With summer entertaining, you’re sweating straight into your salad (and don’t even think about turning on the oven). Spring, on the other hand, boasts moderate temperatures and the return of fresh produce. While everyone’s still freaking out over asparagus, take advantage of the excitement and host a soirée. Start with these 28 spring dinner party recipes to inspire your menu, from crisp salads and vegetable-forward appetizers to all the strawberry desserts your heart desires. Our place or yours?
28 Spring Dinner Party Recipes That Demand a Patio Gathering
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Published Mar 21, 2023
1. Seared Scallops with Green Peas, Mint and Shallots
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy, gluten free
Not only is it totally gorgeous, it’s also ready to eat in 20 minutes. We love a secretly easy entrée.
2. Roasted Radishes with Butter
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, ready in <30 minutes, vegetarian, gluten free
There’s something about radishes that’s just très chic (not to mention, way more interesting than a kale Caesar).
3. Double Pea, Prosciutto and Burrata Platter
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: no cook, ready in <15 minutes, crowd-pleaser, low carb
When fresh peas hit the farmers market, we’re putting them on everything. There’s burrata involved? Even better.
4. Big-Batch Pink Negronis
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: no cook, crowd-pleaser, low sugar, beginner-friendly
We’re not about to stir up individual cocktails for a crowd, so a pitcher of negronis is in order. Our version is lightened up with Lillet Blanc instead of vermouth, because spring.
5. One-Pot, 15-Minute Pasta Limone
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: one pot, ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
The easiest way to win over your guests is to set out a skillet of pasta and pretend you spent all day preparing it.
6. Shaved Spring Vegetable and Apple Salad with Ginger-Dijon Dressing
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, no cook, under 500 calories
This is a delicious way to wave goodbye to stew season.
7. Spring Crudités with Romesco Sauce
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegan, dairy free, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
Fun fact: This easy appetizer can do double duty as a stunning centerpiece.
8. Spring Vegetable Risotto
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: low sugar, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
While not too complicated, risotto does require a bit of stirring (OK, a lot). Make this one for a smaller gathering to keep your night stress-free.
9. Asparagus, Pea and Ricotta Tarts
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
The party begins with store-bought puff pastry and ends with you enjoying every bite.
10. Salmon and Fennel Dinner Salad
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why I Love It: dairy free, gluten free, high protein
Psst: There are tiny strawberries tucked between the salmon and fennel to add a sweet, tangy pop of flavor.
11. Skillet Steak with Asparagus and Potatoes
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: one pan, dairy free, high protein
You love to order steak in a restaurant, but you’re too nervous to cook it at home. Allow us to change your mind?
12. Strawberry Upside-Down Cake
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
Catch you on the flip side, frosting.
13. Strawberries and Crème
- Time Commitment: 16 minutes
- Why I Love It: no cook, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, under 500 calories
Fresh fruit for dessert sounds boring on paper, but when you add freshly whipped cream and cookies, it’ll become your new favorite party trick.
14. Pasta Florentine with Grilled Chicken
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, high protein
Grilling season starts early this year.
15. Hummingbird Cupcakes with Pineapple ‘Flowers’
- Time Commitment: 4 hours
- Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, under 500 calories
A bouquet of flowers is great, but you know what’s even better? A batch of cupcakes.
16. Mini Strawberry Ice-Cream Pies
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
If your strawberries aren’t quite ripe, no worries. Roasting them in the oven brings out their juicy sweetness.
17. Skillet Roast Chicken with Schmaltzy Potatoes
- Time Commitment: 5 hours, 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: one pan, beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy
This bird looks impressive but is foolproof for all skill levels, promise.
18. No-Churn Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream
- Time Commitment: 12 hours (includes freezing time)
- Why I Love It: no cook, beginner-friendly
Did you know making homemade ice cream is as easy as whipping cream? We’re not kidding.
19. Cheater’s Mini Rhubarb Galettes
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
Oh hi, five-ingredient dessert.
20. Zesty Chargrilled Broccolini
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegan, gluten free
We’re firm believers that just a few fresh ingredients can take a dish from boring to brilliant. Enter lemon zest.
21. Charcuterie-Board Flatbread
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, no cook, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
Forgo the tiny charcuterie board crackers for a large-scale version that guarantees salty, savory, creamy, crunchy and sweet in every bite.
22. Pork Milanese with Cucumber Yogurt
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, high protein, low sugar
It sounds fancy, but it’s just as easy to make as a chicken cutlet.
23. Strawberry Cobb Salad
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, dairy free
Pass the dairy-free ranch, please and thank you.
24. Herb-Butter Glazed Radishes
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, beginner-friendly
Peppery radishes turn surprisingly sweet when roasted in the oven, and an herb butter has never made anything worse. (This dish will work with baby turnips or carrots, too.)
25. Lamb Loin Chops Over Minty Pistachio Butter
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, gluten free, special occasion–worthy
Lamb loin chops are similar to rib chops, but they’re leaner and lack the long, attached rib bone. They’re also slightly larger, which means more surface area to catch that creamy, nutty sauce.
26. Strawberry Half-Moon Cookies
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
These cuties are fruity take on the classic chocolate-vanilla black and white cookie, and they get their dreamy blush color from powdered freeze-dried berries instead of dye. (You can buy a bag online and at grocery stores like Trader Joe’s.)
27. Deb Perelman’s Carrot Tarte Tatin
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
This savory pie—a twist on the traditional French apple tart—is as impressive as it is easy to pull off, thanks to store-bought puff pastry.
28. White Wine Braised Leeks
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: gluten free, beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy
Leeks usually take a supporting role as a substitute for onions, but when given a little TLC, they shine on their own. Braised in butter and white wine and steeped in aromatics, these leeks are so tender they almost melt in your mouth.
Katherine Gillen is PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City restaurants. She used to sling sugary desserts in a pastry kitchen, but now she’s an avid home cook and fanatic baker.
