Need some dinner ideas? This spring menu for the third week of March includes 7 easy dinners and 34 delicious recipes for a great week.
Planning dinner for the week always makes life a little more neat and organized, especially this time of year when the seasons start to change. Here in Lancaster County, we’re finally seeing hints of spring, and that always inspires me to lighten up what we’re cooking while keeping the food comforting and satisfying.
This week’s menu features a little bit of everything we love around here. There are cozy casseroles, grilled salmon, a fresh salad almost every night, a Sunday pot roast for anyone who wants to stop by and a bright lemon dessert to end the week. Generally there is 34 delicious recipes to mix and match for a very tasty week.
Here’s what’s on the menu this week…
I’m a casserole girl. I love how a few simple ingredients can come together and bake into something warm, easy and so delicious. This French Onion Chicken and Rice Casserole sounds like a recipe that goes down fast and I think it would be perfect for a potluck as well.
This is a pantry recipe that I really appreciate. Most of the ingredients are things I usually have on hand, which always makes dinner a little easier. I serve it with one of my family’s favorite side dishes, baked green beans and bacon.
French onion casserole with chicken and rice
Baked green beans and bacon
The weather is beautiful here in Lancaster County so we are happy to get outside and use the grill again. Salmon is a frequent dinner in our house, and there is something extremely delicious about grilled salmon with a little smoky flavor. The herb sauce and lemon make this dish fresh and full of spring flavor.
I serve the salmon with grilled asparagus and my arugula salad. I’ve been making this salad for years and it often appears on the menu because we love it so much. I even make it for a low protein lunch a few times a week. It really is that good.
Barbecue salmon fillet with herb sauce
Grilled asparagus
Arugula salad with grated parmesan cheese, pine nuts and lemon vinaigrette
Even in spring we are still big soup eaters. I’m just replacing heavier winter soups with something lighter and brighter, and this Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup sounds just right for this time of year. It feels cozy but still fresh enough for a spring meal.
I serve it with my easy no-knead artisan bread. I’ve been making this bread for a few years now and it just keeps getting better. This is one of those recipes that looks too easy to be that good, and it’s great with soup.
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
No knead artisan bread
The name of tonight’s main course caught my attention immediately. Taco and cobbler aren’t two words I usually expect to see together, but one look at the recipe and I knew it would be a fun and delicious dinner to add to the menu. I serve it with salsa, cheese, sour cream and lime wedges, which makes it even better.
To freshen up the dish, I pair it with a crunchy wedge salad and ranch dressing. I like to add something cool and crunchy to balance out a warm, hearty main dish.
Skillet Taco Cobbler
Wedge salad with ranch dressing
I always appreciate a light dinner on a very busy day, and toss and bake sounds pretty wonderful to me. For tonight’s casserole, I use Grandma Lo Bianco’s Meatballs from the freezer. It’s so worth it to make them ahead of time, and if you do, dinner comes together so easily.
I serve a Bailey’s salad with the casserole. We started calling it that because our grandson Bailey loves it so much when he comes over for Friday night dinner. It’s fresh, colorful and such a delicious side to this dish.
Pour and bake a casserole with meatballs
Italian chopped salad
The quiche makes such a wonderful dinner and is definitely worth the company. If you’re feeding a crowd, just make two quiches, add a fresh side, and dinner is ready. That’s just my kind of food.
This bacon and onion mushroom quiche has so many flavors that I love, and I’m going to add some leftover Easter ham from the freezer along with chives from the garden. I serve it with a cucumber salad for a simple, fresh side dish that goes perfectly with the rich quiche.
Bacon, onion and mushroom quiche
Cucumber salad
I love having family over on Sundays to have dinner together. A slow cooker roast is one of my favorite ways to make this because it feels special and comforting without keeping me in the kitchen all day. I’m going to use a roast, my favorite pot roast, and add baby potatoes right into the slow cooker.
I serve with a large salad and ice cream biscuits for dessert. That sounds like a pretty lovely Sunday dinner to me.
Roasted in a slow cooker
Boss salad
Oatmeal Lace Biscuits
I was first introduced to icebox cake from my mother-in-law when I first got married. She made a chocolate bar out of chocolate wafers. I was amazed at how wonderful this fun little cake tasted when it was placed in the fridge for a few hours so the waffles had time to become cake-like!
My friend Ann from This is Sutton A place makes a lemon ice cake and I can’t wait to try it! NO! Thanks Anne for another great recipe.
Lemonade Ice Cream Cake
More delicious recipes to try
Use leftover herbs to make Herbal oil.
Braised pork chops are easy, hearty and full of flavor.
For a creamy main course try Creamy Chicken with Parmesan and Garlic.
this Puff pastry roll with blue cheese, walnuts and thyme would be great for brunch or breakfast.
Impossible Cheeseburger Pie is one of those old-fashioned recipes that never seems to go out of style.
Make a batch of Crackers with Parmesan and Thyme for breakfast or served with soup.
this Sloppy Joe Dip is a fun twist on a classic.
Blueberry lemon bread is full of fresh, fruity flavor.
Batch of Easy Orange Oatmeal Muffins it tastes like sunshine.
These Boulangere potatoes they are beautiful and full of spicy onion flavor.
this Artichoke hearts in white wine and garlic butter the recipe sounds absolutely spoon-worthy.
Hawaiian Roast Chicken it gives a little sweet and spicy taste to the dinner.
Chicken breast stuffed with mushrooms it looks rich, hearty and delicious.
this Puff pastry with peaches dessert it would be such a nice treat to serve.
Blueberry and Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole not your everyday french toast.
A Lemon feta and artichoke galette makes a great savory dish.
this Baked appetizer Feta would be wonderful for spring entertaining.
Hope you have a great week my friend!
