From Orange-Ricotta Pancakes To Your New Favorite Spring Pasta, Here Are 30 Irresistible Recipes To Make All April Long

    'Tis the season for a new slew of spring recipes.

    Hannah Loewentheil
    by Hannah Loewentheil

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Helllooo, spring! The temperatures are finally rising, the birds are chirping, the flowers and blooming, and the farmers markets are bustling with delicious seasonal produce. Ready to embrace the new season? Here are 30 amazing recipes to make in April and beyond.

    BuzzFeed

    1. Strawberry-Stuffed French Toast

    French toast stuffed with strawberries
    Carslbad Cravings / Via carlsbadcravings.com

    Well if this sweet cream cheese, cinnamon, and strawberry French toast doesn't turn you into a morning person, I'm frankly not quite sure what could.

    Recipe: Strawberry-Stuffed French Toast

    2. Fancy Egg Salad Sandwich

    A Beautiful Plate / Via abeautifulplate.com

    Make the homemade mayonnaise if you're feeling ambitious, but you can also opt for the store-bought stuff. This creamy egg salad with chives may look fancy, but it's so easy to make.

    Recipe: Fancy Egg Salad Sandwich

    3. Rhubarb Scones

    The View From Great Island / Via theviewfromgreatisland.com

    These buttery, sweet, and savory scones are always a good way to start your day. Make a big batch, and you can even store the extras in the freezer for lazy mornings.

    Recipe: Rhubarb Scones

    4. Orange Ricotta Chocolate Chip Pancakes

    A stack of orange chocolate chip pancakes with butter on top
    Two Peas and Their Pod / Via twopeasandtheirpod.com

    These citrus-infused pancakes are the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. Top them with a slab of butter or a dollop of whipped cream and some maple syrup for good measure.

    Recipe: Orange Ricotta Chocolate Chip Pancakes

    5. Ottolenghi’s Braised Eggs With Leek and Za’atar

    A skillet of leeks and braised eggs with za'atar seasoning
    The Kitchn / Via thekitchn.com

    You're going to want some crusty bread or soft pita to sop up all this creamy deliciousness.

    Recipe: Ottolenghi’s Braised Eggs With Leek and Za’atar

    6. Easy Fava Bean Dip

    Fava bean dip with olive oil and bread
    The Wanderlust Kitchen / Via thewanderlustkitchen.com

    Give the hummus a rest and opt for this creative and fresh bean dip instead. It tastes delicious with crudité, in a big salad, or as a spread on your favorite sandwich.

    Recipe: Easy Fava Bean Dip

    7. Crab and Artichoke Toasts

    Crab and artichoke toasts
    Well Plates / Via wellplated.com

    Looking for a party dip that everyone can get behind? These open-faced bites taste like artichoke dip mixed with a crab melt. Yup, I know you're drooling...

    Recipe: Crab and Artichoke Toasts

    8. Herby Butter Lettuce Salad With Tahini Dressing

    Butter lettuce salad with avocado
    The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com

    Sometimes simple is best, like in the case of this butter lettuce salad. There are no fancy ingredients, just crisp veggies and a creamy, tangy dressing that is totally irresistable.

    Recipe: Herby Butter Lettuce Salad With Tahini Dressing

    Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

    It may be spring, but there are still some chilly nights ahead. Embrace the cooler temps with bowls of this slurp-able veggie ramen soup.

    Recipe: Spicy Ramen With Sweet Potatoes and Crispy Shallots

    10. White Cheddar Mac 'n' Cheese With Sweet Peas

    A big pot of creamy mac 'n' cheese shells with peas
    Spoon Fork Bacon / Via spoonforkbacon.com

    This homemade mac is surely the most decadent way to eat your veggies.

    Recipe: White Cheddar Mac 'n' Cheese With Sweet Peas

    11. Creamy Jerusalem Artichoke Soup

    Little Sunny Kitchen / Via littlesunnykitchen.com

    Top these rich bowls of soup with anything from croutons and shredded Parmesan cheese to a drizzle of hot chile oil and crispy kale. The options are endless.

    Recipe: Creamy Jerusalem Artichoke Soup

    12. Spring Asparagus Pasta Salad

    How Sweet Eats / Via howsweeteats.com

    It might not be picnic weather quite yet, but it's not too early to practice with this spring pasta salad. Stick with asparagus, cheese, and tomatoes or swap in whatever fresh veggies you have in the fridge.

    Recipe: Spring Asparagus Pasta Salad

    13. Beet and Goat Cheese Salad

    Chelsea's Messy Apron / Via chelseasmessyapron.com

    Tangy mandarin oranges, creamy goat cheese and avocado, and sweet roasted beets make for a dinnerworthy salad that even lettuce haters can get behind.

    Recipe: Beet and Goat Cheese Salad

    14. Caramelized Fennel Paccheri With Sausage and Pistachios

    A plate of rigatoni with sausage
    The Original Dish / Via theoriginaldish.com

    Upgrade pasta night with the help of caramelized fennel, chopped pistachios, and crumbled sausage. It's a date-night-worthy meal you'll want to make on repeat.

    Recipe: Caramelized Fennel Paccheri With Sausage and Pistachios

    Bev Cooks / Via bevcooks.com

    This one-pot meal is easy enough for a weeknight dinner but sophisticated enough for a special occasion. While the recipe calls for oyster mushrooms, I love using a mix of your favorites for the best flavor and texture.

    Recipe: Braised Chicken With Mushrooms and Shallots

    16. Creamy Potato Leek Gratin With Fennel and Gruyere Cheese

    A casserole dish with potato leek gratin
    Give It Some Thyme / Via giveitsomethyme.com

    This veggie gratin is packed with leeks, potatoes, and fennel, then topped with lots of cheese and cream, and baked until it's a golden, bubbly bliss.

     Recipe: Creamy Potato Leek Gratin With Fennel and Gruyere Cheese

    17. Asparagus Tart With Tarragon, Chives, and Gruyere

    Slices of an asparagus tart with cheese
    Feasting at Home / Via feastingathome.com

    This elevated side dish begins with a simple, store-bought ingredient: puff pastry dough. From there, it's topped with herby cream cheese, asparagus, and chives, and then it's baked in the oven until perfectly flaky.

    Recipe: Asparagus Tart With Tarragon, Chives, and Gruyere

    18. Crab, Asparagus, and Leek Quiche

    Fox and Briar / Via foxandbriar.com

    The best thing about quiche is that it's totally appropriate to eat at any time of day. Make it once and enjoy it for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.

    Recipe: Crab, Asparagus, and Leek Quiche

    Bev Cooks / Via bevcooks.com

    These salmon and couscous bowls topped with pine nuts and tangy cucumber salad feel light and fresh yet so filling.

    Recipe: Salmon and Israeli Couscous With Cucumbers

    20. Marinated Beet Poke Bowls

    Bonjon Gourmet / Via bojongourmet.com

    Maybe you don't love eating raw fish at home, or maybe you're not a huge fish fan whatsoever. These marinated beet poke bowls are a fun twist, loaded with fresh, colorful veggies and any of your favorite toppings.

    Recipe: Marinated Beet Poke Bowls

    21. Mini Chicken Pot Pies

    The Food Charlatan / Via thefoodcharlatan.com

    These muffin tin chicken pot pies are so versatile. Serve them as appetizers, a family-friendly dinner with your favorite sides, or make some extras for on-the-go lunches.

    Recipe: Mini Chicken Pot Pies

    22. Spring Pea Risotto

    A bowl of spring pea risotto with butter
    The Original Dish / Via theoriginaldish.com

    Decadently creamy yet refreshing, this pea risotto makes for a great side dish or main course. It takes a little bit of effort, but it's mostly just stirring.

    Recipe: Spring Pea Risotto

    23. Maitake Mushroom Alfredo Pasta

    Pasta with mushrooms and Alfredo sauce
    Cooking With Cocktail Rings / Via cookingwithcocktailrings.com

    This grown-up pasta Alfredo is pretty much the most indulgent thing you can make with a few ingredients. Morel and shiitake mushrooms, crème fraîche, pasta, and white wine are pretty much all you need.

    Recipe: Maitake Mushroom Alfredo Pasta

    24. Baked Cod With Asparagus, Leeks, Lemon, and Thyme

    A skillet of cod with asparagus and leeks
    Feasting At Home / Via feastingathome.com

    Seafood season is upon us, so take full advantage with this one-pot baked cod and veggies. If you don't love cod, try swapping in another white fish like hake, halibut, or sea bass.

    Recipe: Baked Baked Cod With Asparagus, Lemon, and Thyme

    25. Strawberry Pound Cake

    Strawberry pound cake with vanilla icing
    The Recipe Critic / Via therecipecritic.com

    The greatest thing about pound cake is you can make it for dessert and enjoy the leftovers with your morning cup of coffee.

    Recipe: Strawberry Pound Cake

    26. Papaya Bars

    Papaya bars with buttery crust
    A Cozy Kitchen / Via acozykitchen.com

    Papayas are in season, so transport yourself to more tropical weather with the help of these silky, custardy dessert bars on buttery shortbread crust.

    Recipe: Papaya Bars

    27. Key Lime Cheesecake Parfaits

    Key lime pie parfait with graham cracker crumble
    Belly Full / Via bellyfull.net

    This deconstructed key lime pie is refreshing, zesty, and so flavorful. Plus, it's ideally proportioned so you don't have to share your precious bites.

    Recipe: Key Lime Cheesecake Parfaits

    28. Pineapple Mint Caipirinhas

    Pineapple, mint, and lime caipirinhas in tall glasses
    Girl on the Range / Via girlontherange.com

    If you've never tried a caipirinha, this Brazilian-inspired cocktail is made with a rum-like spirit called cachaca. This version is infused with pineapple, mint, and plenty of fresh squeezed lime.

    Recipe: Pineapple Mint Caipirinhas

    29. Strawberry Gin Sour Cocktail

    Super Golden Bakes / Via supergoldenbakes.com

    This sophisticated drink might look like some fancy concoction you'd order at a cocktail bar, but it's really only five ingredients: strawberries, gin, elderflower liqueur, lime juice, and egg white.

    Recipe: Strawberry Gin Sour Cocktail

    30. Spicy Cucumber Margarita

    Two cucumber margaritas with lime and mint
    Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

    Upgrade your taco Tuesday with the help of these spicy-meets-crisp springtime margs. 

    Recipe: Spicy Cucumber Margarita