18 Easter Appetizers for Holiday Hosts

Showcase spring produce with beautiful presentation to start your holiday meal.

By

Food & Wine Editors

Published on March 18, 2024

Spring Gem Salad With Soft Herbs and Labneh Toasts — Photo: Photo by Jennifer Causey / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn

Celebrate the season and the holiday with these stunning Easter appetizers. Top toast with spring peas, asparagus, radishes, or fava beans; pass striking deviled eggs; toss a bright and fresh salad; and dip savory lamb or carrot snacks. Fill your Easter menu with these Spring starters to entertain every guest, whether it's a special occasion supper or a casual brunch.

01 of 18

Green Curry Deviled Eggs

Green Curry Deviled Eggs — Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Jillian Knox

Use store-bought green curry paste with freshly toasted aromatics and a kick of chile to breathe new life into an old favorite.

02 of 18

Radish Tartines with Green Butter

Radish Tartines with Green Butter — Photo by Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Kathleen Cook Varner

Whip radish and turnip greens with sweet butter, garlic, and lemon zest to create a delicious, silky spread for tartines. F&W culinary director at large Justin Chapple finishes them with crunchy sea salt, to make a great appetizer.

03 of 18

Shaved Beet and Carrot Salad With Citrus-Scallion Dressing

Shaved Beet and Carrot Salad with Citrus Scallion Dressing — Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Thom Driver

Crisp arugula serves as the base for cookbook author Leah Keonig's bright, earthy salad that takes late-winter produce like thinly shaved beets, carrot ribbons, and rounds of juicy clementine and dresses them up for spring with a citrus-scallion vinaigrette.

04 of 18

Asparagus and Fava Bean Tart with Herbed Ricotta

Asparagus and Fava Bean Tart with Herbed Ricotta — Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Christine Keely

Lemon zest and thyme add subtle fragrance to this showstopping tart's ricotta filling, balancing the savory Parmesan and prosciutto.

05 of 18

Strawberry Burrata Salad

Strawberry Burrata Salad — Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Debbie Wee

F&W associate food director Chandra Ram amplifies the tart-sweet flavors of strawberries with a quick soak in a vinaigrette made with balsamic vinegar, honey, and olive oil. The marinated strawberries pair nicely with peppery arugula and fresh basil, plus a little nutty crunch from toasted pine nuts.

06 of 18

Ricotta-Fava Toasts

Ricotta-Fava Toasts Recipe — Eva Kolenko

The delicate, milky flavor of fresh ricotta pairs with the grassy, lightly sweet taste of fava beans. Use best-quality cheese, produce, and bread here for a toast that’s more than the sum of its parts.

07 of 18

Spring Gem Salad with Soft Herbs and Labneh Toasts

Spring Gem Salad With Soft Herbs and Labneh Toasts — Photo by Jennifer Causey / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn

1990 F&W Best New Chef Nancy Silverton says the first sign of spring is when she puts this salad on the menu at Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles. She dresses the asparagus, peas, radishes, and sugar snap peas with a lemon vinaigrette, then offers toasts topped with labneh alongside.

08 of 18

Italian Easter Bread

Italian Easter Bread — Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Sweet dough scented with lemon and nutmeg is twisted into individual wreaths in these classic Italian Easter breads decorated with dyed eggs. Traditionally, this bread is served alongside a charcuterie board.

09 of 18

Spinach, Grapefruit, and Avocado Salad with Sesame Vinaigrette

Spinach, Grapefruit, and Avocado Salad with Sesame Vinaigrette — Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

This is a simple, clean-flavored stunner anchored by juicy grapefruit with depth from toasted sesame oil.

10 of 18

Carrots en Croûte

Carrots en Croute — Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Rishon Hanners / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

Justin Chapple's filling appetizer stars curry-and honey-roasted carrots wrapped in flaky puff pastry. It can be made ahead.

11 of 18

Farro Salad with Radishes, Snap Peas, Olives, and Pecorino

Farro Salad with Radishes, Snap Peas, Olives, and Pecorino Recipe — Eva Kolenko

With a sweet, earthy flavor and delightful chewy texture, farro adds a wonderful hardiness to the fresh, crunchy vegetables and salty olives and cheese in Leah Koenig's salad.

12 of 18

Crudités with Carrot Dip and Romesco

Crudites with carrot dip and romesco — Sarah Crowder

Cookbook author Yewande Komolafe arranges cauliflower, cucumber, radishes, and any other spring vegetables when she makes these two dips.

13 of 18

Smashed Fava Beans on Toast with Pecorino and Mint

Smashed Fava Beans Toast with Pecorino and Mint Recipe — Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Fava beans are one of spring’s most coveted ingredients, and cookbook author Andrea Slonecker smashes them with mint and pecorino into a chunky spread to top toast.

14 of 18

Roasted Carrots with Preserved Lemons and Dates

Roasted Carrots with Preserved Lemon and Dates — Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Fresh herbs, two kinds of citrus, and a honey-za'atar vinaigrette give Chandra Ram's charred carrot salad bright flavors.

15 of 18

Asparagus Pide

Asparagus Pide — Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Thom Driver

Pide, which originated in Turkey, is a chewy, airy flatbread that welcomes a variety of fillings. This version is topped with melty, tangy cheese; Aleppo pepper–spiced asparagus; and fresh herbs.

16 of 18

Pickled Garlic Scape and Radish Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

Pickled Garlic Scape and Radish Salad with Green Goddess Dressing — Eva Kolenko

An herby Green Goddess dressing is the creamy, rich counterpoint to the pickled garlic scapes and peppery radishes in this springtime salad.

17 of 18

Lamb Martabak

Lamb Martabak — Louise Hagger

A fantastic canapé or appetizer, chef Lara Lee's Indonesian snack can be simplified with spring roll wrappers and served with sambal on the side for dipping.

18 of 18

Chilled English Pea Soup with Crab and Meyer Lemon

Chilled English Pea Soup with Crab and Meyer Lemon — Eric Wolfinger

This refreshing, verdant English pea and watercress soup from chef Sarah Heller is the perfect base for a zesty crab salad with a host of delicate spring herbs.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!

Related Articles

Pizza Chiena

Pizza Chiena (Easter Pie)

Pizza Rustica

Making Italian Meat Pie Is My Favorite Part of Easter

Sausage-and-Apple Stuffing Bites

Sausage-and-Apple Stuffing Bites

Caviar-Topped Deviled Eggs

Caviar-Topped Deviled Eggs

Fried Cheese Curds

Fried Cheese Curds with Buttermilk Ranch Dipping Sauce

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Cheese Croustades Recipe

This Easy, Elegant Appetizer Is an Entertaining Hero

Warm Ricotta with Roasted Grapes

Warm Ricotta with Roasted Grapes

Hogs in a blanket

Hogs in a Blanket

Hush Puppies with Remoulade

Hush Puppies with Remoulade

Crispy Turkey Kathi Rolls with Mint-and-Date Dipping Sauce

Crispy Turkey Kathi Rolls with Mint-and-Date Dipping Sauce

Kale and Corn Pakoras Recipe

Kale-and-Corn Pakoras

Cheese Croustades Recipe

Cheese Croustades

Deviled Crab Stuffed Mini Cornbread Muffins

Mini Deviled Crab Cornbread Muffins

Chicken-Liver-Pâté Toasts

Chicken Liver Pâté Toasts

Chhundo and Goat Cheese Crostini

Chhundo and Goat Cheese Crostini