The weather is warming up, the flowers are blooming, the greens are springing, and you’re in need of fresh spring dinner recipes. With all of that change comes a desire to change up your menus and spring often makes us want lighter more refreshing foods that still feel fulfilling.
That task is naturally easier when it comes to breakfast and lunch, both of which are often comprised of lighter ingredients already. But for dinner, it require a bit more creativity as it’s usually the heaviest meal of the day.
Vegetables are going to be your friend, upping the amount of vegetables in your meal not only adds more nutrition but can fill you up without being heavy. If you up the protein, try and pair it with lighter vegetables and carbs to keep the meal light overall.
If you still need some ideas, don’t worry, the footwork has been done for you. Check out these 20 spring dinner recipes for appetizer, entree, side, and dessert inspiration!
Spring Dinner Appetizers
Whether you’re planning a full three or four-course meal, or you just like an appetizer to transition you into your meal sometimes, these small spring delights are perfect appetizers for you.
Asparagus Ricotta Tarts
Tarts are like a cheat code to perfect bites, you can pack so much into them and really set the tone for your meal. These asparagus tarts are the perfect example. Savory and rich but still light enough to not take over the meal.
Spring Root Vegetable Salad with Pistachio Vinaigrette
An effective way to balance out the lightness of spring meals with the heartiness of dinner is to have more than one course and to lean into earthier, more substantial ingredients. This salad does both with the arugula combined with turnips, carrots, radishes, and earthy pistachios. All topped with a tangy vinaigrette, making it the perfect start to your dinner.
Vegan Sushi Spring Rolls
Can’t get more spring than spring rolls! These light and delicious bites can be made ahead of time and in plenty. Chocked full of fresh vegetables, these are a refreshing and beneficial start to your meal.
Prosciutto-Wrapped Apple Bites
If sweet, tangy, and savory sounds like something you’d like, consider giving these prosciutto bites a chance. Not only are they easy to prep, they are a fresh crisp bite balanced out with salt and savory flavors that will still be light enough to round out your meal.
Crispy Enoki Mushrooms
For those who really like a fried app to get a good meal going, consider these fried Enoki mushrooms! These smokey, crispy bites are truly addicting and the sriracha mayo dip tops it all off!
Spring Dinner Entrees
Now the main act! If you’re here, you’re looking for inspiration for spring dinner because the cozy, warm, and heavy options for Autumn and Winter can sometimes be just a bit much in the warmer months. These options utilize seasonal produce to bring fresh and flavorful ingredients to the forefront of dinner while achieving that balance of light but filling.
Spring Vegetable Brown Butter Gnocchi
Pasta never fails, but it can bit a bit rich. This spring vegetable gnocchi takes a delicious and rich brown butter gnocchi and lightens up it up with fresh spring vegetables. The spring vegetables bring color and flavor to the dinner table.
Spring Minestrone Soup
Soup may seem like an unconventional choice for spring as it’s usually getting warmer but there are still a few cooler days that blow through. On those days, if you’re looking for a welcomed comfort food still fitting of the season, consider this spring minestrone soup. It’s a light, tomato-based soup that is chocked full of seasonal produce.
Spring Pea Risotto
This spring pea risotto is rich and buttery with a cozy creamy flavor. Fresh herbs and black pepper brighten it up and add a small bit of bite, making it a delicious centerpiece to your menu.
Grilled Skirt Steak with Lemon Herb Couscous
Steak for dinner is not novice but to bring those springtime vibes to your plate, consider this recipe that has been paired with lemon couscous. The couscous is full of bright lemon, fresh herbs, and creamy feta so it brings all the seasonal offerings!
Salmon with Dill Sauce
Perfect for dinners where you need something easier to prepare, this salmon with this tangy dill sauce is a low effort, high reward option. You’ll want to add it to your regular spring dinner recipe rotation.
Spring Dinner Sides
A dinner without sides can feel like an incomplete picture. If you’re looking for ways to round out your spring dinner menu without making the same old sides, consider leaning into in-season produce with these unique options.
Roasted Radishes
Radishes are often an underutilized ingredient because of their unique bite and flavor. This recipe is an amazing starting point. Smothered in a miso butter that provides that deep and salty umami flavor, these radishes are a well done compliment to a spring entree.
Arugula Pesto Potato Salad
While this ain’t your mama’s potato salad, you won’t regret trying it. This take on potato salad has a bright but nutty flavor, garnished with fresh vegetables and caramelized onions. So while it’s not the potato salad you know, it can be one you love.
Asparagus Salad with Feta & Lemon
Asparagus doesn’t often need a much done to it as the taste can stand perfectly well on its own however if there was ever a time to change it up, this is the recipe to start with. Fresh and tender asparagus topped with lemon and feta cheese makes for a well balanced, tangy and creamy tasty side.
Sautéed Swiss Chard
While you’re busy eating your greens, don’t forget to add these into the rotation. This sautéed Swiss chard recipe is a combination of all things earthy and tangy, with a touch of garlic and cayenne. A bold new take on the typical greens.
Honey Balsamic Roasted Carrots
These are not the carrots you ate in school. This recipe leans into the sweet and savory flavors of carrots with some added tang. These honey balsamic glaze will make you want to only eat carrots this way.
Spring Dinner Sweets
One of the benefits of spring is all of the sweet, fresh fruits that are coming into season. So many of them can be used to make sweet delights that are both tasty and refreshing. Here are some gorgeous spring recipes that use that seasonal produce in some of the best ways possible!
Honey Glazed Grilled Pineapples
Sweet, tangy, a touch of smokiness? If you’ve never had grilled pineapple, change that now. This honey glazed pineapple truly uses the fruit in a phenomenal way and leaves behind a soft, sweet delight that is a bit addictive.
Orange Blossom Water Roasted Rhubarb, Labneh, & Honey
If you’ve never had labneh, this is a stunning place to start. Labneh is a Middle Eastern dairy spread that is creamy and tangy. This stunning dish has a labneh base with a floral and sweet topping of sweet honey and slightly sour rhubarb that’s been complimented with orange blossom water.
Turkish Stuffed Apricots with Rose Water and Pistachios
Do not let these little bites fool you, they pack a lot into a little space. These delicious stuffed apricots are so complex but well done. Notes of sweetness and floral are perfectly balanced with some nuttiness and a hint of spice. You do not want to skip the gorgeous treats.
Pineapple Kiwi Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
This treat tastes like a tropical vacation in a bowl! Super bright kiwi and pineapple doused in a sweet and tangy honey lime dressing and toped with toasted coconut that brings both texture and a slightly deeper flavor. Not to mention, it’s incredibly easy to throw together.
Strawberry Panna Cotta
It’s hard to go wrong with strawberries and cream anything! This lovely, and deceptively easy, strawberry Panna Cotta is no exception. These small but decadent delights take that whole sweet and fresh flavors of the strawberry and take it up a notch without complicating it. Give it a try!
With spring comes a sense of renewal and fresh starts. That can be anywhere you choose in your life, including your springtime eats. While it can feel like a task, trying out new flavors, combinations, and techniques, A Place To Bake takes a bit of the guesswork out of for you. These springtime delights are easy, healthy, and lean all the way into your prime seasonal produce. Take some inspiration from these spring dinner recipes and bring a bit of the outside in.
Looking to bring even more springtime into your kitchen? Check out these 9 ways you can bring Spring into your space!
