17 comfort food sides that belong on every Easter table

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At Easter dinner, everyone’s secretly waiting for the sides. Sure, the ham or lamb gets top billing, but those bowls of creamy potatoes and macaroni salad are what keep people coming back for seconds. This year, skip the stress and stick with these crowd-pleasers that’ll have your guests fighting over the last scoop.

Bowl of Amish macaroni salad with some on a spoon.
Amish Macaroni Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Pistachio Fluff Salad

Pistachio salad topped with nuts and cherries.
Pistachio Fluff Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This retro dessert salad brings a creamy, no-fuss sweetness to your Easter spread with just 5 ingredients and practically zero effort. You can make it ahead of time so you’re not scrambling on the big day, which makes it a smart choice when you’ve got a full menu to pull together.
Get the Recipe: Pistachio Fluff Salad

Pea Salad

Pea salad in a blue bowl.
Pea Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This classic recipe adds a creamy and slightly sweet element to your Easter menu that feels both familiar and comforting. The make-ahead nature means you can cross it off your list early, and the mix of textures keeps things interesting on a table full of heavy dishes.
Get the Recipe: Pea Salad

Campbells Green Bean Casserole

Classic Campbell's Green Bean casserole topped with fried onions.
Campbells Green Bean Casserole. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This classic casserole earns its place at Easter dinner with crispy onions and a creamy sauce that everyone recognizes and loves. You can bake it in the oven or use your air fryer, giving you flexibility depending on how much oven space you’re working with.
Get the Recipe: Campbells Green Bean Casserole

Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes

Close-up of a dish featuring golden baked sliced potatoes garnished with chopped herbs.
Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These creamy, tender potatoes cook themselves in the slow cooker while you focus on everything else for Easter dinner. The hands-off method frees up your oven and your attention, making it easier to pull off a full holiday meal without the stress.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes

7 Layer Salad

Seven layer salad in a bowl.
7 Layer Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This showstopper side brings color and crunch to your Easter table with its signature stacked presentation. The creamy dressing ties together all the veggie layers, and since it’s been a family favorite for generations, it bridges the gap between tradition and something a little more fresh.
Get the Recipe: 7 Layer Salad

Ramen Asian Salad

Three white bowls filled with ramen noodles and vegetables.
Ramen Asian Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This crunchy, fresh salad cuts through the richness of a traditional Easter menu with its crisp cabbage, veggies, and ramen noodles. The Asian-inspired dressing gives your table something a bit different without straying too far from crowd-pleasing territory.
Get the Recipe: Ramen Asian Salad

Amish Butter Noodles

A fork twirling a serving of amish noodles.
Amish Butter Noodles. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These simple buttery noodles are the kind of comfort food side that disappears fast at Easter dinner, especially with kids at the table. With just 4 ingredients and that old-fashioned Amish richness, they’re an easy win when you need something reliable and quick.
Get the Recipe: Amish Butter Noodles

Amish Macaroni Salad

Bowl of Amish macaroni salad with some on a spoon.
Amish Macaroni Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This creamy and slightly sweet macaroni salad is the kind of side that fits right in at Easter gatherings. The simple ingredients come together into something people always go back for seconds of, making it a reliable addition when you’re feeding a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Amish Macaroni Salad

Lemon Basil Orzo Pasta Salad

Orzo pasta salad in a blue flowered bowl.
Lemon Basil Orzo Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This bright and zippy pasta salad brings a fresh spring flavor to your Easter table with just a handful of ingredients. The lemon and basil keep things light, and since it’s so easy to throw together, you won’t be stuck in the kitchen when you’d rather be with your guests.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Basil Orzo Pasta Salad

Air Fryer Carrots

Multicolored carrots with a honey glaze one a plate with a green napkin at the side.
Air Fryer Carrots. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These carrots get crispy edges and fork-tender centers in the air fryer, then get coated in a honey sauce that caramelizes beautifully. They’re a step up from plain roasted carrots for Easter dinner, and the air fryer means you’re not fighting for oven space.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Carrots

Tortellini Pasta Salad

A bowl of tortellini pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, basil, red onions, and a pesto dressing. A spoon is placed on the side of the dish.
Tortellini Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This hearty pasta salad with mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and pesto brings enough substance to your Easter spread that it could almost be a meal on its own. The make-ahead nature is clutch when you’re juggling multiple dishes, and it holds up well even after sitting out for a bit.
Get the Recipe: Tortellini Pasta Salad

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

Top view of blue bowl of mashed potatoes with butter and parsley.
Cheesy Mashed Potatoes. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These creamy mashed potatoes with cream cheese stay smooth and flavorful without getting gummy, which is exactly what you want for a holiday like Easter. They’re rich enough to feel special but familiar enough that everyone at the table will happily load up their plate.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

Pickle Pasta Salad

Bowl of pasta salad with rotini, diced red onion, pickles, dill, and creamy dressing, placed on a red-checked cloth.
Pickle Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This tangy pasta salad gets its punch from dill pickles and creamy dressing, making it a refreshing addition to your Easter lineup. It comes together quickly and you can make it ahead, which is always a plus when you’re prepping for a big meal.
Get the Recipe: Pickle Pasta Salad

Amish Potato Salad

Creamy potato salad with eggs and mayonnaise.
Amish Potato Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This creamy, tangy potato salad with mustard, sugar, and celery seed is the kind of side that’s been showing up at Easter dinners for generations. Make it the day before so the flavors have time to meld and you have one less thing to worry about on the day of.
Get the Recipe: Amish Potato Salad

Ambrosia Salad

A glass bowl of ambrosia salad topped with a cherry, surrounded by marshmallows, pineapple, cherries, and a whole pineapple on a marble surface.
Ambrosia Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This nostalgic fruit salad with whipped topping, coconut, and marshmallows brings a sweet and creamy element to your Easter table. It’s the kind of retro recipe that makes people smile when they see it, and it’s easy enough to put together that you won’t stress over it.
Get the Recipe: Ambrosia Salad

Broccoli Crunch Salad

A close shot of a fork full of broccoli salad.
Broccoli Crunch Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This fresh, crunchy salad with dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, and bacon brings some color and lightness to your Easter spread. The mix of textures keeps things interesting, and it’s a nice counterpoint when the rest of your menu skews heavier.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Crunch Salad

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