Our 20 Favourite Spring Recipes To Start Making Right Now

Celebrate the return of spring with crisp greens, colourful dressings and zesty pastas.

Updated May 4, 2026

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Overhead shot of spinach asparagus pesto pasta with shrimp in a bowl for a post on fresh spring pasta recipes

Produced by Stephanie Han Kim, Photo by Christie Vuong, Food Styling by Eshun Mott, Prop Styling by Madeleine Johari.

Spring has arrived (even if the temperatures haven't caught up yet), and we're ready to celebrate with all things fresh! From herbs and zesty lemon dressings, salad rolls and even some light grilling (we are Canadian, after all), there are a lot of ways to update the menu this month. Get inspired with the recipes below.

Asparagus Tart

No matter how you arrange the asparagus on this simple, peppery tart, it always ends up looking pretty. Get our asparagus tart recipe.

A butter puff pastry crust with white sauce and cut asparagus arranged in a herringbone pattern for a post on the best asparagus recipes

Recipes and text by Chantal Braganza; Produced by Aimee Nishitoba; Photography by Christie Vuong; Food Styling by Sage Dakota; Prop Styling by Nicole Billark

Smoked Trout Salad With Horseradish

Packed with fresh herbs and tossed in zesty dressing this smoked trout salad will become a family favourite right away (our kitchen team cannot stop eating it). Get this smoked trout salad recipe.

A mixed salad with potatoes, fish, fennel, radishes and horseradish served on an ornate black platter

Grilled Chicken And Spring Onion Salad

This meal is perfect for the spring market season, when local fresh produce is still just trickling into farmer's markets and stores. Tip: Grilled green onions are sweet, tender and smoky—a delicious addition to salads. Get this chicken and spring onion salad recipe.

A chicken thigh served on top of a mixed green salad on a white plate

Photo, Erik Putz.

Sugar Steak And Gochujang Roasted Potatoes

Try this wickedly simple rub that doubles as a marinade: sugar and salt. Spread it over the steak the night before for the easiest make-ahead. The sugar caramelizes and creates a mouth-watering char on the crust, while the salt flavours the steak and keeps it juicy. It’s sweet and salty in all the right notes. Get our sugar steak and gochujang roasted potatoes recipe.

Produced by Stephanie Han Kim, Photo by Christie Vuong, Food Styling by Eshun Mott, Prop Styling by Madeleine Johari.

Sicilian Zucchini Boats

Packed with vegetables, these roasted zucchini boats make a colourful spring side dish or appetizer. Get this Sicilian zucchini boat recipe.

Halved zucchini 'boats' filled with tomatoes and feta in a green baking dish with a serving spatula

Photo, Erik Putz.

Spring Salad With Rhubarb Vinaigrette

Delight your taste buds with a fresh salad, topped with a vinaigrette that adds a sweet-tart kick. Get this rhubarb salad recipe.

A top-down view of a spring salad served on a large, ornate blue floral platter. The salad features a mix of leafy greens, spinach, and purple radicchio, tossed with fresh strawberry slices and toasted almond slivers. A pink, creamy rhubarb vinaigrette with poppy seeds is drizzled over the top. Ornate brass serving tongs rest on the platter, and a small glass bowl of extra dressing sits nearby on a rustic wooden table next to pink tulips.

Photo, Erik Putz.

Asparagus And Spinach Pesto Pasta With Shrimp

Seasonal asparagus and spinach makes a yummy pesto that goes great with this pasta, perfect for al fresco dining. Get this asparagus pasta recipe.

Photo, Ashley Capp.

Shaved Asparagus Salad

Experiencing salad fatigue? Skip the lettuce, and use fresh asparagus instead. Get this shaved asparagus salad recipe.

A white oval dish with a salad of shaved asparagus, peas and pine nuts

Photo, Erik Putz.

Garlic Shrimp And Feta Linguine

The only dish to make when you’re strapped for time, but want a filling meal (it’s ready in just 20 minutes). Get this garlic shrimp and feta linguine recipe.

Spaghetti with shrimp and arugula topped with feta cheese, served on a white oval dish with a fork and spoon

Photo, Roberto Caruso.

Spaghetti Alla Nerano (Zucchini and Provolone Pasta)

In the traditional version of this coastal dish, the zucchini is deep fried and set to rest for 24 hours. With a bit of multitasking, this version comes together in 30 minutes. We like to think Stanley Tucci—who famously calls this unctuous spaghetti his hands-down favourite pasta—would still approve. Get our spaghetti all nerano recipe.

A rectangular plate of spaghetti cooked in a green blended sauce of zucchini, onions and garlic. A few basil leaves and fried zucchini garnish the plate.

Recipes and text by Chantal Braganza; Produced by Aimee Nishitoba; Photography by Christie Vuong; Food Styling by Sage Dakota; Prop Styling by Nicole Billark

Chicken and Asparagus Pan Bake

For when you're craving something simple and seasonal. Get this chicken and asparagus sheet pan recipe.

Sheet pan asparagus and chicken bake with cherry tomatoes and garlic on a plate for a post on an easy chicken and asparagus sheet pan recipe for dinner

(Photo: Sian Richards)

Roasted Halibut With Rhubarb-Bacon Jam

Roasted asparagus and a savoury rhubarb sauce make dinner a quick, healthy and colourful ode to spring. Get this roasted halibut with rhubarb-bacon jam recipe.

A serving of white fish topped with a rhubarb and bacon jam, resting on green asparagus and served on a white plate with wavy edges

Photo, Erik Putz.

Avocado And Snap Pea Salad Rolls

Take salad out of the bowl and onto your plates with easy to pick up rice paper rolls. These super-green rolls take advantage of all your favourites: avocado, butter lettuce and fresh herbs like mint and basil. Get this avocado and snap pea salad rolls recipe.

A closeup of rice-paper-wrapped green spring rolls and a small dish of green sauce topped with chives, on pink dishware

Photo, Erik Putz.

Christine Flynn’s Ricotta And Pea–Stuffed Cheese Puffs

The combination of warm, golden puff, creamy ricotta and bright green peas feels really high-end, but you’ll be surprised by how easy it is to make. Get this cheese puff recipe.

A cheese puff split in half and stuffed with ricotta cheese and peas.

Excerpted from Easy Does It by Christine Flynn. Copyright © 2026 Christine Flynn. Photography by Suech and Beck. Published by Penguin Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

Quick Zucchini Salad With Mizithra and Sumac

Mizithra is a Greek cheese that’s stretchy and similar to feta when it’s fresh—but for this recipe, cookbook author Christine Flynn used an aged version, which is crumbly and a bit salty. Ricotta salata is a great substitution. Get Christine Flynn's recipe for quick zucchini salad.

A woman in a green jumper set sit on a chair and eats zucchini and mizithra salad from a yellow scalloped plate for a post on a delicious, easy zucchini salad recipe for summer and a gallery of the best zucchini recipes

Recipes and text by Christine Flynn; produced by Sun Ngo; photography by Christie Vuong; food styling by Sage Dakota; prop styling by Rayna Schwartz.

Tomato Tabbouleh

Start spring with a meal packed with shaved yellow zucchini paired with fresh herbs and juicy tomatoes. Get this tomato tabbouleh recipe.

A white plate with tabbouleh with whole cherry tomatoes and fork on a bright blue surface, with a napkin, more forks and tomatoes visible around it

Photo, Erik Putz.

Flank Steak And Hash Browns

A zesty, green arugula gremolata will liven up your plates for spring (And get you grilling outside!). Get this flank steak and hash browns recipe.

A white dish with sliced steak, cubed and fried potatoes and green sauce. Surrounding it are three white dishes containing a red sauce, more potatoes and more green sauce.

Photo, Roberto Caruso.

Baked Asparagus Fries

A grey plate with breaded asparagus stalks, a serving of fish, a side of white sauce and two lemon wedges.

Photo, Erik Putz.

Crisp, golden and...healthy? These asparagus fries make a perfect spring snack or a beautiful accompaniment to seafood or meat. Get our baked asparagus fries recipe.

One-Pot Primavera Pasta With Spring Peas

You can make this bright pasta with just one pan. (Enough said, right?) Get this one--pot primavera pasta with spring peas recipe.

A white plate with spaghetti cooked with cherry tomatoes and green vegetables, topped with grated cheese and served with a fork

Photo, Roberto Caruso.

Grilled Halloumi, Zucchini And Chickpea Salad

A summery salad with staying power. Grilled zucchini and halloumi cheese meet chickpeas and fresh herbs for a meal no one will be able to get enough of. Get this grilled halloumi, zucchini and chickpea salad recipe.