The Ultimate April Meal Plan

Need help with your menu? Our April meal plan takes the guesswork out of menu planning by listing a whole month's worth of dinners. From Sunday suppers to Friday fish fries, we've got you covered.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Goes Great With: Saucy Scalloped Potatoes

Day 14: 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

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Day 15: 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

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Day 16: 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

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Day 17: 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
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Day 18: 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

Goes Great With: Mom’s Buttermilk Biscuits

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Day 19: 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
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Day 20: 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

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Day 21: 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

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Day 22: 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

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Day 23: 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

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Day 24: 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

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Day 25: 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

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Day 26: 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

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Day 27: 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

Sue Stetzel
Sue has been working with Taste of Home since 2011. When she isn’t writing, she’s answering your burning cooking questions and working with our team of Community Cooks. She spends her free time cooking, crafting, and volunteering for various organizations in her home town.