Our Favorite April Weeknight Dinner Recipes
It's true that spring officially starts on the Spring Equinox in March (and believe us, we’re not snubbing that extra hour of daylight that arrives with it), but let’s be real—April is when it feels like spring really begins, right? As we shed our coats, we also start to change over our dinner habits, swapping heavy dishes for lighter ones (but don't worry, we're not giving up the pastas and creamy chicken dishes just yet)—join us! We’ve got 40 recipes to help inspire you to make dinner this April—one for every day of the month, and then some.
One of our favorite parts of spring is all the fresh produce that becomes available, like strawberries, asparagus, and mushrooms. We’ve included a good mix of entirely new recipes featuring the bounty, like our one-pan crispy chicken primavera, our halal-cart style cauliflower bowls, and our blackberry chicken salad, as well as some old classics, like our pasta primavera, our chicken-parm stuffed peppers, and our chicken, spinach, & artichoke lasagna. Use them all as jumping off points, and sub in whatever you can find at your local farmers' market.
We’re also taking inspiration from the season, and you know what they say—April showers bring May flowers…they also bring a major need for cozy soups and stews to ward off the last of the chilly days till fall. Check out our one-pan Greek chicken chili, our one-pot shrimp & potato soup, and our matzo ball soup (perfect for Passover too!) to keep you comfortable while you wait for the sun to come out for good.
Want more warm weather inspiration? Check out our favorite spring salads, our best spring pastas, and our top spring desserts this April too.
Cacio E Pepe Chicken
This recipe starts like just like its inspiration—cacio e pepe—with pecorino Romano and black pepper, but here’s where it deviates: we wanted to create a saucy moment, so we chose to sear and braise succulent bone-in chicken thighs in an aromatic white wine broth until tender.
Get the Cacio E Pepe Chicken recipe.
Vegetable curry
When you want something comforting, savory, and just a little spicy, you can’t go wrong with some form of curry. In this recipe, a variety of vegetables takes center stage alongside a creamy Thai-style curry. We promise you won’t even miss the meat.
Get the Vegetable Curry recipe.
One-Pan Crispy Chicken Primavera
Just when you thought pasta primavera was the king of spring comfort food, we’re dropping this one-pan chicken primavera. In it, crispy-skinned chicken thighs are roasted alongside spring veggies and topped with a confetti of goat cheese and herbs for a dinner that captures the promise of warmer days.
Get the One-Pan Crispy Chicken Primavera recipe.
Sushi Bowls
Not ready to make your own California roll or shrimp tempura roll at home quite yet but craving all of the classic sushi flavors? Make a sushi bowl! You can practice making restaurant-worthy sushi rice, source best-quality fish, and discover what ingredients, flavors, and textures you like, without any rolling.
Get the Sushi Bowls recipe.
Blackberry Chicken Salad
Full, hearty salads that make a great meal are something we crave on the regular, and that means no boring ones allowed. This one has all of the important components: a well seasoned protein, creamy feta, a little crunch from toasted walnuts, and a burst of sweetness from juicy blackberries.
Get the Blackberry Chicken Salad recipe.
Sloppy Joe Casserole recipe
Being on Team Casserole doesn’t stop us from appreciating the iconic sloppy Joe sandwich as a pasta sauce or a cheesy meatball bake, it just gives us more ways to celebrate the combination of ground beef and tangy sauce. More than just delicious, this casserole is flexible, freezable, and ready to serve on a busy weeknight for dinner.
Get the Sloppy Joe Casserole recipe.
Chicken & Broccoli
This fast and easy one-pot chicken and broccoli recipe is coated in a sweet and savory sauce with plenty of ginger and garlic for a weeknight dinner that beats take-out. This dish comes together in 20 minutes with minimal prep work too. Win win!
Get the Chicken & Broccoli recipe.
Hawaiian Pizza
With chunks of fresh, sweet pineapple and salty ham, plus gooey melted mozzarella cheese and savory tomato sauce, this homemade pie is a breeze to make (with a store-bought crust!) and will be a welcome addition to any pizza party this April.
Get the Hawaiian Pizza recipe.
Chicken, Spinach, & Artichoke Lasagna
We love spinach–artichoke anything—the cheesy and veggie-packed combo is always a hit. While we’ve already paired these flavors with gnocchi, tortellini, pasta shells, and more, making a super-cheesy chicken, spinach, and artichoke lasagna just had to happen.
Get the Chicken, Spinach, & Artichoke Lasagna recipe.
Shrimp Tacos
Here, pan-seared shrimp get seasoned with homemade taco seasoning and drizzled with lime juice, then piled into a charred corn tortilla with crisp cabbage slaw and topped with jalapeno-garlic crema. Whip these up on a weeknight with a side of corn salad or cilantro-lime rice for a satisfying, customizable meal.
Get the Shrimp Tacos recipe.
Pasta Puttanesca
Bursting with flavor and so easy to prepare, you'll be craving this pasta every week. The super-fragrant sauce is made with a lot of garlic and anchovies that will have you coming back for more, and the capers and olives add a briny saltiness to the dish. Yum!
Get the Pasta Puttanesca recipe.
Crispy Chili-Lime Chickpea Salad
Spicy, creamy, and crunchy—this satisfying chickpea salad hits all the notes. It’s like cowboy caviar took a trip to Baja California! Crispy baked chickpeas are the star, tossed with lime juice and chili powder for a spicy little bite of intrigue, but a green goddess-style dressing isn't too shabby either.
Get the Crispy Chili-Lime Chickpea Salad recipe.
Club Sandwich
With 3 types of meat and 3 slices of bread, the club sandwich is hard to beat. A deli and diner classic, this mile-high sandwich is all too easy to make at home once you get your hands on all the ingredients.
Get the Club Sandwich recipe.
Baked Cod
If you’re looking to dive into an easy beginner seafood dish, then cod is the fish for you. This simple oven-baked cod recipe—paired with cherry tomatoes, lemon, and garlic—will give you sweet and extremely tender cod on your table in under 30-minutes.
Get the Baked Cod recipe.
French Onion Chicken Meatballs
We’ll be honest: we’re a little obsessed with French onion soup. The melty cheese, jammy caramelized onions, and rich broth is a flavor combination we just can’t get enough of, so we turned it into a substantial meal with chicken meatballs and even more cheese in this skillet recipe.
Get the French Onion Chicken Meatballs recipe.
Pasta Primavera
Few dishes mean “spring” like pasta primavera. Primavera in the name alone brings to mind fresh veggies, like zucchini, English peas, leeks, and peppers, all of the things beginning to bloom for a vibrant season of produce ahead. Feel free to swap in whatever you can find at the farmer's market.
Get the Pasta Primavera recipe.
Thai Sweet Chili Turkey Burger
A classic beef cheeseburger (smashed, with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, ketchup, and mayo on a toasted potato bun) will always have its place in our hearts, but sometimes you gotta branch out. This Thai-inspired sweet chili turkey burger is just the break from boring you’ve been waiting for.
Get the Thai Sweet Chili Turkey Burger recipe.
Cajun Shrimp With Bell Peppers & Corn
If you’re looking to get dinner on the table in under 30 minutes, this will be your new weeknight go-to. The star of this shrimp recipe relies on Cajun seasoning, which adds a bold, smoky flavor to the entire dish.
Get the Cajun Shrimp With Bell Peppers & Corn recipe.
Fried Tofu
Meat lovers, vegetarians, and vegans alike rejoice! Fried tofu has arrived. Pan-fried to crispy perfection and glazed in an irresistible sticky sweet and spicy glaze, these poppable tofu nuggets will become your new favorite weeknight protein this April.
Get the Fried Tofu recipe.
Fried Fish
Fried fish is a dish you’ll find in coastal communities all over the world, but for our ultimate, flavor-packed, super-crispy version, we turned to the American South. That means thin white fish coated in a seasoned cornmeal and flour blend, then shallow-fried in neutral oil in a cast-iron skillet until golden brown and beautiful.
Get the Fried Fish recipe.
Bowtie Primavera
Come springtime, our obsession with pasta primavera comes back in full force. This version lightens up the classic recipe, replacing the heavy cream with low-fat cream cheese. The result is a veggie-packed pasta dish with a sauce that is every bit as creamy as the original.
Get the Bowtie Primavera recipe.
Halal Cart-Style Cauliflower Bowl
Turns out, incredible halal chicken-inspired flavors seamlessly translate to a plant-based version using cauliflower as the star ingredient. Spiced cauliflower joins forces with a bright and fresh tomato salad, crunchy toppings, and a homemade vegan halal cart-style white sauce.
Get the Halal Cart-Style Cauliflower Bowl recipe.
Brown Sugar Salmon
When it comes to 15-minute weeknight dinners, nothing is better than a simple piece of flaky, tender, savory-sweet brown sugar-glazed salmon. It takes 5 minutes to prep, 10 minutes to cook, and cleanup is an absolute breeze.
Get the Brown Sugar Salmon recipe.
3-Green Whole Wheat Pasta
Ricotta salata and chili oil are the stars of the show in this springy pasta dish. Don’t let “whole wheat” scare you either—its chewy, nutty texture combined with buttery earthy chard, Tuscan kale, spinach, salty cheese, and a little spicy oil will quickly become your new favorite flavor combination.
Get the 3-Green Whole Wheat Pasta recipe.
Low-Carb Turkey Gyro Bowl
With tender spiced meat, crunchy fresh veggies, tzatziki, and chewy pita, it's not hard to see why gyros are so globally beloved. Inspired by this popular sandwich, we created this healthy but hearty bowl that's perfect for a light April dinner.
Get the Low-Carb Turkey Gyro Bowl recipe.
One-Pot Greek Chicken Chili
Featuring tender pieces of dark meat chicken, creamy white beans, and tender veggies, this cozy Greek-inspired chili is the perfect filling-but-not-too-heavy dinner for those rainy April nights. Flavored with a bouquet of hearty herbs, this stew is easy to throw together in one pot for minimal mess and maximum flavor.
Get the One-Pot Greek Chicken Chili recipe.
Matzo Ball Soup
A symbolic dish of past hardships, warming matzo ball soup is an essential component of the Passover feast. The time and effort you invest really pays off here; plus, it couldn’t be easier. Throw a few roughly chopped vegetables, a whole chicken or two, some herbs, and chicken stock into a large pot and basically walk away for two hours.
Get the Matzo Ball Soup recipe.
Creamy Feta-Lemon Penne With Asparagus
The secret to this springy pasta’s success? A tangy “cream” sauce made with rich Greek yogurt and salty feta that provides a bright contrast for the earthy, vegetal flavors of pan-fried asparagus.
Get the Creamy Feta-Lemon Penne With Asparagus recipe.
One-Pot Shrimp & Potato Soup
If you’re looking to spend all day at your stove for a soup that takes hours to prepare, you may want to look for another recipe. This quick and easy recipe is done in a little over 30 minutes, and you’ll honestly be surprised by how much flavor you can build in such a short amount of time.
Get the One-Pot Shrimp & Potato Soup recipe.
Burrata, Pea, & Prosciutto Tortellini
After a quick cook with aromatics in olive oil, sliced sugar snap peas are tossed with toasted tortellini, then topped with salty, tender prosciutto and a ball of creamy burrata. Despite all of the rich and decadent ingredients in this pasta, the sweet green peas take center stage and keep it light and springy.
Get the Burrata, Pea, & Prosciutto Tortellini recipe.
Asparagus Quiche
Finding ways to use asparagus when it's in season becomes top priority. Using it in a quiche is one of our favorite ways; just take a look at this perfect-for-spring recipe! It's incredible for brunch, of course, but it's also a great breakfast-for-dinner option too.
Get the Asparagus Quiche recipe.
Garlic Butter Shrimp & Asparagus
Similar to our lemon garlic butter shrimp, but with an extra-springy vegetable addition, this garlic butter shrimp & asparagus is simple—it only takes 20 minutes from start to finish—and is great for any level of cook.
Get the Garlic Butter Shrimp & Asparagus recipe.
Leek & Potato Soup
While many recipes using leeks call for discarding the tougher, more fibrous green tops, we reserve them, slice 'em real thin, and stir-fry them until crispy and golden. Sprinkled with a little salt, fried leek greens transform an otherwise fine bowl of spring soup into an outstanding one.
Get the Leek & Potato Soup recipe.
Roasted Red Pepper Shrimp Linguine
Though you totally could roast your own peppers for this dish, we actually preferred the jarred version while testing this recipe. The store-bought variety tends to be more tender, which makes for a smoother, more velvety sauce. Creamy, smoky, and spicy, this comforting shrimp pasta is low effort, high reward.
Get the Roasted Red Pepper Shrimp Linguine recipe.
Pastrami Matzo Kugel
Of all the various kugels (potato and noodle being the most popular), matzo kugel tends to not get any love. This incredibly flavorful Reuben-inspired recipe is here to change all that.
Get the Pastrami Matzo Kugel recipe.
Creamy Asparagus Bacon Gnocchi
This speedy one-pan dinner is 100% pure comfort. With chewy gnocchi, crisp-tender asparagus, and a light cream sauce imbued with smoky bacon, it's also suspiciously delicious for a dish that takes well under an hour. 😉
Get the Creamy Asparagus Bacon Gnocchi recipe.
Spring Cobb Salad
This lightened-up Cobb salad has lots of crunchy in-season veggies and a creamy lemon-dill dressing spiked with raw garlic. A smattering of croutons (homemade is best if you’ve got the time) add texture, and a healthy serving of eggs and avocado make this salad hearty enough to be dinner.
Get the Spring Cobb Salad recipe.
Chicken Parm-Stuffed Peppers
We added all the flavors of classic chicken Parmesan into these stuffed peppers, creating a two-in-one dinner that truly is the best of both worlds. Ready in a little over an hour, this cheesy recipe is the best way to upgrade your stuffed pepper game this April.
Get the Chicken Parm-Stuffed Peppers recipe.
Tequila-Lime Chicken Thighs
We can’t think of a better reason to enjoy a margarita than with these tequila chicken thighs. With a sauce inspired by the classic cocktail (seriously), you’ll also have the ingredients on hand to mix one up while you cook and dine on this easy-to-make weeknight dinner.
Get the Tequila-Lime Chicken Thighs recipe.
Greek Salad Cottage Cheese Bowls
To make these anytime bowls, simply spoon a serving of cottage cheese into a bowl and top with all of those quintessential Mediterranean vegetables—tomatoes, cucumbers, and sweet peppers. Meaty Kalamata olives, hard-boiled eggs and a drizzle of olive oil add some good-for-you fats, while capers and lemon juice provide bright, briny flavor.
Get the Greek Salad Cottage Cheese Bowls recipe.
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