May is beautiful—sunshine finally sticks around, school days are winding down, and you almost believe you’ll get your life organized again. But let’s be honest… it’s also chaos.
End-of-year school events, last-minute field trips, sports practices that somehow all land at dinner time, and if you’re anything like me, you’re still finding Easter candy in random drawers.
After a long shift at the hospital, I don’t want to stare at the fridge like it’s a riddle. I just want dinner that’s ready fast, doesn’t involve a thousand ingredients, and won’t spark a rebellion from the kids.
That’s why I pulled together this May meal plan—31 easy dinners that we actually make in our house, night after night, in between the million little moments that fill up our days.
These aren’t fancy recipes. They’re quick, comforting, and perfect for when your brain’s running on coffee and your to-do list is longer than bedtime routines.
There’s a little bit of everything—light spring flavors for warmer nights, sheet pan meals when you can’t handle dishes, and slow cooker favorites that practically cook themselves while you’re doing literally everything else.
We’ve included a photo of the meal plan here in case you’d like to pin it for later, and there’s also a free printable PDF at the bottom so you can save or print it with zero fuss.
You can follow the plan week by week, or just pick whatever sounds doable on the craziest days. Either way, it’s all here to help you make it through May with your sanity (and your family’s bellies) intact.
Let’s make dinner the easiest part of your day—for once.
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May Meal Plan Notes:
- Each day includes its own recipe idea, with a mix of full meals and flexible pairings. Some are complete on their own (like grain bowls or pasta bakes), while others work great with a simple side—think roasted veggies, garlic bread, or a quick salad.
- You can make easy swaps to match your family’s tastes or what’s in your fridge. Use different proteins, swap out veggies, switch up pasta types, or go for white or brown rice—whatever works best for your crew. No need to overthink it.
- Every day is planned, including Saturdays. We know weekends can get wild, so this plan includes simple Saturday meals too—because sometimes just knowing what’s for dinner is the biggest win of the day.
The calendar and meal plan are here to give you ideas, reduce the mental load, and make dinner time feel a whole lot easier.
May Recipes:
1
girlcarnivore.com
Creamy Tuscan Chicken
"This Tuscan chicken recipe features tender chicken in a creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and garlic for incredible Italian flavor."
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2
damndelicious.net
Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
"Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas – The quickest (easiest) sheet pan dinner! Serve with warm tortillas for a lightening fast weeknight meal. SO GOOD!"
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3
sailorbailey.com
BBQ Chicken Sliders
"These BBQ Chicken Sliders have juicy, saucy chicken, tangy pickles and crunchy cabbage wedged between delicious sliders. Ready in 20 minutes!"
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4
realfoodwholelife.com
Turkey Taco Skillet
"Solve dinner tonight with this quick turkey taco skillet! Made with simple ingredients like ground turkey, enjoy as a one pot meal or a delicious taco or burrito filling or delectable nacho topping.rn"
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5
erinliveswhole.com
Easy Green Chicken Enchiladas
"Load up on these Easy Green Chicken Enchiladas for a satisfying and protein-loaded meal. Made with salsa verde, Greek yogurt, and more!"
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6
howsweeteats.com
Grilled Chicken Summer Rice Bowls
"We love these grilled chicken rice bowls! The chicken is juicy and flavorful, marinaed in cilantro lime dressing. The bowl is filled with corn, tomatoes, avocado and pickled onions. Super easy and leftovers are great!"
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7
tasteofhome.com
Cheeseburger Macaroni
"Homemade cheeseburger macaroni gives you another easy way to enjoy the simple harmony of pasta and ground beef. It’s a one-skillet dinner that’s a good option for batch-cooking and freezing too."
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8
fromvalerieskitchen.com
Creamy Orzo and Mushrooms
"Creamy Orzo and Mushrooms is a great alternative to rice or potatoes. Mushrooms, garlic, and fresh herbs with orzo pasta, sour cream and Parmesan."
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9
tasteofhome.com
Honey Garlic Meatballs
"Make these delicious honey garlic meatballs the next time you’re craving something sweet, tangy and savory. Perfect when paired with a crisp salad and your favorite rice recipe, and equally delightful when served as an appetizer."
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10
sailorbailey.com
Chicken Pesto Flatbread
"Delicious chicken pesto flatbread with juicy tender chicken and homemade pesto. An easy, colorful meal ready in 20 minutes or less."
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11
cooking.nytimes.com
Salmon With Anchovy-Garlic Butter Recipe
"Minced anchovies and garlic add a complex salinity to seared salmon, enriching and deepening its flavor To get the most out of them, the anchovies and garlic are mashed into softened butter, which is used in two ways: as a cooking medium and as a sauce Used to cook the salmon, the butter browns and the anchovies and garlic caramelize, turning sweet"
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12
ambitiouskitchen.com
Avocado Buffalo Chickpea Salad Wraps
"Flavorful buffalo chickpea salad wraps packed with crunchy veggies, creamy avocado and yogurt & fresh spinach. The best protein-packed lunch!"
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13
thesavorycipolla.com
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta
"Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta – This quick creamy sun dried tomato pesto pasta recipe is great for easy weeknight dinners!"
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14
eatyourselfskinny.com
Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps
"Light and healthy Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps that are an easy low carb alternative to traditional tacos and take less than 20 minutes to make!"
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15
chelseasmessyapron.com
One Pan Italian Sausage and Veggies
"This One Pan Italian sausage and veggies is loaded with nutritious and good-for-you ingredients. Smoked sausage, veggies, and an Italian-inspired seasoning."
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16
bbcgoodfood.com
Chicken alfredo pasta bake
"Toss spinach, chicken and pancetta in a classic creamy alfredo sauce to make this pasta bake. Cosy and comforting, it’s perfect for cold nights"
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17
chelseasmessyapron.com
Caprese Grilled Cheese
"Caprese Grilled Cheese is an easy-to-make sandwich with melty mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, and pesto on buttery sourdough bread."
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18
onceuponachef.com
Homemade Sloppy Joes
"Delicious and universally loved, Sloppy Joes are the tasty (and yes, slightly messy) champion of quick dinners and game day feasts."
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19
therecipecritic.com
Fried Rice
"This Easy Fried Rice has always been one of the most-loved recipes on my site! I have different versions, but this classic is the one everyone keeps coming back to."
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20
cookingupmemories.com
Creamy Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta
"Creamy Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta is an easy and delicious dish that can be made for a weeknight dinner in just 30 minutes."
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21
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eatingwell.com
Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl
"This teriyaki chicken bowl, flavored with ginger and scallions, is packed with veggies and everything else you need for a balanced dinner in one dish."
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22
yellowblissroad.com
Spinach Baked Ziti
"Spinach Baked Ziti has all the flavors of lasagna, but is ready in half the time. It’s cheesy and comforting for a perfect baked pasta dinner!"
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23
tasteofhome.com
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
"This grilled chicken Caesar salad has a simple, flavorful marinade for the chicken that will take your salad game to the next level."
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24
ambitiouskitchen.com
Sheet Pan Lemon Chicken and Potatoes
"Beautiful sheet pan lemon garlic chicken and potatoes with fresh herbs and savory feta. This easy lemon garlic chicken recipe is the perfect weeknight meal!"
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25
halfbakedharvest.com
Pull Apart Cheeseburger Sliders
"Pull Apart Cheeseburger Sliders: Cheesy inside, golden and toasty outside, with a delicious garlic sesame butter topping."
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26
dishingouthealth.com
Quinoa Southwest Salad with Creamy Chipotle Dressing
"Quinoa Southwest Salad with Creamy Chipotle Dressing is a protein-packed, make ahead-friendly meal. Gluten free, vegetarian, and ready in 30 minutes."
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27
recipetineats.com
Pork Carnitas Tacos
"Is there anything better in this world than pork, slowly cooked until it’s crazy juicy and fall apart tender? Yes. When it’s inside a taco. Ladies and gentlemen – Pork Carnitas Tacos."
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28
tasteofhome.com
Cheddar & Spinach Twice-Baked Potatoes
"My husband is a rancher who loves a hearty potato dish, so consider these spuds with cheddar and spinach cowboy approved! My crowd never leaves leftovers. —Jody Augustyn, Loup City, NE"
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29
recipetineats.com
Chicken Stir Fry with Rice Noodles
"A versatile Chicken Stir Fry with Rice Noodles recipe that’s terrific to make using bits and bobs leftover in your fridge and any dried or fresh noodles."
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30
realbalanced.com
Tuna Melt Quesadillas
"A great choice when you need a quick family dinner after a busy day or a filling lunch to bring to work."
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31
spendwithpennies.com
Pizza Pasta
"This baked pizza pasta is easy to make for a delicious Italian meal that is sure to end up on the monthly menu."
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May Meal Plan PDF
You can download and print the May calendar using the link below, or just bookmark this page and come back to it anytime 😊
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