Spring Dinner Recipes That Make the Most of Fresh, In-Season Produce

Along with blooming flowers and warmer weather, springtime brings a bounty of fresh produce to your kitchen table. Put the abundance of asparagus, broccoli, and other seasonal fruits and veggies to good use in a delicious spring meal. Add one of our top spring dinner recipes to your menu for the freshest flavor possible. And don't forget a sprinkle of herbs grown in the garden—a fresh green garnish adds a little something extra to every dish.

Lemon Herb-Roasted Salmon with Broccoli

Credit: Blaine Moats

Get your omega-3s in tonight with an easy spring dinner of roasted salmon. Broccoli and cherry tomatoes add a delicious bite to the dish. Everything melds together when topped with a refreshing and bright herb-lemon dressing, for a healthy dish on busy weeknights.

Kale Falafel Salad with Toasted Pine Nuts

Credit:

Carson Downing

This falafel salad is filled with late-winter and early-spring veggies. It's a great dinner idea for the tail end of winter when everyone is ready for fresh herbs, greens, and tomatoes. For added heartiness, top with pine nuts and feta cheese.

Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry

Credit:

BHG / CARA CORMACK

Use this stir-fry recipe as a guide to create your ultimate spring dinner! Grab a combination of whatever veggies you have on hand and dress them up with this delicious stir-fry sauce. The sesame seeds on top of the chow mein noodles add a little crunch.

Marry Me Chicken Pasta Salad

Credit:

Carson Downing. Food Stylist: Annie Probst

This chicken pasta salad uses some of our favorite springtime vegetables, including asparagus. You can incorporate other veggies into this creamy and satisfying chicken pasta salad dish. It's great for those first few cookouts and outdoor get-togethers of the season.

Easy Pizza Primavera

Credit:

Brie Goldman / Food Styling: Annie Probst

Pizza primavera is the ultimate after-school-snack that doubles as an easy, light dinner. Gather all of your favorite vegetables and mix them with melty cheese. You can make this vegan, with a vegan cheese alternative, or omit all together and just use some dollops of pesto for extra flavor.

Ranch Wedge Salad

Credit:

Carson Downing

A wedge salad looks impressive, but couldn't be easier. This recipe brings together all of our favorite flavors into a restaurant-worthy side dish. We made ours with homemade ranch dressing instead of blue cheese, and added toppers like crisp-cooked salami, ricotta salata cheese, and mini red peppers for a nice crunch.

Marinated Shrimp Salad with Dill Dressing

Credit: Carson Downing

Thawed, fully-cooked frozen shrimp get tossed in a light marinade of olive oil, lemon juice, and dill. This mixture sits for 30 minutes, just enough time to chop your veggies as the base and whip up a creamy yogurt dressing. It's a light and delicious meal that doesn't use the oven, so you can stay cool on warmer spring and summer nights.

Chipotle Ranch Egg Salad Wraps

Credit: Jason Donnelly

This high-protein dinner doesn't just use our favorite egg salad recipe, it also incorporates creamy avocado and romaine lettuce for a complete meal. The chipotle gives the egg salad a lot more flavor than a traditional egg salad. We liked it in a wrap with all of the veggie fixings.

Pesto Chicken Sandwiches

Credit: Blaine Moats

This Italian chicken sub resembles a premium option at your favorite sandwich shop. Pesto and mayo get mixed together, which is then spread onto a ciabatta sandwich cut in half. Top with a flavorful vegetable and chicken mixture and cut into appetizer-sized sandwiches or enjoy a large serving all to yourself.

Coffee Marinated Flank Steak Tacos

Credit:

Carson Downing

Flank steak is an underrated cut of meat—when done right! This coffee-marinated version brings out the best of a more-affordable steak option. Top with a delicious corn salsa, red cabbage, and cilantro, and you'll have a delicious meal for Taco Tuesday or any night of the week.

White Bean Tuna Salad

Credit: Andy Lyons

A beautifully balanced tuna salad is an economical way to enjoy a protein-packed dinner. Combined with white beans, red onions, arugula, and a light dressing, this dinner recipe is a fantastic way to enjoy fresh ingredients on a budget. Enjoy with crostini, crackers, or a crispy baguette.

Mediterranean Carrot Ribbon Salad

Credit:

Gabe Greco

Carrot ribbon salad makes a rainbow-colored statement! Use multicolored carrots for a bright and bold recipe. Other vegetables and a can of beans gets mixed in for a little extra oomph. Not only is it beautiful, but it's also delicious, and great with added proteins like a basic grilled chicken.

Greek Meatballs with Feta

Credit:

Carson Downing / Food Styling: Annie Probst

These homemade Greek meatballs can be made with either lamb, beef, turkey, or any combination of the three. As one BHG home cook shared, "I made this with ground turkey and it was delicious! The meatballs are so tender and flavorful." Serve the meatballs with your favorite spring veggies, we like a combination of cucumbers, red onion, and fresh herbs.

Skillet Cacio e Pepe

Credit:

Carson Downing / Food Styling: Annie Probst

A couple of things set things set this Cacio e Pepe apart from the rest. Miso in the sauce adds a subtle savory flavor, while plenty of shaved Brussels sprouts brighten up the otherwise classic dish. Finish with grate Pecorino Romano cheese and lemon zest.

Crispy Quinoa-Crusted Eggplant

Credit:

Carson Downing / Food Styling: Annie Probst

In this riff on eggplant parm, we're crusting the slices with quinoa, spices, and Parmesan cheese. Once fried, dust each piece with Parmesan before layering into a dish with warm marinara and a touch of Calabrian chile paste. Garnish with fresh basil leaves.