We love Easter. There's always a big spiral ham or lamb chops, and we'll have an excuse to eat chocolate in the morning again. People get together and parents act like fools during the Easter egg hunt. The hunt gives us an excuse to judge other people's parenting styles (j/k… or are we?). Kids in cute clothes run around to find pretty, pastel-dyed Easter eggs.
But after the festivities, when the children have collected their sweet baskets full of prizes, there are a lot of Easter eggs. So many eggs. And once the hunt is over, they're still just … there. Nobody wants to eat that many hard-boiled eggs, and they take up valuable space in the fridge.
Traditionally, what are we to do but turn them all into a gigantic bowl of egg salad? Don't get us wrong, we love a classic egg salad — and there's nothing wrong with making an egg salad after the Easter bunny does us all a solid and drops off, oh, say, three dozen pastel-dyed (or … terrifyingly unnaturally dyed) Easter eggs. What else do we normally do with a whole bunch of leftover eggs, after all? Nothing, that's it: Egg salad has been ruling that roost for as long as we can remember. But while there's no shame in the egg salad game, that doesn't mean there isn't plenty of room to mix it up.
Here, we found a variety of tasty dishes that feature hard-boiled eggs — perfect for the week after Easter (which is how long hard-boiled eggs stay good in the fridge). We chose some hearty salads that pack plenty of flavor and protein, some of which are easy pasta salads perfect for a potluck. We've also come up with some ideas for simple toast snacks/breakfasts that are just so much more than the sum of their parts. We even have a couple of soups that call for hard-boiled eggs — and are surprisingly delicious (not to mention wholesome).
(And if it's easier for the kids do some egg-free Easter crafts, that's totally legit, too).
Campanelle with Hard-Boiled Eggs, Capers & Watercress
We just love a pasta with some chopped-up hard-boiled eggs (and this is a great opportunity to use up whatever leftover veggies in the fridge in a play on primavera).
Vegetarian Rainbow Buddha Bowl
This vegetarian rainbow Buddha bowl is one of the healthiest things we can do for ourselves. The turmeric tahini sauce is incredibly easy to throw together, as well as being nourishing and super tasty.
Homemade Peanut Ramen Dish
This budget-friendly meal is a delicious play on some traditional Thai flavors. Add some chicken breast slices — or leftover shredded rotisserie chicken — to make it a more filling meal.
Amish Macaroni Salad
Versatile, easy, and unusual, this Amish macaroni salad balances sweet and sour. It also travels really well — making it a smart choice for picnics or potlucks, it's one of those dishes that tastes even better at room temperature.
Hard-Boiled Egg Avocado Toast
Avocado toast gets a protein boost with hard-boiled egg slices. It makes a hearty savory breakfast, although this dish is filling enough for either lunch or dinner.
Kimchi Ramen Noodle Soup
This Korean-inspired kimchi ramen noodle soup is flavorful, simple, and takes only minutes to make — especially with post-Easter hard-boiled eggs ready and waiting. Kimchi is also a powerful probiotic food — good news for everyone's tummy.
Cobb Salad
Cobb salad is a classic for a reason — and whenever bacon makes an appearance, we know the salad is going to be good. This is an easy, hearty meal that travels well — making it a good choice for taking to work for lunch.
Classic Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs are basically our favorite part of the after-Easter holiday. Pro tip: it's easier to make deviled eggs with eggs that have been sitting in the fridge longer (not so long that they're expired, of course — just not super-duper fresh).
Japanese Mixed Rice
This easy, tasty Japanese dish is also gluten-free. Japanese mixed rice is a versatile dish, but we love adding some stir-fried shrimp (always keep a bag in the freezer!) for a quick weeknight family meal.
Niçoise Salad
We love how absolutely elegant this classic French salad is — and how protein-packed — almost as much as we love how totally freaking easy it is to make. This is the dish to make when the in-laws come for lunch.
Curry Fried Rice
This curry fried rice is spicy and sweet and oh-so-yummy. It's also a way to sneak in extra veggies, from a few handfuls of wilted spinach to broccoli, peas, or cauliflower.
Spinach Barley Protein Power Bowl
Fuel up those bodies with plenty of vegetables, protein, and complex carbs to keep blood sugar levels going (without a spike). This spinach barley protein power bowl is, as the name implies, kind of a total powerhouse dish.
Hard-Boiled Egg Toast with Harissa Butter
Simple and delicious: Harissa butter is so easy to make, it's literally just blending butter with harissa paste. Boom, that's it. But this is such a simple, elegant dish, it's perfect to serve guests (or just for breakfast at home).
Black 'n Blue Grilled Steak Salad
So yes, "salads" like "steak salad" are only healthy in name, but goodness gracious, how filling and delicious is this thing? While this recipe calls for a homemade blue cheese dressing, bottled isn't going to take even a fraction of the energy and will still taste totally great.
Avocado Deviled Eggs
Ultra-creamy and packed with all the good fats we want, these avocado deviled eggs are little nutritional power bombs, they look neat, and they're delicious. What more could we ask for?
Quick Kedegree
If the name "kedegree" feels new, don't worry — the flavors are totally delish (and familiar). Originally from India, this dish takes just 20 minutes of total cook time, and it's super healthful and flavorful.
White Borscht
White borscht is a traditional Easter soup from Poland, so it's a great way to celebrate any Polish heritage this season (or discover the flavors of another culture)! Made with sausage and potatoes, this soup is delightfully garlicky and smoky.
Charcuterie Plate
We love every single item on this protein-packed healthy charcuterie plate, which is really just an easy way of serving an elevated-feeling dinner without doing any cooking at all. Doesn't "charcuterie" just feel so much more refined than "cold cuts on a plate?" And yet*,* that's really all that's required.
Mason Jar Salad
OK, maybe Mason jar salads hit peak popularity a few years ago, but that doesn't mean they're not still great. Throw the dressing on the bottom, then the ingredient that's least likely to get mushy, then softer ingredients near the top.
Asparagus Egg & Bacon Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette
This asparagus egg and bacon salad with Dijon vinaigrette really makes the most of spring's bounty, given that this is the exact moment that asparagus is at its prime. Make it a touch healthier by adding in water-packed tuna.
Punjabi Egg Curry
So spicy and flavorful, this is a really simple curry, and easy enough for folks who are just starting out with their Indian cooking skills. This one hails from the north of India.
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