached eggs, and hollandaise sauce. Swap bacon for smoked salmon or asparagus for a spring twist.
- Classic French Toast – or make a French Toast Bake the night before for easier serving
- Fluffy Pancakes with maple syrup and fresh berries
Asparagus Quiche
Ingredients
- 1 store bought pie crust
- 6 eggs
- 1 cup half & half
- 2 tbsp finely chopped thyme
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese heaping cup
- 4 oz bite sized pieces of asparagus
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Whisk together eggs, half-and-half, herbs, mustard, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the mixture into the pie crust.
- Evenly distribute 1/2 of the cheese over the top of the egg mixture, then the asparagus, followed by the remainder of the cheese.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes until golden on the top.
- Let it sit for about 5 minutes before cutting and serving.
Notes
Nutrition
I’ve also made this quick egg bake. It’s a little more prep on Sunday but it’s delicious.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 pieces bacon
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 6-8 eggs
- 1 cup half & half or heavy cream
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- dash of grated nutmeg
- dash of cayenne pepper
- 2 green onions Finely sliced
- 1 cup Gruyère Cheese I used a Gruyère/swiss mix
- 1 tbsp fresh chives for garnish
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375°
- Cook bacon until crispy, crumble, and set aside.
- Put oil and butter in a cast iron skillet and heat on medium heat.
- Whisk eggs and then add cream and whisk together with spices; set aside.
- Put sliced green onions into melted, hot butter and stir while cooking for 1 minute.
- Add egg mixture to hot skillet.
- Add cheese and cooked bacon to the egg mixture in the pan and stir together.
- Turn the heat down a bit and let it cook for about 4-5 minutes. Working your way around the skillet, pull the egg from the side, letting the liquid egg mixture move to the sides. Do this twice.
- Put the cast iron skillet into the oven and let it cook until the mixture is cooked through, about 20-25 minutes.
- Let it sit for about 3 minutes and then cut it into pie-shaped pieces and serve. Garnish with chives.
Notes
Nutrition
Fun Easter Brunch Drinks & Cocktails
No Easter brunch is complete without a signature drink or two! Set up a self-serve drink station so guests can mix and mingle without you playing bartender all morning.
Alcoholic Options
- Mimosa Bar—offer orange juice, cranberry-raspberry juice, and lemonade; let guests choose their mixer of choice.
- Bloody Marys—make the mix ahead, set out garnishes
- White Wine Spritzer with fruit ice cubes (freeze berries or citrus slices into ice cubes the night before).
Non-Alcoholic Options
- Coffee drinks like Dalgona Coffee
- Sparkling water with fruit ice cubes—easy and elegant
- Fresh juices from the mimosa bar
Easter Dinner Ideas
Some families prefer to graze through the morning and save their appetite for a proper Easter dinner. Here are the classics on many Easter dinner menus.
Dinner Main Courses for Easter
- Glazed Ham—A perennial Easter favorite; a honey-brown sugar-mustard glaze caramelized beautifully.
- Leg of Lamb with rosemary and garlic—deeply tied to Easter tradition
- Prime Rib—impressive and perfect for a crowd
- Beef Tenderloin—elegant, surprisingly easy, and always a showstopper
- Roast Chicken with lemon and thyme—a lighter, more accessible option
Easter Dinner Side Dishes
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- Roasted Asparagus, Carrots, or Brussels Sprouts
- Spring Green Salad with homemade ranch dressing
- Buttery Dinner Rolls
Easter Egg Hunt Tips to Cap Off the Day
Our kids are grown, but they still look forward to the egg hunt every year. We fill plastic eggs with a mix of candy and dollar bills. We have also hidden craft beers and given them an empty wooden six-pack holder as an Easter basket. You’re never too old for fun.
Now that we have a little grandson, we are hiding toddler-friendly eggs with a healthy treat, a sticker, or a small toy. For older kids, you could put treats tailored to their interests that make them feel special long after Easter. I’m thinking gift cards or experience gifts (trip to the movies, etc.)
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Celebratory Brunch
If you want my step-by-step timeline for planning a brunch, you can find it HERE.
Whether it’s recipes for your Easter, Mother’s Day, or brunch with friends, these are great recipes for your celebration.
Peace, Love, and Easter Blessings,
A great way to remember these recipes is to save them to your Pinterest boards. You can find the pin button in the top right corner of the photo below. Also, don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest.
Meet Me
My name is Lynn. I live in the suburbs of Chicago in a 1,300 sq. ft. home with my Handy husband, Keith.
I’m an open book about my life on my blog. You can find out more about me by visiting my “About Me” page.
Featured
How many eggs?
My friend Leslie caught that this morning so I updated it LOL – I need an editor!
Loved the egg bake! I had never had it and served it for a friend this weekend as a make one take one to send home with her. Used half to make us each a mini one. Delicious!
Hi Sweetie – Did you see I forgot the eggs in the recipes? Leslie caught it and I fixed it this morning. HAHA – I need an editor!
Lynn,
Your table looks so beautiful and your menu sounds delicious! Happy Palm Sunday!
Blessings to you.
Thank You Renae – My table was so fun to make. I like to have a pretty table even if nothing special is going on! Hope you had an amazing weekend. It’s going to be a busy week for me!
It sounds delicious! We will be just the two of us and have yet to decide the menu, except for the carrot cake and the hot cross buns!
How about a festive charcuterie board and just graze all day? Keith and I do that a lot because it’s just the two of us. I love the idea of carrot cake. I don’t know that I’ve ever made one but I love it. I’m not much of a sweet eater but I will have a piece of carrot cake
Lynn, everyone of these recipes looks delicious! I’m always looking for new egg dishes and I cant wait to try our all of them! Happy Easter!!
Hi Susan – I make a lot of things with eggs. When you have chickens in your backyard, there is always an abundance.
It all looks and sounds delicious, I am featuring you on my post tomorrow.
Thank you my friend!