Simply Recipes 2019 Meal Plan: April Week 4

This week's meal plan has classics like pork chops, but also spices things up with steak fajitas and slurpable soba noodles! There's something for everyone!

By
Rachel Knecht
Rachel Knecht
Rachel Knecht
Rachel began testing recipes for Simply Recipes in 2018. She started her food blog in 2017 and taught children's baking classes around Seattle.
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Published April 20, 2019
Rachel Knecht
Meal Plan for April Week 4

I love making new recipes! I’m always on the lookout for a new dish to add to our repertoire. Yet, the rest of the family is sometimes hesitant to try a completely new dinner.

Over the years, I have come up with a few tips that help make new meals fun for everyone:

  • When picking a new recipe to make, I ensure that a few of the elements are foods that are already enjoyed, such as the chicken and the rice in this week's Chicken and Rice Casserole.
  • Allowing for individual tastes is also helpful when making new meals. The Soba Noodle Bowl with Spinach and Poached Eggs can be customized for each person, which allows for everyone to enjoy their bowl the way they like it.
  • Serving new side dishes with a beloved main is also a way to incorporate new dishes.
  • Lastly, making small changes to meals, like the addition of different spices, can easily make a classic dish feel new, like the Tarragon Tuna Melt.

I hope this week’s recipes inspire you to add a new dish to your dinner menu.

  • Chicken and Rice Casserole

    Best Chicken and Rice Casserole
    Elise Bauer

    Chicken thighs are my go-to when it comes to chicken because they retain their moisture while cooking. Cutting the thighs into chunks maintains the perfect chicken to rice ratio in every bite. The wine can be replaced with extra stock and a little vinegar if you would like.

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  • Soba Noodle Bowls with Spinach and Poached Eggs

    Sesame Soba Noodle Bowls
    Sally Vargas

    Totally slurpable and ready for spring, this bowl of buckwheat noodles is seasoned with ginger and sesame oil. The recipe gives step by step instructions on how to perfectly poach the egg that tops it all off. The eggs can be made as much as five days in advance.

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  • Mom's Perfect Pork Chops

    Easy Pork Chop Recipe pork chop and greens on plate
    Sally Vargas

    Pan seared pork chops make waiting for summer grilling a little bit easier. Not only is this pork chop juicy and flavorful, but the homemade rub makes enough for next time. Serve with Fava Bean Fennel Salad with Parmesan for a tasty side dish.

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  • Beef Steak Fajitas

    steak fajitas
    Elise Bauer

    Sizzling fajitas cooked on the stove top, loaded with bell peppers and onions, are a quick and satisfying dinner that everyone will love. Slicing the vegetables and marinating the steak the night before will make the next night’s dinner a snap.

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    Continue to 5 of 5 below.

  • Tuna Melt

    Grilled tuna sandwich cut in half and stacked on top of each other. The bread is toasted and tuna, melted cheese and tomatoes are visible in the filling.
    Sally Vargas

    Tuna melts get an upgrade with the addition of lemon and tarragon to the classic sandwich, making it brighter and more balanced. The sandwich is topped with sharp cheese and grilled to perfection using sturdy French bread. Serve with a simple Roasted Red Pepper Potato Soup to round out the meal.

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