Southern Easter Menu full of favorite recipes with make-ahead cooking timeline for an easy, delicious Easter meal with family and friends.

A make-ahead Southern Easter menu is essential in my book. You see, a Southern Easter lunch or supper is a meal that is full of everyone’s favorites in my family. While the eggs have been dyed and hidden in every imaginable hiding spot for the younger members of the family to find, this simple and easy Easter meal is ready to be enjoyed as soon as the prize egg is found! It is made even easier with my make-ahead timeline that allows you to fully enjoy the celebration of the day!

Make-Ahead Southern Easter Menu

Photograph of cooked ham on a white platter.

Easy Glazed Ham

Close photograph of skillet Mac and Cheese

Macaroni and Cheese

Slow Cooker Green Beans Recipe - These are the best slow cooker green beans and have everyone coming back for more! // addapinch.com

Slow Cooker Green Beans

squash-casserole-DSC_1981

Squash Casserole

Deviled eggs make the perfect appetizer or side dish for family meals, parties, holidays, potlucks, picnics and more. This simple and classic deviled eggs recipe is a family favorite! // addapinch.com

Deviled Eggs

Strawberry Pretzel Salad on plate with fork - addapinch.com

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Ultimate Coconut Cake

Southern Banana Pudding Recipe - An heirloom family recipe for banana pudding that is a classic, Southern dessert. Creamy, traditional banana pudding topped with airy meringue. // addapinch.com

Southern Banana Pudding

Lemonade Recipe - Refreshing homemade Fresh Lemonade recipe made with fresh lemons! It's a classic delicious drink perfect for any occasion! Makes the perfect cold drink and is such a family favorite! // addapinch.com

Fresh Lemonade

This Southern Sweet Tea recipe is smooth, sweet, and delicious! It includes tried-and-true tips for how to make sweet tea that everyone loves! // addapinch.com

Southern Sweet Tea


Make Ahead Southern Easter Menu Timeline

You can easily prepare much of this meal ahead of time and keep in the refrigerator to be warmed for Easter lunch or supper.

Two Days Prior 

Prepare the following dishes, cover tightly, and store in the refrigerator.

  • Ham
  • Macaroni and Cheese
  • Green Beans
  • Squash Casserole
  • Deviled Eggs
  • Strawberry Pretzel Salad

One Day Prior

Set tables.

Arrange serving platters and utensils on buffet or table. Use placeholders to identify which dishes will go in each of the platters.

Prepare the following dishes and store in refrigerator.

  • Ultimate Coconut Cake
  • Banana Pudding
  • Lemonade
  • Sweet Tea

I’ve included two desserts so that you can choose one or make both if you wish or need them for a large crowd.

1 Hour Prior

Reheat the following dishes.

  • Ham
  • Macaroni and Cheese
  • Squash Casserole

30 Minutes Prior

Reheat the following dishes.

  • Green Beans

10 Minutes Prior

Place everything on buffet for serving.


And remember, no matter what you choose to serve on your Easter menu, most important is the celebration of the resurrection of our savior, Jesus Christ!

May the glory and the promise of this blessed time bring joy and hope in the promise to you and yours this Easter!

Enjoy!
Robyn xo

Welcome to Add A Pinch

About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

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20 Comments

  1. Ha! I know what you mean. They couldn’t be easier to make, but still… if staring works, I’m in!

  2. I want every one of those dishes on my Easter table. Especially the squash casserole. I’m a squash freak. In a good way. 😉

    1. I knew I loved you, Karly! I could eat just that squash casserole and be a very happy girl! YUM!

  3. What a great post! The food looks so scrumptious, and the timeline is so helpful. Thanks for sharing. Happy Easter!

    1. Thanks so much, Mary. I know cooking with a timeline helps me when preparing a large meal, so I thought I’d share my timeline for the week. Makes things so much easier! Have a great week! xoxo

    1. Thanks, Deborah! I’m always excited for Easter, too. One of my favorite holidays.

    1. There’s something about ham and Easter that just makes me start thinking of it weeks in advance. Always soooo good.