Looking for recipes to make during April? Look no farther than this April Monthly Meal Plan, which highlights several dishes to enjoy throughout the month. Including things like spring breakfast ideas, colorful salads, recipes to enjoy outdoors, fruit-forward desserts and more, this monthly recipe list has something for everyone!

2025 Update: This monthly meal plan was originally shared in April 2018. It has been updated to include more information, as well as a larger variety of April recipes. I hope you love it and find it helpful!

Happy April, y’all!

Spring has sprung, and it’s gorgeous here in Austin. I hope the same for you… and I hope it includes lots of patio dining for all of us this month before things get tooooooo sticky and hot outside.

There’s so much goodness to enjoy throughout the month of April. Like previous months, I’m sharing some of my dishes and recipes to make in this month’s monthly meal plan of sorts.

Please note that I won’t break it down by the day and a specific meal every week, so if you’re looking for a menu planning resource that’s going to give you three complete meals for every day of the month, this isn’t for you.

What should I cook in the month of April?

Well, that depends on you and what you plan to do during this month. It also depends on where you live.

I live in the South, which means that my farmer’s markets have more produce options right now than those of you who are still coming out of winter.

Personally, I’m into all the fresh produce I can get my hands on this time of year.

No matter what sounds good to you for this month, we have all kinds of recipes for April that include options for all kinds of tastebuds. Many of them emphasize fresh vegetables and fruit because ’tis the season.

As always, we focus on seasonal produce and easy recipes, so we’re sharing plenty of those to serve as inspiration for you below.

What is in season in the month of April?

There are so many delicious things that are harvested during April, though many of these products are determined by where you live. (Again: if you’re focused on eating by the season and the seasonality of what’s being harvested, your plate is going to look different than mine if you live in Minnesota since I live in Texas.)

Generally speaking, here are some items in season during April:

Spring strawberries should be available in some markets. (Louisiana and Florida strawberries are excellent this time of year if you can get your hands on them.)

Lots of spring veggies are beginning to shine in the month of April. This is asparagus season. Additionally, peas are being harvested, as are artichokes, carrots, and rhubarb… though again, this is dependent on where you live.

Be on the lookout for other local veggies at your farmers market.

More monthly meal plans:

If you’re in the market for more seasonal menus and recipes, we’ve got them for you here…

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December

Scroll on down to learn what to cook in April!

Monthly Meal Plan: April Breakfasts + Brunch

1

Sour Cream Blueberry Muffins

These Sour Cream Blueberry Muffins are the fluffy, flavorful, sharable treat that beats them all. The sour cream is totally a secret ingredient — you can’t taste it, but you’ll taste its effects: It makes them light, moist and utterly delicious. 

Check out this recipe!

2

Raspberry Shortcake Biscuits

Raspberry Shortcake Biscuits are the ultimate sweet baked good for both breakfast and dessert! Made-from-scratch biscuit dough is sweetened with a little sugar, freeze-dried raspberries and frozen raspberries before baking. Crunchy on the outside while oh-so-fluffy on the inside, these biscuits are so flavorful and easy to eat. Perfect for a baby shower, bridal shower or brunch, these Raspberry Shortcake Biscuits make any occasion a special one!

Check out this recipe!

3

Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls

Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls are a homemade brunch treat. A dairy-free adaptation of a classic, these rolls are filled with fresh strawberries and topped with homemade strawberry glaze. Though this yeasted bread recipe takes a little time to rise, they're worth the wait and wonderful for sharing at an at-home brunch.

Check out this recipe!

4

Easter Fruit Buns

Celebrate Easter by baking Easter Fruit Buns this year. The buns are chock full of currants, raisins, apricots and cranberries and are the perfect sweet accompaniment to Easter breakfast.

Check out this recipe!

5

Cream Biscuits and White Sausage Gravy

Cream Biscuits and White Sausage Gravy are the ULTIMATE Southern comfort breakfast! Top fluffy, buttery biscuits with a creamy white sausage gravy to create the perfect weekend meal. Easy to make and even easier to enjoy, these Cream Biscuits with White Sausage Gravy are the ideal breakfast or brunch food if you’re looking for something savory, decadent and utterly delicious.

Check out this recipe!

6

Baked Oatmeal with Pecan Streusel

This Baked Oatmeal recipe is a comforting and delicious breakfast for any morning. Naturally dairy-free and gluten-free, these baked oatmeal bars are elevated with a pecan streusel topping for extra flavor and crunch. This dish is perfect for any morning and also easy to share.

Check out this recipe!

7

Peanut Butter Overnight Oats

Peanut Butter Overnight Oats are a delicious on-the-go breakfast. Easy to make vegan and naturally sweetened with maple syrup, these overnight oats are prepared the night before and refrigerated. In the morning, mix in bananas or apples—or nothing at all—and enjoy. As an added bonus, they can be made in batches so you’ve got enough for the week. Whether you’re young or old, vegan or not, these overnight oats are the perfect way to start any day.

Check out this recipe!

Monthly Meal Plan: Spring Greens + Salads

8

Summer Quinoa Salad

Elevate your next meal by making this Lemon Quinoa Salad recipe with chicken, avocado and tomato. This easy to make quinoa salad with a lemon dressing is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner at home.

Check out this recipe!

9

Oven Poached Salmon Caesar Salads

Oven Poached Salmon Caesar Salads are a household favorite easy weeknight meal! Wild caught salmon poaches in chicken stock in the oven, then is served on top of a quick homemade Caesar salad that features romaine lettuce, cucumber, parmesan and croutons, all tossed in your favorite store-bought Caesar dressing. This quick entree is prepped, poached and ready to eat in less than 40 minutes!

Check out this recipe!

10

Bacon Apple Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette

This Bacon Apple Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette is a perfect summertime appetizer or entree. Cook bacon, then set aside the fat. Roast the apple slices, then serve the crumbled bacon and roasted apples over a bed of Tuscan kale. Top with toasted almonds, then toss in homemade Bacon Vinaigrette. Perfect for cookouts, barbecues and fast weeknight dinners!

Check out this recipe!

11

Salmon Niçoise Salad

A twist on the French classic, Salmon Niçoise Salad makes a perfect summertime dinner! Fresh sockeye salmon serves as the centerpiece of this entree salad in place of traditional tuna. Romaine lettuce, steamed green beans, baby potatoes and red onion are tossed together to create the rest of the salad, then topped with a tangy olive oil-Dijon vinaigrette. Flavorful for lunch or dinner, this Salmon Niçoise Salad sings of summertime flavors.

Check out this recipe!

12

Crunchy Chicken Cobb Salad

Topped with lots of veggies, ultra-crispy chicken and a succulent honey mustard dressing, this Chicken Cobb Salad is going to transform mealtime. This recipe is great for a healthy lunch or dinner, or you can make all the parts in advance for easy meal prep.  

Check out this recipe!

13

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette

This Strawberry Spinach Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette is the perfect dinner salad or side for the warmer months of the year! This salad has a spinach base and features fresh strawberries, diced apple, walnuts AND feta, as well as a sweet, tangy homemade strawberry vinaigrette. This spinach salad recipe is especially satisfying when you can find juicy strawberries.

Check out this recipe!

Monthly Meal Plan: Easy Dinners to Enjoy Outdoors

14

Classic Salmon Burgers

Fire up the grill and serve Classic Salmon Burgers to the whole family! These simple salmon burgers highlight the freshness and flavor of Alaskan sockeye salmon. Combine bite-sized salmon pieces with an egg, panko breadcrumbs, soy sauce, lemon zest and seasonings to create the patties, then cook on a grill pan (or outside on the grill) for the ultimate fish burger! Serve with fresh avocado slices and lettuce, then enjoy immediately. SO tasty!

Check out this recipe!

15

Cheeseburger Kebabs

This weekend, let’s be adventurous and grill up some Cheeseburger Kebabs! This twist on a cheeseburger offers a unique way to enjoy a summertime classic! And they can be made in advance, too. Mix flavorful, all-beef patties with cheddar cheese, then skewer with bacon, red onion, tomatoes, pickles and burger buns. Grill on both sides until perfectly cooked and serve with burger condiments. Cheeseburger Kebabs will be all the rage this summer!

Check out this recipe!

16

Juicy Lucy Burgers

Ground beef burgers, stuffed with sharp cheddar cheese, are the perfect compliment to a summertime celebration. These Juicy Lucy Burgers are a showstopper, whether you're hosting folks for a barbecue or rained out indoors.

Check out this recipe!

17

Chipotle Lime Spicy Beer Can Chicken

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo or a regular weeknight dinner with Chipotle Lime Spicy Beer Can Chicken! Slather a whole chicken with homemade spicy Chipotle Lime Butter, then roast atop a beer can for additional flavor and moisture. When done, rest the golden brown chicken, then slice and serve. Moist and flavorful, this whole chicken pairs perfectly with a favorite beer, rice, guacamole and more! Let’s make Chipotle Lime Spicy Beer Can Chicken tonight!

Check out this recipe!

18

Pork Carnitas Enchiladas

Pork Carnitas Enchiladas are a delicious entree for your Cinco de Mayo get-together! Pork simmers in the slow cooker on low all day. Once the meat is fall-apart tender, it is shredded. Combine it with onion and green chiles in a skillet, brown the ingredients slightly, then roll it up. The enchiladas are slathered in spicy enchilada sauce and baked until crisped on the edges. This entree is best served immediately, though it does freeze well!

Check out this recipe!

19

Chicken Shawarma Salad

Jazz up your salad game with Lebanese-inspired Chicken Shawarma Salad! This easy lunch salad features spinach and lots of colorful fresh veggies with grilled chicken shawarma as the protein. Learn how to make this delicious salad recipe that works great for lunch or a light dinner.

Check out this recipe!

20

Blackened Shrimp Tacos

Blackened Shrimp Tacos with a crunchy coleslaw are the BEST entree to make at your football tailgate! Shrimp are liberally sprinkled with homemade blackening seasoning, then cooked. Flour (or corn!) tortillas are warmed on the grill. When the elements of the dish are ready, the shrimp are served atop a (made-at-home) Asian-inspired coleslaw that features green cabbage, toasted almonds, toasted Ramen noodles and a honey vinaigrette. These Blackened Shrimp Tacos go great with beer and are easily transported as you peruse your team’s tailgate scene!

Check out this recipe!

21

BBQ Turkey Burgers

Saucy, delicious BBQ Turkey Burgers are topped with roasted onions and homemade barbecue sauce and served up on a toasted bun. This turkey burger is the perfect more healthy burger option for summertime grilling months.

Check out this recipe!

Monthly Meal Plan: Food to Enjoy while Watching Sports

22

BBQ Chicken Burger Bites with Avocado Slaw

These easy BBQ Chicken Sliders are the perfect mix of smoky, tangy and savory flavors packed into a bite-sized sandwich. Juicy chicken patties coated in a lightly spicy sauce pair beautifully with a crisp, creamy slaw — all tucked into a soft, toasted bun. Whether you're making them as appetizers for a party or game day, or as an easy weeknight dinner, these sliders are sure to be a crowd favorite!

Check out this recipe!

23

Cheesy French Onion Pull-Apart Bread

Looking for a tasty appetizer to feed a crowd? This Cheesy Pull Apart Bread with French Onion flavors is the way to go. A twist on classic pull apart cheese bread, we add wine-soaked caramelized onions for extra flavor! This bread tastes like classic French Onion Soup, but is an easy appetizer!

Check out this recipe!

24

BLT Bruschetta

Make BLT Bruschetta for an appetizer for your party! This fun twist on traditional bruschetta features all of the goodness of bacon-lettuce-tomato sandwich and a finger-licking good garlicky sauce. First, the bacon cook in the oven with the garlic. Whip up the garlicky sauce, then layer the ingredients onto toasted bread. Perfect for baby and bridal showers, tailgating and a regular 'ol meal, this versatile BLT Bruschetta is great for a crowd!

Check out this recipe!

25

Caramelized Onion Guacamole

Caramelized Onion Guacamole is your run-of-the-mill guacamole… with a twist! Instead of using tomatoes, herbs and avocados, this recipe calls for sautéed onions, caramelized with balsamic vinegar. Once the onions cool to room temperature, mix them into sliced avocados with lime juice, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper and salt-free creole seasoning. Serve with tortilla chips to make the perfect appetizer for any get together.

Check out this recipe!

26

French Onion Poutine

French Onion Poutine makes a spectacular appetizer for your next get together! Poutine, a French-Canadian dish, is a hearty recipe made with crispy French fries, brown gravy and cheese curds. This twist on the classic incorporates caramelized onions, beef, thyme and gruyere to add French Onion flavors! Made with frozen fries and a homemade beef gravy, this starter is ready and on the table in under two hours and makes for a delicious gathering!

Check out this recipe!

27

Cheese Dip for Pretzels

Want to make the best Cheese Dip for Pretzels? All you need are three ingredients and your favorite soft pretzels to make this ultimate dipping sauce for any occasion.

Check out this recipe!

Monthly Meal Plan: Fruit-Forward Treats

28

Orange Raspberry Shortbread Cookies

Orange Raspberry Shortbread Cookies are the perfect way to show someone you care! This homemade shortbread cookie is sweetened with raspberry preserves and gets a little zing from orange zest and then dipped in a chocolate ganache. Whether they're baked for Valentine's Day, Easter, a baby or bridal shower, or any occasion in between, Raspberry Orange Shortbread are a lovely not-too-sweet dessert!

Check out this recipe!

29

Patriotic Strawberry Bruschetta

Celebrate the summertime with Patriotic Strawberry Bruschetta. This dessert bruschetta features a homemade almond pudding, lemon curd, macerated strawberries and blueberries, too! Red, white and blue, these Patriotic Strawberry Bruschetta are the perfect dessert to serve to a crowd, whether you’re celebrating Memorial Day weekend, July 4th or even Labor Day. Festive, colorful and utterly delicious, this dessert bruschetta is sure to impress!

Check out this recipe!

30

Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake

Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake makes a delicious breakfast in bed for that special person in your life! Elevate traditional coffee cake base with a ton of lemon zest. Then once the batter is poured into the pan, dollop Bonne Maman Wild Blueberry Preserves in for blueberry goodness. Sprinkle on the crumbly pecan streusel topping, then bake until golden brown. This simple coffee cake makes a delicious Mother’s Day breakfast or a brunch centerpiece.

Check out this recipe!

31

Fresh Strawberry Scones

Strawberry Scones burst with strawberry flavor, thanks to a secret strawberry ingredient! These scones, which are the perfect centerpiece to any homemade weekend brunch, will disappear in no time.

Check out this recipe!

32

Strawberry and Blueberry Hand Pies

Strawberry and Blueberry Hand Pies make the PERFECT summer dessert. Bursting with fresh blueberries and strawberries, these naturally sweet, handheld pies sing of seasonal flavors. Not only do they taste of the season, but they’re wrapped in a decadent buttery crust. Perfect for a Memorial Day weekend picnic, July 4th or any other summertime get together, these Strawberry and Blueberry Hand Pies can be made in advance and will be adored by all!

Check out this recipe!

33

Easy Lemon Bars

Homemade Lemon Bars are a crowd-pleasing dessert and perfect for sharing! This easy lemon bar recipe is bright, tart-sweet and perfectly balanced with a crisp shortbread crust. They’re a quick recipe to bake, too, and are ready in less than an hour!

Check out this recipe!