30 Light and Bright Spring Dinner Recipes

My all-time favorite spring dinner recipes – bright salads, fresh sandwiches for a crowd, herby sauces, and lots of weeknight wonders.

Spring is in the air – I can feel it! My weekly dinner menus are slowly turning over from soups and stews to salads and bowls filled with lots and lots of color.

This is the only list you need as we head into warmer, sunnier weather! ☀️ Some of my all-time favorite dinner recipes for spring are here – bright salads, easy sandwiches for a crowd, herby sauces and dressings, and lots of weeknight wonders (because spring is BUSY, too!).

Hoping you find a new dinner favorite!

Spring Dinner Recipes

Roasted Peanut Kale Crunch Salad

OOOH BABY, this salad is so good! Crunchy kale and cabbage, fresh herbs and fresno peppers, chopped peanuts, and a perfect roasted peanut vinaigrette that tucks into all the salad nooks and crannies.

Sun-Dried Tomato Focaccia Turkey Sandwich

Pillowy sun-dried tomato focaccia gets piled with pesto mayo, turkey, juicy tomato slices, and greens. This sandwich is a beauty and practically a lifestyle!

Spring Roll Bowls with Sweet Garlic Lime Sauce

Spring Roll Bowls – basil, mint, rice noodles, fish sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, and whatever other protein and veggies you have on hand! Easy to make meatless!

Salmon Tacos with Mango Corn Salsa

Super easy salmon tacos loaded with a mango, sweet corn, and cucumber salsa!

Avocado Mojo Bowls with Sweet Potato and Chicken

We are living our best bowl life this week. Seasoned sweet potato wedges and chicken meatballs or rotisserie chicken all piled onto a plate with a little puddle of punchy green avocado mojo sauce. Yes, wow, repeat.

Miso Crunch Salad

Shredded cabbage and kale, shrimp, avocado, cilantro and chili-flavored peanuts, and the perfect sweet miso dressing.

Cilantro Orange Chicken with Rice and Beans

This golden Cilantro Orange Chicken is so flavorful, crisped to golden brown perfection, and just very finger-licking good! Served with rice, beans, and a quick homemade pineapple salsa.

Ginger Chicken Meatball Sandos

Golden brown chicken meatballs cozied up next to fixings like cucumbers, shallots, kewpie mayo, mint, a bit of chili crisp, and some fresh cilantro to make the ultimate chicken sando!

Liz’s Bistro Salad

Crunchy, light, bright, and ultra-fresh. This French-inspired bistro salad is an absolute star as a side for nearly any dinner. Tender greens, fresh herbs, pickled onions, and a delicate vinaigrette on top.

Chipotle Orange Shrimp with Cilantro Rice

Chipotle Orange Shrimp with Cilantro Rice! Tender shrimp in a sweet-meets-smoky cream sauce piled high on cilantro-speckled rice with a side of tangy cucumbers.

Harissa Meatballs with Whipped Feta

These Harissa Meatballs with Whipped Feta are perfect for an easy SOS dinner! Store-bought meatballs, bell peppers, zucchini, harissa, and whipped feta all in one bowl. YUMMY!

Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Lime Drench

These lettuce wraps are a SUMMER DREAM. Mountains of crumbled-crisp ground chicken, fluffy quinoa, and/or rice for added satisfaction, and garlicky gingery sautéed veggies in crisp butter lettuce leaves.

Elote Style Quinoa Salad

Elote Quinoa Salad made with velvety peppers confit, juicy sweet corn, homemade dressing, cotija cheese, lime, and spices. Perfect for summer and so, so good!

Pesto Shrimp and Parmesan Risotto

Tender, juicy, garlic-marinated shrimp brushed with a bright pesto sauce and piled high on creamy Parmesan risotto with fresh tomatoes and herbs sprinkled on it all. Wow wow wow! Diving in now!

Garlic Cream Bucatini with Peas and Asparagus

This truly is a wonderful springy gem! Bucatini noodles in a garlic-infused creamy sauce and twirled around buttery bits of asparagus and peas. SO GOOD!

Spring Salmon with Creamed Leeks, Potatoes, and Asparagus

We’re bringing you a plate of sunshine for dinner! Perfectly golden-crisp salmon partnered next to oven-roasted asparagus and a buttery, rich, creamy leek sauce piled on crispy potatoes.

Red Chile Chicken Tacos with Creamy Corn

These Red Chile Chicken Tacos are always on our minds! Lightly pan-fried corn tortillas stuffed with tender chicken and a pinto bean red chile saucy filling, piles of creamy corn salsa, and tangy homemade pickled red onions. YUM!

The Oliver’s Salad

We’re bringing you the most beautiful salad inspired by the restaurant Oliver’s in Minnesota. Tender salmon, savory peppers and garlic confit, buttery chunks of avocado, fire-roasted corn, bacon bits, and a river of homemade smoky ranch dressing.

5 Ingredient Lemon Chicken with Asparagus

Juicy, pan-fried chicken with peppery lemon flavors and tender bites of asparagus with a honey butter sauce. A bright and fresh 5 ingredient dinner on the table in 20 minutes!

Yummy Salmon Burgers with Slaw

These salmon burgers are THE YUMMIEST! and made with just five ingredients. The best for a quick + easy high protein lunch or dinner.

Easy Crockpot Carnitas

These are the easiest crockpot carnitas and simple enough for anyone to make! Juicy, flavorful, and perfectly browned with a crispy crust.

Crispy Chicken Cutlets

Hot, crunchy, salty, and begging for some sauce! These Crispy Chicken Cutlets are a dinnertime winner.

Chipotle Salmon with Orange Salsa and Aji Verde

Sweet-and-smoky chipotle salmon topped with fresh orange salsa and creamy aji verde! An easy, delicious, restaurant-level salmon dinner.

Crispy Smashed Potato Salad

Pickley salad, crispy potatoes, and creamy ranch – this smashed potato salad is the perfect summer combo!

Sheet Pan Shrimp and Cauli Rice

This Sheet Pan Shrimp and Cauli Rice is the easiest sheet pan dinner! Shrimp, peas, cauliflower rice, seasonings, and Rosso pesto sauce all come together on one pan for a delicious springy meal.

Spicy Peanut Soba Noodle Salad

This Spicy Peanut Soba Noodle Salad features red peppers, cabbage, chicken, soba noodles, and a quick homemade spicy peanut sauce. Salads don’t get much yummier than this.

Rainbow Chicken Salad with Almond Honey Mustard Dressing

Tender chicken, plump grapes and berries, crisp lettuce, tangy feta cheese, crunchy almonds, and the real star – almond honey mustard dressing! Eat the rainbow and be glad, friends!

Pineapple Pork with Coconut Rice

Sticky-sweet pork, juicy pineapple, fresh herbs, jalapeño, and crispy onions all served over a bed of fluffy coconut rice. SO GOOD!

Amazing Mushroom Bowls with Kale Pesto

Amazing Mushroom Bowls with Kale Pesto! Smoky, sweet, salt mushrooms (or tempeh!), caramelized pineapple, peppers, and dollop of kale pesto, all served over rice.

The Best Chicken Tinga Tacos

These Chicken Tinga Tacos are THE BEST! Saucy, spicy, real food perfection.