The Ultimate April Meal Plan

Day 1: Greek Shrimp Orzo

This is one of our go-to meals. It's finger-licking good and so satisfying, and it reheats well. My husband would rather have the shrimp orzo than go out to eat. Serve it with crusty bread and a green salad. — Molly Seidel, Edgewood, New Mexico

Goes Great With: Greek Asparagus Salad

Day 2: Caprese Chicken with Bacon

Smoky bacon, fresh basil, ripe tomatoes and gooey mozzarella top this appealing chicken caprese recipe. The aroma as it bakes is irresistible! —Tammy Hayden, Quincy, Michigan

Goes Great With: Garden Pesto Pasta Salad

Day 3: Shepherd’s Pie Twice-Baked Potatoes

This recipe features the best of two classics—baked potatoes and shepherd’s pie. Serve with a green salad, and satisfaction is guaranteed even for those with the heartiest appetites. —Cyndy Gerken, Naples, Florida

Goes Great With: Leeks in Mustard Sauce

Day 4: Turkey Fajitas

I prepare these quick and easy fajitas about once a week, and my family never gets tired of them. I like serving them with salsa and light sour cream on the side. —Bonnie Basinger of Lees Summit, Missouri

Goes Great With: Eddie’s Favorite Fiesta Corn

Day 5: Hawaiian Pork Chops

Looking for a great last-minute meal when friends drop in? Hampton, Virginia's Michelle Cavalier recommends one of her husband's sweet-and-sour favorites. “This is so easy, tastes just like Hawaiian pizza, and I usually have all ingredients on hand.”

Goes Great With: Citrus Avocado Salad

Day 6: Rosemary Lime Chicken

I experimented with herbs and seasonings quite a bit before creating the final version of this entree. The tartness of the lime juice really complements the rosemary. Everyone loves it.—Nicole Harris, Mt. Union, Pennsylvania

Goes Great With: Almond Strawberry Salad

Day 7: Garlic Beef Stroganoff

I am a mom and work full time, so I use my slow cooker whenever possible. This stroganoff is perfect because I can get it ready in the morning before the kids get up and I head out the door for work. —Erika Anderson, Wausau, Wisconsin

Goes Great With: Thyme Green Beans with Almonds

Day 8: Fast Baked Fish

We always have a good supply of fresh fish, so I make fish recipes often. This recipe is my favorite because it is moist, tender and flavorful. —Judie Anglen, Riverton, Wyoming

Goes Great With: Crunchy Au Gratin Potatoes

Day 9: Baked Chicken Chimichangas

I developed this quick and easy recipe through trial and error. I used to garnish it with sour cream, too, but I eliminated it in order to lighten the recipe. My friends all love it when I cook these chimichangas, and they're much healthier than deep-fried. —Rickey Madden, Clinton, South Carolina

Goes Great With: Peppered Cilantro Rice

Day 10: Hearty Penne Beef

This is comfort food at its finest! The best of everything is found here—it's tasty, easy and a smart way to sneak in some spinach for extra nutrition. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Goes Great With: Green Beans Amandine

Day 11: Puff Pastry Chicken Potpie

When my wife is craving comfort food, I whip up this chicken pot pie with puff pastry. It's easy to make, sticks to your ribs and delivers soul-satisfying flavor. —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado

Goes Great With: Fruit Cup with Citrus Sauce

Day 12: Pork & Vegetable Spring Rolls

I thought rice paper wrappers would be a quick, fun way to put salad ingredients into a hand-held snack or meal. I also make this with shrimp or add in cranberries. Go ahead, experiment! —Marla Strader, Ozark, Missouri

Goes Great With: Chicken Pot Stickers

Day 13: Penne with Tomatoes & White Beans

I learned how to make this dish from friends in Genoa, Italy, where they're known for creating tasty combinations of veggies, pasta and beans. You can sub feta cheese to give this a Greek twist. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

Goes Great With: Crusty Homemade Bread

Day 14: Sugar-Glazed Ham

I fix this moist, tender ham to serve my large family. It can be readied quickly in the morning, frees up my oven, tastes outstanding and can feed a crowd. Covered with colorful pineapple slices, cherries and orange glaze, its showstopping appearance appeals to both children and adults. —Denise DiPace, Medford, New Jersey

Goes Great With: Saucy Scalloped Potatoes

Day 15: Chili Beef Pasta

Right after I got married, an aunt gave me her recipe for skillet spaghetti and told me it was ideal for a quick weeknight meal. Over the years I’ve tinkered with the ingredients and played with the seasonings to make it a healthier dish that my family truly loves. —Kristen Killian, Depew, New York

Goes Great With: Savory Biscuit Breadsticks

Day 16: Blackened Tilapia with Zucchini Noodles

I love quick and bright meals like this one-skillet wonder. The way it tastes, you’d think it takes a lot more effort, but it goes from prep to dinner table in half an hour. The recipe works well with any light fish, or even shrimp. —Tammy Brownlow, Dallas, Texas

Goes Great With: Honey-Pecan Kiwi Salad

Day 17: Sausage & Vegetable Skillet Dinner

I threw this sausage recipe together one night to use up produce before going out of town. Who knew it was going to be such a hit! Now it’s a recipe I turn to whenever time is tight. —Elizabeth Kelley, Chicago, Illinois

Goes Great With: Bacon Avocado Salad

Day 18: Cajun Beef & Rice

Cajun rice from a restaurant or box can have a lot of sodium and fat. Here’s a hearty, healthy way to trim it down. —Raquel Haggard, Edmond, Oklahoma

Day 19: Salsa Verde Chicken Casserole

This is a rich and surprisingly tasty rendition of a number of Tex-Mex dishes fused into one packed, beautiful casserole. Best of all, it’s ready in hardly any time! —Janet McCormick, Proctorville, Ohio

Goes Great With: Chipotle Lime Avocado Salad

Day 20: Grandma's Pea Soup

My grandma’s pea soup recipe was a family favorite. What makes it different from any other pea soups I have tried is the addition of whole peas, spaetzle-like “dumplings” and sausage. Try it once and you’ll be hooked. —Carole Talcott, Dahinda, Illinois

Goes Great With: Mom’s Buttermilk Biscuits

Day 21: Angel Hair with Chicken & Cherries

Nutmeg and cherries are the new “it” pair. It’s the secret something that really makes this angel hair pasta dish. My vegetarian friend likes it just as well without chicken. —Mary Ann Sander, Centralia, Missouri

Day 22: Mediterranean Chicken

As special as it is simple to prepare, this flavorful skillet creation is dressed in tomatoes, olives and capers. It’s a knockout main dish at my house. —Mary Relyea, Canastota, New York

Goes Great With: Dad’s Greek Salad

Day 23: Salad-Topped Flatbread Pizzas

The crisp veggies on top of the cream, cheese and meat are so refreshing. And the vinaigrette gives these pizzas a nice zing. —Julie Merriman, Cold Brook, New York

Goes Great With: Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Day 24: Quick Shrimp Curry

I like to serve optional toppings, such as limes, coconut and green onions, in bowls on the table. That way everyone can take what they enjoy. —Sharon Tipton, Casselberry, Florida

Goes Great With: Baked Egg Rolls

Day 25: Contest-Winning Hot Chicken Salad

After I tasted this hot chicken salad at a women’s luncheon, I left with the recipe in hand. I was our city clerk for several years, and on election days I brought this to serve our poll workers for lunch. It got everyone’s vote of approval! I’ve found it is also delicious stuffed in a tomato. —Ruth Glabe, Oronoco, Minnesota

Goes Great With: Tuscan-Style Roasted Asparagus

Day 26: Flavorful Salmon Fillets

Compliments are a sure thing when I fix these fabulous salmon fillets. A tasty marinade pumps up the flavor and keeps them moist and tender. —Krista Frank, Rhododendron, Oregon

Goes Great With: Buttermilk Smashed Potatoes

Day 27: Broiled Chicken & Artichokes

My wife and I first made this chicken entree as newlyweds, and we have been hooked on it ever since. We make it almost weekly now. It’s so simple and affordable, yet delicious and healthy. Can’t beat that! —Chris Koon, Midlothian, Virginia

Goes Great With: Lemon Pasta with Spinach

Day 28: Braised Pork Stew

Pork tenderloin becomes amazingly tender in this braised stew. It’s a fantastic meal for a cold winter night. —Nella Parker, Hersey, Michigan

Goes Great With: No-Fuss Rolls

Day 29: Hoisin & Honey Glazed Salmon

Goes Great With: Roasted Russet & Sweet Potato Wedges

Day 30: Apple-Balsamic Pork Chops & Rice

Thanks to tangy balsamic vinegar and sweet apples, this one-pot pork chop lets you have a little something special anytime. —Greg Hageli, Elmhurst, Illinois

Goes Great With: Asparagus and Green Beans with Tarragon Lemon Dip