Yahoo Autos 14 Low-Effort Spring Dinners for When You Just Don't Want to Cook
We know you’re sick of all that cozy kitchen time, but it’s not grilling season yet. We’re here to help.
It happens to all of us. After a long fall and winter of slow-cooked, all-day simmering dishes of comfort food, we’re all a bit kitchen fatigued by the time spring arrives. But with the weather not yet warm enough for fast-grilling outdoor meals and summery produce for easy salads a few months away, what’s easy and seasonal to make? Here are 14 super-easy spring dinners to bridge the gap deliciously. Trust us: These meals will put a spring in your step!
Creamy Pesto Shrimp
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
In the time it takes to boil a pound of linguine, you can pull together this creamy, cheesy pasta main that’s a one-pot wonder. Want an extra shortcut? Use thawed frozen shrimp or buy pre-cooked shrimp at the fish counter.
Easy 5-Ingredient Salmon
Salmon is a great protein for spring cooking; it lends itself to a variety of seasonings, cooks fast, and goes with everything. This version leans into pantry spices and herbs for a dish that is as delicious as it is simple.
Easy Chorizo Street Tacos
Tacos are always a simple choice, but they get even simpler when you start with spicy Mexican chorizo sausage. All the seasoning you need is already in there; just add a few basic ingredients and pile into warm tortillas.
Simple Lemon-Herb Chicken
If you need a new spin for basic boneless, skinless chicken breasts, this lemon-herb version takes dinner to the Mediterranean with big flavors and a wow factor that is super easy to pull off.
Asparagus and Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Breasts
A stuffed chicken breast might seem like the antithesis of an easy, fast weeknight supper, but these beauties come together super quick and are fancy enough to serve to company! And asparagus gives it that only-in-spring flavor.
Romantic Chicken with Artichokes and Mushrooms
Have a weeknight date night with your sweetie? Need a high-impact dish with low impact on your time? Serve this luxurious chicken in a white wine sauce with artichokes and mushrooms over pasta or rice, and watch the fireworks commence.
Sheet Pan Lemon Butter Garlic Shrimp With Asparagus
Sheet pan suppers are a godsend for busy folks who need to get a meal together without having to fuss much. This version combines shrimp and asparagus with a lemon garlic butter sauce that is a family favorite.
Easy Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
Slow cookers were made for no-fuss meals, so put it to work before putting it away for summer with this classic crowd-pleaser. Use the shredded chicken to fill tacos or burritos, top a salad or grain bowl, pile onto buns for sandwiches, or even toss with pasta or rice.
Spinach-Artichoke Garlic Naan Pizza
The hardest part about making homemade pizza is always the crust. This recipe swaps in store-bought garlic naan, making springtime pizza as easy as topping and baking. The freshness of spinach and artichoke makes this a fabulous appetizer or main course.
Quick and Easy Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed peppers are a wonderful springtime dish, and these are made simple with pantry staples and the magic of quick-cooking rice. Topped with cheese, they are a truly satisfying supper. Use any color of pepper you love, or make a rainbow of red, green, yellow, and orange and let everyone choose their favorite.
Quick Spinach Quiche
The key to simplifying quiche is as simple as a store-bought pie crust already in a foil pan. Just add an easy egg custard, cheese, and your favorite fillings, and dinner is practically on the table. This spinach version is a great vegetarian main course; a salad completes the meal.
Chakchouka (Shakshouka)
One of the very definitions of easy cookery is this Tunisian-inspired dish of eggs poached right into a spicy tomato and vegetable sauce.. Add some crusty bread or pitas for dunking, and you have a meal that is moments away with fresh flavor everyone will love.
20-Minute Shrimp Fajitas Sheet Pan Dinner
This may be the best 20-minute dinner in history. With the sheet pan as your best friend and the quick-cooking magic of shrimp, you’ll have a record-setting meal full of sweet spice and Tex-Mex flavors.
Easy and Quick Halushki
If you are not familiar with this traditional Polish comfort food, it is time to get to know it. Bacon and cabbage cooked together and tossed with egg noodles is as easy to make as it is soul-soothing, but light enough for spring.
