17 Fresh Spring Recipes That Bring the Flavor

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These recipes aren’t here to play it safe—they’re here to shake up your routine, flirt with your produce drawer, and give your dinner plate a much-needed Springtime glow-up. Whether you’re serving up Dover Sole with Lemon, Potatoes, Dill and Leeks like a fancy weeknight overachiever or keeping things low-effort but high-reward with an Easy Massaged Kale Salad, this collection brings the flavor without the drama. Expect bold bites like Lemony Broccoli Pesto Pasta, a Crunchy Asian Cucumber Watermelon Salad that’s cooler than anyone at your cookout, and Mushroom Pasta that somehow makes Tuesday feel like a dinner party. And don’t even pretend you’re skipping dessert—Lemon Raspberry Jam Cupcakes, Mini Lemon Cheesecakes with Ginger Cookie Crust, and Strawberries and Cream Cake are all standing by to prove that citrus and berries do, in fact, run spring and summer.

Dover Sole with Lemon, Potatoes, Dill and Leeks

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Dover Sole with Lemon, Dill and Leeks, a simple healthy sheet pan dinner that can be made quickly and easily. 
Photo credit: Feasting at Home

This easy sheet pan dinner features delicate Dover sole baked with lemon, dill, and leeks, served over thinly sliced potatoes. It’s a quick and healthy meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights.

Lemon Raspberry Jam Cupcakes

lemon raspberry cupcakes on marble cake stand.
Photo credit: Sally’s Baking Recipes

These Lemon Raspberry Jam Cupcakes are a burst of sunshine in every bite! The moist lemon cake is filled with sweet raspberry jam and topped with a creamy raspberry buttercream, making them the perfect treat for spring or summer.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Raspberry Jam Cupcakes

Easy Massaged Kale Salad (15 Minutes!)

Platter of Massaged Kale Salad topped with Crispy Baked Chickpeas and tahini dressing
Photo credit: Minimalist Baker

Discover the secret to delicious kale with this Easy Massaged Kale Salad! This vibrant, vegan salad comes together in just 15 minutes and features a simple tahini dressing and crispy baked chickpeas for added crunch and flavor. Perfect as a quick lunch, light dinner, or nutritious side dish!
Get the Recipe: Easy Massaged Kale Salad (15 Minutes!)

Roasted Carrot Recipe

roasted carrots with honey glaze in a white bowl
Photo credit: Carlsbad Cravings

These Honey Garlic Roasted Carrots are so tender, sweet, and savory! They only take 10 minutes to prep and are the perfect holiday side dish that everyone will devour. This recipe will be a family favorite in no time!
Get the Recipe: Roasted Carrot Recipe

Strawberry Margarita Cheesecake

Presenting a delicious Strawberry Margarita Cheesecake
Photo credit: Gimme Some Oven

This Strawberry Margarita Cheesecake is a bright and colorful dessert that’s perfect for any celebration. It features a pretzel or graham cracker crust, a creamy filling infused with tequila and lime, and a topping of fresh strawberries. Best of all, it can be easily prepared in just about an hour!
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Margarita Cheesecake

Mushroom Pasta

Mushroom pasta
Photo credit: Love and Lemons

This easy mushroom pasta recipe is a simple yet delicious vegetarian dinner. A lightly creamy garlic mushroom sauce gives it a rich, savory flavor that’s perfect for a cozy night in. Top with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley for the perfect finish.
Get the Recipe: Mushroom Pasta

Chickpea Salad

Chickpea Salad shown in a serving bowl with wooden serving spoons.
Photo credit: Cooking Classy

This Chickpea Salad is bursting with fresh Mediterranean flavors and is incredibly easy to make. It’s the perfect healthy and quick lunch or dinner side dish. With ingredients like cucumber, tomatoes, and a zesty lemon vinaigrette, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!
Get the Recipe: Chickpea Salad

Grilled Berry Pizza with Whipped Ricotta

Such a great summer snack or dessert! This honey wheat pizza whips up in a snap with no rise time, and the lightly sweet and fluffy whipped ricotta is so good with fresh berries!
Photo credit: Baking a Moment

Looking for a dessert that’s as easy to make as it is delicious? This grilled berry pizza features a honey whole wheat crust topped with a fluffy whipped ricotta and fresh summer berries. It’s the perfect no-bake treat for a snack, brunch, or dessert!
Get the Recipe: Grilled Berry Pizza with Whipped Ricotta

So cute for a party! These creamy Mini Lemon Cheesecakes are a perfect compliment to their soft & chewy ginger molasses cookie crust. @AFBakingMixes #spon
Photo credit: Baking a Moment

These Mini Lemon Cheesecakes are the perfect bite-sized treat for any party! The creamy, bright lemon filling pairs perfectly with the soft and chewy molasses ginger cookie crust. They’re easy to make and sure to be a crowd-pleaser for any occasion.
Get the Recipe: Mini Lemon Cheesecakes with Ginger Cookie Crust

Mashed Cauliflower With Parmesan and Chives

creamed Cauliflower with Parmesan in white serving dish
Photo credit: Foodie Crush

This Mashed Cauliflower with Parmesan and Chives recipe offers a lighter, healthier twist on traditional mashed potatoes. Cauliflower is cooked in chicken broth and pureed until smooth, then elevated with Parmesan cheese and fresh chives. This side dish is perfect for any occasion, from a family dinner to a Thanksgiving feast.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Cauliflower With Parmesan and Chives

Roasted Rainbow Vegetable Bowl (30 Minutes!)

Drizzling tahini dressing onto our Rainbow Roasted Vegetable Bowl recipe
Photo credit: Minimalist Baker

This vibrant Roasted Rainbow Vegetable Bowl is packed with protein and flavor. Ready in just 30 minutes, it features a colorful medley of roasted vegetables, a zesty lemon-tahini dressing, and a sprinkle of hemp seeds for an extra boost of nutrition. Perfect for a quick and healthy lunch or dinner!
Get the Recipe: Roasted Rainbow Vegetable Bowl (30 Minutes!)

Lemon Tart

Overhead view of the Lemon Tart
Photo credit: Chelsea’s Messy Apron

This Lemon Tart features a rich, buttery crust and a creamy, custardy lemon filling that’s both sweet and tart. Perfect for spring holidays like Easter or Mother’s Day, this dessert is sure to impress with its bright flavors and elegant presentation.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Tart

Crunchy Asian Cucumber Watermelon Salad

Crunchy Asian Cucumber Watermelon Salad | foodiecrush.com
Photo credit: Foodie Crush

This vibrant Crunchy Asian Cucumber Watermelon Salad is a refreshing mix of sweet and savory. With cucumbers, watermelon, and red bell pepper tossed in a zesty lime-ginger dressing, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for potlucks or a light lunch.

Get the Recipe: Crunchy Asian Cucumber Watermelon Salad

Lemony Broccoli Pesto Pasta

Presenting a delicious Lemony Broccoli Pesto Pasta
Photo credit: Gimme Some Oven

This Lemony Broccoli Pesto Pasta is a vibrant and flavorful dish that’s quick and easy to make. It combines pasta with a fresh pesto made from broccoli, basil, spinach, and lemon for a bright and healthy meal. It’s a great way to get your veggies, greens, and pasta all in one delicious dish!
Get the Recipe: Lemony Broccoli Pesto Pasta

Creamy Strawberry Feta Pasta Salad

strawberry feta pasta salad in a glass bowl
Photo credit: Sally’s Baking Recipes

This Creamy Strawberry Feta Pasta Salad is a delicious and healthy dish that’s perfect for summer. It’s loaded with fresh strawberries, creamy feta, and a homemade poppy seed dressing, making it a crowd-pleasing dish that’s sure to be a hit. Plus, it keeps well in the fridge for days, making it a great option for meal prep or potlucks!
Get the Recipe: Creamy Strawberry Feta Pasta Salad

Spinach Salad

Spinach salad
Photo credit: Love and Lemons

This spinach salad is a delightful mix of flavors and textures, featuring crisp apples, tart cranberries, and crunchy pecans. Dressed with a tangy apple cider vinaigrette, it’s a versatile dish perfect as a side or a light lunch. It’s also easily customizable with your favorite cheese!
Get the Recipe: Spinach Salad

Strawberries and Cream Cake

A slice of pink cake with white frosting, topped with sliced strawberries, rests on a white plate next to a fork.
Photo credit: Chelsea’s Messy Apron

This homemade strawberry cake by Chelsea’s Messy Apron is the perfect treat for springtime. It features a delicious, from-scratch cake, a thick cream cheese frosting, and a beautiful garnish of sugared strawberries. This cake is sure to impress!
Get the Recipe: Strawberries and Cream Cake

About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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