20 Spring Recipes For Those Who Favor Heartier Meals

These three little words have enough power to overjoy an entire army (or dinner party): mac and cheese. This recipe uses not one but two Spring veggies — spinach and artichoke — both of which are much more comforting to eat when incorporated into a bubbling platter of mac and cheese.

Get the recipe: spinach and artichoke mac and cheese

This pizza is an excellent use of one of Spring's most bountiful vegetables: asparagus. Plus, it couldn't be easier to make. The most involved step is "shaving" the asparagus with a vegetable peeler (in other words, it's a cinch).

Get the recipe: shaved asparagus pizza

The vivid green hue of this pea soup is eye-catching, to say the least, but the true power of this vegan soup lies in its subtly sweet flavor and velvety texture.
Get the recipe: vegan green pea soup

This Spring-honoring pasta recipe uses peas, asparagus, and a bevy of seasonal herbs like mint, thyme, chives, and parsley. But for those who gravitate toward heartier foods, all that freshness is balanced out by creamy parmesan and pecorino.

Get the recipe: springtime pasta

It may not be an adage, but it should be: everything is better with bacon. For the pickiest of eaters, this cheddar, bacon, and leek frittata might be the best way to sneak a Spring produce into their diet. They'll never even know they just ate their veggies.

Get the recipe: cheddar, bacon, and leek frittata

This mushroom and leek lasagna is so hearty you won't even miss the meat. The beauty of it is you can use any variety of mushrooms your heart desires, from button to portobello to the mighty king oyster mushroom, which easily rivals ground beef in meatiness.

Get the recipe: mushroom and leek lasagna

This lemon herb socca pizza recipe is both fresh and filling with tangy lemon slices and creamy mozzarella. Fresh herbs and arugula make this an easy springtime favorite.

Get the recipe: lemon herb socca pizza recipe

Garlic may be an all-year staple in your pantry, but springtime is when these pungent bulbs really shine. To truly embrace this Spring vegetable in all its glory, make this pasta recipe that uses an entire head of garlic.

Get the recipe: caramelized garlic pasta recipe

Don't let the season go by without throwing a dinner party and wowing your guests with a showstopping Spring lamb dish. The best way to do that is to roast an entire leg, with the bone in, of course. All you need are a handful of rosemary sprigs, a few cloves of garlic, and a cup of red wine.

Get the recipe: rosemary-roasted lamb

One of Spring's more peculiar offerings is the morel mushroom, which resembles a tiny brown sponge. This alien-looking woodland fungus is considered a delicacy and can cost as much as $200 per pound. One way to incorporate them into your dish in a cost-efficient way is to make pesto. Along with shallots, garlic, and pine nuts, the morels add a rich, nutty, woodsy flavor to your pasta dish.

Get the recipe: spaghetti with morel shallot pesto

Who would have ever thought to put peas, spinach, and asparagus into enchiladas? Surprisingly, it really works, especially when all those veggies are balanced out with copious amounts of Mexican cheese and spices, plus enchilada sauce, naturally.

Get the recipe: Spring veggie enchiladas

Artichokes can be pretty intimidating with their thick, spiky layers, but once you get to the (literal) heart of the vegetable, you'll love its tender meat. Plus, you can always get the canned version. Add artichoke hearts to chicken and pasta for a simple meal.

Get the recipe: chicken with artichokes and angel hair pasta

The fava bean is a lesser-known Spring vegetable, and even lesser-known still are its greens, which are great for sautéeing and adding to pasta dishes. All you need to do is blanch them in the same boiling pot as the pasta and then strain both together. The dish comes together with some olive oil, grated cheese, salt, and fresh ground pepper. What could be simpler and more elegant?

Get the recipe: fava bean pasta

As far as vegetarian lasagnas go, this one is wonderfully classic. It has all the familiar flavors of traditional lasagna, but instead of ground beef and pork, spinach and artichoke give it flavor and body.

Get the recipe: spinach artichoke lasagna

There are plenty of Spring vegetables that are perfect for roasting with a whole chicken, like carrots, potatoes, onions, and radishes. Not only will your bird taste savory and citrusy from the Dijon mustard and lemon pepper, but it'll also be the prettiest belle at the ball dressed in colorful veggies.

Get the recipe: whole roasted chicken with Spring vegetables

If you've ever been "bitten" by a leaf while walking in the woods, then chances are you were stung by a nettle plant. Though this vengeful plant is a nuisance while hiking, it can be a friendly green vegetable in the kitchen. More and more chefs are braving the nettle's brutal stingers to incorporate them into dishes and sauces, and for good reason. When handled correctly — with gloves — the stinging nettle can add a fresh, peppery bite (or sting, perhaps?) to any dish, like this pasta with almonds and feta.

Get the recipe: pasta and nettles, almonds, and feta

This recipe takes fresh, bright green peas and cooks them into a thick, warming, homey soup. When it comes to roasting the peas for the crouton garnish, sometimes you just want to cook the Spring right out of a vegetable, you know?

Get the recipe: cheesy pea soup with pea croutons

Leave it to Chrissy Teigen to master the art of Spring comfort eating. Her recipe for spaghetti cacio e pepe, from her cookbook Cravings, stands apart from other versions because of the addition of a few crucial ingredients: lemon juice, pancetta, and peppery arugula, a springtime favorite.

Get the recipe: lemony arugula spaghetti cacio e pepe

Superthin asparagus ribbons, pea shoots, goat cheese, and balsamic reduction make this one elegant pizza. Oh, and did I mention it's topped with sunnyside eggs? Whew [wipes sweat from brow].

Get the recipe: asparagus ribbon pizza

This skillet recipe is the definition of hearty, with sweet potato, chicken sausage, and melted mozzarella cheese. Brussels sprouts give the dish a springtime balance that will have you feeling both filled and fresh.

Get the recipe: chicken sausage, brussels sprouts, and spiralized sweet potato skillet recipe