What to Cook Now That Spring is Finally Here
April is when the kitchen finally starts to feel lighter again. After months of hearty stews, braises, and root vegetables, our fridges begin filling with tender asparagus, crisp leeks, and bundles of fresh herbs that make everything taste a little brighter.
Whether you’re planning your first outdoor brunch on the patio or simply craving something green after a long winter, April cooking brings a fresh burst of inspiration. Just like the buds on the trees outside, the season opens up new possibilities in the kitchen.
What to Eat in April is a collection of spring recipes designed for these longer, sun-filled days.
Think sheet pan dinners, vibrant salads, and easy spring pasta recipes one-skillet meals that celebrate the freshest seasonal ingredients. Comfort foods slowly step aside, though you’ll still find a few cozy favorites for those unpredictable stretches of April showers.
No matter what spring looks like where you live, these easy April recipes are a reminder that brighter, warmer, and very delicious days are just beginning. 🌷☀️
What to Eat Each Month ☀️🍂❄️🌿
Let the seasons guide your cooking! Join to receive next month’s 10 best seasonal recipes delivered to your inbox.
10 Recipes to Make in April
10-Minute Raw Asparagus Salad
A light and zingy salad for asparagus lovers! Tender fresh asparagus combines with shallots, shaved cheese, and red wine vinegar to create a simple, light, and punchy dish. The perfect springtime side dish for salmon, roasted chicken, grilled steak, and so much more! Made with 5 ingredients and ready in 10 minutes or less!
Sheet Pan Salmon and Asparagus
An easy all-in-one dinner, perfect for springtime! Hearty salmon fillets, seasoned with lemon and fresh dill, bake on a sheet pan with asparagus spears until perfectly tender, flaky, and fragrant. Serve with crispy smashed potatoes (oven-roasted right alongside the salmon and asparagus sheet pan!) and a simple lemony dill yogurt sauce to bring all the flavors together.
Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder with Balsamic, Rosemary, and Garlic
Let the slow cooker do all the work with this cozy and comforting crockpot lamb recipe, infusing rich lamb shoulder with the punchy aromatic flavor of aged balsamic vinegar, garlic, and fresh rosemary. Once the slow cooked lamb is perfectly succulent and fall-apart tender, shred it to serve as a sandwich or atop a pile of cozy carbs and roasted veggies – whatever you prefer!
Make-Ahead Eggs Benedict
Toasty English muffins loaded up with all of your favorite toppings, a perfectly poached egg, and luscious homemade hollandaise sauce. With a make-ahead approach and lots of easy tips (like poaching eggs in advance and prepping hollandaise in a blender), homemade eggs benedict has never been easier! Perfect for ordinary weekends and special occasion brunches like Easter or Mother’s Day.
Skillet Lemon Butter Chicken with Artichokes & Asparagus
This one-skillet dinner comes together with pan-seared chicken breasts, artichoke hearts, tender asparagus, and lemon butter white wine sauce. From there, the oven does all the work – simply let everything roast together for an all-in-one meal. Finish with fresh herbs &and serve with a glass of wine, of course!
Mom’s 25-Minute Crispy Chicken Katsu
Straight from my Japanese-American mom’s kitchen, this easy chicken katsu recipe is the ultimate comfort food – quick, simple, and ridiculously crispy! Thin, juicy chicken cutlets – use breasts or thighs! – get coated in airy panko breadcrumbs and shallow-fried to golden perfection. Serve with fluffy white rice, creamy mac salad, and a drizzle of homemade katsu sauce for a Hawaii-style plate lunch.
Pistachio Pesto Pasta (25 Minutes)
If you’re craving a fresh twist on classic pesto, you’re in the right place. This Pistachio Pesto Pasta swaps pine nuts for toasted pistachios, adding rich nuttiness to every bite. Bright with basil and lemon, it’s perfect tossed with orecchiette – the cutest sauce-catching cups! Best of all, it’s ready in only 25 minutes, making it a quick win for weeknight dinners, summer picnics, and easy entertaining.
Beef Bulgogi Bowl with Tender Steak and Rice
The ultimate Korean-inspired dinner recipe! Soak thinly sliced strips of steak in my family’s savory-sweet bulgogi marinade, then sear the beef on the stovetop and finish under the broiler for crispy KBBQ-style char. Serve over sticky white rice with your choice of banchan – crunchy bean sprouts, cucumber kimchi, sautéed greens, gochujang aioli, you name it!
Cheesy French Onion Galette with Flaky Herb Crust
A savory pastry with a French onion-inspired twist! This hand-formed pie is made by wrapping jammy caramelized onions and gooey Gruyère cheese in an herbed butter crust. Simply bake the French onion galette until golden and super flaky, then enjoy it for brunch, lunch, or dinner – a decadent, all-purpose treat!
Grandpa Clarence’s Sour Cream Banana Bread
My Hawaiian Grandpa Clarence was famous for his tender Sour Cream Banana Bread! Made with sweet, overripe bananas, tangy sour cream, and a generous amount of vanilla, the resulting treat is always super moist with a beautiful banana flavor. Bake it into a loaf or muffins, be sure to add nuts or chocolate chips, and share generously with those you love – just like Grandpa! 🤙🏼🌺
