45 Spring Dinner Ideas the Whole Family Will Love

Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables
Photo: Alison Miksch

When spring is finally fully in bloom, we can't help but crave an entirely new weeknight dinner menu. It's time to trade in those warm, hearty stews for cool, fresh salads and to swap our comforting winter casseroles for easy spring skillet and sheet pan recipes. Because with the warm weather comes plenty of spring parties and outdoor adventures, which means there's no time to be stuck in the kitchen. One-dish wonders, sheet pan suppers, and quick skillet dinners—packed with fresh produce and flavorful ingredients—are the name of the game.

We've rounded up our best spring dinner ideas that'll make sure you will never be short on inspiration. From casual supper recipes like our Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos and Ranch Turkey Burgers to done-up dinner recipes like our Grilled Steak with Blistered Beans and Peppers, these easy spring meals are guaranteed to make a splash. (And we even included freshened-up takes on classic comfort food, like our Zucchini Lasagna and Spring Shrimp-and-Orzo Salad with Lemon Dressing.) Get ready to take on spring with these best-ever spring dinner recipes.

01 of 45

Braised Chicken Thighs with Slow-Cooked Marinara

Braised Chicken Thighs with Slow-Cooked Marinara
Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Enter: the best use of your slow cooker this spring. These braised chicken thighs with marinara sauce are next-level good.

02 of 45

Ham and Noodle Casserole

Ham and Noodle Casserole
Jen Causey

Recipe: Ham and Noodle Casserole

Made with egg noodles, chopped ham, and a mix of springy vegetables, this casserole is as family-friendly as it gets.

03 of 45

Creamy Rice with Scallops

Creamy Rice with Scallops
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Creamy Rice with Scallops

You're going to want seconds of this creamy rice, trust us. Pair the dish with these seared scallops, and then mix it up next time with another protein.

04 of 45

Pork Chops with Tomato-Bacon Gravy

Pork Chops with Tomato-Bacon Gravy
Pork Chops with Tomato-Bacon Gravy

We were sold at "tomato-bacon gravy." Oven-roasted pork chops just found their best new condiment.

05 of 45

Healthy Turkey Lasagna

Healthy Turkey Lasagna
Southern Living

Recipe: Healthy Turkey Lasagna

This leaner take on classic beef lasagna is the weeknight casserole you'll be making all spring.

06 of 45

Grilled Steak with Blistered Beans and Peppers

Grilled Steak with Blistered Beans and Peppers
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Full of buttery, herby flavor, this cast-iron steak recipe is begging to make an appearance on your table.

07 of 45

Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos with Fresh Tomato Salsa

Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos with Fresh Tomato Salsa
Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos with Fresh Tomato Salsa

You'll wonder why taco night isn't every night once you've tasted this slow-cooker pork.

08 of 45

Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Chicken with Cauliflower and Carrots

Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Chicken with Cauliflower and Carrots
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Chicken with Cauliflower and Carrots

Is there anything easier than a 30-minute sheet pan supper? We think not.

09 of 45

Easy Catfish Tacos with Slaw

Crispy Catfish Tacos with Slaw
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Easy Catfish Tacos with Slaw

Give Taco Tuesday a Southern spin. Crispy catfish might be our new favorite tortilla topper.

10 of 45

Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas

Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas
Victor Protasio

Recipe: Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas

Toasted in a skillet for a little outer crisp, these pillowy gnocchi bites will win you over instantly.

11 of 45

BBQ Pork Loaded Baked Potatoes

BBQ Pork Loaded Baked Potatoes
Greg DuPree

Recipe: BBQ Pork Loaded Baked Potatoes

Your family will love this fun way to eat barbecue—and you'll love how easy and filling the recipe is.

12 of 45

Ranch Turkey Burgers

Ranch Turkey Burgers
Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

These turkey burgers get a tangy touch with ranch flavor.

13 of 45

Zucchini Lasagna

Zucchini Lasagna
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Tina Stamos

Recipe: Zucchini Lasagna

This zucchini lasagna makes your classic recipe feel freshened-up for spring and summer.

14 of 45

Fresh Salmon Cakes with Buttermilk Dressing

Fresh Salmon Cakes with Buttermilk Dressing
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Fresh Salmon Cakes with Buttermilk Dressing

These crispy salmon cakes are just what the doctor ordered, especially when Maryland crab season is still around the corner.

15 of 45

Sheet Pan Pizza with Corn, Tomatoes, and Sausage

Sheet Pan Pizza with Corn, Tomatoes, and Sausage
Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Pizza night just got a whole lot tastier. This sheet pan recipe is topped with fresh corn, bell peppers, plum tomatoes, and hot Italian sausage.

16 of 45

Cheesy Beef-and-Spinach Ravioli

Cheesy Beef-and-Spinach Ravioli
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cheesy Beef-and-Spinach Ravioli

This cheesy skillet supper will be a new family favorite—and it comes together in just 35 minutes.

17 of 45

Cheesy Sheet Pan Pasta

Cheesy Sheet Pan Pasta
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Fusilli Pasta with Spinach, Tomato, and Bacon

What if we told that this easy pasta is baked on a sheet pan for optimal crunchy edges? It's a game-changer, to say the least.

18 of 45

Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs

Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos

Recipe: Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs

These kebabs pack a flavorful punch. The tasty skewers are sprinkled with a Cajun seasoning blend and brushed with a mixture of lemon juice, hot sauce, and melted butter.

19 of 45

Black Bean Burgers with Comeback Sauce

Black Bean Burgers with Comeback Sauce
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Black Bean Burgers with Comeback Sauce

Step outside of the box for burger night. These burgers made from slow-cooked black beans are worth a try this season. Try our homemade Comeback Sauce Recipe, and you'll want to slather it on everything.

20 of 45

Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole

Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole
Southern Living

Recipe: Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole

This hearty, family-friendly casserole is perfect to make ahead the weekend before a busy week.

21 of 45

Fettuccine Alfredo with Leeks and Peas

Fettuccine Alfredo with Leeks, Peas, and Bacon
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This classic pasta dish gets even better with crispy bacon, peas, and leeks.

22 of 45

Country Captain Chicken

Country Captain Chicken
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Country Captain Chicken

This Lowcountry classic is flavored with various spices like curry powder, paprika, and nutmeg. Simply serve over rice for a tasty meal.

23 of 45

Skirt Steak Soft Tacos with Avocado-Corn Salsa

Skirt Steak Soft Tacos with Avocado-Corn Salsa
Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Bring Tex-Mex to the next level with these steak tacos. The avocado-corn salsa makes the perfect add-on.

24 of 45

Shrimp Boil Pasta

Shrimp Boil Pasta
Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay. E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Shrimp Boil Pasta

We combined two spring-summer staples—pasta salad and shrimp boil—into an incredibly satisfying recipe.

25 of 45

Molasses-Soy Glazed Salmon and Vegetables

Molasses-Soy Glazed Salmon and Vegetables
Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food styling: Karen Rankin

Recipe: Molasses-Soy Glazed Salmon and Vegetables

Quick, flavorful, and healthy, this salmon supper deserves a spot on your weeknight menu.

26 of 45

Oven-Fried Chicken Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Oven-Fried Chicken Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Oven-Fried Chicken Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Because this chicken salad is so delicious you'll actually want to eat a salad for dinner.

27 of 45

Chicken Caprese Pasta

Chicken Caprese Pasta
Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chicken Caprese Pasta

This recipe only takes 20 minutes, which means it's perfect for busy spring nights. Dress up simple pasta and shredded chicken with blistered tomatoes, pesto sauce, and torn chunks of mozzerella.

28 of 45

Grilled Spice-Rubbed Pork Chops with Scallion-Lime Rice

Grilled Spice-Rubbed Pork Chops with Scallion-Lime Rice
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos

Give budget-friendly pork chops a boost of extra flavor with one of our spice rubs: spicy, smoky, or herby.

29 of 45

Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese
Greg DuPree

Recipe: Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

Consider this recipe a genius makeover of a quality jarred pasta sauce and box of pasta. It's oh-so simple.

30 of 45

Pork and Bok Choy Stir-Fry

Pork and Bok Choy Stir-Fry
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Pork and Bok Choy Stir-Fry

Satisfy any takeout cravings with this stir-fry. An aromatic sauce made with orange juice, garlic, ginger, and soy sauce is the star of the show.

31 of 45

Kickin' Orange-Glazed Chicken

Kickin' Orange-Glazed Chicken
Greg Dupree

Sweet and spicy, this orange chicken is so much more than your everyday skillet chicken.

32 of 45

Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake

Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake

This cheesy, creamy casserole is what pasta dreams are made of.

33 of 45

Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder

Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder
Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder

Full of bacon, potatoes, and onions, this chowder is a crowd-pleaser. All you need is a chunk of crusty bread to complete this spring meal.

34 of 45

Sheet Pan Flank Steak, Greens, and Yukon Gold Fries

Sheet Pan Flank Steak, Greens, and Yukon Gold Fries
Greg DuPree

Recipe: Sheet Pan Flank Steak, Greens, and Yukon Gold Fries

This sheet pan doesn't need all the bells and whistles—just steak, potatoes, and sauteed greens.

35 of 45

Tomato Carbonara

Tomato Carbonara
Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Tomato Carbonara

Make traditional carbanara feel spring-ready by letting colorful cherry tomatoes do the work.

36 of 45

Fried Pork Chops with Peas and Potatoes

Fried Pork Chops with Peas and Potatoes
Greg DuPree

Recipe: Fried Pork Chops with Peas and Potatoes

This recipe offers a lighter take on Southern fried pork chops—but doesn't sacrifice any of the flavor.

37 of 45

Spring Shrimp-and-Orzo Salad with Lemon Dressing

Spring Shrimp-and-Orzo Salad with Lemon Dressing
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Spring Shrimp-and-Orzo Salad with Lemon Dressing

You won't find a pasta salad more fresh and bright than this shrimp-orzo creation.

38 of 45

Chicken Fricassee with Spring Vegetables

Chicken Fricassee with Spring Vegetables
Greg DuPree

Recipe: Chicken Fricassee with Spring Vegetables

On a cool spring evening, this combination of tender chicken thighs, fresh spring vegetables, and a velvety pan sauce hits the spot.

39 of 45

Best-Ever Crab Cakes with Green Tomato Slaw

Best-Ever Crab Cakes with Green Tomato Slaw
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Best-Ever Crab Cakes with Green Tomato Slaw

We don't call them "best-ever" for no reason. You won't find a crab cake more heavenly.

40 of 45

Eggplant Rollups

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

Recipe: Eggplant Rollups

This lower-carb alternative to lasagna is ready to be your new spring and summer staple.

41 of 45

Brie, Fig, and Arugula Grilled Cheese

Ham and Dijon Grilled Cheese
Photo: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

It's like wrapping your favorite warmed cheese appetizer into a perfectly crisped sandwich. Sweet figs, rich and creamy brie, and peppery arugula make a tasty trio.

42 of 45

Slow-Cooker Pot Roast

Slow-Cooker Pot Roast
Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Pot Roast

This slow-cooker pot roast is as classic and comforting as you could ever want.

43 of 45

White Cheese Calzones with Marinara Sauce

White Cheese Calzones with Marinara Sauce
Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: White Calzones with Marinara Sauce

This recipe will win over your crowd on any night—get ready for requests to keep rolling in.

44 of 45

Gnocchi Gratin with Ham and Peas

Gnocchi Gratin with Ham and Peas
Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Gnocchi Gratin with Ham and Peas

This gnocchi spin on a traditional gratin is totally unique.

45 of 45

Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables

Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables
Alison Miksch

Recipe: Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables

Give cheesy baked pasta a farmers' market-inspired makeover with yellow squash, zucchini, and grape tomatoes.

Was this page helpful?
Related Articles