What's for Dinner? 21 Weeknight Recipes That Are Perfect for April (2024)

April is Earth Month, and while we believe in taking care of and celebrating the planet every day of the year, it never hurts to have a reason to go above and beyond. If you've followed our monthly meal plans before, you know that our Mondays are always meatless; this month, however, we've included even more of our favorite plant-based dinner recipes featuring seasonal vegetables, lots of greens and grains, and less animal products, all in the spirit of treating our planet a little better this month.

From the egg-topped, spring vegetable-studded rice dish pictured here (you'll find the full recipe in week three!) to lettuce cups filled with an umami-forward mix of spicy tofu and sautéed shiitakes, to the prettiest of pastas that's packed with peas, there's no shortage of delicious dinner ideas to get you through the month. And whether you eat a vegetarian or vegan meal once a week or once a day, our hope is that these evening recipes inspire you to incorporate more produce and plant-based ingredients into your meals all year long.

We're sure that, like us, you're always on the lookout for quick and easy meals that are also family-friendly. There are plenty of them in our selection for April, including crowd-pleasing chicken kebabs (ours are roasted not grilled, making them a winner for April's rainy weather) and panko-crusted schnitzel-style breasts we think are somehow even better than fried chicken. We've also included fast and flavorful beef tacos and plenty of fish dishes, from crispy oven-baked fish wraps to colorful salmon kedgeree.

The one-pot approach to dinner is, of course, our go-to way to get a meal on the table without creating a huge pile of dishes, but it can also be fast; ahead, you'll find weeknight dinner recipes that come together in less than an hour and use only one pan, skillet, or sheet pan. In fact, we start April with one-pot pork meatballs with orzo, a fabulous dish that's comforting, simple to put together, and light enough for spring.

Enjoy these quick and easy dinner recipes with your family all month long.