The Ultimate April Meal Plan

Updated on Apr. 08, 2024

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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1/26

Shrimp Orzo with Feta

Total Time 25 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Tender, hearty and flavorful, this recipe is one of my favorites! Garlic and a splash of lemon add to the fresh taste and heart-healthy benefits of shrimp. —Sarah Hummel, Moon Township, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 406 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 180mg cholesterol, 307mg sodium, 40g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 9g fiber), 33g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 2 starch, 1 fat.

2/26

Chicken Caprese

Total Time 40 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: I love a Caprese salad of tomatoes, basil and cheese, so why not try a chicken caprese? You can grill this dish, but my family agrees it’s juicier straight from the oven. —Dana Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 525 calories, 34 g fat (11g saturated fat), 139 mg cholesterol, 761 mg sodium, 5 g carbohydrate (4 g sugars, 1 g fiber), 45 g protein.

3/26

Day 3: Shepherd’s Pie Twice-Baked Potatoes

Total Time 2 hours 10 min
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: 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
Nutrition Facts: 1 stuffed potato: 986 calories, 56g fat (32g saturated fat), 183mg cholesterol, 1066mg sodium, 86g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 11g fiber), 37g protein.

Goes Great With: Leeks in Mustard Sauce

4/26

Day 4: Turkey Fajitas

Total Time 30 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: 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
Nutrition Facts: 2 fajitas: 414 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 45mg cholesterol, 766mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 5g fiber), 34g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2-1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat.

Goes Great With: Eddie’s Favorite Fiesta Corn

5/26

Day 5: Hawaiian Pork Chops

Total Time 30 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: 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.”
Nutrition Facts: 1 pork chop with 3/4 cup sauce: 250 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 57mg cholesterol, 554mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 1g fiber), 23g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1/2 starch, 1/2 fruit, 1/2 fat.

Goes Great With: Citrus Avocado Salad

6/26

Day 6: Rosemary Lime Chicken

Total Time 20 min
Servings 4 servings
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 244 calories, 9g fat (1g saturated fat), 82mg cholesterol, 389mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate, 1g fiber), 33g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 1/2 fat.

Goes Great With: Almond Strawberry Salad

7/26

Beef Stroganoff

Total Time 1 hour 15 min
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This recipe for beef Stroganoff with round steak is one I spotted in a local hospital auxiliary cookbook. When I gave it a try, my husband loved it! And I've had lots of compliments every time I've served it. –Brenda Read, Burns Lake, British Columbia
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 325 calories, 19g fat (11g saturated fat), 101mg cholesterol, 722mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 1g fiber), 25g protein.

8/26

Day 8: Fast Baked Fish

Total Time 25 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: 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
Nutrition Facts: 1 each: 270 calories, 17g fat (7g saturated fat), 110mg cholesterol, 540mg sodium, 0 carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 28g protein.

Goes Great With: Crunchy Au Gratin Potatoes

9/26

Day 9: Baked Chicken Chimichangas

Total Time 40 min
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: I developed this quick and easy recipe through trial and error. I used to garnish it with sour cream, 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
Nutrition Facts: 1 chimichanga: 269 calories, 8g fat (3g saturated fat), 39mg cholesterol, 613mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 17g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1-1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat.

Goes Great With: Peppered Cilantro Rice

10/26

Day 10: Hearty Penne Beef

Total Time 30 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: 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
Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 482 calories, 20g fat (10g saturated fat), 88mg cholesterol, 1001mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 41g protein.

Goes Great With: Green Beans Amandi

11/26

Day 12: Pork & Vegetable Spring Rolls

Total Time 30 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: I thought rice paper wrappers would be a quick, fun way to turn 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
Nutrition Facts: 3 spring rolls: 356 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 48mg cholesterol, 100mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 3g fiber), 20g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 fat.

Goes Great With: Chicken Pot Stickers

12/26

Day 13: Penne with Tomatoes & White Beans

Total Time 30 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: 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
Nutrition Facts: 1 cup tomato mixture with 1 cup pasta and 2 tablespoons cheese: 491 calories, 13g fat (3g saturated fat), 9mg cholesterol, 1505mg sodium, 77g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 9g fiber), 19g protein.

Goes Great With: Crusty Homemade Bread

Goes Great With: Saucy Scalloped Potatoes

13/26

Day 14: Chili Beef Pasta

Total Time 30 min
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: 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
Nutrition Facts: 1-1/3 cups (calculated without tomatoes): 319 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 442mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 6g fiber), 24g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch, 1 vegetable.

Goes Great With: Savory Biscuit Breadsticks

14/26

Day 15: Blackened Tilapia with Zucchini Noodles

Total Time 30 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: 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
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 203 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 83mg cholesterol, 522mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 34g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat.

Goes Great With: Honey-Pecan Kiwi Salad

15/26

Day 16: Sausage & Vegetable Skillet Dinner

Total Time 30 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: 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
Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 371 calories, 11g fat (3g saturated fat), 65mg cholesterol, 715mg sodium, 48g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 5g fiber), 22g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 starch, 3 lean meat, 1 fat.

Goes Great With: Bacon Avocado Salad

16/26

Day 17: Cajun Beef & Rice

Total Time 30 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Dirty rice from a restaurant or box can end up having a surprisingly high amount of sodium and fat. This fast recipe is a hearty, healthy way to trim it down. —Raquel Haggard, Edmond, Oklahoma
Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 291 calories, 10g fat (4g saturated fat), 71mg cholesterol, 422mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 25g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 starch, 1 vegetable.
17/26

Day 18: Salsa Verde Chicken Casserole

Total Time 30 min
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: 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
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 400 calories, 23g fat (13g saturated fat), 102mg cholesterol, 637mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 3g fiber), 26g protein.

Goes Great With: Chipotle Lime Avocado Salad

Goes Great With: Mom’s Buttermilk Biscuits

18/26

Day 19: Angel Hair with Chicken & Cherries

Total Time 30 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: 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
Nutrition Facts: 1 cup pasta with 3/4 cup chicken mixture: 561 calories, 22g fat (4g saturated fat), 54mg cholesterol, 566mg sodium, 57g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 7g fiber), 36g protein.

19/26

Mediterranean Chicken

Total Time 30 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: Everyone I know loves this special chicken recipe. I changed a few things to make it healthier, but it tastes just as good. — Kara Zilis, Oak Forest, Illinois
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 417 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 70mg cholesterol, 386mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 6g fiber), 31g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch, 2 vegetable, 1 fat.

20/26

Day 21: Salad-Topped Flatbread Pizzas

Total Time 55 min
Servings 6 servings
From the Recipe Creator: 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
Nutrition Facts: 1 pizza: 510 calories, 28g fat (11g saturated fat), 76mg cholesterol, 1308mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 3g fiber), 25g protein.

Goes Great With: Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

21/26

Curry Shrimp

Total Time 15 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: I created this Indian-style shrimp when we were entertaining some friends, one of our favorite things to do. It works on the stovetop or the grill. —Shana Conradt, Appleton, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts: 1/2 cup: 147 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 138mg cholesterol, 293mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 21g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1/2 fat.

22/26

Day 23: Contest-Winning Hot Chicken Salad

Total Time 1 hour
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: 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
Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 1003 calories, 83g fat (23g saturated fat), 112mg cholesterol, 1697mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 5g fiber), 36g protein.

Goes Great With: Tuscan-Style Roasted Asparagus

23/26

Day 24: Flavorful Salmon Fillets

Total Time 30 min
Servings 2 servings
From the Recipe Creator: 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
Nutrition Facts: 6 ounce-weight: 330 calories, 18g fat (4g saturated fat), 100mg cholesterol, 204mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 34g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat.

Goes Great With: Buttermilk Smashed Potatoes

24/26

Day 25: Broiled Chicken & Artichokes

Total Time 15 min
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: 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
Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 288 calories, 21g fat (5g saturated fat), 77mg cholesterol, 584mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 22g protein.

Goes Great With: Lemon Pasta with Spinach

25/26

Pork Tenderloin Stew

Total Time 1 hour
Servings 8 servings
From the Recipe Creator: This thick and creamy pork tenderloin stew is one that my family requests often. It does an especially good job of warming us up on cold winter days. —Janet Allen, Belleville, Illinois
Nutrition Facts: 1-1/4 cups: 305 calories, 9g fat (3g saturated fat), 74mg cholesterol, 665mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 3g fiber), 29g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 starch, 1 vegetable, 0.500 fat.

26/26

Balsamic Pork Chops

Total Time 30 min
Servings 4 servings
From the Recipe Creator: My husband loves pork chops, so I try to find new ways to use them. He calls this version "restaurant quality!" —Nicole Clayton, Prescott, Arizona
Nutrition Facts: 1 pork chop with 3 tablespoons sauce: 715 calories, 41g fat (17g saturated fat), 169mg cholesterol, 557mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (40g sugars, 1g fiber), 46g protein.