Spring is coming—and for those of us in Texas, it’s coming fast. But if you live where the temps are still cold, be encouraged. This is your invitation to discover spring dinner ideas with fresh, colorful produce that welcomes the season with open arms and appetites. Plus, warmer weather means you can soon enjoy your offerings outside (arguably the most excellent treat of all). So whether you’re looking for rejuvenating salads, nourishing bowls, or soups (yes, soups), keep reading. We’ve got you covered.
Featured image by Michelle Nash.
Spring Dinner Ideas
What’s not to love about spring? The weather’s getting warmer, plants are blooming, and the winter blues have made way for a springtime refresh. And let’s not forget about all the vibrant produce (strawberries, asparagus, fennel, the list goes on…). Things are more optimistic, more intentional, and more—let’s be honest—fun. Let these spring dinner ideas be inspiration for the exciting season we’ve got ahead of us. Get ready to savor them!
Salmon Salad with Citrus & Avocado Salad
Kicking off this roundup is one of the best recipes I’ve tried in quite some time. If you’re ready to shake up your spring menu, this citrus salmon is a must-try. In under 30 minutes, you have a perfectly cooked, high-protien meal with fresh greens and an orange-ginger dressing that goes well on just about anything.
Asparagus, Potato, & Goat Cheese Frittata
If you need a hearty spring brunch, try your hand at this savory frittata. This is a great way to use fresh, seasonal produce from your local farmers market, but make sure you don’t overcrowd your frittata to allow the veggies to properly satué.
Crispy Halloumi Salad
As far as salads go, I’m a big fan of recipes that will keep me just as full as a regular meal. Fortunately, recipes like this crispy halloumi salad exist to bring us a plethora of fresh, seasonal ingredients that come together in under 30 minutes.
Spring Potato Pizza
Potato pizza is a “don’t knock it ’till you try it,” kind of recipe, and after taste-testing our food editor Suruchi’s version, I’m obsessed. Caramelized onions and thinly sliced potatoes are the stars of this show, and when paired with a homemade pizza dough like Camille’s, this recipe is unstoppable.
Green Goddess Pasta Salad
Green Goddess isn’t going away anytime soon. She’s the gift that keeps on giving, and in this recipe, she takes flight in pasta salad form. This decadent yet healthier pasta salad is jam-packed with fresh veggies and healthy ingredients that will have you glowing from the inside out. Don’t believe me? Get ready to reap the delicious benefits.
Sheet Pan Halibut with Italian Salsa Verde and Asparagus
The humble sheet pan is one of my favorite ways to cook fish. It’s so easy and you can load it up with seasonal veggies that make it a full meal. This recipe’s all about halibut and asparagus with a zingy salsa verde. This dish is so much more impressive than you would think based on the effort that goes into it. It’s perfect for hosting a date night dinner.
Mushroom, Spinach, and Goat Cheese Frittata
When all you have in your fridge is eggs and a few lone veggies, this frittata is your saving grace. It’s so simple and uses what you have on hand. In this recipe, we’re focusing on mushrooms, onion, spinach, goat cheese, and lots of fresh herbs. It’s light and healthy with its veggie-centric ingredients and protein-packed eggs.
Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
Feeling bloated? Overindulged? In need of a reset? This soup is for you. This vegan butternut soup is just the anti-inflammatory cure you need to get back on track. And even if you don’t feel those things, it’s absolutely delicious for an easy weeknight meal that’ll give you leftovers for the week! It has all kinds of good-for-you ingredients packed up in a simple, rich soup that you’ll feel great eating.
Hummus, Greens, & Avo Bowl
So many healthy fats and nutrients come together under one roof in this glowing bowl. Its base is hummus, which is layered with broccolini, Brussels sprouts, kale, avocado, and jammy eggs. We’re talking sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and a zingy vinaigrette to finish it all off. It’s totally capable of fueling you for the week, which is seriously impressive.
Slow Baked Citrus Salmon with Fennel & Herbs
Whole-baked salmon is the simplest way to make an impressive main. In this recipe, a whole salmon filet is topped with lots of citrus slices, fresh fennel (bulb included), and tons of smashed garlic cloves. Then, it slowly roasts in the oven and absorbs each of the gorgeous flavors you’ve paired it with. When it’s done, it looks like you put way more effort into it than you did—a nice bonus to enjoy alongside the beautiful fish.
Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti
Shrimp cooked in copious amounts of garlic is the lead of this stellar pasta dish. It’s practically the embodiment of spring supper, with its fresh asparagus spears and juicy tomatoes making an appearance as well. With less than ten ingredients, it’s a simple springtime supper for when you’re craving something more filling but still full of healthy ingredients. The best of both worlds, if you will.
Radish, Fennel, and Grapefruit Salad
Light, refreshing, and acidic, this citrus salad makes a delicious starter or light main for your spring menu. Crisp radishes meet fennel, grapefruit, avocados, and rice wine vinegar to create the most delicious lip-puckering salad. It’s perfectly fresh and seasonal for an appetizer, side dish, or main accompaniment.
Spring Salmon and Veggie Grain Bowl
This glowy bowl is full of vibrant ingredients that look great, taste great, and feel great. Quinoa, arugula, sprouts, avocado, carrots, and more form the base of this bowl that’s then topped with grilled salmon. The best part? The turmeric-citrus vinaigrette. It’s quite literally sunshine in a jar and goes perfectly with each yummy element of this bowl.
Roasted Carrot and Red Pepper Hummus Flatbread
This build-your-own flatbread is such a simple spring dinner idea for when you don’t feel like cooking. Instead, all you have to do is assemble to your liking. Greens, cucumbers, peas, corn, avocado, and pickled shallots are your inspo for your own creation. Empty those veggie drawers, people!
Rigatoni With Brussels Sprouts, Kale Pesto, and Lemon
Camille says that when she and Adam tried this recipe for the first time, they were actually lost for words. It’s that incredible. Everything in it complements the other so perfectly that you could eat it for meal after meal without getting tired of it. And that would be great because it’s full of veggies, nutrients, and good-for-you ingredients.
Spinach Artichoke Tarts
These tarts are perfect for a snack, an appetizer, and definitely a dinner that’s both easy and satisfying. They’re basically the love child of spinach artichoke dip and puff pastry. Can it get any better? Quick, minimal ingredients, and indulgent, these spinach artichoke tarts make an ideal vegetarian dinner.
Sheet Pan Spring Veggie Bowl
Your plant-based dinner has never been so easy or delicious. This sheet pan veggie bowl turns cooked veggies into a cohesive meal. All you have to do is throw those veggies on a sheet pan, drizzle them with olive oil, and bake until they’re crispy and caramelized. Then, you’ll top them with the most delicious Greek yogurt dressing that brings everything together.
Big Green Immunity-Boosting Vegetable Soup
Lean, green, spring dinner machine (pretty cheesy, I know), this immunity-boosting soup is exactly what you need to cure those allergy symptoms. Asparagus, broccoli, spinach, kale, sugar snaps, celery, and broccolini are the veggies in question here—and wow! This soup is packed with green goodness that’s so nourishing.
Spring Rice Salad
This rice-based pseudo-salad is the satisfying and addictive dinner you didn’t know you needed—until now, that is. Basmati rice gets the royal treatment from the peas, avocado, cucumber, pickled shallots, and fresh herbs that sit atop it. And don’t forget about those soft-boiled eggs on top that lend their golden yolks to each gorgeous grain. It’s a plate of love, to put it simply.
Honey Sriracha Tempeh Spring Rolls
These little tempeh spring rolls are such a fun spring dinner idea. They’re small but mighty as they feature a good bit of rice noodles, avocado slices, cucumbers, mango chunks, and baked-until-golden tempeh. They’re simple, fresh, and full of tasty ingredients that each complement one another to perfection.
Spring Rice with Greens and Peas
Hear me out! No, this rice on its own is not a complete dinner (but no judgment if you make it one). But pop a piece of salmon or chicken on top, and you’ve got a delicious springtime dinner that’s simple and satisfying. With peas, arugula, and more, this easy rice recipe is just what you need to get in the spirit this season.
Lemony Spring Pasta Salad with Olives, Artichokes, and Bacon
This is a pasta salad you could eat for lunch and dinner back-to-back without getting tired of it—it’s that good. The base is made of twisty pasta (the best for soaking up flavor), olives, crumbled bacon, artichoke hearts, and pistachios. From there, everything gets tossed in a generous drizzle of simple green dressing and served however you like.
Za’atar Crusted Chicken
Need a healthy dinner your kids will eat and enjoy? This one is your calling card. Mia Rigden shared her weeknight chicken recipe with us, which is easy, flavorful, and perfect for spring. The chicken takes a bath in a simple brine that maximizes its juiciness. From there, it’s crusted in a light coating of almond flour, za’atar, garlic powder, and a little salt and pepper. For the kids, it’s like chicken nuggets, but you can enjoy the healthier twist it brings to the table.
Creamy Lemon Pasta
A simple lemon pasta is just what spring dinner ideas called for. It couldn’t be easier to make, as the most challenging and time-consuming step is waiting for the water to boil! While they cook, you’ll conjure up a sauce full of butter, heavy cream, lemon zest/juice, and grated parm. Once your noodles are al dente, you’ll toss everything together in holy pasta matrimony.
Lemony Sheet Pan Chicken With Artichokes
This sheet pan superstar features a Mediterranean-esque offering of lemony chicken, artichokes, olives, tomatoes, red onion, and lots of garlic. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner staple because it requires minimal effort, is full of healthy ingredients, and it’s tailor-made for family eating. Once you pull it out of the oven, you could set it straight onto the table and have everyone dig in family-style.
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
The easiest way to feed a crowd in a short amount of time, these sheet pan fajitas are a game changer. Just based on how easy this recipe is, you wouldn’t believe how much flavor the chicken and veggies absorb while they cook. They become so juicy and tender in the oven that they never fail to earn rave reviews.
Pesto Pasta Primavera
This tried-and-true pesto pasta primavera is the ol’ reliable weeknight dinner recipe you need in your life. Not only is it on brand for spring with its asparagus and bright flavors, but it’s so simple to make for lazy suppers. Plus, the noodles are the same size as your snappy veggies, which makes a much more satisfying bite than your typical pasta shape.
Butternut Squash Pizza With Arugula & Almond Ricotta
Remember those flatbreads with lots of toppings I mentioned before? This is one of them. With butternut squash, bacon, arugula, almond ricotta, red onion, balsamic glaze, and more, this pizza-flatbread hybrid is the liaison between winter and spring that’s perfect for this time of year. Your kiddos will gobble it up, and you can pat yourself on the back for the serving of veggies they’re unknowingly inhaling.
Got any spring dinner ideas to share? Let us know your favorites down below.
This post was last updated on April 6, 2025 to include new insights.
