8 Quick and Easy Sides for Your Easter Feast

You can prep these while the ham (or lamb) is in the oven.

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Photo by: Christina Holmes ©2013

Christina Holmes , 2013

You might be ready to Easter ham (or lamb) it up this Sunday, but what about the sides? Cut down on kitchen time and fill out your Easter spread with these quick and tasty recipes.

Let beautifully colored rainbow carrots do all the work with some rustic preparation and plating. Once they're scrubbed clean, the carrots need little more than olive oil, salt and a quick turn in the oven (plus an eye-catching sprinkle of chives) to be table-ready.

In addition to dressing up what might be an otherwise humdrum salad, sherry shallot vinaigrette and roasted pecans can both be made well ahead of time. All you'll need on the day is a minute to toss everything together as guests arrive.

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Photo by: Yunhee Kim

Yunhee Kim

Peas and Pancetta - 20 Minutes

Never underestimate the power of pancetta. The smoky-salty Italian bacon works its magic here to flavor and elevate fresh peas to Easter-worthiness in just 20 minutes.

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Photo by: Antonis Achilleos

Antonis Achilleos

If you're making deviled eggs, put one or two hard-boiled eggs aside for this simple but Easter-appropriate (because, eggs!) dish made with some blanched broccolini and a shallot vinaigrette. Ready in just under 10 minutes, you can prep this one at the last minute while your main dish is resting.

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Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Matt Armendariz, 2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

While we love in-season strawberries in a spring dessert, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention how wonderfully they work in a salad. In this recipe, Alex Guarnaschelli pairs strawberries simply with arugula and a sherry vinaigrette to play up the sweet and tart flavors of the fruit.

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Photo by: Con Poulos

Con Poulos

While a scalloped dish made with large russet potatoes can take well over an hour, this potato recipe cuts down on cook time with baby Yukon gold and red-skinned potatoes, which are parboiled then roasted for a table-ready side in 35 minutes.

Steamed Asparagus - 10 Minutes

Roasted asparagus is great...if you have the time for it. If you end up on Easter morning with a bunch of asparagus and no time to roast, a 5-minute steam will have your asparagus fork-ready and delicious in a fifth of the time.

Episode 1  Brunswich Stew

Easiest Muffins

Episode 1 Brunswich Stew

Photo by: Ray Kachatorian ©2012, Televison Food Network. G.P. All Rights Reserved

Ray Kachatorian, 2012, Televison Food Network. G.P. All Rights Reserved

Easiest Muffins - 25 Minutes

Balance out the cornucopia of greens on your Easter table with these beyond easy baked goods. Trisha Yearwood uses self-rising flour, sour cream, margarine and cooking spray (for the pan—you can also use muffin cups) for fluffy homemade muffins in 25 minutes.

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