Spring Dishes for Weekday Dinner

Votes: 86

Spring is here, which means it's time to add new recipes to your menu. Here are hearty, yet light and vibrant main dishes, along with easy side dishes—these quick and easy recipes are perfect for the season.

How to Cook - Spring Dishes for Weeknight Dinners

Chicken with mushrooms and green peas in a creamy sauce

Golden chicken cutlets are a family favorite, and they're even more delicious when dipped in a rich, creamy sauce. This recipe is sure to be a great addition to your weeknight menu.

Recipe: Chicken with mushrooms and green peas in a creamy sauce

Pasta carbonara with asparagus

Shredded asparagus adds a vibrant touch to this simple and quick classic dish. Thin green strips infuse fettuccine pasta with vibrant colors and spring flavor.

Recipe: Pasta carbonara with asparagus

Pork saltimbocca with green peas

Top these juicy, all-natural pork cutlets with prosciutto, Parmesan, and fontina cheese and grill them for a hearty, gourmet meal that won't take long.

Recipe: Pork saltimbocca with green peas

Shrimp Ramen

Take advantage of time-saving options—for example, this lunch is based on instant ramen noodles. The finished dish is just as good as the ones you'd order from a restaurant.

Recipe: Shrimp Ramen

Fried snapper with orange and kale salad

Fish cooks quickly, making it a great choice when you're short on time for a weekday lunch. In this recipe, we paired the snapper fillet with a simple citrus salad. It adds a refreshing touch, making it perfect for the changing seasons.

Recipe: Fried snapper with orange and kale salad

Fettuccine Alfredo with Spring Vegetables

Spring vegetables add a fresh twist to classic Alfredo pasta, while lemon zest and chives soften the rich, creamy flavor.

Recipe: Fettuccine Alfredo with Spring Vegetables

Coconut-breaded tofu with apricot jam and green peas

This coconut-crusted tofu will appeal to vegetarians and those looking to add new meatless dishes to their diet. The recipe takes less than an hour to prepare, and its rich palette of sweet and savory flavors makes it ideal for a weeknight family dinner.

Recipe: Coconut-breaded tofu with apricot jam and green peas

Sausage Pizza with Spring Spinach Topping

Enjoy a seasonal twist on a favorite dish. Spinach, artichokes, fennel, and roasted peppers make a delicious pizza topping.

Recipe: Sausage Pizza with Spring Spinach Topping

Chicken Piccata with Pasta

Rachel infuses a pasta dish with the flavors of classic Italian piccata, adding chunks of juicy chicken breast. The result is an easy, balanced lunch.

Recipe: Chicken Piccata with Pasta

Sugar snap peas with tarragon

The delicate sugar snap peas only need to be cooked briefly, and then all that's left to do is add a dressing of olive oil and fresh tarragon.

Recipe: Sugar snap peas with tarragon

Chicken Tacos with Salsa

Spice up your tacos with Sunny's creamy, refreshing salsa.

Recipe: Chicken Tacos with Salsa

Natural pork cutlets stuffed with cornbread

Use leftover cornbread mixed with jalapeños and green onions for an easy filling for juicy, all-natural bone-in pork chops.

Recipe: Natural pork cutlets stuffed with cornbread

Shrimp in garlic-lemon sauce with pasta

This rich, lemony pasta is simple to make yet impressive, making it equally at home on a weekday or for a special occasion.

Recipe: Shrimp in garlic-lemon sauce with pasta

Corn porridge with fried eggs and green peas

Eggs may not be a frequent part of the lunch menu, but they cook quickly and are an excellent source of protein.

Recipe: Corn porridge with fried eggs and green peas

Parmesan-crusted chicken cutlets

Ina serves breaded chicken breasts with salad greens and a little Parmesan cheese.

Recipe: Parmesan-crusted chicken cutlets

Pasta Primavera with Green Peas, Asparagus, and Kale

When preparing this spring vegetable dish, use green ingredients. Seasonal snow peas, chives, and kale complement penne pasta perfectly.

Recipe: Pasta Primavera with Green Peas, Asparagus, and Kale

Natural pork cutlets in batter with peach sauce

Fry juicy, all-natural pork cutlets in breadcrumbs until crispy and golden brown, then use peach jam for a simple, sweet sauce.

Recipe: Natural pork cutlets in batter with peach sauce

Gnocchi "Primavera"

This dish is quick to make on a weekday using store-bought potato gnocchi. The sauce, perfect with spring vegetables, requires a little Parmesan and lemon zest.

Recipe: Gnocchi "Primavera"

Fried fish with a crispy crust

If you eat fish on Fridays in the spring, you're in luck: this dish is so quick that you can easily prepare it even at the end of the work week.

Recipe: Fried fish with a crispy crust

Artichokes stewed in lemon sauce

For this recipe, you don't need to defrost the artichoke hearts. Simply simmer them straight from the freezer in water mixed with white wine, lemon, and olive oil—they'll be tender in 10 minutes.

Recipe: Artichokes stewed in lemon sauce

Rice noodle salad with grilled shrimp

Welcome the first warm days of spring with this quick dish. Grill sweet and spicy shrimp, asparagus, and mushrooms, then serve with rice noodles and fresh cilantro. On rainy days, you can cook the marinated shrimp and vegetables at home on a grill pan.

Recipe: Rice noodle salad with grilled shrimp

Oven-baked lemon chicken

This easy chicken dinner takes just 15 minutes to prepare.

Recipe: Oven-baked lemon chicken

Penne pasta with artichokes, black olives and green peas

Tyler combines the freshest spring ingredients in this dish, and the meal is ready in less than an hour.

Recipe: Penne pasta with artichokes, black olives and green peas

Baked salmon with tomato-cream sauce

Pair the fried fish with a vibrant creamy sauce and a side of peas and lima beans—the dish takes just half an hour.

Recipe: Baked salmon with tomato-cream sauce

Pappardelle with spring vegetables

Toss flat, wide pasta with truly spring-like ingredients: green peas, radishes, and herbs. Top the finished dish with creamy lemon ricotta.

Recipe: Pappardelle with spring vegetables

Baked beets with feta cheese

For a colorful and flavorful side dish, toss sweet roasted beets with savory feta and green onions.

Recipe: Baked beets with feta cheese

Fried rice with steak pieces

Save time by using frozen rice mix as a base.

Recipe: Fried rice with steak pieces

Baked chicken legs with spring vegetables

This dish is a real treat for a workday. Bake the chicken for 15 minutes while you chop the potatoes, radishes, and green onions. Then add the vegetables and return the dish to the oven, and dinner will be ready in 20 minutes!

Recipe: Baked chicken legs with spring vegetables

Natural pork cutlets in chili paste in a frying pan

New Mexico chili powder, cumin, cloves, and oregano give this boneless pork loin a spicy flavor, while grilled onions add a sweet, smoky note. Grill the pork for about 8 minutes and serve with your favorite Mexican-style rice.

Recipe: Natural pork cutlets in chili paste in a frying pan

Cajun Pasta with Vegetables

Ree's flavorful pasta is the perfect way to use up delicious farmers market vegetables. This family-friendly dish combines bell peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, and tomatoes.

Recipe: Cajun Pasta with Vegetables

Tacos de carne asada: beef tacos

A taco dinner takes just 30 minutes: juicy flank steak is grilled or roasted over a flame, then served in corn tortillas with other toppings.

Recipe: Tacos de carne asada: beef tacos

Chicken thighs with mint green pea puree

Use frozen peas for a simple and vibrant mashed potato to go with baked chicken and cauliflower.

Recipe: Chicken thighs with mint green pea puree

Fried green beans in hot chili sauce

Valerie seasons green beans with red chili paste and mellows the flavor with a little honey.

Recipe: Fried green beans in hot chili sauce

Pizza with shrimp and clams

Pizza night can be enjoyed anytime. Thanks to the pre-made crust, this seafood pizza will be on the table in just half an hour.

Recipe: Pizza with shrimp and clams

Greek-style couscous with shrimp

For a balanced shrimp dish, fresh plum tomatoes are simmered with garlic and fennel.

Recipe: Greek-style couscous with shrimp

Bucatini with pesto and shrimp

Greek yogurt adds a tangy, creamy texture to classic pesto. For a crispy touch, top with toasted bread crumbs.

Recipe: Bucatini with pesto and shrimp

Natural lamb cutlets with carrot puree and cucumber salad

Prepare your side dishes before you roast the lamb in a cast iron skillet, and the meal will cook in less than an hour.

Recipe: Natural lamb cutlets with carrot puree and cucumber salad

Linguine with asparagus in a creamy cheese sauce

If you don't have asparagus on hand, Nancy Fuller recommends substituting fresh spinach or artichoke hearts.

Recipe: Linguine with asparagus in a creamy cheese sauce

Salad with orzo pasta, spinach and shrimp

Ring in spring with this spinach and orzo salad, featuring sweet-and-tangy radishes, mint, parsley, and seared shrimp.

Recipe: Salad with orzo pasta, spinach and shrimp

Whole grain penne pasta with chard and minced meat

Use chard with the stems on: it's a source of antioxidants and adds texture to the sauce.

Recipe: Whole grain penne pasta with chard and minced meat

Pita with chicken salad

Make pita pockets filled with orange-spiced chicken in a yogurt sauce with nuts, celery, poppy seeds and chives.

Recipe: Pita with chicken salad

Creamy bows with fried mushrooms, asparagus and walnuts

Walnuts, asparagus and cremini mushrooms add a rustic flair to this quick and filling dish.

Recipe: Creamy bows with fried mushrooms, asparagus and walnuts

Asparagus with feta

Add vibrant colors to roasted asparagus using roasted red peppers, feta, and parsley.

Recipe: Asparagus with feta

Fried tilapia with green beans

Tilapia is a versatile, inexpensive fish that's very popular in home cooking. Coat the fish fillets with a flour-and-herb mixture and fry in butter until crispy. Serve with green beans and grape tomatoes.

Recipe: Fried tilapia with green beans

Greek penne pasta with feta

Penne with spinach and fresh vegetables transform a classic Greek salad into a complete dinner that's ready in less than half an hour.

Recipe: Greek penne pasta with feta

Angel Hair Pasta in Carrot and Walnut Sauce

Seasonal carrots are paired with walnuts, cheese, and herbs in a pesto-like sauce. It pairs perfectly with thin spaghetti.

Recipe: Angel Hair Pasta in Carrot and Walnut Sauce

Lo mein noodles with ginger and green onions

What's the best way to eat spring vegetables? With tender lo mein noodles! Serve as a vegetarian main course, or add shredded grilled chicken for a quick and delicious lunch.

Recipe: Lo mein noodles with ginger and green onions

Primavera with carrots, green peas and sweet peppers

This dish, with its springy pasta and colorful vegetables, is truly spring-like.

Recipe: Primavera with carrots, green peas and sweet peppers

Potato salad with eggs

Try a spring-inspired lighter version of a classic picnic salad: toss fingerling potatoes and eggs with green peas and fresh mint.

Recipe: Potato salad with eggs

French-style baked sweet onions

For a simple gratin, roast sweet onions with grated Gruyere cheese and crispy croutons.

Recipe: French-style baked sweet onions

Curried Egg Salad with Pickled Beets

Serve the toast for lunch with fresh egg salad and brightly colored beets on the side.

Recipe: Curried Egg Salad with Pickled Beets

Salmon steak with homemade butter

When the weather warms up, fire up the grill and make Ann's Citrus Grilled Salmon.

Recipe: Salmon steak with homemade butter

Linguine pasta with roasted vegetables

Roast zucchini and asparagus in the oven until tender, then toss with fresh linguine pasta and a simple tomato sauce.

Recipe: Linguine pasta with roasted vegetables

Chicken sandwich in batter

Making fried chicken for sandwiches at home is much easier and quicker than you think. Skinless, boneless chicken thighs are incredibly juicy when coated in buttermilk and hot sauce, then dredged in flour and fried until crispy and golden brown.

Recipe: Chicken sandwich in batter

Orecchiette Pasta with Truffle Asparagus Pesto

The truffled pecorino cheese adds an unexpected umami flavor to the pesto sauce, while toasted hazelnuts add a pleasant texture.

Recipe: Orecchiette Pasta with Truffle Asparagus Pesto

Pasta with Turkey Meatballs

Save time by making meatballs with a secret, flavorful ingredient: sweet Italian turkey sausage.

Recipe: Pasta with Turkey Meatballs

Soba noodles with smoked trout in broth

Instead of a time-consuming broth, make a quick, flavorful soup using dark sesame oil, shiitake mushrooms, soy sauce, and smoked trout.

Recipe: Soba noodles with smoked trout in broth

Risotto with mascarpone and prosciutto

Top it with creamy mascarpone and prosciutto for perhaps the most luxurious risotto you'll ever make.

Recipe: Risotto with mascarpone and prosciutto