It's time to put your slow cooker in storage: These quick spring dinner ideas will help you make the most of fast-cooking spring produce—like sugar-snap peas and asparagus—and help breathe new life into your weeknight dinner routine. Another reason we love quick spring recipes is that the influx of lighter, brighter things to eat not only matches the better weather, but our sunnier dispositions, too.
Press fast-forward with these meal ideas that trade slow-and-low winter cooking for recipes that take just 30 minutes or less to prepare. Whether you're in the mood for a stir-fry or a pasta, set your timer and have your dinner mates set the table—the food will be ready before you know it.
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Spaghettini with Charred Scallions and Peas
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This is our new favorite 20-minute spring dinner idea; the pasta is packed with spring flavor thanks to charred scallions, asparagus, and sweet green peas.
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Cashew Shrimp
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Light, fresh, and fast, our take on a delivery favorite requires just 20 minutes to make—but our upscale touches, like roasted cashews and celery leaves, make this dish a weeknight feast.
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Salmon, Asparagus, and Leek in Parchment
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Cooking fresh salmon en papillote (in parchment paper) is a mess-proof way to coax the most flavor from the fish without adding a lot of oil or butter: The salmon, asparagus, and leek steam in their own juices, and the meal goes from oven to plate with little fuss (and even less house-permeating fishy odor).
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Spring Chicken Niçoise
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After months of cozy stews and comforting casseroles, it's only natural to want to apply the spring-cleaning philosophy to your diet, too. This recipe makes it easy, with the chicken, potatoes, and snap peas steaming together in the same pot.
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Linguine with Asparagus and Egg
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Put an egg on it. Topping a spring pasta of tender steamed asparagus and linguine with a poached egg and plenty of Parmesan makes a light, pretty vegetarian dinner. The egg yolk serves as a rich sauce for the pasta.
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Lemon-Ginger Chicken and Green Beans
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Using just one or two flavor-packed ingredients can make a huge impact on a simple meal. Fresh ginger goes the extra mile in this easy weeknight dinner, infusing the poaching liquid for the chicken and being grated into a zippy dressing for the cucumber salad.
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Chicken-Sausage and Asparagus Saute over Cheese Grits
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Start with quick sauté of sausage for this 30-minute spring dinner. Then steam the asparagus in the same pan. Meanwhile cook the grits which are creamy when finished with goat cheese.
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One-Pan Creamy Tuna Pasta
Peppery arugula brightens this new twist on tuna casserole, as does crisp-tender asparagus. They're the perfect foil for meaty oil-packed tuna.
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Cheese-Crusted Pork
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Pecorino-Romano cheese is blended with crunchy panko and used to coat boneless pork chops. The result is juicy, crispy pieces of meat that are best served with a simple arugula salad with plenty of acidity.
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Avocado-and-Boursin Sandwiches
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This sandwich is like eating a rainbow thanks to its dazzling layers of vibrant red cabbage, shredded carrots, tender pea shoots, and creamy avocado. A generous spread of garlicky Boursin cheese holds this quick spring dinner idea all together.
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Inside-Out Pork Dumplings
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This clever recipe brings together favorite dumpling flavors like ground pork, ginger, and scallions, and stirs them up with tender wontons and baby bok choy for a super-quick meal that won't leave you feeling stuffed.
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Penne with Shrimp, Feta, and Spring Vegetables
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The beauty of this recipe—besides the glorious spring produce—is that it all cooks entirely in one pot and is ready to serve in under 30 minutes.
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Steak and Asparagus Stir-Fry
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This speedy stir-fry celebrates quick-cooking new season produce like snappy asparagus and tender scallion whites. Dress it up with fresh Thai chiles and crunchy peanuts and serve over a bed of fluffy rice for a fresh and fast dinner.
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Curried-Lentil Salmon Salad
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This salad is so good for you, you'll practically be able to taste the nutrients! As glazed salmon quickly cooks under the heat of the broiler, fiber-packed lentils are tossed with a warming curry vinaigrette.
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Miso Soup with Tofu, Spinach, and Carrots
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Carrots and spinach are some of the earliest spring produce to be harvested, appearing in early March. They both go swimmingly in this main-meal version of miso soup. It's a perfect plant-based recipe for shoulder season, when a warming soup is still on the menu.
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Lamb Pita Pizzas
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Spring lamb dishes are often reserved for special occasions like Easter, but in this 30-minute meal, ground lamb is put to work as the topping on pita pizzas. Kids will love the personal-pan portion, and everyone will love the combination of lamb, hummus, and artichokes.
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Scallops with Sautéed Watercress and Ginger
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Late-spring greens like watercress can be eaten raw in a salad or flashed in the pan like they are in this simple weeknight meal. Scallops are a friend to the time-pressed cook—a hot pan and a few minutes are all that's needed. Serve this entrée with crusty bread to sop up the delicious pan juices.
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Pad See Ew
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Broccolini is the main vegetable in this famed dish from Thailand, and while it's available year-round, peak season is from October through April so enjoy it while you can. Its long, leggy stalks and a mild flavor make it a perfect fit for blending into our take on this bold beef and noodle dish.
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Steak and Potato Salad
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Bridge the gap between heavier winter fare and lighter springtime eats with this playful salad that combines seared sirloin steak, roasted baby potatoes, and a mix of lettuces with shaved Parmesan. It's all topped with an easy lemon vinaigrette.
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Pork Buns with Bok-Choy Slaw
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After months of hardy winter herbs like thyme and rosemary, it's time to bring out the basil, mint, and cilantro. A smattering of herbs over this super-fast pork roll acts as a cooling counter to the spicy stir-fried meat.
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