These Spring Dinner Ideas Are Like a Breath of Fresh Air
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As the flowers begin to bloom and spring vegetables start to pop up at the farmers' market, you might be looking for ways to hit reset on your family dinner ideas, too! After all, springtime is a chance to start fresh and introduce some lighter, brighter recipes into the kitchen. Luckily, we have tons of inspiration for new spring dinner ideas! We're talking lemony chicken recipes, pasta primavera, and creative recipes for asparagus or peas. Looking to break out the grill for the first time in a long time? There are even some BBQ recipes and cookout-friendly pasta salads on the list ahead.
If you want to keep things easy and breezy, you'll find plenty of quick dinner ideas, 30-minute meals, and spring salads made with the season's finest produce. For instance, there's a pesto pizza with arugula, chicken and asparagus stir fry, and a grilled pork salad with fresh strawberries. Of course, spending more time outdoors is one of the best parts about spring. That's why we've made sure to include a few spring grilling recipes and picnic ideas that will make it easy to enjoy the change of seasons including tuna pasta salad, turkey burgers, and grilled chicken marinade. All that’s left to do is whip up a fresh new spring dessert, and you'll be celebrating sunny days in no time.
Chicken Piccata
This classic lemony chicken dish is both comforting and fresh at the same time. The decadent cream sauce has a pop of citrus flavor that's so good, you'll want to pour it over both the chicken and the pasta!
Get Ree's Chicken Piccata recipe.
Bow Tie Pasta Salad
Not only does this creamy pasta salad have bits of hearty ham and cheese, but it's also packed with crunchy veggies like bell peppers and spring peas. It's great for your next picnic!
Get the Bow Tie Pasta Salad recipe.
Air Fryer Hot Dog
If springtime reminds you of baseball season, these juicy and crisp hot dogs will become your new favorite. They're just like the kind you might find at the ballpark, only better!
Get the Air Fryer Hot Dog recipe.
Ham Tetrazzini
This creamy baked spaghetti dish is packed with ham, mushrooms, and green peas, but it's the crispy breadcrumb topping that'll have you coming back for more!
Get the Ham Tetrazzini recipe.
Lamb Meatballs
Plan a Mediterranean-inspired dinner with these tasty lamb meatballs. They're leaner and lighter than your typical beef meatballs, and they're delicious served up with tzatziki sauce and pita!
Get the Lamb Meatballs recipe.
Salmon Rice Bowls
Healthy, quick, and flavorful—these bowls are a no-brainer on busy weeknights. The sweet-and-spicy sauce and baked salmon comes together in just 25 minutes.
Get Ree's Salmon Rice Bowls recipe.
Pasta with Peas
Say hello to salty pancetta (aka bacon’s Italian cousin)! It gives this creamy, cheesy pasta dish a ton of flavor. And it just so happens to pair well with the fresh flavor of spring peas.
Get the Pasta with Peas recipe.
Candied Carrots
These sweet and tangy carrots are the perfect side dish for spring! They're elegant enough for a dinner party but easy enough for weeknights, too. You can pair them with chicken, steak, pork, or even lamb.
Get the Candied Carrots recipe.
Rack of Lamb
Rack of lamb might look fancy, but it's surprisingly easy to make! The key is rubbing the lamb with a flavorful mixture of garlic, rosemary, mustard, and honey. It helps create that beautiful crust!
Get the Rack of Lamb recipe.
Lemon Pasta
This quick pasta is always a hit, but come springtime, it'll be a fresh reminder of the warm, sunny days. For an extra pop of flavor, give each plate a few grinds of black pepper on top.
Get the Lemon Pasta recipe.
Chicken and Asparagus Stir Fry
Hearty chicken and fresh spring veggies come together in one pan for this easy stir fry dish. There's also a homemade sauce that's full of savory soy flavor.
Get Ree's Chicken and Asparagus Stir Fry recipe.
Ham Casserole
This comforting casserole is a great way to use up extra ham from your Sunday feast. You can also use half pound of any ham from the deli counter to pair with the rice, peas, and cheese.
Get the Ham Casserole recipe.
Enchiladas Verdes
If spring were a color, it would have be green—just like your freshly cut grass! So, why not celebrate the season (and the hue) by making this easy green chicken enchiladas recipe!
Get the Enchiladas Verdes recipe.
Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas
When sugar snap peas are in season, they're delightfully sweet and crisp. This recipe showcases the veggie by simply sautéing them with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
Get the Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas recipe.
Lamb Burgers
Spiced lamb patties are a fun way to switch up your burger night! They're lean and flavorful, and piled high with a Greek-inspired feta sauce!
Get the Lamb Burgers recipe.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
Ranch seasoning mix might just be our favorite ingredient! It'll transform this chicken pasta casserole into a zesty sensation!
Get the Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole recipe.
Upside-Down Puff Pastry Radish Tarts
Spring radishes look so pretty on these puff pastry tarts. It would make a perfect accompaniment to your favorite spring soup—or serve it up as a tasty appetizer.
Get the Upside-Down Puff Pastry Radish Tarts recipe.
Honey Mustard Chicken
We can't get enough of the sweet and tangy combination of honey and mustard. It's perfect for marinating chicken thighs that can either be cooked in the oven or on the grill.
Get the Honey Mustard Chicken recipe.
Chile-Lime Steak Salad
The best way to get Ladd Drummond to eat a salad is to add a juicy steak right on top! Here, the spicy-sweet dressing brings the whole thing together.
Get Ree's Chile-Lime Steak Salad recipe.
Shrimp Pesto Pasta
If you're growing basil in your garden this spring, then you'll definitely want to use it to make a batch of fresh pesto! Add some seasonal asparagus and juicy shrimp for a quick and tasty pasta recipe.
Get Ree's Shrimp Pesto Pasta recipe.
Chicken Florentine
These crispy golden chicken thighs get dressed up with a creamy white wine sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh spinach. It feels fancy, but it's surprisingly easy.
Get the Chicken Florentine recipe.
Parmesan Fish Sticks with Glazed Carrots
Forget frozen fish sticks! This homemade version has a crispy parmesan coating that you'll absolutely love! Plus, it's served up with seasonal glazed carrots topped with lots of fresh dill.
Get Ree's Parmesan Fish Sticks with Glazed Carrots recipe.
Sheet Pan Gnocchi
Eating your veggies is easy when they're paired with pillowy soft gnocchi, mozzarella balls, and parmesan cheese. The fact that it's all made on one sheet pan is an added bonus!
Get the Sheet Pan Gnocchi recipe.
Chickpea Salad
This hearty side dish is jam-packed with fresh ingredients, like cucumbers, tomatoes, and herbs. A few pops of salty feta cheese and a lemon dressing make it perfect for spring!
Get the Chickpea Salad recipe.
Spinach Casserole
This recipe is everything you love about creamed spinach—just in casserole form! That means it's easy to make for a crowd and it has that fried onion topping for added crunch.
Get the Spinach Casserole recipe.
Asparagus Pasta
This pasta recipe might have a creamy sauce, but it's still light and fresh for spring! You can thank the tender asparagus for that.
Get the Asparagus Pasta recipe.
Brisket Tacos
The brisket in these tacos is utterly irresistible. It's cooked with spicy chipotle peppers in adobo, garlic, and ginger until meltingly tender.
Get the Brisket Tacos recipe.
Spinach and Feta Chicken Burgers
Add Greek yogurt and salty feta to these patties will change the way you think about chicken burgers. It keeps them moist and gives them flavor.
Get Ree's Spinach and Feta Chicken Burgers recipe.
Spring Pea Tart
This gorgeous green tart looks impressive, but it's surprisingly easy thanks to frozen puff pastry. Just top with the goat cheese and pea spread, add fresh veggies, and a drizzle of balsamic.
Get Ree's Spring Pea Tart recipe.
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Just the name of this bacon ranch pasta salad has us hooked! But you'll also be pleased to know the dish is loaded with cheddar cheese, pimentos, and black olives.
Get the Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad recipe.
Chicken Pasta Salad
Pasta salad meets chicken salad in this potluck favorite! It's a great way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken.
Get the Chicken Pasta Salad recipe.
Lemon Roasted Asparagus
Make this easy side dish when fresh asparagus is in season. It can go with just about any main: ham, chicken, or grilled steaks.
Get Ree's Lemon Roasted Asparagus recipe.
Grilled Pork Chops
Look at those grill marks! This bone-in pork chop is just as impressive as steak and it's a quick and affordable meal, too.
Get the Grilled Pork Chops recipe.
Spanikopita (Spinach Pie)
This classic spinach pie is flaky, creamy, and perfectly green! Serve it up as a side for the holidays or cut bigger slices to serve along with a salad for weeknight dinner.
Get the Spanikopita recipe.
Chicken Primavera
This one pot combines spring vegetables, hearty chicken, and pasta into an easy meal your family will love. Don't be shy with the lemon zest, parmesan, and basil for flavor.
Get the Chicken Primavera recipe.
Carrot Tart
There are all different colors of carrots (orange, yellow, purple) and if you can find them, they'll help make this spring tart look even more festive.
Get the Carrot Tart recipe.
Spring Salad with Radishes
This is such a simple salad, but that's what makes it so great! You can top it with grilled chicken or serve it as a side with plenty of that lemony dressing.
Get Ree's Spring Salad with Radishes recipe.
Grilled Chicken Marinade
Adding a garlic, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard marinade to your chicken will make a world of difference. It's worth the extra time.
Get the Grilled Chicken Marinade recipe.
Ravioli Primavera
This pasta recipe gets its green color from the pesto and seasonal veggies, but you can also use spinach ravioli for an extra pop of color.
Get Ree's Ravioli Primavera recipe.
Lemon Pepper Chicken
If you have spring chicken on the mind, then this easy chicken breast recipe will do the trick! It has a crispy breaded crust and a bright citrus flavor.
Get the Lemon Pepper Chicken recipe.
Turkey Burgers
Once in a while, you might want to swap out your all-beef burgers for something lighter like turkey burgers! Top them off with pesto mayo, lettuce, avocado, and Swiss cheese.
Get the Turkey Burgers recipe.
Creamed Peas
Peas for spring? Not exactly a new idea. But add crispy fried onions to your peas and even picky eaters will devour the stuff!
Get Ree's Creamed Peas recipe.
Baked Salmon
From start to finish, this baked salmon takes just 20 minutes to prepare. Serve it up with roasted carrots, a side salad, or even pasta depending on how hungry your family is waiting at the table.
Get the Baked Salmon recipe.
Turkey Meatloaf
Just because the weather is warmer doesn't mean you can't have your favorite comfort foods! This lightened-up version of meatloaf uses lean ground turkey for a healthy spin.
Get the Turkey Meatloaf recipe.
Lemon Chicken-Orzo Soup
Springtime isn't all sunshine and clear skies. There are plenty of rainy days or slightly chilly nights when this comforting chicken soup will come in handy.
Get Ree's Lemon Chicken-Orzo Soup recipe.
Pasta Primavera with Peas and Mint
This one-pot vegetarian dinner feels like a burst of freshness thanks to the herby mint. It's perfect for any pasta lover in your house!
Get Ree's Pasta Primavera with Peas and Mint recipe.
Grilled Asparagus
Lemon, olive oil, salt and pepper are all you need to make delicious grilled asparagus. Of course, a kick of crushed red pepper, a spoonful of salsa, or a drizzle of Sriracha will help give it some heat.
Get the Grilled Asparagus recipe.
Pesto Pizza with Arugula and Prosciutto
Instead of marinara, opt for herby pesto as the base of this pizza. Then load it up with fresh arugula, salty prosciutto, and mushrooms.
Get Ree's Pesto Pizza with Arugula and Prosciutto recipe.
Tuna Pasta Salad
Just like tuna noodle casserole, but lighter and fresher. This pasta salad version is perfect for potlucks.
Get the Tuna Pasta Salad recipe.
Root Beer Glazed Ham
It wouldn't be Easter without a big, glazed ham and this one can feed a crowd. Any leftover ham would be perfect for easy dinners throughout the week.
Get Ree's Root Beer Glazed Ham recipe.
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