Your Low-Carb Meal Plan for April
Updated: Jan. 24, 2023Kick off spring with a menu plan for the entire month of April. You’ll find a low-carb dinner and side dish idea for each day.
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Lemon Thyme Chicken
Buttered onions are a great addition to this easy lemon chicken recipe. Best of all, it takes only a few minutes to brown the lightly breaded chicken on the stove top. —Kay Shimonek, Corsicana, TexasGoes Great With: Roasted Asparagus
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Pizza Meat Loaf Cups
Fix and freeze these moist little meat loaves packed with pizza flavor. They're great to reheat for an after-school snack or quick dinner on soccer night. My family likes to drizzle extra pizza sauce on top. —Susan Wollin, Marshall, WisconsinGoes Great With: Simple Lettuce Salad
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Cheesy Vegetable Egg Dish
I'm a cook at a Bible camp, and this is one of my most popular recipes. Everyone who tries it raves about it. The one that touched me the most was when a 10-year-old boy asked me for the recipe so he could have his mom make it at home. —Elsie Campbell, Dulzura, CaliforniaGoes Great With: Steamed Kale
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Pork Chops with Dijon Sauce
Here's a main course that tastes rich yet isn't high in saturated fat. It's easy for weeknights, but the creamy sauce makes it special enough for weekends. —Bonnie Brown-Watson, Houston, TexasGoes Great With: Grilled Broccoli
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Avocado Crab Boats
These boats are wonderful with tortilla chips, beans or rice. You can also cover them, pack them on ice, and take them to a picnic or potluck. Straight from the oven or cold, they're always delicious. —Frances Benthin, Scio, OregonGoes Great With: Garlic Bread Bites
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Feta-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
My husband adores mushrooms, and portobello mushrooms have loads of room for stuffing with feta cheese and pesto. Plan on one mushroom per person. —Amy Martell, Canton, PennsylvaniaGoes Great With: Creamy Cauliflower Rice
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Ham Steaks with Gruyere, Bacon & Mushrooms
This meat lover’s breakfast has a big wow factor. The Gruyere, bacon and fresh mushrooms in the topping are an amazing combination. —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida
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Strawberry-Chicken Salad with Buttered Pecans
Having lived in several states in the South, I love tossing pecans into recipes for a little added flavor and crunch. Fresh berries and other nuts round out this hearty salad. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, TexasGoes Great With: Bacon-Wrapped Avocado Wedges
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Artichoke Chicken
Rosemary, mushrooms and artichokes combine to give this chicken a wonderful, savory flavor. I've served this healthy canned vegetable recipe for a large group by doubling the batch. It's always a big hit with everyone—especially my family! —Ruth Stenson, Santa Ana, CaliforniaGoes Great With: Air-Fried Radishes
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Italian Pot Roast
I make this regularly, as it's a favorite of my husband's. I'm always asked for the recipe. You'll love how this Italian pot roast seems to melt-in-your-mouth. —Debbie Daly, Buckingham, IllinoisGoes Great With: Easy Sauteed Green Beans
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Ginger Halibut with Brussels Sprouts
I moved to the United States from Russia and love cooking Russian food for family and friends. Halibut with soy sauce, ginger and pepper is a favorite. —Margarita Parker, New Bern, North CarolinaGoes Great With: Special Cauliflower Side Dish
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Salisbury Steak Supreme
When I was running late one night, a go-to recipe of my mom's popped into my head. Now it's one of my husband's favorites. It also makes a fast and satisfying solution for what to serve unexpected company. —Patricia Swart, Galloway, New JerseyGoes Great With: Fried Cabbage
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Parmesan Pork Medallions
Here's one of the best pork medallion recipes I've found. With my own special tweaks, I have served this tender pork countless times for family and friends. It takes very little prep time and adapts easily to serve any number. —Angela Ciocca, Saltsburg, PennsylvaniaGoes Great With: Lemon Broccoli
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Shakshuka
Shakshuka is a dish of poached eggs with tomatoes, onion and cumin. I learned about it while traveling, and it's been my favorite way to eat eggs since. —Ezra Weeks, Calgary, AlbertaGoes Great With: Strawberry Arugula Salad with Feta
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Prosciutto-Pepper Pork Chops
Here's a dish that's easy, fast and most importantly, delicious. Serve these prosciutto-stuffed pork chops with pasta salad for a satisfying meal. —Donna Prisco, Randolph, New JerseyGoes Great With: Sauteed Garlic Mushrooms
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Poached Eggs with Tarragon Asparagus
I adapted this recipe from a dish I had in Napa Valley. I decided to add toasted bread crumbs as a garnish. The result was a breakfast option that everyone loves.—Jennifer Tidwell, Fair Oaks, California.Goes Great With: Homemade Sage Sausage Patties
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Slow-Cooked Herbed Turkey
When herbs are plentiful in my garden, I prepare this turkey recipe. The turkey stays moist in the slow cooker and is bursting with herb flavors. When I served this to our Bible study potluck group, everyone wanted the recipe! —Sue Jurack, Mequon, WisconsinGoes Great With: Classic Wilted Lettuce Salad
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Turkey Cutlets in Lemon Wine Sauce
After I ate something like this at a local Italian restaurant, I figured out how to make it at home for my family. Now I serve it a lot since it's so quick to make—and they're so happy I do. —Kathie Wilson, Warrenton, VirginiaGoes Great With: Sauteed Radishes with Green Beans
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Ranch-Marinated Chicken Breasts
The pub favorite pairing of ranch dressing and chicken comes home to your kitchen. With just a little prep time the night before, you can have these savory breasts ready in about half an hour! —Barbee Decker, Whispering Pines, North CarolinaGoes Great With: Cherry Tomato Mozzarella Saute
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Tarragon Tuna Salad
It's surprising how a few herbs can brighten up tuna salad. Made with reduced-fat mayonnaise, this version gets its zip from mustard. It makes a terrific light lunch or Sunday brunch dish. —Billie Moss, Walnut Creek, CaliforniaGoes Great With: Cheddar-Pecan Crisps
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Spicy Lime Chicken
I've been turning this spicy lime chicken into tacos for years, but it was my son Austin who put it on cooked rice with all his favorite taco toppings. A family favorite was created out of leftovers! —Christine Hair, Odessa, FloridaGoes Great With: Three-Pepper Coleslaw
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Keto Meatballs and Sauce
I have been following a keto diet for a year and a half and have lost 130 pounds. I took several recipes and tweaked them to create this recipe for keto meatballs. You won't miss the breadcrumbs at all! I like to eat these on their own, but they are also great over zucchini noodles. —Holly Balzer-Harz, Malone, New YorkGoes Great With: Stir-Fried Zucchini
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Lime and Dill Chimichurri Shrimp
Chimichurri is a very popular condiment in Argentina and Uruguay and is most often used as a dipping sauce or a marinade for meats. My chimichurri shrimp version incorporates dill and lime, which give it a brighter flavor, making it ideal for spring and summer entertaining. —Bonnie Landy, Castro Valley, CaliforniaGoes Great With: Mushroom and Spinach Saute
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Air-Fryer Fajita-Stuffed Chicken
I had all the ingredients for fajitas, but instead of heating up my big oven, I decided to try a different version in the air fryer. Since my air fryer is small, I wanted to put as much filling as I could in each stuffed chicken breast. This worked nicely by cutting slits in the breasts and then filling them. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, TexasGoes Great With: Avocado Salsa
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Italian Mushroom Meat Loaf
Healthful oats and flaxseed amp up the nutrition in this tasty meat loaf. —Kylie Werning, Candler, North CarolinaGoes Great With: Spiced Garlic Carrots
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Easy London Broil
A mild marinade prepared with lemon juice, thyme and oregano seasons this easy London boil recipe. It feeds a family of four with lots left over to enjoy in satisfying second-day dishes later in the week. —Sue Ross, Casa Grande, Arizona
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Pressure-Cooker Spiced Short Ribs
This is an ideal recipe for busy nights when your family wants a big dinner, but you are limited on time. The ribs are tender, with the perfect balance of sweet and sour. You can use red wine instead of chicken stock. Instead of butter, add more olive oil or oil of your choice. —Shanon Tranchina, Massapequa Park, New YorkGoes Great With: Blue Cheese & Bacon Stuffed Peppers
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Vegetable, Steak and Eggs
Low-carb doesn't have to mean skimpy—here's a lighter take on steak and eggs. I love cooking with squash, but feel free to toss in any vegetable combination you like. —Robert Deskin, Plantation, FloridaGoes Great With: Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks
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Sausage Cobb Salad Lettuce Wraps
I substituted sausage for the bacon to make a lettuce roll-up your family and friends will adore. It’s flavorful, crunchy and pretty on the plate. —Devon Delaney, Westport, ConnecticutGoes Great With: Sausage Cheese Puffs
Originally Published: March 20, 2021
