Easy Easter Side Dishes | All You Need is a Microwave
The holidays can be stressful! Especially if you are doing the cooking! With most of staying home this year for Easter, it may be the first time you have to cook Easter dinner! Take the stress out of dinner prep with these seven easy Easter side dishes! All you need for these amazingly easy Easter side dishes is a microwave!
Save yourself some time and the mess of cooking without sacrificing any flavor! These easy side dishes never fail to impress! All you’ll need is a microwave, a microwavable casserole dish with a lid and a few other staple kitchen tools (like a bowl and potato peeler) and you are set to start cooking!
Easy Easter Potato Side Dishes:
Did you know that you could make au gratin potatoes in the microwave? In the recipe I wrote that you can scald your milk in the microwave, which you can, but you can also do it on the stove. To scald your milk on the stove simply heat over med-high heat until 180F.
The twice baked potato casserole recipe calls for baked potatoes and includes instructions to bake them in the microwave. However, you can also bake them in the oven. To bake in the oven, simply bake for 45 minutes at 400F.
Au Gratin Potatoes (in the microwave!)
Equipment
- Microwave
Ingredients
- 4 med Potatoes peeled and sliced thin
- 3 tbsp Flour
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 c Ham diced
- 1 c Cheese shredded Cheddar or Velveeta
- 2 tbsp Onion diced
- 1 c Milk scalded
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 1/2 tsp Paprika
Instructions
- Place half of the potatoes in a 9" microwavable casserole dish.
- Mix flour and salt and sprinkle potatoes with half of the mixture.
- Spread half the cheese, ham and onion over the potatoes.
- Repeat with a second layer.
- Scald milk in microwave by cooking on high in 30 second intervals (stirring between) until milk reaches 180F.
- Pour milk over potatoes.
- Dot with butter and sprinkle with paprika.
- Microwave on high for 14 minutes UNCOVERED until potatoes are tender.
Twice Baked Potato Casserole (in the microwave!)
Equipment
- Microwave
Ingredients
- 6 med Potatoes baked
- 3 tbsp Butter melted
- 1 c Sour Cream
- 1 c Shredded Cheddar
- 1/3 c Bacon Bits or 4 cooked slices, crumbled
- 1/4 c Chives
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
Instructions
- Scrub potatoes and poke with a fork.
- Microwave on high for 10 minutes (turning over after 5 minutes)
- Cool in fridge until able to handle.
- Slice potatoes in .5 coins and place in 2 QT microwavable casserole dish.
- Pour butter over potatoes and season with salt and pepper.
- Spread sour cream over potatoes.
- Sprinkle with cheese and bacon.
- Microwave for 10 minutes.
- Garnish with chives and serve!
Easy Easter Vegetable Sides:
You can also do all your vegetables in the microwave! From cauliflower to corn and of course the traditional carrots! The best part is, they can be done in minutes in the microwave!
For more easy side recipes check out:
Quick, Delicious and Nutritious Green Bean Salad
&
Frosted Cauliflower (in the microwave!)
Equipment
- Microwave
Ingredients
- 1 head Cauliflower
- 1/2 c Mayonnaise
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1.5 tsp Prepared mustard
- 3/4 c Shredded Cheddar
- 1/4 tsp Paprika
Instructions
- Wash cauliflower and place in microwaveable 1.5 QT casserole dish with a small amount of water.
- Cover and cook for 5-7 minutes.
- Let stand for 7 minutes.
- Combine mayo, mustard, and salt and microwave 1 minute.
- Stir and then coat cauliflower with mixture.
- Sprinkle with cheese and paprika and microwave for 1 minute.
- Enjoy!
Corn on the Cob (in the microwave!)
Equipment
- Microwave
Ingredients
- 4 ears Corn on the cob in husks
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper optional
- 1 tsp parsley optional
Instructions
- Soak corn in husks in cold water for 10 minutes.
- Drain well. DO NOT DRY.
- Place directly in microwave and cook on high for 12 minutes.
- Let stand 3 minutes before handling.
- Pull back husks and silk and discard.
- Top with butter, salt, pepper and parsley.
- Serve!
Notes
Orange Glazed Carrots (in the microwave!)
Equipment
- Microwave
Ingredients
- 3/4 lb Carrots peeled and julienned (about 3 cups)
- 1/3 c Orange Juice
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- 2 tsp Cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp Salt
Instructions
- Mix sugar, salt, cornstarch and 1 tbsp of orange juice in a small bowl.
- Place carrots and remaining juice in a 1.5 QT microwavable casserole dish.
- Cover and cook on high for 6 minutes,
- Toss cooked carrots with the cornstarch mixture and return to microwave.
- Cook UNCOVERED for an additional 2-3 minutes. (stir every minute)
- Let stand for 5 minutes before serving!
Carrot Ambrosia
Ingredients
- 6 Carrots peeled and grated
- 20 oz Can crushed pineapple drained
- 11 oz Can Mandarin oranges drained
- 7 oz Coconut flakes
- 9 oz Cool Whip
- 3 oz Cream Cheese
- 1 c Mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Soften cream cheese to room temperature.
- Fold cheese into Cool Whip
- In a separate bowl, combine first four ingredients.
- Add cream cheese mixture to the fruit.
- Chill till serving (overnight is best).
- Decorate with marshmallows.
- Serve!
Copper Pennies (in the microwave!)
Equipment
- Microwave
Ingredients
- 2 lb Carrots peeled and sliced into pennies
- 1 can Tomato Soup 10.75oz
- 1 c Sugar
- 1/2 c Vegetable oil
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Dry mustard
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Place sliced carrots in a microwave safe dish.
- Cover with water and cook on high for 3 minutes.
- While cooking, mix the rest of the ingredients in a bowl.
- Drain carrots.
- Pour dressing mixture over carrots.
- Let marinate in fridge overnight.
- Serve cold!
Notes
I hope that these quick and easy Easter side dishes take all the stress out of having to prepare Easter dinner! Let me know what you think in the comments!
Happy Easter!
20 Comments
Beth
I love food that is easy to prepare and tastes great! I’m going to make those au gratin potatoes this weekend.
Angela Fry
Ooh. I would love to try the orange glazed carrots!
Kimmy
I love a good simple dish and these definitely are it! That twice baked potato is calling me.
Chef Dennis
Yum! These side dishes are making me drool right now! I am so excited to make them especially the Au Gratin Potatoes.
Nikki Wayne
I like the twice baked potatoes. So easy to do and sounds so addictive.