Easter Menu Planning: 3 Simple Family-Friendly Recipes for the Busy Mom

Easter MenuEaster is always a much-anticipated holiday in our house! It’s the first family-focused holiday of the year, with signs of new life and springtime all around. Traditionally, our family has a full Easter feast, preceded by a morning egg hunt and church service. This year, we are keeping things simple but still would like to make our meal special. 

Easter Menu Planning for the Busy Mom

As a busy mom, I like to save convenient recipes that don’t compromise the taste or quality of favorite meals. This past winter, I was introduced to Pioneer, whose mixes have the quality of scratch-made gravy but with quick and easy preparation. And they can be incorporated into so many different meals and side dishes!

Below is an Easter menu the the entire family will love – an entree, side, and dessert – all using Pioneer mixes. Check out these 3 simple recipes that won’t take all weekend to prepare and make – which means more time to celebrate Easter and join in on the fun. 

3 Simple Easter Recipes the Whole Family Will Love

The best part is that Pioneer mixes can be found at Walmart, which is where I do my grocery curbside pickup (it’s free)! This makes easter menu prep even easier for me. 

Easter Side Dish: Brussel Sprouts with Cider Gravy

Grocery List:

Pioneer Roast Pork Gravy, prepared
¼ cup Olive oil
1 lb. Brussels sprouts, cut in half lengthwise
1 tsp. Salt
1 cup Apple cider
½ tsp. Thyme, dried (1 tbsp. if using fresh, picked, thyme)

Preparation Instructions

  1. Prepare Pioneer Roast Pork Gravy, per package instructions, set aside.
  2. Add olive oil to large sauté pan, add Brussel sprouts, season with salt on medium-high heat. Continue to sear until most are a deep brown.
  3. Add apple cider and prepared gravy to pan with Brussels sprouts, carefully as it will boil quickly, then reduce heat to medium-low and cover pan with lid.
  4. Cook for about 5 minutes, until half of the liquid has evaporated. Then remove lid and continue to cook until gravy is thick, and Brussels sprouts are soft (3-5 minutes).

Tip: have a lid close by when adding the cider and the gravy as the liquid will boil quickly and may splatter. This is necessary to steam/braise the Brussels quickly and properly.

Easter Main Dish: Chicken Broccoli Bake

Grocery List:

3  cups Pioneer Buttermilk Baking Mix
1 ¼ cup Milk
1 tbsp. Garlic, minced (dried or fresh)
½ tsp. Dried thyme
2 cups Pioneer Roasted Chicken Gravy, prepared
2 ½ cups Cooked chicken, shredded or diced
1 ½ cups Broccoli florets, chopped
½ cup Cheddar cheese, shredded

Preparation Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425˚F and while that is heating, add milk to a mixing bowl and add Pioneer Buttermilk Baking Mix on top. 
  2. Mix ingredients together until a thick, smooth batter forms; then fold in garlic and dried thyme until combined.
  3. Add prepared Pioneer Roasted Chicken Gravy to a 13×9 inch casserole dish, top with chopped chicken and broccoli florets, then top with cheddar cheese. Then drop spoonfuls of batter on top of chicken and gravy mixture. 
  4. Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and serve.

Tip: prepare the night before and store in the refrigerator, then pop in the oven in the morning.

Easter Dessert: Carrot Cake

Grocery List:

3 cups Pioneer Original or Buttermilk Baking Mix
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups shredded carrots
3 large eggs
1 can (11 oz) mandarin oranges, undrained
1 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger

Preparation Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Thoroughly oil and flour a 10-inch tube pan.
  2. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix at medium speed until combined and pour into prepared pan.
  3. Bake 50 to 60 minutes until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.
  4. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or spread cream cheese frosting.

Pioneer products have been served at kitchen tables to Presidential dining rooms since 1851. Inside every bag, box and package is a long and proud Texas family heritage, manufacturing expertise, a devotion to quality and superior taste. Created with premium ingredients, Pioneer makes it simple to serve scratch made quality with a personal touch.

Thank you to Pioneer for sponsoring this article. These products have been taste-tested and are approved by Wichita Mom!
Angela Green
Angela is the founder of Wichita Mom, the premier parenting website and digital guide for families as they navigate life in Wichita, KS. She is a wife, business owner, avid reader, proud gymnastics & dance mom, Peloton lover, and is always planning her next trip.