Top 6 Dinner Ideas for Spring

These dinners are packed with greens and they are quick to prepare and full of fresh vibes.

By
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara is a chef, culinary educator, and author of three cookbooks, The Pocket Pawpaw Cookbook, Tasting Ohio and The Fruit Forager's Companion. The latter won a 2019 IACP Cookbook Award.
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Updated April 24, 2025
Sara Bir
A big oval pot of spring minestrone with a wooden spoon for stirring

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

When daylight saving time hits in March, my mind immediately thinks it's spring. And for good reason: I'm ready to eat more veggies, add more color to my meals, and shred the winter doldrums.

Here are 6 spring dinner recipes I'm making to kick-off the new season.

  • Salmon Patties

    Salmon patties set on a plate with a dip and lemon.
    Ciara Kehoe

    When it's spring, I want to be outside as much as possible, so convenient meals are a go-to. Canned salmon is all you need to make these pantry-friendly patties that take well to improvisation.

  • Chicken and Broccoli Pasta

    Bowl of Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Next to a Kitchen Towel and a Small Bowl of Cheese

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    I crave seasonal green veg in the spring, but it's not always quite ready when I am. Trusty green broccoli to the rescue! A zesty wine and lemon sauce makes this weeknight pasta a standout.

  • Sheet Pan Asparagus and Srhimp

    Overhead view of garlic butter sheet pan shrimp and asparagus on a baking sheet.
    Simply Recipes / Nick Evans

    Quick-cooking shrimp and asparagus make a perfect sheet pan duo.

  • Spring Minestrone

    Spring Minestrone
    Elise Bauer

    Peas and asparagus spring-ify this Italian soup that's usually associated with summer.

    Continue to 5 of 6 below

  • Nettle Soup

    A bowl of nettle soup
    Elise Bauer

    The likelihood of your access to nettles is slim, I know. But if you can get your hands on some, this fortifying soup is what you should make. Nettles are seen as a spring tonic with detoxifying and restorative benefits.

  • Artichoke Leek Frittata

    Artichoke Leek Frittata
    Elise Bauer

    I'll make a meal out of whole steamed artichokes, but they're messy and a pain to trim. Get your artichoke fix with this frittata, which lets you embrace frozen artichoke hearts.

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