Easter will be here before we know it. Planning ahead can help save you money and reduce stress. With these frugal Easter dinner tips and a free Easter dinner menu planner printable you’ll have the dinner planned in no time.
I love the holidays. I love to decorate, plan special meals, and spend time with my loved ones. I can also stress out about the details if I’m not careful.
Over the years I’ve learned that planning ahead makes all of the difference. For Christmas, I start planning months ahead of time because there is so much to do. We don’t do as much for Easter so I don’t need to start too early but I still want to be prepared.
Frugal Easter Dinner Tips
One thing that being prepared does, other than of course reducing stress, is to save you money. You are able to look for better deals and do a bit more yourself which can really add up to a lot of savings.
Keep it Simple
Leftovers are great but we want to be mindful of how much leftover food we really want to have around. Look at your guest list, if you are having eight people you likely don’t need five side dishes and eight desserts.
Pinterest can also make you think the dishes have to be super fancy but sometimes simple is just as good, or even better. Talk to your guest and find out their Easter favorites, they likely aren’t the super fancy dishes.
A potluck is also a way to simplify things. That’s how my extended family handles most holidays and works really well. You can use a site like Perfect Potluck to help you keep track of who’s bringing what.
If you are sending out invites try Paperless Post. You can create online invitations so there is no mailing involved. It’s quick and easy.
Use Apps for Coupons and Cash-Back
Many grocery stores now have apps with mobile coupons. Target, Sprouts, Whole Foods, and many others all offer this option. It makes using coupons so easy.
You also can use apps like Ibotta to get cashback from your purchases. And for items purchased online be sure to use Rakuten for coupon codes and cash-back.
Shop Online
Using online stores like Thrive Market and Amazon Prime Pantry can help save you money, especially on natural food. If you are looking for natural Easter candy or baking supplies check out Natural Candy Store.
Don’t forget to check Rakuten for coupon codes and to get cashback on your online purchases.
Skip Disposables
If possible use real dishes. It will save you money and is better for the environment. If you don’t have enough see if a guest or two would mind loaning some. If you have a small crowd, cloth napkins may also be a good option.
Plan Your Menu
Having a detailed menu plan and shopping list is key. Using the free Easter dinner menu printable, which you can get below, will help you stay organized. You can keep it in your planner or home management binder.
When planning your menu be sure to see what you already have on hand. No point in buying things you already have. Also, use sale ads as inspiration for dishes. The more sale ingredients you can use the better.
If you want to be extra organized you can get my Easter planner. It’s a digital download so you will get it right away so you can print it off and get started. It’s great for looking back at the next year to remember what worked and what didn’t.
Get a Free Printable Easter Menu Planner
This free printable Easter menu planning sheet can help you keep everything organized. If you want to keep it with you while you are cooking I recommend putting it in a page protector so it doesn’t get wet or dirty. I love this trick for recipes and planning sheets I’m using while cooking!
Gina says
I’m excited to go back home for Easter this year. Prepping for Easter dinner is always something to look forward to! Thanks for sharing these tips–they’ll be so helpful in the future!
Lisa Sharp says
You’re welcome, glad you enjoyed them.
Ashley says
You’re so organized! I’m terrible at planning dinners ahead of time. Thanks you for sharing your tips and the cute printable!
Lisa Sharp says
I’m not naturally. I have to work hard to stay even slightly organized haha.
Jessica Cangiano says
It’s hard to believe that Easter is nearly upon us again. I’ve begun decorating and dinner planning already. I’ve been tucking away so many appealing, festive recipes in advance of it for years now that I think I might have to turn things into an Easter week long feast! 🙂
Big hugs & many thanks for your lovely comment on today’s new vintage outfit post,
? Jessica
laura says
Thanks for the printable. I am pinning this for reference.
Green Bean says
Potluck is totally the way to go. That way everyone can also focus on making one or two really great dishes instead of making a bunch of so-so dishes.
Betsy (Eco-novice) says
Smart to plan out leftovers ahead of time! I love table settings with natural seasonal objects – so easy to collect and create.
Sharon E says
I loved your design. It looks so fresh and perfect like spring. Many thanks for sharing this lovely idea with us.
Lisa Sharp says
Thank you!
Christina says
Great tips. I have two easter celebrations to plan and I will definitely use these!
Lisa Sharp says
Exciting! Hope it helps!
Kelsie says
I love to have fun celebrating the holidays, but also keep things reasonably inexpensive. Great tips!
Lisa Sharp says
Glad you liked the tips! I agree.
Chris says
How do I get the Easter printable? I subscribed.
Lisa Sharp says
You will get an email with instructions to get to a free resource library that has all of the printables. I will email you to make sure you found it.
Sharon H. says
My family loves lamb roast at Easter, I will be looking for sales soon. The most fun part is planning a special dessert.
I have been creating a reverse-timeline for our big celebratory meals. I decide when I want to serve the meal, then count backwards, adding To Do items until I reach the point at which I need to start meal prep. Working with a pencil and eraser for the first few versions, and then making a clean copy to work from, that I leave on the kitchen counter for reference as I work.