Make-ahead Easter sides
Planning an Easter lunch with family and friends? Take the stress out of spring entertaining with our make-ahead Easter sides.
When you’ve got a three-course feast to juggle, it makes sense to prep some dishes in advance and store them in the fridge or freezer until you need to reheat, finish and serve. These versatile side dish recipes work well with lamb, beef, pork, chicken, fish or veggie mains.
There’s all the timeless Sunday lunch sides you’d expect, like golden Yorkshire puddings, creamy gratins, prep-ahead gravy and roast potatoes. Plus, make-ahead Easter sides that celebrate early spring produce. Think a creamy chicory gratin, new-season purple-sprouting broccoli dishes and tender sherry-braised fennel.
Showing 1-16 of 34 recipes
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Carrots
Steamed carrots with spring onion and chive butter
Toss steamed carrots in a punchy spring onion and chive butter and sprinkle with toasted seeds for an easy side dish bursting with flavour.
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Easter
Four cheese, leek and walnut gratin
This multi-layered leek gratin is the ultimate creamy, cheesy side dish. Prep ahead then bake and serve with Easter lunch or a spring roast.
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Easy
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Asparagus
Asparagus caesar salad
Asparagus is a glorious side for any springtime Sunday dinner, and this pretty caesar salad with quails eggs makes the most of its flavour.
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Beetroot
Coffee-baked beetroot with berry glaze
Earthy coffee-baked beetroot with a sweet berry glaze is an easy but impressive spring side dish. Try it alongside roast lamb for Easter.
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Easy
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Leeks
Leek bread and butter pudding
Kathy Slack's leek bread and butter pudding makes for a simple but hearty main, served with a salad. Prepare ahead, then bake when ready.
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Easy
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Gratins
Baked chicory with ham
Chicory wrapped in ham and baked under a cosy blanket of cream, gruyère and parmesan makes a great side for roasts or a veg-led dinner.
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Leeks
Creamy baked leeks
In this cosy side dish recipe, leeks are cooked slowly in cream and cheese until soft and golden. A delicious accompaniment to any roast.
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Easy
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Healthy salads
Orange, fennel and pea shoot salad with walnuts
This zesty orange, fennel and pea shoot salad makes a great spring side dish. Add grilled prawns or halloumi to transform it into a main.
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Easy
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Make-ahead Easter
Mashed potatoes with greens and bacon
For mash with a difference, try our silky mashed potatoes with bacon and greens. Serve alongside beef, lamb or chicken for Easter lunch.
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Easy
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Carrots
Roast carrots with sesame seeds, feta and yogurt
For an easy side recipe with big impact, try roast carrots with sesame, feta and yogurt. This colourful dish can be made up to 2 days ahead.
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Easy
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Roast potatoes
Garlic roast potatoes with bay leaves
Looking for a roast potatoes recipe that won't let you down? Our garlic and bay roast potatoes are crisp and golden with soft fluffy insides.
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Easy
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Gratins
Celeriac and tahini potato gratin
Marcus Wareing's delicious twist on dauphinois includes celeriac and tahini. Serve the creamy gratin with a crisp salad, or with roast beef.
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Easy
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Savoury bread
Jamie Oliver’s garlic bread
Jamie Oliver's scrumptious garlic bread recipe is just made to tear-and-share with friends and family. Bake one tray, freeze the other.
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Easy
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Wild garlic
Wild garlic butter
Now you've foraged for it, are you wondering what to do with your wild garlic? Here's a handy, freezable recipe for wild garlic butter.
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Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes with polenta, balsamic and thyme
You can make these crispy roast potatoes ahead so that, when the meat has cooked, you can pop the potatoes in the oven while the meat rests.
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Easy
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Vegan Christmas
Roast carrots and parsnips with hazelnut dukkah
These Middle Eastern inspired roasted root vegetables combine dukkah, hazelnuts and maple syrup for crunch, sweetness and depth of flavour.
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