16 One-Pot Spring Dinner Recipes Starring Asparagus, Peas, and Other Seasonal Favorites

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Updated on March 16, 2023

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creamy lemon chicken with spinach and artichokes — 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.

01 of 16

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 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.

02 of 16

Lemony Pesto Chicken Soup

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.

03 of 16

Spring Chicken Niçoise

spring chicken nicoise recipe plate — Sidney Bensimon

Steam the chicken breast, new potatoes, and sugar snap peas together for this 30-minute entrée—that's the only cooking needed. Then combine them with tender lettuces, briny olives, salty feta, and a lively lemon-Dijon dressing for a dinner salad you'll be making on repeat all spring.

04 of 16

Creamy Lemon Chicken with Spinach and Artichokes

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 bunch spinach from the farmers' market if you can, but know that this dinner is great just as it is.

05 of 16

Shrimp with Spicy Green Rice

spicy green rice and shrimp — 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.

06 of 16

Pork, Mushroom, and Artichoke Fricassee

pork mushroom 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.

07 of 16

Campanelle with Pistachio-Mint Pesto, Asparagus, and Cherry Tomatoes

pasta pistachio mint pesto asparagus 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 meal.

08 of 16

Baked Salmon and Creamy Orzo

salmon 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.

09 of 16

Creamy Asparagus Chicken

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.

10 of 16

Turmeric-Ginger Chicken Soup

ginger spice chicken soup — Pernille Loof

While spring brings hopes of warmer days, the start of the season still has a chill in the air and is 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.

11 of 16

Lamb and Bulgur Stew with White Beans

Lamb is at its most tender during the spring months, which means this season 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.

12 of 16

Ginger-Peanut Turkey Stir-Fry

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.

13 of 16

Gnocchi with Peas and Egg

Gnocchi with Peas and Egg recipe — Ren Fuller

Follow the game plan in this recipe to cook this 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.

14 of 16

Steak and Asparagus Stir-Fry

You might think twice about ordering takeout after trying this seasonal asparagus and steak combination, an entrée with less than 10 ingredients that comes together quickly. Make sure to measure and prep everything before you start cooking—once you turn on the heat, the recipe moves fast.

15 of 16

Wild Salmon, Asparagus, and Shiitakes in Parchment

Raymond Hom

Here's another take on en papillote, the mess-proof cooking method that takes one-pot meals to new level. Each piece of salmon is cooked in a self-contained parchment packet along with asparagus and shiitake mushrooms. As the fish bakes, it also steams inside, staying moist and tender.

16 of 16

Spring Pea Soup with Asparagus and Potatoes

Johnny Miller

The spring power trio of asparagus, English peas, and snap peas create 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.

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