Four weeks’ worth of meals to help you decide what to eat in April – all recipes are completely free to access and use!
As soon as Easter is over, I start to look forward to summer. A throwback from when I was a teacher, I suppose, and the end of the Easter holidays meant it was the summer season and all that entailed (exams, mostly, poor kids…the reason I’m not a teacher any more!).
Nowadays, I can look forward to the things I enjoy most about that season without the stress. And, unsurprisingly, the things I enjoy most about that season are food related.
What to Eat in April – In Season
By April, there’s a real spring in our step when it comes to British eating habits! The slow cooker that got us through winter is being nudged to the back of the cupboard as lighter, quicker meals take over.
Weekend barbecues start making tentative appearances – though always with a backup plan for when those April showers inevitably arrive mid-sausage-flip!
Have you noticed how our shopping baskets change too? Suddenly we’re all filling them with fresh herbs, spring greens, and those first British tomatoes, chatting excitedly about salad recipes rather than stews. The Sunday roast tradition continues, of course (some things never change!), but it’s transformed with spring lamb instead of winter beef, and trays of young carrots and asparagus replacing the parsnips and swede.
There’s a lovely sense of anticipation in the air – in our gardens and on our plates – as we embrace the flavours of the new season and look forward to the summer bounty that’s just around the corner!
After a dreary start to the year, we start getting some beautiful fresh food like:
- Spring onions
- Watercress
- Spring greens
- Wild garlic
- Broccoli
- Rhubarb
- Asparagus
- Herbs like basil, dill and chives
- Lamb
- Crab
- Salmon
- Prawns
Here, I’ve selected some beautiful recipes which are perfect for cooking in April. Simply save the page and use this as your shopping guide for the next 4 weeks!
What to Eat in April – Week 1
This week, we have a selection of recipes from around the globe, with a comforting chicken casserole, a yummy pad thai, a lasagne with a twist and much more!
Chicken Casserole with Parsley Dumplings
A warm hug of a casserole with lovely herby dumplings
Check out this recipe
Red Leicester and Broccoli Soup
A creamy, delicious and easy to make Red Leicester and broccoli soup.
Check out this recipe
Asparagus and Green Bean Caesar Salad
This flavourful twist on a Caesar salad with asparagus, green beans and poached eggs makes an amazing dinner for two – perfect for date night.
Check out this recipe
Pea, Spring Onion and Courgette Tart
A light spring or summer tart made with puff pastry, a soft cheese base and fresh green vegetables.
Check out this recipe
What to Eat in April – Week 2
This week, we’re enjoying freshly in season prawns and lamb (make sure you enjoy that with the dauphinoise potatoes – yum!) along with a vibrant beetroot risotto and a seriously good vegetable moussaka.
Quick and Easy Tom Kha Soup
Classic Thai Tom Kha soup simplified: Creamy coconut, zesty prawns, and rice noodles ready in 15 minutes – a flavour-packed meal with minimal prep.
Check out this recipe
Vegetable Moussaka
Vegetarian moussaka layered with courgettes and topped with feta
Check out this recipe
Beetroot Risotto with Goats Cheese
Vibrant beetroot risotto with creamy goats cheese
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Green Goddess Gnocchi
Spinach gnocchi in a pesto sauce, with asparagus, peas and courgettes – all made in one pan.
Check out this recipe
Tomato, Red Pepper and Coriander Soup with Nachos
This delicious tomato, red pepper and coriander soup works so well with the cheesy nachos.
Check out this recipe
Slow Roast Lamb with Dauphinoise Potatoes
Lamb roasted for 5 hours with garlic, onion and red wine, served with creamy dauphinoise potatoes and a rich lamb gravy.
Check out this recipe
Leftover Shepherds Pie
Delicious shepherds pie, made with leftover roast lamb and leftover dauphinoise potatoes.
Check out this recipe
What to Eat in April – Week 3
Week 3 takes in season asparagus to make this awesome vegan pad thai for meatless Monday. You also have a seriously cheesy pasta bake and a very special duck dish for Sunday!
Mozzarella, Tomato and Basil Pasta Bake
An oozy, saucy, delicious mozzarella tomato pasta bake.
Check out this recipe
Black Bean Quesadillas
15 minute black bean quesadillas with red peppers, spring onions and cheese, served with a minty avocado dip.
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Miso Soup with Noodles and Stir-Fried Veg
A delicious, comforting miso broth with noodles and tofu, topped with stir fried mushrooms, courgette, sugar snap peas, pan choi and spring onions.
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Crab and Sweetcorn Chowder
A simple one pot crab and sweetcorn chowder, ready in 20 minutes.
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Pan Fried Duck Breast with White Bean Puree, Leeks, and Spring Onion and Prosecco Sauce
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What to Eat in April – Week 4
Week 4 has some of my favourites. Use purple-sprouting broccoli in the gnocchi dish to get the best of the season, and enjoy my family recipe Anglesey eggs. Plus, you have. four-hour slow cooked beef chilli to enjoy – properly yummy weekend cooking!
Anglesey Eggs
A traditional Welsh dish, made with sautéed leeks, boiled eggs and a cheese sauce. Perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Check out this recipe
Broccoli and Cheese Gnocchi Bake
Vegetarian gnocchi bake with a broccoli and cheddar cheese sauce, flavoured with bay leaves and English mustard.
Check out this recipe
Prawn Saganaki
A saucy prawn and tomato dish topped with salty feta – perfect as a starter or light dinner.
Check out this recipe
Simple Watercress Soup
Watercress soup with nutmeg, made with just six ingredients and ready in under 15 minutes.
Check out this recipe
Asparagus, Pea and Pesto Lasagne
A delicious and fresh asparagus, pea and pesto lasagne for spring or summer, with minimal effort.
Check out this recipe
Chilli Pie
A rich beef chilli topped with mashed potato with soured cream and nachos.
Check out this recipe
More from this series;
What to Eat This Month – May
What to Eat This Month – June
What to Eat This Month – July
What to Eat This Month – August
What to Eat This Month – September
What to Eat This Month – October
What to Eat This Month – November
What to Eat This Month – December
What to Eat This Month – January
What to Eat This Month – February
What to Eat This Month – March
The fresh ingredients really shined and the flavors were so vibrant. I loved how easy it was to make too. Definitely adding this to my regular rotation!
Oh wow – so many amazing ideas to explore in April! Thank you so much for sharing all these… Yum!
Thank you for sharing this, Can’t wait to try it.
Love this and will keep it handy for meal planning. I am super intrigued by the Anglesey eggs. We don’t live very far from Anglesey (we’re near Wrexham in North Wales) and I somehow never heard about this dish. Cannot wait to try!
Oh amazing, hope you enjoy it! I’m in Chester so not very far from you!
Such a great roundup of recipes I don’t know where to start! Excited to give these a try; they all look too good to pass up, indeed!