Food & Cooking Recipes Seasonal Recipes Spring Recipes 17 One-Pot Spring Dinner Recipes Starring Asparagus, Peas, and More These lighter, brighter entrees are also easy to make—and clean up after. By Laura Rege Laura Rege Laura is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 2, 2024 Close Photo: Marcus Nilsson It's time to freshen up your dinner routine for warmer weather—and lighten your load. These spring dinner recipes are all made in one pot, pan, skillet, or baking sheet, so they come together fast and require minimal cleanup. They're satisfying meals with lighter and brighter flavors that pair salmon, chicken, shrimp, pasta, and more with the best produce of the season, like asparagus, peas, potatoes, artichokes, greens, and fresh herbs. 18 Spring Chicken Recipes for Delicious Dinners All Season Long 01 of 17 One-Pan Creamy Tuna Pasta Armando Rafael This clever stovetop take on tuna noodle casserole gives the flavors you love a new life. We use curly cavatappi pasta along with asparagus and arugula in a creamy tuna pasta that takes 25 minutes to make. View Recipe 02 of 17 Brothy Orzo and Pork Meatballs Ryan Liebe Light and bright but also satisfying, this spring take on meatballs is made with ground pork, fennel seed, and Parmesan. They cook in a chicken broth with orzo pasta, lemon juice, and fresh dill. View Recipe 03 of 17 Broiled Salmon With Vegetables and Scallion Rice Rachel Marek On one of those chillier spring days, turn the oven on to broil and make this sheet-pan dinner. The vegetables, asparagus, mushrooms, scallions, and bell peppers cook first, then once they are softened, the salmon fillets are added to the pan. A zingy glaze of soy sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, and brown sugar brings it all together deliciously. View Recipe 04 of 17 Creamy Lemon Chicken With Spinach and Artichokes Marcus Nilsson Attention spinach and artichoke dip fans: This chicken dinner is for you. Inspired by the masterful dip, this bright, lemony chicken with—you guessed it!—spinach and artichoke is cooked in a cream cheese and chicken broth. The result is a creamy sauce that is light enough to justify tucking in for a hefty portion. Get super seasonal and swap in fresh steamed artichoke hearts and spinach from the farmers' market if you can, but know that this dinner is great just as it is. View Recipe 05 of 17 Lemony Pesto Chicken Soup Pernille Loof Made with rotisserie chicken (or leftover roast chicken if you have some), plus store-bought broth and pesto, this chicken orzo soup feels like spring and is ready in 20 minutes. View Recipe 06 of 17 Shrimp With Spicy Green Rice Con Poulos Spring is all about green, and this soupy rice and shrimp dish is no exception. It's a little like risotto, but instead of Italian spices, this dish takes its flavor cues from Asian ingredients—umami-packed fish sauce, fiery Thai chiles, and ginger—and its bright green hue from basil, cilantro, and peas. View Recipe 07 of 17 Gnocchi With Peas and Egg Ren Fuller Follow this recipe's game plan to cook a restaurant-worthy gnocchi dish entirely in one pot. Yes, the gnocchi, peas, arugula, and egg all cook in the same vessel. Slice the soft-boiled egg open on top of each serving, letting the yolk ooze into the dish for a silky finish. View Recipe 08 of 17 Lemon-Tarragon Salmon Over Asparagus Raymond Hom For a special spring dinner recipe, try this quick salmon entrée. It has seven ingredients, only needs 10 minutes to prepare, and is ready to eat in 25 minutes. The "one pot" here is parchment paper; it's used to make the package that wraps each salmon filet, asparagus spears, radish and onion slices, lemon juice, and tarragon. We love this oven-baked en papillote technique for its ease and taste—and because it makes cleanup extra fast. View Recipe 09 of 17 Pork, Mushroom, and Artichoke Fricassee Julia Gartland Build incredible flavor by cooking this pork fricassee with wild mushrooms and artichokes in one skillet, which lets all the ingredients contribute to the final dish. Cooking pork cutlets is so easy, too—by the time these thin cuts are golden, the meat will be cooked through. View Recipe 10 of 17 Creamy Asparagus Chicken Armando Rafael Sautéed leeks, white wine, and chicken broth create a flavorful base for this one-skillet braised chicken dinner. Add a touch of heavy cream at the end for a luxurious finish. Just know that the actual stars here are the seasonal additions—crisp-tender asparagus and tiny red potatoes. View Recipe 11 of 17 Campanelle With Pistachio-Mint Pesto, Asparagus, and Cherry Tomatoes Fast cooking is all about strategy, and we've got ours down pat with this one-pot pasta. While the pasta and asparagus are cooking, blend up the pistachio-mint pesto. Then combine everything in a large bowl and add the cherry tomatoes. It's a colorful and tasty spring masterpiece. View Recipe 12 of 17 Baked Salmon and Creamy Orzo Julia Gartland Nestle fillets of salmon right into a creamy bacon-y orzo studded with colorful radicchio and flavored with coriander. Not a fan of this bitter lettuce? Then stir in any spring green you like instead or try chopped escarole, which is fantastic in the spring. View Recipe 13 of 17 Turmeric-Ginger Chicken Soup Pernille Loof While spring brings hopes of warmer days, the start of the season still has a chill in the air, perfect for delicate, restorative soups. This super quick recipe simmers angel hair pasta and rotisserie chicken in a sunny-colored turmeric-ginger broth. Pile on microgreens for a touch of green—try different varieties like radish, cilantro, or beet to slightly adjust the flavor profile and keep this soup exciting. View Recipe 14 of 17 Lamb and Bulgur Stew With White Beans Lamb is at its most tender during the spring months, which is when you should enjoy the protein in this quick-cooking stew that's topped with briny feta. To make the stew more seasonal, substitute the spinach for your favorite baby spring greens—we love tender baby Swiss chard and baby Tuscan kale. View Recipe 15 of 17 Ginger-Peanut Turkey Stir-Fry Justin Walker Delicate spring lettuces such as Bibb and Boston are a welcome addition to the dinner repertoire after a winter of heartier greens. But rather than jump right into salads, savor this nutty Asian-inspired turkey stir fry with a side of lettuce leaves and tender spring herbs for handheld lettuce wrappers. View Recipe 16 of 17 Steak and Asparagus Stir-Fry You might think twice about ordering takeout after trying this seasonal asparagus and steak combination. This entrée has under 10 ingredients and comes together quickly. Make sure to measure and prep everything before you start cooking—once you turn on the heat, the recipe moves fast. View Recipe 17 of 17 Spring Pea Soup with Asparagus and Potatoes Johnny Miller The spring power trio of asparagus, English peas, and snap peas creates a tasty and satisfying soup when paired with potatoes. Simmering a Parmesan rind in the broth adds the robust flavor of this salty Italian cheese to every spoonful. View Recipe Updated by Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer is an experienced food editor, writer, and recipe developer. She manages the Martha Stewart recipe archive and is always curious about new ingredients and the best techniques. She has been working in food media for over 20 years. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit