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Home » Recipes

Light & Fresh Spring Recipes

Spring is all about bright flavors, fresh ingredients, and easy meals that celebrate the season! Whether you're planning a light and refreshing dinner, a brunch spread for Easter or Mother's Day, or a quick weeknight meal, you'll find delicious, seasonal recipes here.

Find favorites such as Baked Halibut with Asparagus, Spinach and Basil Pesto without Nuts and Lemon Ricotta Pasta.

Spring Salads

  • A bowl of lemon orzo salad topped with lemon slices.
    Lemon Orzo Salad with Feta
  • A plate of potato salad topped with chives.
    Potato Salad without Mayo (No Eggs!)
  • Quinoa salad in a wooden bowl with tomatoes.
    Quinoa and Black Bean Salad with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
  • Rotini pasta salad in a bowl.
    Rotini Pasta Salad with Pepperoni
See more Salads →

Light & Fresh Spring Dinners

  • A blue plate of pasta with peas.
    30-Minute Creamy Pancetta and Pea Pasta
  • A large pan filled with asparagus, cherry tomatoes and white fish.
    Baked Halibut Recipe
  • Spaghetti with chicken piccata in a bowl.
    Chicken Piccata Pasta (Lemon Caper Butter, 30 Minutes)
  • Couscous, asparagus and a piece of breaded fish on a plate.
    Panko Crusted Cod (Simple Stovetop Recipe)

Best Spring Appetizers

  • Garlic butter mussels in a bowl.
    Garlic Butter Mussels in White Wine Sauce (Quick Summer Seafood Appetizer)
  • Shrimp on a plate with lemon wedges.
    Pan Seared Shrimp
  • Bruschetta crostinis on a platter.
    Bruschetta Caprese (Fresh Tomato and Mozzarella Appetizer, 10 Minutes)

More Spring Recipes

  • A plated serving of Tuscan chicken topped with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes in a creamy sauce, garnished with fresh basil and shredded Parmesan cheese. Served alongside crusty bread for dipping.
    One-Pan Creamy Tuscan Chicken
    Cook Time35 Minutes
  • A bowl of pappardelle topped with chicken ragu, garnished with freshly grated Parmesan and basil with a side of bread.
    Braised Chicken Thigh Ragu with Pasta
    Cook Time1 Hours 15 Minutes
  • Rigatoni with pancetta arrabbiata sauce is served on a blue and white platter with grated Parmesan and fresh basil.
    Rigatoni Arrabbiata with Crispy Pancetta
    Cook Time35 Minutes
  • Bowl of chicken fried rice with chopsticks, accompanied by a small dish of soy sauce and a striped napkin.
    Simple Chicken Fried Rice (20-Minute Recipe!)
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • Chicken topped with tomatoes on a plate with zucchini and potatoes.
    Bruschetta Chicken Thighs (Sheet Pan Balsamic Dinner)
    Cook Time35 Minutes
  • Air fryer teriyaki chicken thighs garnished with sliced green onions and served alongside white rice and green beans.
    Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
    Cook Time34 Minutes
  • Chicken parmesan sandwich topped with pesto.
    Chicken Parm Sandwich Recipe (Baked, Not Fried)
    Cook Time40 Minutes
  • A close-up of a golden-brown spatchcock chicken in a cast-iron skillet.
    Easy Spatchcock Chicken (in your Cast Iron)
    Cook Time1 Hours 20 Minutes
  • A blue and white platter serving chicken cacciatore.
    Chicken Cacciatore (No Olives)
    Cook Time1 Hours
  • Teriyaki ground beef served with rice, broccoli, red peppers, and scallions in a brown bowl.
    Teriyaki Ground Beef Bowls with Veggies and Rice
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • Parmesan-crusted chicken on a blue and white plate, garnished with lemon slices.
    Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken
    Cook Time25 Minutes
  • Bowl of pesto sausage pasta topped with grated Parmesan and fresh basil.
    20-Minute Pesto Sausage Pasta
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • Herb-marinated grilled chicken thigh plated with roasted potatoes and zucchini.
    Herb Marinated Grilled Chicken Thighs
    Cook Time1 Hours 5 Minutes
  • Salmon patties on buns.
    Baked Salmon Burgers (Ready in 25 Minutes)
    Cook Time25 Minutes
  • A bowl of gnocchi with bolognese.
    Slow-Simmered Gnocchi Bolognese
    Cook Time1 Hours
  • Spinach and arugula salad topped with shaved parmesan.
    Spinach and Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
    Cook Time5 Minutes
  • A close-up of baked chicken pesto gnocchi in a cast-iron skillet, topped with golden melted cheese and fresh basil leaves.
    Creamy Baked Pesto Gnocchi with Chicken
    Cook Time30 Minutes
  • Overhead view of creamy garlic Parmesan chicken pasta with penne, spinach, sliced chicken, red pepper flakes and grated Parmesan.
    Easy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta (Ready in 30 Minutes)
    Cook Time30 Minutes
  • A bowl of rigatoni with sausage.
    Creamy Tomato Spinach Sausage Pasta (Easy 20-Minute Dinner)
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • Chicken salad with apples and celery on lettuce topped bread.
    Chicken Salad with Apples Recipe (Crisp & Easy)
    Cook Time15 Minutes
  • Chicken sandwich with spicy mayo.
    Blackened Chicken Sandwiches (Juicy, Spicy & Ready in 20 Minutes)
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • Golden brown grilled chicken thighs with honey mustard marinade on a grill pan.
    Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken
    Cook Time40 Minutes
  • A plate filled with a lemon pepper seasoned chicken thigh and veggies.
    Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
    Cook Time35 Minutes
  • Close-up of air fryer Caprese chicken on a glass platter, showing melted cheese, juicy tomatoes, and vibrant basil pesto with a metal serving tong.
    Easy Air Fryer Caprese Chicken with Pesto & Mozzarella
    Cook Time45 Minutes
  • Spicy tomato shrimp pasta served in bowls with Parmesan, basil, and olive oil.
    Spicy Tomato Shrimp Pasta (30-Minute One-Pan Dinner)
    Cook Time30 Minutes
  • A hand picking up a slider.
    BBQ Chicken Sliders
    Cook Time30 Minutes
  • Sheet pan full of roasted Italian veggies with fresh basil.
    Charred Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables (Done in 30 Minutes)
    Cook Time35 Minutes
  • Balsamic caprese chicken topped with melted mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, and fresh basil.
    One-Pan Balsamic Caprese Chicken
    Cook Time40 Minutes
  • Cherry tomato pasta with grated Parmesan, fresh basil, and burst tomatoes in white serving bowl.
    Fresh Cherry Tomato Pasta Sauce with Garlic and Basil
    Cook Time30 Minutes
  • A white plate of Greek meatballs with couscous and red peppers topped with parsley and dill.
    Greek Turkey Meatballs with Tzatziki
    Cook Time40 Minutes
  • Three-cheese macaroni and cheese on a gray plate, garnished with fresh chives and black pepper.
    3 Cheese Mac and Cheese (No Flour)
    Cook Time35 Minutes
  • A white bowl filled with shrimp topped with lemon slices nest to a green napkin.
    Air Fryer Argentine Red Shrimp
    Cook Time13 Minutes
  • A plate of spaghetti and shrimp scampi.
    Shrimp Scampi with Angel Hair Pasta (Easy 20-Minute Dinner)
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • Chicken thighs in a cast iron pan topped with thyme.
    Pan-Seared Chicken with Mustard Sauce (One Pan, 30 Minutes)
    Cook Time35 Minutes
  • Chicken milanese topped with dressed arugula, cherry tomatoes, burrata, and balsamic glaze on white plate.
    Chicken Milanese with Burrata
    Cook Time30 Minutes
  • Roasted chicken leg quarters with lemon wedges.
    Crispy Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters (Ready in 35 Minutes)
    Cook Time40 Minutes
  • Skillet of cheesy Tex-Mex chicken and rice garnished with cilantro, lime wedges alongside.
    One-Pan Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice Skillet
    Cook Time40 Minutes
  • Sliders on a cutting board.
    Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders
    Cook Time8 Hours 8 Minutes
  • Cheese on a chicken burger with lettuce, tomato and onion.
    Easy Juicy Ground Chicken Burgers (No Breadcrumbs, 25 Minutes)
    Cook Time22 Minutes
  • Three fish tacos topped with avocado.
    Blackened Fish Tacos
    Cook Time23 Minutes

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Sarah Hill, food blogger behind Real Food with Sarah, in her kitchen preparing fresh ingredients for a weeknight dinner.

Hi, I'm Sarah!

Hi, I'm Sarah! I create cozy, reliable dinner recipes for busy weeknights - creamy pastas, chicken dinners, hearty soups, and beef and turkey recipes made with ingredients you can find at any grocery store. Real food that actually tastes good, without spending all night cooking.

More about me →

Fall Dinner Ideas

  • Pasta al forno in a casserole dish.
    Pasta Al Forno
  • Bowl of rice, zucchini and honey chicken thighs topped with scallions.
    Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs (Easy Weeknight Recipe)
  • Bowl of chicken and potato soup.
    Creamy Chicken Thigh Potato Soup (Ready in 40 Minutes)
  • A bowl of pumpkin soup garnished with thyme.
    Slow Cooker Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup
See more Fall Recipes →
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Reader Favorites ⭐️

  • A spoon scooping into a pan of mac and cheese.
    Old-Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese
  • A plate of tomato sauce over spaghetti topped with basil leaves.
    Nonna's Authentic Italian Pasta Sauce
  • Bowls of pastina soup on a cutting board with bread.
    Italian Pastina Soup (The Best Italian Penicillin Recipe)
  • Golden and bubbly lasagna with béchamel sauce, topped with melted mozzarella and fresh basil, baked to crispy perfection.
    Lasagna with Béchamel (No Ricotta)
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