47 Spring Recipes to Celebrate the Groundhog Not Seeing His Shadow

Updated: Jan. 31, 2024

Every February, viewers across America tune in to see if the infamous groundhog will see his shadow. If he doesn't, spring is due to arrive early. Here are some of our favorite spring recipes to help celebrate Groundhog's Day.

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Lemon Crumb Muffins

I love to have the dough for these muffins ready and waiting in the refrigerator when company comes. They bake up in just 20 minutes and taste delicious warm. Their cakelike texture makes them perfect for breakfast, dessert or snacking. —Claudette Brownlee, Kingfisher, Oklahoma

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Greek Orzo Salad

Tart and refreshing, this side salad is a big hit. With all the tasty toppings—including red onion, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese and a zesty dressing—you’d never know it has just 7 grams of fat. Tiny pasta called orzo gives it extra interest. —Judy Roberts, Las Vegas, Nevada
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Cream of Celery Soup

This rich celery soup will warm up any family gathering or quiet evening at home. With just the right amount of onion flavor, it’s creamy and crowd-pleasing. —Janet James, Bluff City, Tennessee
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Mushroom Swiss Burgers

These skillet burgers from Mrs. James Bowles of Ironton, Ohio are perfect cold weather food. Heaping with mushrooms and the wonderful flavor of Swiss cheese, these burgers really deliver. This recipe is sure to become a family favorite.
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Southern Mac and Cheese

No down-home meal is complete without Southern mac and cheese. Three types of cheese and a squirt of mustard make this comforting dish sing! —Katie Sloan, Charlotte, North Carolina
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Stroganoff Soup

My husband and I share a love for all kinds of soup and came up with this delicious recipe together. It really does taste like beef Stoganoff. With a crusty roll, it’s a satisfying meal in itself.
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Chocolate Chip Cookie Delight

This is a simple chocolate delight recipe for any type of potluck occasion, and the pan always comes home empty. —Diane Windley, Grace, Idaho
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Frozen Fruit Whip

A fast finale to any meal is as close as the freezer. Everyone has room for some of this light, refreshing dessert.—Tanya McKay, Wells, Nevada
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Grilled Cheese and Pepperoni Sandwich

Who doesn’t love a good grilled cheese sandwich recipe? This super decadent version comes fully loaded with pepperoni and five types of cheese!—Josh Rink, Taste of Home Food Stylist
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Oyster Cracker Snack

Field editor Verona Koehlmoos of Pilger, Nebraska shared this quick-to-fix recipe. Everyone will be eating these crackers by the handfuls!
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Buffalo Chicken Calzones

I’m always looking for creative ways to jazz up pizza. I came up with this “pizza turnover,” to incorporate my love of buffalo chicken wings and created this scrumptious buffalo chicken calzone. —Ruth Ann Riendeau, Twin Mountain, New Hampshire
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Hamburger Stir-Fry

Here’s a quick, easy teriyaki stir fry that uses hamburger instead of the traditional beef strips. It has a nice sauce and is different enough to be a treat for the taste buds!
Kathi and John Horst – Westfield, New York
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Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits

The recipe for these four-ingredient biscuits has been handed down for many generations. —Fran Thompson, Tarboro, North Carolina
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Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham

This pineapple ham glaze is straightforward and simple—just what you're looking for in a holiday main dish. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Fluffy Waffles

A friend shared this fluffy waffle recipe with me a few years ago. The cinnamon cream syrup is a nice change from maple syrup, and it keeps quite well in the fridge. Our two children also like it on toast. —Amy Gilles, Ellsworth, Wisconsin
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Garlic-Sesame Green Beans

Sauteed bits of garlic and shallot, with a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds, turn ordinary beans into something special. Keep the recipe in mind for your garden crop in summer. —Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri
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Butterscotch Delight

This creamy layered dessert is popular whenever I serve it. —Barbara Edgemon, Belleview, Florida
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Sausage & Egg Breakfast Pizza

I made up this recipe after trying something similar at a restaurant. My husband thinks my version is better, and he often requests it for a filling breakfast or supper. —Julie Tucker, Columbus, Nebraska
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Chili-Stuffed Poblano Peppers

While exploring Mexican restaurants, I tasted chiles rellenos and wanted to make them at home. My husband and I teamed up to create this stuffed poblano peppers recipe, which is one of our favorites. —Lorrie Grabczynski, Commerce Township, Michigan
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Oh-So-Good Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Yukon Golds are great for mashed potatoes because of their buttery flavor and low moisture content. They easily absorb the warm milk or melted butter you add to your spuds. —Brittany Jackson, Seymour, Wisconsin
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Carrot Soup with Orange & Tarragon

A pretty orange color, a delicious hint of citrus and a garden-fresh flavor make this soup a requested dish at my many celebrations. Try sprinkling individual bowls with fresh tarragon before serving. —Phyllis Schmalz, Kansas City, Kansas
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Berry Pinwheel Cake

Perfect for special meals, this lovely chiffon cake is a nice change from strawberry pie or shortcake. Don't be afraid t try this jelly-roll-style dessert...it's easy to make. Plus, the waxed paper-lined pan helps make cleanup a breeze! —Becky Ruff, McGregor, Iowa
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Grilled Tilapia Piccata

We aren’t big fish eaters, but a friend made this for us, and we couldn’t believe how wonderful it was! Now we eat it regularly. I love making it for guests because it’s simple, looks lovely and tastes restaurant-worthy. —Beth Cooper, Columbus, Ohio
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Focaccia

Focaccia is one of my favorite bread recipes. It’s one of the least labor-intensive since there isn’t any kneading. The dough is very wet, which is perfect for a tender, yet chewy, bread with a very distinct salt bite. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor
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Golden Beet Curry Risotto with Crispy Beet Greens

I was delighted to find golden beets at the farmers market and knew they'd be perfect in a risotto recipe I was working on. And please, don't forget the baked crispy beet greens...amazing! Move over, main dish! This vibrant side will steal the show. —Merry Graham, Newhall, California
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Best Lime Tart

This treat is the perfect balance between tart and sweet, and the almonds in the crust are just wonderful. This is one of my husband’s favorite desserts. Enjoy! —Charis O'Connell, Mohnton, Pennsylvania
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Chicken Piccata Pockets

My husband loves chicken piccata. I tried it in a puff pastry pocket with a bit of cream cheese; it tasted sensational. When he took leftovers to work, everyone asked what smelled so great. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois
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Coconut Cheesecake & Rhubarb Compote

I took my daughter’s love of cheesecake plus my mom’s love of coconut and rhubarb and ran with it. Try it with a smidge of chocolate sauce, too. —Wendy Rusch, Trego, Wisconsin
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Fresh Asparagus Soup

We have a large asparagus patch and are able to freeze a lot for the year. My recipe highlights the flavor of the vegetable and is very easy to make. —Sherri Melotik, Oak Creek, Wisconsin
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Baked Ziti and Sausage

This is my husband’s favorite casserole, and he requests it often. He loves the combination of zesty Italian meat and three types of cheese, which together create a scrumptious baked ziti with sausage.—Christina Ingalls, Manhattan, Kansas
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Ginger Veggie Brown Rice Pasta

Once I discovered brown rice pasta, I never looked back. Tossed with ginger, bright veggies and rotisserie chicken, it tastes like a deconstructed egg roll! —Tiffany Ihle, Bronx, New York
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Sour Cream Rhubarb Pie

A hint of orange flavor and a nice blend of spices complement the tangy rhubarb. I like to serve the pie while it's still warm. —Doreen Martin, Kitimat, British Columbia
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Lemon Chicken & Rice Soup

Years ago, I fell hard for a lemony Greek soup at Panera Bread. It was just a special back then, but I re-created it at home so we could eat it whenever a craving hit! —Kristin Cherry, Bothell, Washington
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Hearty Chickpea Potpie

This veggie potpie is so savory and satisfying! The spring veggies, easy prep and impressive presentation make it a perfect addition to Easter or other family dinners. —Deanna McDonald, Grand Rapids, Michigan
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Spring Pea & Radish Salad

Winters can be very long here in New Hampshire. I always look forward to the first veggies of spring and making some lighter dishes like this fresh salad. —Jolene Martinelli, Derry, New Hampshire
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Mexican Crinkle Cookies

When it’s baking time, my family lobbies for these Mexican crinkle cookies. You can replace 1 oz. unsweetened chocolate with 3 Tbsp. cocoa powder plus 1 Tbsp. shortening, butter or oil.—Kim Kenyon, Greenwood, Missouri
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Chicken Verde Quesadillas

I used the corn, peppers and zucchini in my fridge to create these quick and easy quesadillas. Dollop with sour cream and you're good to go. —Julie Merriman, Seattle, Washington
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Spiced Salmon

This delicious, moist fish is very quick and easy to prepare. It gets a little sweetness from brown sugar, but overall the seasonings are mild and give this dish broad appeal. It's a wonderful way to enjoy healthy salmon.—Donna Reynolds, Innisfail, Alberta
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Favorite Corned Beef and Cabbage

It may be the most famous dish to eat on St. Patrick's Day, but this Irish-American corned beef recipe is a favorite at our table all year long. This is how to make corned beef and cabbage. —Evelyn Kenney, Trenton, New Jersey
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Split Pea Soup with Bacon & Crab

Many split pea soups use ham and bacon for good, smoky flavor. Taking it one amazing step farther-add crabmeat. Freeze this one without toppings (freeze the cooked bacon separately), then reheat soup in a saucepan. Feel free to add more chicken stock or broth when reheating if you need it. Sprinkle bacon and fresh crab on top of bowls of hot soup. —Stephen Exel, Des Moines, Illinois
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Easy Pistachio Tube Cake

Mixes make this light cake easy, and a fluted tube pan gets it holiday party-ready. Go for the pistachios on top—the extra crunch is worth it. —Dina Crowell, Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Thyme & Basil Roast Pork

Dad’s favorite roast pork was rubbed with cinnamon, thyme, basil and lemon. He loved thick slices and wanted only a salad to finish off the meal. —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario
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Chicken Alfredo Lasagna

My family was growing tired of traditional red sauce lasagna, so I created this fun twist using a creamy homemade Alfredo sauce. Store-bought rotisserie chicken keeps prep simple and fast. —Caitlin MacNeilly, Uncasville, Connecticut
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Walnut-Filled Pillows

These tender cookie pillows, filled with a delicious walnut mixture, are my husband's favorite. He says it wouldn't be Christmas without them. —Nancy Kostrej, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
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Shortcut Tres Leches Cake

My mom's favorite cake is tres leches, a butter cake soaked in three kinds of milk. I developed a no-fuss version that’s rich and tender. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California