37 Impressive Mains Worthy of a Spot on Your Easter Table

The roast is the centerpiece of any holiday table. Make sure yours is a showstopper with these delicious recipes for ham, lamb, pork roast and more.

March 28, 2022

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The Main Event

There’s plenty to look forward to on Easter Sunday, from egg hunts and baskets full of goodies to holiday brunch and the absolute cutest treats. But, everyone knows that the highlight of the day is sitting down with family and friends to share a feast. Appetizers, side dishes like scalloped potatoes and seasonal veggies and, of course, a perfectly cooked roast. Whether you choose ham, lamb or something else, these recipes will help you get an impressive main dish on the table with ease, even if you choose a special-occasion cut (that you don’t normally cook) like a crown roast. Talk to your butcher (who can french and shape the roast for you) so that all you have to do when you get home is follow this foolproof method for cooking it.

Get the Recipe: Crown Roast of Lamb

Honey Mustard-Glazed Ham

Trisha combines honey, brown sugar and country Dijon mustard to make a simple yet tasty glaze for her Easter ham.

Get the Recipe: Honey Mustard-Glazed Ham

Crispy Roasted Porchetta

This gorgeous rolled porchetta looks as good as it tastes. Garlic, fresh herbs and sweet citrus zest give the pork roll tons of flavor — along with it's signature swirl.

Get the Recipe: Crispy Roasted Porchetta

Roasted Fresh Ham with Cider Glaze

Combine parsley, sage, garlic and mustard seeds to prepare a fragrant rub for this crowd-pleasing, bone-in ham.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Fresh Ham with Cider Glaze

Spice-Rubbed Lamb Chops with Green Beans

These aromatic lamb chops pair perfectly with a simple side of green beans and shallots. Add pine nuts for a flavorful crunch.

Get the Recipe: Spice Rubbed Lamb Chops with Green Beans

Baked Ham with Orange-Pepper Glaze

Hints of orange and spicy pepper jelly really shine through in this sweet-and-savory glazed ham.

Get the Recipe: Baked Ham with Orange-Pepper Glaze

Ina's Panko-Crusted Rack of Lamb

The magic behind this rack of lamb comes from its golden-brown crust. To make it, Ina mixes creamy goat cheese with garlic, rosemary, thyme and pepper. For a more elegant tablescape, ask your butcher to "french" your lamb chops.

Get the Recipe: Panko-Crusted Rack of Lamb

Slow-Cooker Ham with Apricot-Dijon Glaze

This super-convenient ham leaves your oven free for all the sides. For an easy variation on the glaze, try peach or pineapple preserves.

Get the Recipe: Slow-Cooker Ham with Apricot-Dijon Glaze

Slow-Roasted Salmon with Cucumber-Dill Salad

Serve roasted salmon with an invigorating cucumber salad flavored with dill, orange zest and cayenne. The salad's fresh, spring flavors complement the fish's turmeric seasoning.

Get the Recipe: Slow-Roasted Salmon with Cucumber Dill Salad

Glazed Smoked Ham

Pull this recipe off without a hitch by scoring a crosshatch pattern into the ham skin and fat. The grooves will prevent the fragrant apricot glaze from dripping off, ensuring optimal flavor.

Get the Recipe: Glazed Smoked Ham

Roasted Rack of Lamb With Mint Pesto

Sandra's homemade pesto with mint and walnuts pairs perfectly with her roasted rack of lamb and can be whipped up ahead of time.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Rack of Lamb with Mint Pesto

Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Mustard Glaze

Sugar, mustard and vinegar are the only ingredients you need to glaze this easy Easter ham.

Get the Recipe: Baked Ham with Brown Sugar Mustard Glaze

Herbed Leg of Lamb with Roasted Turnips

By rendering the fat first, this lamb can take a second trip with an herb rubdown and vegetables added to soak up flavorful but not-so-fatty pan juices.

Get the Recipe: Herbed Leg of Lamb With Roasted Turnips

Roast Pork with Creamy Peas

Make roasted pork loin the star of your Easter celebration this year.

Get the Recipe: Roast Pork With Creamy Peas

Baked Ham with Spiced Cherry Glaze

Melissa glazes her ham in a horseradish and brown sugar glaze, plus a key sweet ingredient: cherry preserves.

Get the Recipe: Baked Ham with Spiced Cherry Glaze

Roast Leg of Lamb with Ginger and Mint

The night before Easter, rub the lamb with a garlic-ginger paste and refrigerate overnight. The next morning, all that’s needed is a few hours in the oven and a quick pan gravy.

Get the Recipe: Roast Leg of Lamb with Ginger and Mint

Glazed Pineapple Ham

Slice your way through this extra sweet pineapple and ham combo – perfect for Sunday dinner.

Get the Recipe: Glazed Pineapple Ham

Herb and Garlic Roast Pork Loin with Honey-Mustard Sauce

For a picture-perfect crust, brush roast pork loin with Dijon mustard, then roll in toasted panko until coated. A drizzle of tangy honey-mustard sauce will put this dish over the top.

Get the Recipe: Herb and Garlic Roast Pork Loin with Honey Mustard Sauce

Instant Pot Whiskey and Honey Glazed Ham

Lock in the sweet taste of this honey-glazed whisky ham with help from the Instant Pot!

Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Whiskey and Honey Glazed Ham

Lamb Chops with Tomato-Mint Jam

Sear and then bake lamb chops before topping with homemade tomato-mint jam.

Get the Recipe: Lamb Chops With Tomato-Mint Jam

Orange-and-Pineapple Hasselback Ham

This Easter ham is as visually stunning as it is bursting with flavor. To create this eye-catching caramelized showstopper, make eight to ten cuts into your ham and insert thinly sliced oranges and pineapple inside.

Get the Recipe: Orange-and-Pineapple Hasselback Ham

Pancetta-Wrapped Pork Roast

Giada treats this pork loin to a garlic-rosemary-thyme paste before locking the flavors in a pancetta wrapping.

Get the Recipe: Pancetta-Wrapped Pork Roast

Amazing Glazed Ham

The secret for mouth-watering ham in every bite? Let the glaze not only cover the surface but let it fall between the thin slices to seal in all the flavor.

Get the Recipe: Amazing Glazed Ham

Lamb Chops with Eggplant Caponata

Caponata, an Italian relish, is ideal for the holidays: You can make it ahead and keep it in the fridge for about a week.

Get the Recipe: Lamb Chops with Eggplant Caponata

Tyler's Tangerine-Glazed Easter Ham

Tyler studs the glaze with thin slices of fresh tangerine, creating crispy caramelized fruit and a beautiful presentation.

Get the Recipe: Tangerine-Glazed Easter Ham With Baby Carrots

Stuffed Hasselback Ham

A showstopping holiday centerpiece combining three different sides with a hearty main. What more do you need?

Get the Recipe: Stuffed Hasselback Ham

Roasted Sweet Vidalia Pork Loin

Pork loin is the perfect choice for celebratory dinners and family get-togethers, Easter included. It looks stunning on the table — but is easy to make.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Sweet Vidalia Pork Loin

Classic Glazed Ham

Get Food Network Magazine's tips to choose the best-quality ham, then choose one of four mix-and-match glazes for a delicious, customized main dish.

Get the Recipe: Classic Glazed Ham

Ginger-Peach Glazed Ham

Glaze your holiday ham with a flavor-packed glaze made from peach preserves, mustard, ginger and raspberry vinegar.

Get the Recipe: Ginger-Peach Glazed Ham

Orange Baked Ham

Ina dolls up ham with a glaze that comes at you with three types of orange flavor: marmalade, juice and the zest.

Get the Recipe: Orange Baked Ham

Spicy Honey-Glazed Ham

Guests will adore this five-star ham recipe. Sugar, honey, hot sauce and red pepper flakes come together to form the sweet-and-spicy glaze.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Honey-Glazed Ham

Fresh Ham with Tuscan Bread Stuffing

This centerpiece dish will be well worth the time and care. Following Tyler's recipe, you'll make ham broth from scratch, a rich stuffing with pine nuts and olives and treat your ham to a rubdown of a flavor-packed herb paste before those flavors meld together as they roast for hours.

Get the Recipe: Fresh Ham with Tuscan Bread Stuffing

Cobb Style Meat Loaf, Spinach Salad with Dijon Dressing

Use some of your Easter hard-boiled eggs in this meatloaf recipe for an unexpected treat.

Get the Recipe: Cobb Style Meat Loaf, Spinach Salad with Dijon Dressing

Sandra's Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

Let Sandra show you how to expertly bake ham with her simply delicious brown sugar glaze.

Get the Recipe: Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

Brandy Peppercorn Honey Glazed Ham

Reduced brandy, honey and peppercorns make the perfect glaze for this easy ham.

Get the Recipe: Brandy Peppercorn Honey Glazed Ham

Perfect Glazed Ham

Here's how to make perfect ham, plus three flavor options to spruce it up.

Get the Recipe: Perfect Glazed Ham

Citrus Jalapeno Glazed Ham

This ham has quite the kick thanks to hot pepper jelly and jalapenos.

Get the Recipe: Citrus Jalapeno Glazed Ham

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