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30 Spring-In-A-Recipe Meal Ideas For April That We Personally Can't Wait To Cook

We did it, friends. It's officially spring. I don't know about you, but our sun-warmed kitchens are begging us to start whipping up all the vibrant dishes we've been waiting all winter to cook. After combing through all the recipes we've been bookmarking lately, these are the best of the best to try this April — and rest assured, the springtime vibes are palpable (and very, very necessary). 🌷

List of seasonal produce for April including asparagus, oranges, and more, categorized by variety
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1.Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowls

A person's hand breading chicken pieces in a bowl of egg wash next to a flour dish and tray of raw chicken
A person's hand breading chicken pieces in a bowl of egg wash next to a flour dish and tray of raw chicken
A bowl of rice topped with grilled chicken, carrots, red onions, and garnished with cilantro and crumbled cheese
A bowl of rice topped with grilled chicken, carrots, red onions, and garnished with cilantro and crumbled cheese

Bev Cooks / Via bevcooks.com

Prep your buffalo chicken at the beginning of the week and eat it for lunch in these delicious rice bowls. And if you're really short on time, take a shortcut: defrost some frozen, breaded chicken (or even chicken nuggets) and toss them in buffalo sauce.

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowls

2.Spring Frittata with Leeks, Asparagus, and Sweet Potato

A skillet with a cooked frittata garnished with herbs, surrounded by raw ingredients

3.Assassin's Spaghetti

Ingredients for a recipe laid out: pasta, tomato puree, garlic, spices, and olive oil
Ingredients for a recipe laid out: pasta, tomato puree, garlic, spices, and olive oil
Plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce and a sprinkle of grated cheese, viewed from above
Plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce and a sprinkle of grated cheese, viewed from above

Ross Yoder

"I first tried Assassin's Spaghetti when it went viral last month, and let me tell you, I've already made it twice since. This "better-than-marinara" pasta comes together in less than 30 minutes, is majorly clean-up friendly, and it's just as perfect for a weeknight family dinner as it is for effortless entertaining — especially as the weather starts to warm up and we emerge from our gloomy winter cocoons."

—Ross Yoder

Recipe: Assassin's Spaghetti

4.Beet And Citrus Salad with Toasted Sesame Seeds

Salad with spinach, sliced oranges, beets, pickled onions, and sesame seeds served in a black oval dish

5.Tiramisu Cookies

Four freshly baked tiramisu cookies with visible chocolate chunks on a tray

6. Veggie Packed Sweet Potato Boats

Grace Elkus

Sweet potatoes and black beans are seriously a match made in veggie-dinner heaven. This recipe is so simple to make — just cut sweet potatoes in half, roast them in the oven (add cheese if you please), and top it all off with a mixture of black beans, red cabbage, bell peppers, avocado, scallions, and spices.

Recipe: Veggie Packed Sweet Potato Boats

7.Mediterranean Fish Skillet

A cooked dish with eggs, tomatoes, beans, and garnished with herbs in a skillet on a stove

8.Beef Bulgogi Bibimbap

A bowl of bibimbap with beef, assorted vegetables, a fried egg on top, and sauce on the side

9.Almond Cake with Roasted Strawberries and Rhubarb

Sliced strawberries and rhubarb pieces spread on a baking tray
Sliced strawberries and rhubarb pieces spread on a baking tray
Close-up of a cake topped with chopped strawberries and rhubarb on a white plate
Close-up of a cake topped with chopped strawberries and rhubarb on a white plate

Cookie and Kate / Via cookieandkate.com

Nothing screams spring quite like strawberries and rhubarb. This easy, gluten-free cake takes minimal effort but is guaranteed to be a showstopper on any table.

Recipe: Almond Cake with Roasted Strawberries and Rhubarb

10.Aguas Frescas

Assorted fresh juices in clear glasses on a kitchen counter, with two bottles in the background

11.Baked Salmon With Dill Sauce

Grilled salmon with asparagus topped with dill sauce and lemon slices on a plate with a fork

12.Vegan Reubens with Portobello

Person holding a sandwich with dark bread, filled with cheese and cabbage

13.Orange Turmeric Crush Smoothies

A glass of smoothie garnished with nuts and seeds, with a patterned straw, accompanied by fresh ingredients and a spoon of spices

14.Papaya Bars

Square-shaped papaya bars dusted with powdered sugar on a flecked surface with parchment paper

15.One-Pan Roast Chicken With Shallots

Sautéed squid with garlic on a stovetop pan, wooden handle, next to condiments
Sautéed squid with garlic on a stovetop pan, wooden handle, next to condiments
Cooked chicken and onions in a skillet
Cooked chicken and onions in a skillet

Alexandra Cooks / Via alexandracooks.com

It doesn't get much more comforting (or simple) than this one-pot shallot chicken. Toss everything into an oven-proof skillet and let it roast for 45 minutes until the shallots are caramelized and the chicken is fall-off-the-bone tender.

Recipe: One-Pan Roast Chicken With Shallots

16. Hoisin Tofu Baguettes

So Vegan / Via tiktok.com

Baked tofu soaks up a flavorful hoisin sauce marinade to form the backbone of this oh-so-satisfying sandwich. It cooks up pretty quickly for a fun lunch at home or a laid-back dinner. You can marinate the tofu a bit in advance or simply cook it in the sauce.

Recipe: Hoisin Tofu Baguettes

17.Spring Asparagus Galette

asparagus galette with a slice taken out, on parchment paper

18.Rhubarb Mint Margarita with Jalapeño Tequila

Assorted ingredients for a cocktail including lime, mint, jalapeno, and rhubarb on a marble surface
Assorted ingredients for a cocktail including lime, mint, jalapeno, and rhubarb on a marble surface
Two glasses of iced rhubarb cocktails garnished with lime and mint
Two glasses of iced rhubarb cocktails garnished with lime and mint

The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com

Spicy, sweet, tart — this cocktail will probably be your go-to all spring. Want to skip the tequila? Infuse the rhubarb mint syrup with jalapeño and top with seltzer for a satisfying mocktail.

Recipe: Rhubarb Mint Margarita with Jalapeño Tequila

19.Deviled Eggs

A plate of deviled eggs garnished with paprika and chives

20.Tuna Niçoise Salad

A plate of Nicoise salad with tuna, eggs, tomatoes, green beans, potatoes, and olives
A plate of Nicoise salad with tuna, eggs, tomatoes, green beans, potatoes, and olives
Close-up of a salad with tuna, eggs, potatoes, olives, and tomatoes. A fork is piercing a piece of tuna
Close-up of a salad with tuna, eggs, potatoes, olives, and tomatoes. A fork is piercing a piece of tuna

Recipe Tin Eats / Via recipetineats.com

Use your favorite canned or jarred tuna fish to make this easy take on a French classic, which is just as good for lunch as it is a quick weeknight meal.

Recipe: Tuna Niçoise Salad

21.Greek-Marinated Shrimp Skewers

Grilled shrimp and sliced vegetables on a bed of rice with lemon and sauce on the side

22.Cauliflower Salad With Dates And Pistachios

Roasted cauliflower salad with mixed nuts and herbs in a bowl with a serving spoon

23.Blood Orange Elderflower Gin Cocktail

Two glasses with a red beverage and garnished with orange slices and herbs on a light background

24.Spring Pea And Asparagus Pasta

A bowl of pasta with peas and greens, garnished with pine nuts

25.Crockpot Chipotle Pot Roast Tacos

Three tacos with meat, garnished with cheese and herbs, presented on parchment paper next to limes and a knife

26.Spring Pea Farro Salad

A bowl of grain salad with greens and feta cheese on a table with plates and a cloth in the background

27.Citrus Ricotta Breakfast Bowls with Honey

A plate with yogurt, granola, honeycomb, and slices of banana and citrus fruits

28.No-Cook Mediterranean Tostadas

Plate with hummus topped with chickpeas, tomatoes, and herbs, next to a lemon

29.Carrot Cake Loaf

Ingredients for baking are separated into bowls: eggs, flour mixture, shredded carrots, and sugars with oil
Ingredients for baking are separated into bowls: eggs, flour mixture, shredded carrots, and sugars with oil
Sliced carrot cake with icing and nuts on plate, top view
Sliced carrot cake with icing and nuts on plate, top view

Two Peas and Their Pod / Via twopeasandtheirpod.com

Sure, you can take the time to make and decorate a three-layer carrot cake, but this version made all in a loaf pan makes things a whole lot easier. Perfectly spiced and moist, this would make an ideal snacking cake, breakfast cake, or any time of day cake.

Recipe: Carrot Cake Loaf

30.Emergency Oreo Fridge Pudding

Hand holding a glass with chocolate mousse topped with whipped cream and a mint leaf
Hand holding a glass with chocolate mousse topped with whipped cream and a mint leaf
Three servings of chocolate mousse in varying containers on a windowsill
Three servings of chocolate mousse in varying containers on a windowsill

Ross Yoder

"I'm a sucker for this minimal-ingredient 'pudding' from Ella Quittner when I need to whip up a quick-but-elegant dessert for company — or when I just need a sweet treat myself. To make things extra festive, top with a swoop of whipped cream, a drizzle of olive oil, a few flecks of flaky sea salt, and some fresh mint. As shown above, they're very cute in Nick and Nora or coupe glasses, but in a pinch, any vessel will do...also shown above."

—Ross Yoder

Recipe: Emergency Oreo Fridge Pudding

If you bookmark any of these recipes for your April cooking, tell us which one(s) you picked in the comments below. Be sure to let us know if you have anything else on your "to cook" list this month that we should try!