Easy Easter Appetizers and Sides
Southern Sweet & Spicy Deviled Eggs with Bacon
Recipe by FarmHER Kitchen
Let’s be honest: Easter isn’t Easter without at least one plate of deviled eggs on the table. A family favorite of FarmHER + RanchHER CEO Raquel Gottsch Koehler, Southern Sweet & Spicy Deviled Eggs with Bacon is a traditional deviled egg recipe—with a twist! While these always make her family’s Easter table, they have become so popular in the Koehler household that Raquel’s stepkids ask her to make them all year! And she always says yes! The sweet pickles, one of the essential ingredients in this recipe, bring back memories of her Granny, who made her homemade version every year.
Pickled Watermelon Rinds
Recipe by FarmHER Kitchen
Speaking of pickles, here’s a simple recipe to add some intrigue to the table: FarmHER Kitchen’s Watermelon Pickles! Watermelon rinds can be eaten raw but are fibrous and relatively flavorless. However, they make an excellent pickle! Pickled Watermelon Rinds are savory, crunchy, and tangy, with just a hint of sweetness and spice. Making them is also a great way to make your kitchen slightly more sustainable!
After chatting with two amazing Ag InnovatHERs, Katie Southern and Jessica Ell of AgroRenew, I was inspired by their groundbreaking product, which repurposes watermelon crop waste to create 100% biodegradable plastic. While I don’t have the equipment in my kitchen to perform that feat, I tried to embody that same spirit developing this Southern-Style Pickled Watermelon Rinds recipe, which uses as much of the melon as possible. This recipe also takes inspiration from the array of pickles my grandmother used to make with her garden scraps. So, whether you want to whip up a simple fruit salad, something more savory (like a watermelon and feta salad!), or watermelon lemonade, hang on to the rinds to whip up some watermelon pickles.
Southern-Style Broccoli Salad
Recipe by FarmHer Kitchen
FarmHER Kitchen‘s Southern-Style Broccoli Salad is the perfect blend of creamy, crunchy textures and smoky, salty, and sweet flavors. With crispy bacon, toasted nuts, tangy apple cider vinegar, sharp cheddar cheese, and a hint of sweetness from dried cranberries, this crowd-pleasing side salad is a delicious way to round out your Easter brunch spread. And the best part? It can be served warm or chilled, but real cooks know it’s always best when made the day before!
Easter Brunch Main Dishes and Sides
Santa Maria-Style Tri-Tip Steak Biscuit Sandwiches
Recipe by FarmHER Kitchen
Want to make juicy, tender steak to feed a group in an hour or less? Look no further than Santa Maria-Style Tri-Tip Steak! Tri-tip is incredibly versatile in seasoning and can be made with dry and wet rubs. Our simple dry rub recipe contains a mix of kosher salt, black pepper, granulated garlic, and cayenne pepper for a bit of heat that lets the quality of this classic California cut of beef take centerstage before it’s grilled to perfection, just like they do in the Santa Maria Valley.
However, when it comes to your Easter brunch menu, we’d recommend serving this meat in thin slices or as a simple breakfast sandwich with homemade biscuits. Our Santa Maria Style Tri-Tip Biscuit Sandwich recipe will be a perfect breakfast-forward addition to your spread! The tri-tip’s rich, smoky, and savory flavors pair beautifully with a homemade biscuit’s flaky, buttery goodness, creating a hearty yet elegant dish that will impress your guests. Plus, it’s easy to prepare in advance, so you can enjoy more time with family while serving something unique and delicious!
Deanne’s Easy Ham & Cheese Sliders
Recipe by This Farm Girl Cooks
This deliciously easy slider recipe could be a last-minute appetizer or a staple main dish for a family-friendly brunch spread. Our friend and FarmHER Deanne Frieders (from This Farm Girl Cooks) likes to call them “funeral sandwiches” since they are notorious for being served at church gatherings in the Midwest and the South! One thing’s for sure: Deanne’s Easy Ham & Cheese Sliders are nothing to be sad about! (Unless they all get devoured before you can grab seconds!)
Crockpot Carnitas
Recipe by FarmHER Kitchen
Putting together a big brunch takes a lot of effort and planning. Sometimes, the best modus operandi for a main dish that can “feed the 5000” is a set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker recipe. Our Crockpot Carnitas recipe is just that! It combines slow-cooked pork infused with a vibrant sofrito marinade crafted with fresh citrus, garlic, jalapenos, and a blend of spices. The result is irresistibly juicy meat, crisped to perfection in a skillet for added texture.
This recipe only requires about 45 minutes of prep before you let your slow cooker do the rest. After it’s cooked low and slow, the pork will become fall-apart-tender and develop rich, deep flavors. Carnitas only needs fresh toppings like sliced red onion, cilantro, and lime wedges to shine. Serve it solo or set up a simple station to let guests build their tacos. Depending on the size of your pork butt, this recipe can feed anywhere from a few people (with lots of leftovers!) to a few dozen.
Sweet Treats for Easter Brunch
Regarding the sweeter elements of an Easter meal, we feel the focus should be on the adults at the party. The kids will get plenty of candy from the egg hunt. Here are a few sweet options for your Easter brunch:
Sheet Pan Pumpkin Pancakes
Recipe by FarmHER Kitchen
If you’ve ever dreamed of making warm, delicious pancakes for a crowd, you will love our Sheet-Pan Pumpkin Pancake recipe! Since the base of this relies on boxed pancake mix, it is exceptionally effortless. However, we also incorporated a can of pumpkin puree and warming spices like cinnamon and clove for a fun twist on classic pancakes. We know pumpkin is more of a fall flavor, so feel free to omit it and follow the box directions for buttermilk pancakes. (NOTE: Even if it says you “only need water,” just trust me and use buttermilk instead!)
This sheet-pan pancake recipe is also endlessly customizable in terms of toppings. We leaned on classic accompaniments like chocolate chips, pecans, and a mountain of powdered sugar, but feel free to switch those up for something that screams “SPRING!” Perhaps homemade strawberry sauce instead of maple syrup? Truly, the options are limitless when you aren’t chained to the stove all morning flipping flapjacks!
Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies with Flaky Sea Salt
Recipe by FarmHER Kitchen
Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or craving a homemade treat, this go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe by FarmHER Kitchen will guide you to chocolate nirvana. Our Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies with Flaky Sea Salt recipe delivers a timeless treat elevated by a hint of modern flair. With golden-brown edges, soft and chewy centers, and generous chunks of semi-sweet chocolate, these cookies balance the rich sweetness of high-quality baking chocolate and the subtle crunch of sea salt that slowly melts in your mouth as you savor each bite. Follow our simple steps and tips to create a batch that’s as rewarding to make as it is to enjoy.
Marranitos (Mexican-Inspired Gingerbread Cookie Recipe)
Recipe by FarmHER Kitchen
If you want to get your kids in the kitchen this Easter, whip up some Marranitos, or Mexican pig-shaped gingerbread cookies, a fun and festive treat perfect for Easter brunch! These soft, molasses-kissed cookies pair beautifully with coffee or tea, making them a delightful addition to a springtime celebration. Plus, they’re easy to bake ahead of time, so you can focus on decorating them and enjoying the holiday with loved ones! Their warm, spiced flavor adds a cozy touch to your spread, while their adorable pig shape brings a playful and symbolic nod to farm life and new beginnings. Since the recipe calls for a special cookie cutter, consider swapping it with the ones you already have. (Bunnies, easter eggs, and other spring symbols would also be excellent choices!)
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