5 Italian Easter Dinner Recipes Worthy of a Feast

At an Italian table, Easter is on par with Christmas in terms of traditional dishes, rituals, family recipes, and a large gathering of relatives to share it all with.

Newly-sprung spring has much to do with typical Easter fare, so you'll often find dishes prepared with fresh ricotta made from the sweet and creamy milk of sheep that have been nibbling on new green pastures, along with plenty of eggs.

From top to toe of the Italian peninsula, you'll find dishes—both sweet and savory—that illustrate this well.

In Liguria, there's torta pasqualina, an Easter pie of chard, ricotta, and eggs (of the eight eggs, some are cracked into little pockets dented into the ricotta filling, so that when the pie is sliced, sunny rounds of yolk are revealed).

Or consider Naples' famous pastiera, a ricotta and wheatberry tart that is known to perfume the streets of Napoli with orange blossom water, lemon, and vanilla, and that, when done properly, takes three days to make.

But the main event at Easter is the lamb, prepared just as often for traditional and symbolic reasons as for others (it's much like what turkey means to an American Thanksgiving).

Roman kitches are known for abbaccio al forno, a roast leg of young, local lamb rubbed and stuffed with garlic and herbs and cooked together with crisp, golden potatoe. It's a dish so delicious that it's reason enough to visit the Eternal City at this time of year in particular.

Elsewhere, you'll find the same family favorites that may appear on the Christmas table or at any other special occasion: passatelli in brodo, a light, warming and friendly entrée (think of the equivalent comforting qualities of chicken noodle soup), popular in the central north; or Tuscany's answer to tiramisu, the rather retro zuppa inglese, which is a huge, chilled trifle-like dessert of liquor-soaked sponge fingers layered with vanilla and chocolate pastry cream and jam.

Meanwhile, Easter breakfast is a breeze.

These days, it's customary to gift to each and every friend and family member a giant colomba, a sweet, yeasted bread in the shape of a dove, studded with whole almonds and pearl sugar; it's an Easter version of panettone. By Easter Sunday the kitchen counter will be overflowing with them. For breakfast, simply serve it in thick slices to enjoy as is or with broken pieces of chocolate Easter eggs (there are plenty of those, too).

1. Torta Pasqualina (Easter Chard & Ricotta Pie)

Liguria's most famous dish (aside from pesto, of course), this savory pie with tender chard, creamy ricotta, and an ever-so-flaky crust is an Italian Easter staple.

2. Passatelli in Brodo

A rustic, thrifty dough and homemade chicken broth (don't forget a sprinkle of Parm) star in this simple, supremely comforting dish from Emilia-Romagna.

3. Abbacchio al Forno (Roast Lamb with Potatoes)

Another Easter favorite, this herby, garlicky roast lamb comes with a side of crispy golden potatoes that might just be the best you've ever had.

4. Pastiera Napoletana (Neapolitan Wheatberry & Ricotta Easter cake)

"I’ve tried many of these grain pie recipes and all were just ok. This came out awesome," wrote one community member in a review of this Italian Easter cake.

5. Zuppa Inglese

Each layer of this zuppa Iinglese—from the lady fingers to the apricot jam—all bring something to the table, and work together for a pitch-perfect spring dessert.

1. Spring Pea & Ricotta Torte With Lemon & Mint

Give peas a chance in this springy torte with a citrusy kick and a hint of fresh mint.

2. Leg of Lamb With Garlic Sauce

This recipe contest-winning lamb comes with a garlic and red wine sauce you'll want to drizzle over everything.

3. Spring Vegetable Jumble with Lemon-Tarragon Butter

This vegetable "jumble" is basically a spring farmer's market all in one dish, with all your favorite produce present: new potatoes, radishes, asparagus, baby carrots, leaks, peas, and more.

4. Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Red Onion, Lemon & Pecorino

A crunchy green salad that'll make you think twice about roasting that bag of Brussels sprouts.

5. Pasta Piselli

Another brothy pasta option, this time with linguine and bright little pops of fresh peas.

What dishes are always on your Easter table, year after year? Tell us in the comments!

Psst: This article was updated by our editors in March 2020 to include more Easter recipe ideas.