Looking for some fast and easy side dishes for your Easter feast? These three satisfying sides are the perfect accompaniment to any holiday table. Not only are these recipes easy to make, but you’ll also be pleasantly surprised at how great they taste!
- Roasted carrots – Preheat oven to 400˚F. Wash, peel, and cut 2 lbs. of whole carrots into 2” pieces. Toss carrots with 3 T. of your favorite olive oil until coated. Season with salt and cracked black pepper to taste. Roast carrots in a single layer on a prepared baking sheet (lined with parchment paper or non-stick foil for easy clean-up) until carrots are fork-tender, about 25 to 30 mins. Remove from oven. When warm, garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve.
2. Roasted Asparagus – Preheat oven to 400˚F. Wash two bunches of fresh asparagus, trim and discard tough and wooly ends, and leave the rest of the spear whole. Gently toss with 4 T. of your favorite olive oil until coated. Sprinkle with 4 T. of grated parmesan cheese, 2 cloves of minced garlic, or 1 t. garlic powder, salt, and cracked black pepper to taste. Roast asparagus in a single layer on a prepared baking sheet (lined with parchment paper or non-stick foil for easy clean-up) until asparagus is tender, about 12 to 15 minutes (time may vary due to thickness of stems). When warm, drizzle with a little lemon juice from a fresh lemon to taste (optional) and serve.
3. Smashed potatoes with crumbled bacon & blue cheese (optional) – Cook ½ package of bacon until crispy. Pat off grease, cool, crumble and set aside. Wash, but do not peel the potatoes. Boil one dozen small potatoes with 1 t. salt until just fork tender. (Time will vary due to thickness of potatoes – on average about 18 to 20 mins.) When fork tender, drain the potatoes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400˚F. While still warm, place the potatoes on a prepared baking dish (lined with parchment paper or non-stick foil for easy clean-up). Find a glass with a flat bottom, or use a mug. Press each potato with the glass or mug bottom to flatten. The skin will crack and expose parts of the potato. Then generously brush on some olive oil or melted butter (or a combination – about 3 T. altogether) to coat onto the potatoes. Sprinkle with salt and cracked black pepper to taste, and sprinkle with about 2 T. Parmesan cheese. Bake potatoes in the oven until crispy and golden (about ½ hour but may vary with potato sizes). Remove from oven. When warm, top with crispy bacon and crumbled blue cheese (optional).
These favorite side dishes are a perfect accompaniment to many varieties of meats, including Easter favorites such as ham, turkey, or beef. The recipes can also be doubled to elegantly stretch a meal to feed a hungry crowd. As a bonus, these tasty sides require only minimal time and ingredients. Plus, they are simple to transport and reheat. What’s not to love?
