IDK about you, but I'm suddenly craving lemon bars...
Happy March! Spring is right around the corner, and if you (like me) are craving seasonal eats — like fresh spring salads, easy one-pot pastas, or citrus-forward desserts — you're in the right place. Here's what's in season for the month ahead:
5. Breakfast Plate With Tomatoes, Avocado, and Egg
For a lighter first meal to fuel your day, this heart-healthy plate leans on texture, flavor, and color — between juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, and spicy cashews.
6. Greek Yogurt Banana Bread
Win-win: the best way to use up overripe bananas and sneak in some extra protein thanks to the Greek yogurt.
Recipe: Greek Yogurt Banana Bread
7. Avocado, Grapefruit, and Fennel Salad
Grapefuit plays double duty here — both in the salad and in the simple dressing, where it's mixed with olive oil, balsamic, and shallots.
8. Salmon With Leeks, Crispy Potatoes, and Asparagus
Seasonal spring eats are in full force here — between the roasted asparagus, crispy potatoes, and the rich, buttery leek sauce to top it all off.
9. 10-Minute Chili Garlic Bok Choy
This vegetable side comes together quickly on the stovetop and packs a ton of flavor thanks to chili oil and — count 'em! — 10 cloves of garlic.
Recipe: 10-Minute Chili Garlic Bok Choy
10. Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage
Let's make the Instant Pot do all the hard work on St. Patrick's Day, shall we?
11. One-Pot Lemon Chicken and Orzo
Lemony orzo + golden-brown chicken + fresh veg. What's not to like? (Plus, one-pot cleanup!)
12. Spring Fruit Salad
Depending on where you live, good strawberries may still be hit or miss at the grocery store. That's why the light lemon and honey dressing comes in handy here — it elevates all the flavors, even the ones that might not be at their peak yet.
Recipe: Spring Fruit Salad
13. Baked Cod With Lemon, Garlic, and Parsley
Baking the fish in the oven means super-easy cleanup. If you're not a parsley fan, top with olives or capersinstead.
14. Instant Pot Chicken Adobo
Melissa Jameson / BuzzFeed
Being Filipina, I'm always looking for ways to incorporate the classics into my cooking roster. This shortcut Instant Pot adobo — that basically makes itself — is a great way to satisfy those cravings on busy weeknights.
Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Adobo
15. Potato and Green Bean Skillet
This simple side packs extra flavor and texture thanks to bits of crispy bacon and a smart secret ingredient: everything-bagel seasoning. To bring the cost down to just $1.72 per serving, it also uses frozen green beans instead of fresh.
There's never a wrong season for carnitas. Come spring, pair these with a grapefruit margarita or two.
Recipe: Slow Cooker Carnitas
17. Tahini Carrot Soup With Crispy Chickpeas
This cozy and comforting soup is ideal for any colder-than-usual March nights that make you recount the days until spring.
18. Make-Ahead Kale Salad With Lentils, Olives, and Feta
Melissa Jameson / BuzzFeed
I love kale salads. They're my go-to for make-ahead lunches that last all week, because kale is hearty enough to withstand a few days in the fridge. (And the flavors meld together as it sits!) This version does require some prep — cooking lentils, making spiced oil — but the result is exceptional.
19. Trader Joe's Brown Rice Bowl With Broccoli and Soy Chorizo
Melissa Jameson / BuzzFeed
And while we're on the topic of make-ahead lunches, meet (yet another!) Trader Joe's favorite. This vegan-friendly version comes together with a handful of TJ's staples — like spicy soy chorizo and butternut squash crinkles.
20. Aloo Gobi Matar
Potatoes, cauliflower, and green peas are paired with a flavorful curry paste here — then get spooned over rice or eaten with naan.
Recipe: Aloo Gobi Matar
21. Smoked Salmon Rice Bowl With Scallions and Furikake
Confession: I've been on a tinned-fish kick lately.One of my favorite varieties is smoked salmon — andFishwifemakes an incredible version with Sichuan chili crisp. I've been using it in easy rice bowls like this — paired with juicy tomatoes, scallions, furikake, and all the extra chili crisp oil drizzled on top.
22. Butter Lettuce Salad
The lemon vinaigrette — with balsamic, garlic, and tangy Dijon — brings everything together perfectly.
Recipe: Butter Lettuce Salad
23. Orecchiette With Sausage and Spinach
Feel free to swap the sausage for mushrooms or the spinach for any spring vegetable you have on hand.
Melissa Jameson / BuzzFeed
If you've never seared or roasted gnocchi before, start with this recipe. The outside gets golden brown and crispy, while the inside stays chewy. Add Brussels sprouts, brown butter, and plenty of Parm — and you're good to go.
Recipe: Crispy Gnocchi With Brussels Sprouts and Brown Butter (Note: If you encounter a paywall, here's a similar version.)
26. Shrimp Burger With Creamy Aioli
Summer may not be within reach yet — but shrimp burgers are a solid spring bridge. Frozen patties are a great way to save money here too. (I'm partial to the ones from Del Pacifico.)
27. 20-Minute Beef With Broccoli
Slicing the beef into small pieces up front means everything cooks quickly — so this is an excellent go-to for busy weeknights.
Recipe:20-Minute Beef With Broccoli
28. Pasta With Cauliflower and White Beans
Spring pasta at its finest. I was introduced to this high-protein, high-fiber flavor combo by Daily Harvest, which makes a really convenient heat-and-eat version. Since then, I've made my own versions too, and this one (which also happens to be vegan) is one of my favorites.
29. Easy Lemon Bars
When life gives you lemons, make lemon bars (in bulk).
Recipe: Easy Lemon Bars
30. Glazed Blood Orange Cake
This one's a bit of a project best saved for a weekend — but the end result is worth it.
Recipe:Glazed Blood Orange Cake
31. Air Fryer Pizookie
Fellow air fryer fans, this is for you. 😋
Recipe: Air Fryer Pizookie