You'll Never Know You're Eating Your Veggies with These Spring Farmers' Market Recipes

Creamy Spring Pasta Bake
Photo: Hector Sanchez Styling: Heather Chadduck

There's something about the first bright, sweet fruits and veggies of the spring season. They lend themselves to the most delicate of presentations where their full flavor can truly shine. Creamy risottos, earthy frittatas, and salad upon salad, these spring vegetable recipes are more than just side dishes. Here you'll find spring dinner recipes for weeknights and special occasions alike. Each and every one features the beautiful flavors of the season, presented in fresh, decadent ways that will keep everyone around your table coming back for more. We've dreamed up plenty of ways to put the season's beautiful bounty to use, so hop on over to the farmers' market this weekend and prepare for a full week of fresh-from-the-garden cooking. It'll be just the shake up your mealtime is after.

01 of 20

Fettuccine Alfredo with Asparagus

Fettuccine Alfredo with Asparagus
Greg DuPree

Recipe: Fettuccine Alfredo with Asparagus

Fettuccine Alfredo probably isn't the first dish you think of for a springtime supper or healthy eating. But this version, made with fresh, seasonal asparagus, is much lighter than the classic and just as delicious. With a bit of lemon to give it a citrus kick, it's perfect for the warmer weather.

02 of 20

Strawberry Caprese Salad

Strawberry Caprese Salad
IAIN BAGWELL

Recipe: Strawberry Caprese Salad

Serve over fresh arugula or as an appetizer with toasted French bread baguette slices. Garnish with fresh basil.

03 of 20

Creamy Spring Vegetable Slaw

Creamy Spring Vegetable Slaw
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Creamy Spring Vegetable Slaw

Now tell us this isn't the most colorful slaw you've ever seen. It calls on radishes, carrots, sugar snap peas, cucumbers, and an herby Greek-yogurt-based dressing.

04 of 20

Creamy Spring Pasta Bake

Creamy Spring Pasta Bake
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Creamy Spring Pasta Bake

Baked pasta gets a spring spin with baby sweet peas and ham. We love the crunchy, savory topping made with croutons and Parmesan cheese.

05 of 20

Spring Mix Salad with Herbed Goat Cheese

Spring Mix Salad with Herbed Goat Cheese
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Spring Mix Salad with Herbed Goat Cheese

We dressed up an already good-for-you bowl of greens with a few nutritious and flavorful additions to the tune of asparagus, sugar snap peas, sweet peas, and radishes. Now, we couldn't help but add a little indulgent flavor with a goat cheese log rolled in fresh herbs like dill, tarragon, and chives.

06 of 20

Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad

Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad
Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad

Hold the mayo for this recipe that's the freshened up take on potato salad we'll be craving this spring. Delicate French green beans, baby red potatoes, and a hefty dose of dill are the stars here.

07 of 20

Pork Chops with Spring Onions, Farro, and Asparagus

Pork Chops with Spring Onions, Farro, and Asparagus
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Pork Chops with Spring Onions, Farro, and Asparagus

Dinnertime is getting a decidedly spring-like spin with large spring onions and asparagus plated just alongside a perfectly cooked bone-in pork chop.

08 of 20

Pork Tenderloins with Balsamic Strawberries

Pork Tenderloins with Balsamic Strawberries
Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Pork Tenderloins with Balsamic Strawberries

We love pork dishes in the springtime for a light alternative to other hearty proteins. It pairs wonderfully with the bright, delicate flavors of the season—in this case, juicy strawberries and perfectly crunchy haricots verts.

09 of 20

Pickled Strawberries

Pickled Strawberries
Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Pickled Strawberries

You don't need to ask us what to do with these briny berries. You'll be throwing them on just about everything all season long. From charcuterie boards to a fresh spinach salad, the possibilities are endless.

10 of 20

Creamy Pesto-and-Shrimp Penne with Peas

Creamy Pesto-and-Shrimp Penne with Peas
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Creamy Pesto-and-Shrimp Penne with Peas

For the freshest flavor, opt for store-bought refrigerated pesto rather than the shelf-stable version.

11 of 20

Oven-Baked Risotto with Ham, Leeks, and Peas

Oven-Baked Risotto with Ham, Leeks, and Peas
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Oven-Baked Risotto with Ham, Leeks, and Peas

Call this a weeknight risotto. Oh, you didn't know such a thing existed? Just try our oven-baked version. Crisped ham, leeks, garlic, thyme, and a bit of white wine create a complex and flavorful dish that will dress up any occasion—even the average Wednesday night.

12 of 20

Sauteed Sugar Snap Peas with Orange Zest and Buttery Almonds

Sugar Snap Peas with Orange Zest and Buttery Almonds
Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Sauteed Sugar Snap Peas with Orange Zest and Buttery Almonds

And here we thought green beans couldn't get any brighter. Orange zest, Creole seasoning, and a ¼ cup of orange juice create the dish you'll be pairing with just about everything from March through May.

13 of 20

Spring Vegetable Frittata

Vegetable and Goat Cheese Frittata
Photo: Jennifer Causey  

Recipe: Spring Vegetable Frittata

Crumbled feta gives a salty bite that makes every single forkful absolutely decadent. Cremini mushrooms, yellow onion, and fresh asparagus make this one omelet that can easily stamd in as a hearty, seasonal dinner.

14 of 20

Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas

Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas

A flavorful vinaigrette coats a pasta salad mixed up with peas, cherry tomatoes, and herbs. It's perfect for a vibrant side dish or a light lunch that plays off the flavors of the season.

15 of 20

Chicken Risotto with Spring Vegetables

Chicken Risotto with Spring Vegetables
Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Chicken Risotto with Spring Vegetables

If you're looking for a hands-off recipe, this isn't it. It takes a bit of babysitting, but the payoff will be well worth it the minute that creamy risotto and fresh-from-the-garden spring veggie flavor hits your tastebuds.

16 of 20

Pasta Shells with Spring Vegetables

Pasta Shells with Spring Vegetables
Alison Miksch

Recipe: Pasta Shells with Spring Vegetables

Pasta gets a spring update with a creamy ricotta addition. Pea tendrils, fresh mint, and zippy lemon zest create a dish packed with flavor.

17 of 20

Snapper Baked in Parchment with Spring Vegetables

Snapper Baked in Parchment with Spring Vegetables
Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Snapper Baked in Parchment with Spring Vegetables

A whole bunch of fresh ingredients go into these fish foil packet dinners including asparagus, potatoes, okra, onion, herbs, and mini peppers. The best part? Cleanup is a breeze.

18 of 20

Lemon Veggies and Pasta

Lemon Veggies and Pasta

Recipe: Lemon Veggies and Pasta

We loved the combo of crunchy snow peas, carrots, and fresh herb in Lemon Veggies and Pasta.

19 of 20

Banana Pudding

Banana Pudding
Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Banana Pudding

These make great individual party desserts. We love it with extra wafers.

See more Sweet & Creamy Banana Pudding Recipes

20 of 20

Deviled Potatoes

Deviled Potatoes
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Deviled Potatoes

Two Southern classics, deviled eggs and potato salad, join forces to create these two-bite wonders. Scooping out the middle of the potato, filling it with flavor, and stuffing it back in make it reminiscent of a deviled egg, but it taste just a like a scoop of bite-sized potato salad goodness. The pulp is mixed with sour cream, capers, mustard and a few other key ingredients that will not leave guests missing a traditional potato salad. Make them a day before your get-together, and chill until you head out. When you arrive, they'll be the right serving temperature and little clean up will be required once the party is over.

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