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50 Classic Spring Recipes to Make All Season Long

50 Classic Spring Recipes to Make All Season Long

By Kaitlyn Yarborough

Updated February 15, 2021

Credit: Jen Causey

With spring officially in full swing, it’s time to turn in those winter soups and heavy casseroles and bring back our favorite cold salads, fruit desserts, and fresh vegetable sides. Every spring party or shower needs a spring classic or two, like our Egg Salad Sandwiches or crowd-pleasing Tomato Tea Sandwiches. No backyard barbecue or picnic is complete without a big bowl of pasta salad and an icebox pie, and every Easter celebration can use a pineapple-glazed ham and platter of deviled eggs. Plus, there’s no spring occasion that our fruit-inspired pound cakes and cobblers won’t make a whole lot sweeter. Southerners love to ring in spring with a freshened-up menu, and these spring recipes are the best of the season.

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Fried Green Tomatoes

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Fried Green Tomatoes

We'll have these crispy 'maters any way you'll serve them—layered on a sandwich, thrown on top of a salad, or (our personal preference) dipped into a tangy sauce.

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Egg Salad Sandwiches

Credit: Jen Causey

Recipe: Egg Salad Sandwiches

Egg salad looks as ready for spring as we are. This nostalgic recipe never disappoints.

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Strawberry-Lemonade Cake

Credit: Jen Causey

Recipe: Strawberry-Lemonade Cake

We like to say that this fresh strawberry cake tastes just like spring in a slice. Why not decide for yourself, hm?

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Lemon-Orange Pound Cake

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Ana Kelly

Recipe: Lemon-Orange Pound Cake

Your senses will feel transported to citrus groves far, far away when served this classic pound cake.

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Tomato Tea Sandwiches

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

Recipe: Tomato Tea Sandwiches

Because we're too busy enjoying the spring weather to make anything complicated. A classic tomato sandwich is all we need.

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Classic Deviled Eggs

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Basic Deviled Eggs

From Easter lunch to a backyard barbecue, there's no spring event that wouldn't do well with a platter of deviled eggs.

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Pineapple Glazed Ham

Credit: Jen Causey

Recipe: Pineapple-Glazed Ham

Pineapple and ham go together like bees and honey. This vintage recipe is perfect for Easter brunch—and leftover ham sandwiches!

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Radish, Avocado, and Citrus Salad

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Radish, Avocado, and Citrus Salad

The peppery radishes in this salad are balanced by creamy avocado and sweet-tart citrus and pomegranate seeds.

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Ham Salad

Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Ham Salad

This old-school spread never goes out of style. (And it's a great use of leftover Easter ham.)

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Asparagus-and-Goat Cheese Quiche

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Asparagus-and-Goat Cheese Quiche

This is a company-worthy quiche if we've ever seen one.

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No-Bake Peanut Butter-Fudge Ice-Cream Pie

Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Recipe: No-Bake Peanut Butter-Fudge Ice-Cream Pie

From the creamy filling to the crunchy crust, this no-bake peanut butter pie is mile-high and ready to be served.

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Best-Ever Crab Cakes with Green Tomato Slaw

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Best-Ever Crab Cakes with Green Tomato Slaw

We wouldn't deem these cakes the "best-ever" lightly. Spring means Maryland crabbing season is officially underway.

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Sausage-Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Sausage-Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

We'll happily turn to this big-batch brunch casserole all season long.

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Hummingbird Cake

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Hummingbird Cake

Spring is the perfect time to whip out this classic cake with its ultra-moist layers featuring pineapple, pecans, cinnamon, and bananas.

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Watermelon Salad

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick

Recipe: Watermelon Salad

Dip your toes into the pre-summer pool with this easy salad. Tomatoes and watermelon work in perfect harmony with peppery arugula, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy pecans.

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Skillet Pot Pie with Chicken and Spring Vegetables

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Skillet Pot Pie with Chicken and Spring Vegetables

Pot pie gets a spring-ready makeover with seasonal veggies and a user-friendly skillet recipe.

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Orange-Glazed Ham

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Orange-Glazed Ham

Nothing will make your Easter ham feel more festive for spring than this bright orange glaze.

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Classic Banana Pudding

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Banana Pudding

This classic Southern treat always makes an appearance at the spring cookout or Sunday lunch.

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West Indies Crab Salad

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: West Indies Crab Salad

This little-known Southern salad hails from Mobile, Alabama. Made with fresh crabmeat and a citrusy vinaigrette, this recipe says hello to warmer weather.

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Peach-Raspberry Buckle

Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Recipe: Peach-Raspberry Buckle

This homey streusel-topped cake is filled with jammy pockets of fruit—it's like a scavenger hunt for your taste buds.

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Fried Catfish

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Classic Fried Catfish

Nothing gets a Southerner more tickled than crispy fried catfish. Stone-ground cornmeal makes for the crispiest crust you've ever tasted.

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Honey-Mustard Baked Salmon with Vegetables

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Honey-Mustard Baked Salmon with Vegetables

Panko breadcrumbs add extra crunch to this baked fish dinner.

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Ham Biscuits

Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Ham Biscuits

We've never met a snack more suited for a spring brunch or shower than these ham biscuits. The recipe comes with several delicious homemade spread options like Creole Mayonnaise, Chive-Radish Compound Butter, Spicy Orange-Peach Butter, and Pecan Cheese Spread.

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Chilled Sweet Corn Soup

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chilled Sweet Corn Soup

Ah, a soup so sweet you'll share it with everyone. This chilled corn soup is the perfect spring-summer soup.

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Peach-and-Blackberry Crisp

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Katelyn Hardwick

Recipe: Peach-and-Blackberry Crisp

A fresh fruit crisp complements any breezy spring night, if you ask us. Feel free to substitute your favorite berries or stone fruits.

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Key Lime Pound Cake

Credit: Jen Causey

Recipe: Key Lime Pound Cake

Don't pick between your favorite pound cake and cool Key lime pie—this heavenly recipe gives the best of both worlds.

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Classic Baked Beans

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Baked Beans

This classic side belongs at any backyard barbecue, cookout, or picnic.

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Grilled Clambake Foil Packets with Herb Butter

Credit: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Recipe: Grilled Clambake Foil Packets with Herb Butter

Something about scattering these ingredients on a newspaper-covered table or serving it all in a big community bowl is just oh-so satisfying. We added traditional Low Country boil ingredients: shrimp, potatoes, corn, and smoked sausage, such as Conecuh.

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Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham

Credit: Jen Causey

Recipe: Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham

You'll recognize this old-school cold salad. It might be one of our most nostalgic rifts on pasta salad to date.

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Cherry-Nectarine Pandowdy

Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Recipe: Cherry-Nectarine Pandowdy

This cobbler-like dish likes it a little messy. The crust absorbs the sweet juices from the cooked fruit.

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Spring Lettuce and Leek Soup Recipe

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

Recipe: Spring Lettuce and Leek Soup Recipe

The bright color and flavor of this soup make it a perfect spring meal.

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More

50 Classic Spring Recipes to Make All Season Long

1 of 50

Fried Green Tomatoes

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2 of 50

Egg Salad Sandwiches

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Strawberry-Lemonade Cake

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Lemon-Orange Pound Cake

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Tomato Tea Sandwiches

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Classic Deviled Eggs

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Pineapple Glazed Ham

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Radish, Avocado, and Citrus Salad

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Ham Salad

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Asparagus-and-Goat Cheese Quiche

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No-Bake Peanut Butter-Fudge Ice-Cream Pie

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Best-Ever Crab Cakes with Green Tomato Slaw

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Sausage-Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

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Hummingbird Cake

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Watermelon Salad

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Skillet Pot Pie with Chicken and Spring Vegetables

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Orange-Glazed Ham

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Classic Banana Pudding

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West Indies Crab Salad

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Peach-Raspberry Buckle

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Fried Catfish

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Honey-Mustard Baked Salmon with Vegetables

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Ham Biscuits

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Chilled Sweet Corn Soup

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Peach-and-Blackberry Crisp

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Key Lime Pound Cake