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  6. 19 Spring Dinners You Can Make with Pantry Ingredients

19 Spring Dinners You Can Make with Pantry Ingredients

Leah Goggins headshot
Leah Goggins March 24, 2022
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Spinach, Feta, Rice Casserole

In these tasty dinner recipes, we pair pantry staples like quinoa, pasta, chickpeas and boxed soups with fresh, seasonal ingredients to liven up the flavor. A little diced avocado, spinach, arugula or cauliflower make these dinners perfect for spring. Recipes like our Spinach, Feta & Rice Casserole and Broccoli & Quinoa Casserole are healthy meals for any night of the week.

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Spinach, Feta & Rice Casserole

spinach, feta & rice casserole
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This one-pan recipe is the casserole version of spanakopita! It's hearty enough to enjoy as a vegetarian lunch or dinner, yet versatile enough to serve alongside just about any protein. To make it extra creamy, top each serving with a dollop of sour cream.

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Slow-Cooker Southwest Quinoa Bowls

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This taco-bowl--style recipe will be a hit with both adults and children. The 10-minute sit time allows the cheese to melt into the quinoa, making this dish super decadent. If you cannot find Cheddar-Jack cheese, use Monterey Jack or sharp Cheddar. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves, lime wedges and additional cheese, if desired.

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Sausage, Spinach & Tortellini Soup

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Full of a comforting tomato base and plenty of fresh spinach, the spicy sausage is a zingy, flavorful addition to this easy soup recipe. If you want to make the soup ahead of time, save the tortellini for shortly before serving so that it doesn't get soggy and break apart.

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Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Chickpeas & Spinach

Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Chickpeas & Spinach
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Simmer eggs in a rich tomatoey cream sauce studded with chickpeas and silky spinach for a super-fast vegetarian dinner. Serve with a piece of crusty bread to soak up the sauce. Be sure to use heavy cream; a lower-fat option might curdle when mixed with acidic tomatoes.

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Broccoli & Quinoa Casserole

Broccoli & Quinoa Casserole
Credit: Photography / Antonis Achilleos, Styling / Christine Keely, Ali Ramee
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This broccoli-quinoa casserole makes a hearty vegetarian main dish. As the quinoa absorbs water and cooks, it creates the perfect amount of steam for cooking the broccoli. Swap in tricolor quinoa, if you prefer.

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Chickpea Salad Sandwich

Chickpea Salad Sandwich
Credit: Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn
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This vegan chickpea salad sandwich is lemony, bright and surprisingly delicious. It's got all the flavors of a classic tuna salad sandwich—dill, lemon and a bit of garlic—but with chickpeas instead to add a vegan source of protein and a healthy boost of fiber. Celery brings a nice crunch.

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Chickpea Pasta with Mushrooms & Kale

Chickpea Pasta with Mushrooms & Kale
Credit: Greg DuPree
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Loading up your pasta with vegetables like the kale and mushrooms here is not only delicious, it also makes the meal more satisfying.

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Homemade Chicken Ramen Noodle Bowls

Homemade Chicken Ramen Noodle Bowls
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Transform canned chicken noodle soup into quick ramen bowls by adding fresh ginger, crunchy vegetables, herbs and a jammy soft-boiled egg. Look for a low-sodium soup that has 450 mg sodium or less per serving.

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Butternut Squash & Cauliflower Soup with Chickpea Croutons

Butternut Squash & Cauliflower Soup with Chickpea Croutons
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Bulk up boxed butternut squash soup with frozen cauliflower florets, then top off your bowl with crispy chickpea snacks for major crunch (look for them near the dried fruit and nuts at your grocery store). This impressively easy dinner comes together with just those three ingredients, not including salt, pepper and oil. Because prepared soups are typically higher in sodium, look for light or reduced-sodium versions of your favorites.

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One-Pot Chicken & Broccoli Pasta

One-Pot Chicken & Broccoli Pasta
Credit: Jennifer Causey
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This creamy chicken and broccoli pasta makes for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. We opt for small shells in this recipe, but any other small pasta, like orecchiette, would work, too.

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Cauliflower Gnocchi with Asparagus & Pesto

Cauliflower Gnocchi with Asparagus & Pesto
Credit: Carolyn Hodges, M.S., RD
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While the cauliflower gnocchi crisp up in a sauté pan, steam fresh asparagus in the microwave to keep it bright green and crisp-tender. Substitute frozen asparagus (or green beans or peas) in a pinch. Toss them together with prepared basil pesto for a satisfying supper.

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3-Ingredient Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Chickpeas

3-Ingredient Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Chickpeas
Credit: Carolyn A. Hodges, RD
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Boxed blended soups are the perfect canvas for simple stir-ins to make them more substantial and satisfying. Here, roasted red pepper soup is jazzed up with canned chickpeas and fresh baby spinach for a fast, comforting meal.

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Pesto Ravioli with Spinach & Tomatoes

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Looking for a new way to turn a bag of frozen cheese ravioli into a satisfying and healthy dinner? This easy pasta recipe calls for just five ingredients but is loaded with fresh flavors. By using grape tomatoes, prewashed spinach and prepared pesto, we eliminate all prep work, making this 15-minute Caprese-inspired ravioli the ideal weeknight meal.

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Cabbage Roll Chicken Enchiladas

Cabbage Roll Chicken Enchiladas
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This 5-ingredient dinner recipe uses two genius hacks to make dinner healthy and get it on the table in under an hour. First, swap in cabbage leaves for tortillas to cut the carbs and get an extra serving of vegetables. Second, use prepared ingredients--spicy refried beans and enchilada sauce--to add tons of flavor without a long ingredient list.

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White Bean-Sage Cauliflower Gnocchi

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Turn lower-carb cauliflower gnocchi into a complete and satisfying meal with this riff on classic brown butter and sage gnocchi. We added beans to amp up the fiber and protein for a fast and healthy dinner.

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Chicken & White Bean Soup

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Once again, rotisserie chickens can really relieve the dinner-rush pressure-especially in this Italian-inspired soup that cries out for a piece of crusty bread and a glass of red wine.

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Creamy Broccoli Pasta

Creamy Broccoli Pasta
Credit: Brie Passano
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If you're looking for a simple weeknight pasta dish, look no further. This vegetarian dinner is done in only 20 minutes and packs plenty of broccoli along with creamy goodness thanks to mascarpone cheese and low-fat Greek yogurt.

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One-Pot Lemon-Broccoli Pasta with Parmesan

overhead shot of brown bowl filled with rotini pasta, broccoli, parmesan and lemon slices
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This hearty pasta dish with bright, fresh flavor is ideal for busy weeknights. The Parmesan adds welcome saltiness and notes of umami and you get added texture from the slight crunch of broccoli and whole-wheat noodles. Add some shredded rotisserie chicken, grilled shrimp or crispy chickpeas to punch up the protein.

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Baked Spinach & Feta Pasta

Baked Spinach & Feta Pasta
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Feta softens in the oven before it's combined with spinach and pasta, with the pasta cooking right in the baking dish. Enjoy this one-pan dish on its own as a vegetarian main or serve with sautéed chicken breast for a boost of protein.

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    1 of 19 Spinach, Feta & Rice Casserole
    2 of 19 Slow-Cooker Southwest Quinoa Bowls
    3 of 19 Sausage, Spinach & Tortellini Soup
    4 of 19 Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Chickpeas & Spinach
    5 of 19 Broccoli & Quinoa Casserole
    6 of 19 Chickpea Salad Sandwich
    7 of 19 Chickpea Pasta with Mushrooms & Kale
    8 of 19 Homemade Chicken Ramen Noodle Bowls
    9 of 19 Butternut Squash & Cauliflower Soup with Chickpea Croutons
    10 of 19 One-Pot Chicken & Broccoli Pasta
    11 of 19 Cauliflower Gnocchi with Asparagus & Pesto
    12 of 19 3-Ingredient Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Chickpeas
    13 of 19 Pesto Ravioli with Spinach & Tomatoes
    14 of 19 Cabbage Roll Chicken Enchiladas
    15 of 19 White Bean-Sage Cauliflower Gnocchi
    16 of 19 Chicken & White Bean Soup
    17 of 19 Creamy Broccoli Pasta
    18 of 19 One-Pot Lemon-Broccoli Pasta with Parmesan
    19 of 19 Baked Spinach & Feta Pasta

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