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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    28 Easy Spring Dinners to Celebrate the Season

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on April 12, 2025, updated March 21, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Spring is the perfect time to enjoy fresh, vibrant meals that celebrate the season. With an abundance of seasonal produce and lighter flavors, these 28 easy dinner ideas will help you make the most of springtime cooking. From colorful salads to hearty vegetable dishes, there's something here for everyone to enjoy.

    Vermicelli di Positano

    Vermicelli di Positano.
    Photo credit: The Pasta Project.

    This fresh tomato Vermicelli di Positano is perfect for spring and summer meals. It’s simple to prepare, just cook the pasta and let the vegetables and herbs soak up the flavors.

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    Salmon Stir-fry

    Salmon stir-fry.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This stir-fry is packed with fresh vegetables and has a bright, citrusy taste that everyone will enjoy. It's perfect on its own or served alongside some rice.

    Get the recipe

    Mexican Citrus Chicken

    Citrus marinated chicken.
    Photo credit: Confetti & Bliss.

    This Mexican citrus chicken marinade is packed with bright flavors and is great for grilling, whether you're inside or outside. It gives you tender and juicy chicken that's both healthy and delicious.

    Get the recipe

    Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

    Garlic butter shrimp pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta is a quick and tasty dish that combines juicy shrimp with perfectly cooked pasta in a rich garlic butter sauce. This is a great meal for busy nights when you want something delicious without a lot of work.

    Get the recipe

    Caprese Chicken

    Caprese chicken.
    Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

    This 5-ingredient Caprese Chicken is a simple and satisfying one-pan meal. With just five ingredients and minimal cleanup, it’s perfect for a cozy dinner.

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    Easy Paella

    Paella.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This paella is a simple dish that everyone will enjoy. Packed with shrimp, chicken, green peas, and bell peppers, it's great for dinner parties and tastes just as good the next day.

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    Halloumi Pasta Primavera

    Halloumi pasta primavera.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This vegetarian halloumi pasta is quick to prepare, taking just 20 minutes from start to finish, including chopping. It's a fresh and light dish that highlights the flavors of the vegetables without any cream.

    Get the recipe

    Grilled Lemon Basil Chicken

    Grilled lemon chicken.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Lemon Chicken Marinade is quick to whip up using simple and healthy ingredients. Perfect for grilling, pan frying, or baking, it keeps the chicken juicy and full of flavor with olive oil, lemon, and basil.

    Get the recipe

    Roasted Gnocchi with Veggies

    Roasted gnocchi with veggies.
    Photo credit: FODMAP Everyday.

    This recipe is perfect for gnocchi lovers. Roasting the gnocchi in olive oil gives it a crispy outside while keeping it soft and tender inside.

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    Smoked Salmon & Spinach Pasta

    Salmon spinach pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This quick pasta dish is packed with the fresh flavors of smoked salmon and lemon. It's a meal you'll want to make again and again.

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    Sweetheart Cabbage Salad with Gyoza Chickpeas

    sweetheart cabbage salad.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sweetheart cabbage salad comes together in just 15 minutes and is perfect for anyone who usually doesn't like salads. Packed with spinach, crunchy cabbage, and tasty chickpeas, it's topped with plenty of Parmesan cheese for a satisfying and healthy meal.

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    Red Pesto Pasta Salad with Veggies

    Red pesto pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This red pesto pasta is quick to prepare, taking less than 30 minutes with only 15 minutes of hands-on time. It's loaded with veggies and flavor, and you can enjoy it hot or cold, whether you use homemade or store-bought pesto.

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    Lemon Ricotta Pasta

    Lemon ricotta pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This pasta dish is incredibly easy to prepare. It's perfect for spring evenings when you want something quick and satisfying.

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    Cherry Tomato Pasta with Spinach and Walnuts

    15-Minute Cherry Tomato Pasta with Spinach and Walnuts
    Photo credit: always use butter

    This 15-minute Cherry Tomato Pasta with Spinach and Walnuts is a quick and easy dish that packs a lot of flavor. It's great on its own, but adding some mozzarella or burrata cheese takes it to the next level.

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    Peanut Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    Chicken lettuce wraps with peanut sauce.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Chicken lettuce wraps are quick and easy to prepare. Serve them with pickled veggies and creamy peanut sauce for a tasty meal that everyone will enjoy.

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    Tortellini with Ham and Peas

    Tortellini with ham and peas on a plate.
    Photo Credit: The Pasta Project.

    This pasta dish is a favorite in Italy and is simple to prepare. It's perfect for lunch or a light dinner, and everyone in the family enjoys it.

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    Pasta with Pancetta & Peas

    Pasta with peas and pancetta.
    Photo Credit: Scarlati Family Kitchen.

    Pasta with pancetta and peas is the perfect easy dinner, made in less than 20 minutes! Thick-cut pancetta is cooked until perfectly crispy, mixed with green peas, and tossed with orecchiette pasta and grated parmesan cheese.

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    BLT Puff Pastry Tart

    Square slices of BLT puff pastry tart.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This tart is packed with crispy bacon, fresh tomatoes, and a simple balsamic aioli made with just three ingredients. It comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for a quick spring dinner.

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    Slow Cooker Vietnamese Pulled Pork Banh Mi

    Slow Cooker Vietnamese Pulled Pork Banh Mi.
    Photo Credit: Delightful Plate.

    This pulled pork banh mi is a Vietnamese sandwich made with a crispy baguette filled with juicy pulled pork, crunchy pickled veggies, and zesty sriracha mayo. Using a slow cooker for the pork makes this a simple and satisfying meal.

    Get the Recipe

    Miso-Sesame Chickpeas

    Easy Miso-Sesame Chickpeas
    Photo Credit: Tried and True Recipe.

    Miso-sesame chickpeas are packed with flavor and simple to prepare. This 5-ingredient dish is perfect for a quick spring dinner.

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    Lemon Pepper Salmon

    Baked lemon pepper salmon.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This salmon dish is incredibly simple, using just three ingredients. It's perfect for a quick and easy dinner in the spring.

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    Black Lentil Feta Salad

    Black Lentil Salad with Feta.
    Photo credit: Evergreen Kitchen.

    This Mediterranean salad is full of fresh flavors and is simple to prepare. It's packed with protein from lentils, creamy feta, crunchy veggies, and a light dressing, making it perfect for dinner or lunch.

    Get the recipe

    Baked Tilapia

    Baked tilapia.
    Photo credit: Organically Addison.

    Baked tilapia is a simple and tasty dish that you can whip up in just 15 minutes. It's juicy and full of flavor, making it a great choice for a quick spring dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Sheet Pan Drumsticks & Potatoes

    Baked drumsticks.
    Photo credit: Go Healthy Ever After.

    Sheet pan chicken drumsticks and potatoes are simple to prepare and really tasty. The lemon garlic seasoning adds great flavor, making this a perfect dinner for busy weeknights.

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    Chinese Chicken Salad

    A bowl of Chinese chicken salad.
    Photo Credit: XOXOBella.

    Chinese chicken salad with a light dressing is a quick and healthy option for a weeknight dinner or lunch. It's simple to prepare and perfect for a refreshing meal.

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    Smoked Italian Pasta Salad

    Smoked Italian Pasta Salad with Pepperoncini Dressing.
    Photo credit: xoxoBella.

    This smoked Italian pasta salad combines all the best elements of pasta salad with a delicious smoky twist. It's a great option for a quick and satisfying meal.

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    Carnitas

    Carnitas (Mexican Pulled Pork).
    Photo Credit: Gypsy Plate.

    Skip the restaurant and enjoy homemade pulled pork instead. It's simple to prepare and delicious, making it a great choice for dinner.

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    Salmon Asparagus Pasta Salad

    SALMON ASPARAGUS PASTA SALAD.
    Photo credit: Maple + Mango.

    This dish features fresh asparagus, salmon, hard-boiled eggs, and pasta, all mixed in a creamy lemon dill dressing. It's simple to prepare and perfect for spring and summer meals.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Chicken bacon pasta.
      Stress-Free Cooking: 22 Easy Dinners You Can Set and Forget
    • 25 Stupid Simple Recipes Straight From Grandma’s Kitchen
    • Chicken drumsticks & potatoes.
      22 Dump-And-Go Dinners We’re Making Every Week
    • Creamy crockpot tortellini.
      Simplify Summer: 18 Crockpot Dinners You Can Set and Forget

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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