15 Fresh Spring Vegetable Recipes Ready in 20 Minutes

These spring vegetable recipes are ready in 20 minutes or less! They include easy dinners and vibrant sides starring asparagus, radishes, peas, and more.

Last weekend, I came home from the farmers market with tender asparagus, bright pink radishes, lush greens, and sweet, juicy sugar snap peas. Spring can sometimes get a slow start in April, but with the arrival of these spring vegetables, I’m calling it official: peak spring is here. For the next few weeks, I’ll be cooking spring vegetable recipes nonstop. Some of my favorites, like this asparagus risotto and meaty steamed artichokes, are best reserved for relaxed weekend cooking, but there are plenty of others that are entirely weeknight-possible. Below, you’ll find the quick and easy spring vegetable recipes I make…

GET THE RECIPE >

Lemon Orzo

This lemon orzo pasta is lightly creamy and bursting with bright lemon flavor. Easy to make in one pot in 20 minutes, it's perfect for weeknights!

This lemon orzo recipe is an easy, delicious one-pot dinner or side dish. This spring, it’s been one of my go-to weeknight meals. It calls for just 10 ingredients, cooks up in 20 minutes, and—best of all—is a hit with the whole family, kiddo included! I love this lemon orzo pasta because it’s bright, fresh, and creamy without any cream. The starches from the orzo and a little Parmesan perfect its comforting texture, while fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and herbs supply its zingy flavor. I often mix in some chickpeas and sautéed asparagus to make this lemon orzo a meal on…

GET THE RECIPE >

Glazed Carrots

This glazed carrots recipe is an easy side dish for holidays and weeknights! The tender carrots are coated in a flavorful brown sugar or honey glaze.

This glazed carrots recipe is a delicious, easy vegetable side dish. Cooked with brown sugar or honey to bring out their natural sweetness, the carrots are tender, flavorful, and vibrant. They’re a perfect side dish for holidays like Easter and Thanksgiving (especially because they come together on the stovetop, saving you valuable oven space). But they’re so simple that you could make them on busy weeknights too! When I was growing up, brown sugar glazed carrots were always part of my family’s Easter menu. But they were never my favorite. I always found them too soft and too sweet. This glazed…

GET THE RECIPE >

Best Guacamole Recipe

The BEST guacamole recipe! It's easy to make with simple, fresh ingredients like ripe avocados, onion, and lime juice. Great with chips, tacos, and more!

If you don’t already have a go-to guacamole recipe, let me introduce you to mine. This guacamole recipe is easy to make. You can whip it up in 10 minutes or less! It calls for simple, fresh ingredients. Think ripe avocados, onion, cilantro, and lime. It’s DELICIOUS. This homemade guacamole is creamy, zesty, and bright. I developed the recipe after years of living in Austin, Texas. The city has incredible Tex Mex and Mexican food, and I’ve eaten a TON of great guac at local restaurants there. Eventually, it inspired me to learn how to make guacamole at home. With…

GET THE RECIPE >

Baked Japanese Sweet Potato

Learn how to bake Japanese sweet potatoes! They have puffy skins and sweet, fluffy, creamy flesh. A nutritious, delicious side dish or light meal!

A Japanese sweet potato is one of my favorite winter vegetables. I first tried one on a trip to Japan years ago, sliced and fried to perfection on a plate of vegetable tempura. Each slice’s crisp exterior gave way to a pale interior that was fluffy and lightly sweet, with a flavor that reminded me of chestnuts. I was hooked immediately. This baked Japanese sweet potato recipe is how I like to prepare them at home. It’s inspired by yaki imo, the baked Japanese sweet potatoes that are sold as a street snack in Japan. In this recipe, the potatoes come…

GET THE RECIPE >

Christmas Salad

Brighten up your holiday table with this Christmas salad! It's fresh and colorful, made with juicy pomegranates, roasted squash, and winter greens.

This Christmas salad is a fresh, festive addition to a holiday table! It features ruby red pomegranates, candied pecans, shaved pecorino, and roasted squash over a bed of winter greens. My go-to apple cider vinegar dressing ties it all together. I make a version of this Christmas salad recipe every single year. I love the mix of tangy, sweet, and bitter flavors and creamy and crunchy textures. The jeweled tones of the winter produce are so pretty too. If you want to add a pop of color to your spread of Christmas side dishes, this stunning salad is the best…

GET THE RECIPE >

30 Best Christmas Side Dishes

Our best Christmas side dishes! From fresh vegetable sides to crowd-pleasing casseroles, they'll all be hits on your holiday dinner table.

These Christmas side dishes include everything you need for a delicious holiday feast! They range from fan-favorite potato recipes to stunning winter vegetables, fresh salads, make-ahead casseroles, and more. No matter what main you’re making, you’ll find Christmas side dishes to love. I don’t know about you, but the side dishes are always my favorite part of Christmas dinner. It doesn’t matter whether my family is having lasagna or prime rib—I’ll be more excited about the vegetables, potatoes, and homemade dinner rolls on the table. I hope these Christmas side dishes are the highlight of your holiday dinner too. Our…

GET THE RECIPE >

Stuffed Mushrooms

This stuffed mushrooms recipe is a delicious, easy party appetizer! The filling is a crispy, savory combo of breadcrumbs, garlic, herbs, and cheese.

stuffed mushrooms
appetizers / winter

This stuffed mushrooms recipe is one of my favorite party appetizers, especially for the holidays. Instead of making a typical cream cheese filling, I stuff the tender mushroom caps with a crispy, garlicky breadcrumb mixture. Sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan cheese make it rich and savory, pine nuts add crunch, and parsley adds freshness. Grab two while you’re at the snack table—these bite-sized apps disappear fast. Another reason to love these stuffed mushrooms: they’re easy to make! They come together with 10 simple ingredients and about 15 minutes of hands-on prep. If you’re looking for a quick, crowd-pleasing appetizer for your next party, I…

GET THE RECIPE >

51 Thanksgiving Side Dishes

These Thanksgiving sides include classics like stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole, plus seasonal veggies and salad recipes. They'll be the highlight of your holiday menu!

vegetarian / side dishes

These Thanksgiving side dishes feature everything you need to plan a crowd-pleasing holiday dinner! Of course, you’ll find traditional Thanksgiving recipes like sweet potato casserole, dinner rolls, and cranberry sauce, but I’ve got plenty of fresh, seasonal menu inspiration in here too. Wow your guests with roasted root vegetables with crispy sage or a lemony shaved Brussels sprout salad. At the end of the meal, everyone will still be talking about the sides—not the pumpkin pie or roast turkey. I hope this collection of side dishes helps you create a Thanksgiving menu you love! Our Best Classic Thanksgiving Sides Easy…

GET THE RECIPE >

Green Bean Casserole

This green bean casserole is a from-scratch take on the classic Campbell's recipe. It features fresh green beans in a creamy mushroom sauce with crispy french-fried onions on top.

thanksgiving / side dishes

In this green bean casserole recipe, tender green beans are tossed in a creamy homemade mushroom sauce, then baked with french-fried onions on top. It has the same basic components as the Campbell’s casserole I ate at Thanksgiving growing up—green beans, creamy sauce, crispy onions—but it’s fresher and more flavorful by far. My whole family went back for seconds the first time I served it to them. I hope yours does too! Green Bean Casserole Ingredients Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe: Green beans, of course! I like this recipe best with fresh green beans, especially haricots verts,…

GET THE RECIPE >

Best Stuffing Recipe

This homemade stuffing recipe is easy and delicious, made with bread cubes, broth, herbs, and a buttery mixture of onions and celery. It's perfect for Thanksgiving or any holiday meal!

side dishes / thanksgiving

This stuffing recipe is my favorite Thanksgiving side dish. Based on my grandma’s homemade stuffing, it’s buttery and flavorful, made with dried bread cubes, celery, onions, and fresh herbs like sage and thyme. As it bakes, it gets crisp and golden on top but stays moist and gooey in the middle. This year, I’ve re-tested and updated the recipe to make a larger quantity because it always disappears too quickly from my family’s Thanksgiving table. Simple, classic, and delicious, it’s hands down the best stuffing recipe I’ve tried. If you’re looking for a traditional stuffing to complete your Thanksgiving menu, I…

GET THE RECIPE >

Fresh, easy
recipes for
every day.

Jeanine Donofrio in her kitchen

I'm Jeanine, a New York Times bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and founder of Love & Lemons, a trusted recipe resource for millions of home cooks. I create fresh, easy, and delicious vegetarian recipes that celebrate seasonal ingredients and flavors.

About Us >

Start here

Get our Recipes

We’ll send our top 10 recipes straight to your inbox, along with weekly recipe inspiration!

Click here to view our privacy policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2026 Love and Lemons, LLC. All rights reserved.