34 Spring Dinner Ideas That Are Easy, Fast and Oh So Seasonal
We’ll see you next year, stews, casseroles and hearty soups. It’s officially spring, and we’re celebrating by moving on to bright, fresh meals and all the new produce (lettuce! asparagus! snap peas!) we can get our hands on. To help you get into a springtime state of mind, here are 34 spring dinner ideas that are easy, fast and oh so seasonal.
RELATED: 12 Spring Fruits and Veggies to Eat This Season, from Asparagus to Strawberries
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
1. Spring Pea Soup with Mint
Fresh peas are bright green, sweet and abundant this time of year. What better way to get your fill than in a creamy-yet-light soup?
Image credit: Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Sarah Copeland
2. Spring Crudités with Romesco Sauce
OK, you can’t really call a crudités plate dinner…unless you serve it with plenty of toasts, charcuteries and cheeses on the side. That’s our favorite kind of dinner.
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
3. Orecchiette with Spring Greens
This dish has a lot going for it: It’s low maintenance enough for a weeknight but elevated enough for a weekend dinner party and it comes together in 15 minutes.
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
4. Spring Panzanella Salad
Panzanella is a salad made with bread, which is also our dream dinner. Add in plenty of asparagus and peas, and we’re completely sold.
Image credit: Amy Neunsinger/Magnolia Table, Volume 2
5. Joanna Gaines’s Spring Vegetable Risotto
This creamy number calls for radishes, peas and spinach, but feel free to use the vegetables that speak to you most at the farmers market.
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
6. Chopped Italian Salad Pizza
Sure, you can buy any bagged lettuce at the grocery store year-round. But the tip-top, tender greens we really want to eat? They’re best purchased at your local farmers market. Get ’em now before they’re gone (and put them on a pizza, duh).
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
7. Veggie Niçoise Salad with Red Curry Green Beans
Since the veggies are the star of the show, it’s worth seeking out the prettiest produce you can find.
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
8. Asparagus, Pea and Ricotta Tarts
Thanks to store-bought puff pastry, these cuties are low effort and high payoff. Serve them with a big salad and dinner is set.
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
9. Grilled Flatbread Pizza with Artichoke, Ricotta and Lemon
This easy pizza calls for pre-marinated artichokes, but we highly recommend swapping out for fresh ones while they’re at their finest.
Image credit: Gentl and Hyers/Open Kitchen
10. Cold Soba Noodle Salad with Strawberries
Strawberries in a noodle salad? Trust us, it’s delicious. The juicy berries add a tart contrast to the miso dressing that’s simply *chef’s kiss.*
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
11. One-Pan Eggs with Asparagus and Tomatoes
Dealing with a surplus of asparagus? No worries. Crack a few eggs on top and call it a meal.
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
12. Skillet Steak with Asparagus and Potatoes
We love a one-pan dinner, and even more so when it looks (and tastes) fancy but is totally foolproof.
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
13. Asparagus Caesar Salad
Trade in your hearty kale salad for something bright and new. Yes, the dressing is homemade, but it’s as easy as tossing everything in a blender.
Image credit: Con Poulos/Week Light
14. Broccoli Margherita Pizza
Did you know that broccoli is actually a spring vegetable? It’s also the secret ingredient in this homemade ’za that’s better for you (but doesn’t taste like it).
Image credit: Lauren V. Allen/Chèvre
15. Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Chèvre Ranch
There’s something about goat cheese that always feels like spring. Turn it into ranch dressing and you’ll never go back to the bottled kind.
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
16. Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe
Broccoli rabe is an early spring vegetable, so if it’s already sold out at the market, swap it for regular broccoli or another seasonal green.
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
17. Pan-Fried Cod with Orange and Swiss Chard
FYI, this goes from the fridge to the table in 30 minutes. Need we say more?
Image credit: Erin McDowell
18. Crispy Goat Cheese Salad
We’ll admit this salad is basically a vehicle for goat cheese, but it won’t hurt to up the spring factor with radishes, arugula and tender spring greens.
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
19. Rainbow Collard Wraps with Peanut Butter Dipping Sauce
Collards are at their best through April, so stock up and make these easy wraps ASAP. (The filling is adaptable, so use whatever you have on hand.)
Image credit: Laura Edwards/From the Oven to the Table
20. Chicken with Feta Cheese, Dill, Lemon and Harissa Yogurt
Bring on the fresh dill and briny feta cheese. We know lemon is a winter fruit, but it makes everything taste like sunshine.
Image credit: Gentl and Hyers/Open Kitchen
21. Squash and Squash Blossom Frittata
We’re only willing to hit the market before 8 a.m. if there are squash blossoms waiting there for us.
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
22. Pesto Zoodles
If you haven’t started that indoor herb garden yet, now is the time. (Even if it’s only to make this recipe.)
Image credit: The Minimalist Kitchen
23. Family Style Chicken Caesar Salad
Store-bought lettuce has nothing on the springtime stuff.
Image credit: Tieghan Gerard/Half Baked Harvest Super Simple
24. Potato and Burrata Pizza
This pie calls for store-bought pesto, but you can also make a quick version at home with the fresh herbs hiding in your fridge.
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
25. BLT Pasta Salad
It’s not yet picnic season, but we like to be prepared for the day it comes with this creamy, crunchy dish.
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
26. One-Pot, 15-Minute Pasta Limone
Not sure what to make with those gorgeous leeks you saw at the store? We have a delicious idea.
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
27. Greek Chicken Skillet
All dinners should be this easy, gorgeous and delicious. We should mention it takes just 40 minutes from start to finish (but looks like you were cooking all day).
Image credit: A New Way to Food
28. Salmon and Fennel Dinner Salad
The salmon is rich, the fennel is crisp and a few strategic strawberries add a sweet, tangy pop.
Image credit: David Loftus/Ultimate Veg
29. Greens Mac and Cheese
This cheesy number gets its hue from leeks and broccolini, but might we suggest swapping in some ramps? They’re only around for a short time and definitely worth the wait.
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
30. Spinach Artichoke Squares
Meet the 21st-century version of our favorite retro dip. It’s got the same cheesy deliciousness, with a bit of modern flair.
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
31. Pasta Florentine with Grilled Chicken
Bypass the baby spinach at the grocery store in favor of the fresh batch you walked by at the market. You won’t regret it.
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
32. Bacon-Wrapped Black Cod with Spinach and Capers
Bacon lends savory flavor and crunchy texture to the fish, while a bed of sautéed spinach keeps everything light.
Image credit: Colin Price/Two Peas & Their Pod Cookbook
33. Goat Cheese Pasta with Spinach and Artichokes
The secret to a creamy pasta that takes less than 30 minutes to make? Goat cheese, of course.
Image credit: Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
34. Sheet-Pan Lemon Butter Veggies and Sausage
This is the ideal excuse to use up a bunch of produce all at once. As we always say, no veggie left behind.
RELATED: 30 Spring Dinner Recipes You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less
