Easter, the unofficial kick-off to spring, is around the corner, and it is time for some planning. But not everybody needs to feed a crowd. Let's have a small celebration and make sure there are controllable leftovers.
So, while you color a few eggs and find some toys for the little ones, get a plan together.
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🍽️ Smaller Main Course Recipes
The start of a plan is always the main dish. Here are some delicious but smaller mains.
Crock Pot Small Ham with Brown Sugar-Honey Glaze
Juicy 2–4 lb boneless ham cooked low and slow in your crock pot with a brown sugar-honey glaze and pineapple. Easy, hands-off, and perfect for holidays or smaller gatherings.
Small Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
Small Boneless Prime Rib (Ribeye) Roast
Juicy, tender boneless prime rib (ribeye roast) coated in garlic butter and roasted to perfection. Easy to cook at home for smaller gatherings or holiday dinners.
Small Ribeye Roast
Oven-Roasted Turkey Breast at 350°F (Easy & Juicy)
Roast a tender, juicy turkey breast in the oven the easy way. One steady 350°F temperature, simple seasoning, and no brining or flipping. Works for bone-in or boneless—always finish at 165°F for perfect results.
Baked Turkey Breast Recipe
Filet Mignon in the Oven (Pan-Seared & Oven-Baked Method)
Juicy filet mignon cooked in the oven with a pan-sear for a perfect crust and tender center. Ready in about 20 minutes with simple steps.
Oven Filet Mignon
Turkey Tenderloin Recipe
This Turkey Tenderloin Recipe uses a brief sear on the stovetop, then oven-roasted to finish for a moist and tender turkey. Perfect for a smaller Thanksgiving or other delicious dinner that is lean and healthy for smaller households.
Turkey Tenderloin Recipe
What to Do With Leftover Ham
Leftover ham is a great problem to have, but there are a few challenges, especially for smaller households. Let's deal with it correctly and safely.
Leftover Ham Recipes
🥔 Vegetable Side Dishes
A main dish without sides is not a full meal. They need to be easy to make but also delicious. We always make the cheesy potatoes with the ham.
Cheesy Potatoes with Real Potatoes (No Soup, From Scratch)
Creamy, cheesy comfort food made from scratch—no canned soup or frozen hash browns. Real potatoes, sour cream, and cheddar baked until golden and bubbly.
Cheesy Potatoes with Real Potatoes
Crispy Roasted Baby Red Potatoes
Bake until golden and fork-tender, about 30 minutes for small or baby red potatoes. Simple, crispy, and reliable.
Baked Baby Potatoes
Roasted Asparagus (Easy Oven Recipe)
Learn how to roast asparagus in the oven for crisp-tender results in about 15 minutes. Simple seasoning with optional Parmesan.
Roasted Asparagus Recipe
Baked Green Beans with Bacon
Baked Green Beans with Bacon are the perfect side dish with any meal—an easy green bean recipe with brown sugar, garlic, bacon, and tender green beans.
Frozen Green Bean Recipe
Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
This caramelized Parmesan roasted cauliflower recipe will become your favorite way to cook cauliflower. Using fresh or frozen, it makes a great hot baked side dish.
How to Roast Cauliflower
🍞 Bread Recipes
I'm a bread fanatic. A nice bread completes any meal, and there is nothing like homemade bread.
Easy Dinner Rolls (Quick 60-Minute Recipe)
Soft, buttery, homemade dinner rolls ready in just 60 minutes—perfect quick dinner rolls for weeknights, holidays, or any time you need fresh bread fast. Make 12 rolls or cut the recipe in half for 6.
Easy Dinner Rolls
Lunch Lady Rolls—Small Batch Version
Old fashioned 60s school Lunch Lady Rolls, those wonderful hot rolls everybody loved in the cafeteria. You can now be made with this small batch recipe mixed by hand or in a stand mixer at home.
Small Batch Lunch Lady Rolls
Julia Child's French Bread - Simplified
Not for two, but a wonder loaf for any holiday. Julia Child's French Bread recipe is the ultimate crusty artisan French bread. While it takes some time, it is worth the effort.
Julia Child's French Bread Recipe
🥧 Small Dessert Recipes
Make it an exceptional meal with a sweet ending.
Small Batch Apple Crisp (Easy Fall Dessert for Two or More)
A small old-fashioned apple crisp recipe made with 2–3 apples and a buttery crumb topping. Easy to make and scales for households of two or more.
Small Batch Apple Crisp
Blueberry Crisp for Two or More (Fresh or Frozen Berries)
A small-batch blueberry crisp made with any fresh or frozen berries. Bakes in ramekins or a small dish with a buttery oat topping. Quick, flexible, and easy to make gluten-free.
Berry Crisp for Two
Easy Lemon Bars
Easy lemon bars are delicious and simple to make in under an hour. These homemade lemon squares are a perfect dessert treat with a crispy, buttery shortbread crust and tangy and sweet lemon filling—a small batch 8X8 recipe you can scale to your needs.
Lemon Bar Recipe
Strawberry Pie with Jello (Easy and Reliable Fresh Recipe)
This strawberry pie with Jello is made with fresh berries, a simple homemade glaze, and a ready-made crust. An easy, reliable dessert that’s been a family favorite for nearly 50 years.
Fresh Strawberry Pie Recipe
Apple Berry Crumble
A fast, old-fashioned Apple Berry Crumble that combines apples and berries with a buttery streusel crumb topping. Use fresh berries and apples, or make it "semi-homemade" with frozen berries and a can of apple pie filling. So easy, so good.
Apple Berry Crumble
🐰 Special Easter Treats
Time for a special treat. And don't forget the colored sprinkles or M&Ms.
Crock Pot Chocolate Peanut Clusters (Easy 4-Ingredient Candy)
Sweet and salty crock pot chocolate peanut clusters with just 4 ingredients. Simple slow cooker candy—great for holiday gifts or parties.
White Chocolate Almond Cluster Recipe
Crock Pot White Chocolate Almond Clusters
Super easy and delicious white chocolate almond clusters are the perfect gift for the holidays or for any special occasion. Simple with these step by step photo instruction for the perfect white chocolate candy.
White Chocolate Almond Cluster Recipe
And the dogs also desire a treat.
Low-Fat Homemade Dog Treats—Healthy & Delicious
Low Fat Homemade Dog Treats are the perfect low-calorie treat for your dog. With only five ingredients, your dog will love the peanut butter and pumpkin taste. Much healthier than commercial treats—any veterinarian would approve.
Recipe for Low Fat Dog Treats
Originally Published April 14, 2019. Updated yearly for new choices
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Neny Garcia says
Love your recipes, thanks for sharing. And also love to see pictures of Molly and Lilly. ♥
Pat Monahan says
Can I come to your house for Easter? ;)