Spring

40 Fresh & Vibrant Spring Recipes to Make Right Now

Dinner, drinks, and dessert to make the most of what’s in season.

by: Julia Youman

April 1, 2025

Photo by James Ransom

Make the most of peak-season produce with these fresh, flavor-packed spring recipes. From brown butter asparagus to rhubarb cocktails, this roundup is your go-to guide for cooking with the best fruits and vegetables of the season.

Whether you're planning a spring dinner party, hosting Easter brunch, or just looking for easy weeknight meals, we’ve got seasonal dishes for every occasion. Try simple, everyday favorites like orecchiette with peas or a bright veggie stir-fry, or go for something a little more elevated, like marinated fennel or braised pork shoulder. These top-rated recipes—sourced from our residents and community members—celebrate spring’s freshest ingredients in every bite.

What’s in Season?

Spring ingredients are all about brightness and crunch—think tender greens, crisp radishes, sweet berries, and fragrant herbs. Whether you're craving a refreshing salad, a hearty dinner, or a seasonal cocktail, this guide will help you cook with the best of the season.

Fresh & Leafy

Green vegetables: Asparagus, peas, spinach, arugula, mustard greens, collard greens
Herbs: Mint, cilantro, basil, tarragon, chives
Pairings: Soft cheeses like burrata, ricotta, or goat cheese

Crisp & Crunchy

Vegetables: Radishes, carrots, artichokes
Great for: Crudités, slaws, grain bowls

Sweet & Tart

Fruits: Strawberries, rhubarb, lemons
Great for: Desserts, salads, cocktails

Wild & Earthy

Mushrooms & Alliums: Morels, leeks, ramps, wild garlic, fava beans
Great for: Risottos, sautés, pasta dishes

Jump to a Section

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Best Spring Appetizers & Salads

Make crudité boards and crostinis with some of the season's prettiest produce. Think bright radish salads, herby dips, and beautifully assembled bruschetta.

Couscous, Fennel, Mint, and Roasted Lemon Salad

Lemon + Olive Oil Marinated Fennel with Burrata + Mint

Spring Vegetable Panzanella with Poached Eggs

Pretty Radish and Broccoli Slaw

Spring pea, mint and goats cheese bruschetta

Crudités with Feta-Pistachio Dip

Tarragon-Lemon Aioli Served with Grilled Artichokes

Sour Cream & Spring Onion Wedge Salad

Moroccan carrot salad with Harissa

Burrata With Roasted Asparagus, Brown Butter & Hazelnuts

Spring Dinner Ideas

Time to bring on the green! These mains make the most of spring veggies in unexpected ways—from pea-packed pastas to herb-laden grain bowls. Garnish with spring onions, fresh herbs, and a squeeze of lemon.

Pea and Orecchiette Spring Salad with Perlini and Mint

Seared Scallops with Spring Onion and Tarragon Cream

A Spring Celebration: Braised Pork Shoulder with Peas and Eggs

Roasted Spring Onion and Chickpea "Meat" Balls

Grilled Steak Salad With Fish Sauce Vinaigrette

Asparagus Pasta with Pistachio Aillade

Grilled Cheddar Sandwich with Spring Allium

Green Pea Burgers with Ricotta & Crispy Mushrooms

Dairy-Free Spring Frittata

Spring Vegetable Stir-Fry

Vibrant Spring Socca

Radish, Snap Pea & Burrata Salad

Andy Bennett's Creamy Cauliflower Pasta Carbonara

Roasted Spring Root Vegetables with Horseradish-Thyme Butter

Preserved Lemon and Spring Vegetable Risotto with Grilled Pernod Shrimp

Desserts to Bake for Spring

Spring is peak baking season—between Easter, Mother’s Day, and the start of graduation parties, there are plenty of reasons to bake. These recipes highlight seasonal berries, citrus, and even a surprising veggie or two.

Eton Mess with Rhubarb-Gin Jam and Lemon-Basil Meringue

Mini Coconut Carrot Cakes With Candied Ginger

Rhubarb and Blueberry Galette

Diana Henry’s Lemon & Lavender Cake

Spring Pea and Ricotta Torte with Lemon and Mint

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

Roasted Rhubarb and Strawberries

Berries-and-Cream Mini Layer Cakes

Spring Sippers: Cocktails & Mocktails

Celebrate the warmer weather with fresh, citrusy cocktails and refreshing mocktails. These are perfect for sipping solo or batching for a crowd.

Rhubarb Whiskey Sour

Rosy Strawberry Vodka Soda

Floral Fizz

Sparkling Rhubarb Lemonade

Minty Ginger Limeade

Double Strawberry Lemonade

Basil Vodka Gimlet Cocktail

What are your favorite things to make in the spring? Stay tuned for even more seasonal ideas. And, if there's a recipe roundup you'd like me to do, let me know in the comments!

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Smaug
Julia Youman

Editor @ Food52

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3 Comments

Smaug April 3, 2025

Jumping the gun a bit- none of that stuff is really in season, even in a very mild climate- well, I do have a fair amount of tarragon up, and some carrots ready to harvest.

Julia Y. April 3, 2025

I guess it could be seen as more aspirational depending on your area. But we've started to cook with peas, asparagus, and rhubarb here :)