food

31 Low-Maintenance Dinners to Make for Each Night in May

Bring it, May. Bring on the peonies and rosé and picnics and sunglasses and espadrilles. You’ll be so busy having fun outside, you definitely won’t have time to think up a meal plan. So we’ve done the work for you. Here are 31 seasonal dinners to try.

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May 1: Pasta Alla Norma With Eggplant

Best of all, you can make four servings for less than $10.

May 2: Roasted Salmon With Spring Pesto

No joke: If you make the pesto in advance, you can whip this beauty up in half an hour.

May 3: Skillet Gnocchi With Sausage And Broccoli Rabe

One skillet, no major mess.

May 4: Sheet-pan Chicken And Cauliflower Shawarma

Oh, have we introduced you to our favorite veggie on earth?

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May 5: Broccoli Cheese Tortellini With Fried Lemon

Just imagine eating this plate outside at sunset. Ahh

May 6: Red Shakshuka

It’s not just for breakfast anymore.

May 7: Ramp Green Pesto And Pizza

These seasonal wild onions are all the rage this month.

May 8: Spicy Beef Fajitas With Cilantro-lime Marinade

If you’re eating light, skip the tortillas and use lettuce wraps instead.

May 9: Curry Noodles With Broccoli Rabe And Purple Cabbage

Our new favorite mash-up.

May 10: Broccoli Rabe And Black Bean Quesadillas

Psst, use the leftover broccoli rabe from last night to make these babies.

The Modern Proper

May 11: Blueberry Bbq Chicken Sliders

Shake up an old favorite.

Get the recipe

May 12: Sheet Pan Asian Chicken Stir-fry

Hate doing dishes? This recipe’s a dream come true.

May 13: Falafel Salad Bowl

We like our dinner in Technicolor.

May 14: Sesame-ginger Salmon In Parchment

Make a whole feast—no pots or pans required.

May 15: California Chicken, Avocado And Goat Cheese Salad

…And throw in whatever seasonal veggies you find at the farmers’ market.

May 16: Zoodles With Tomato Sauce And Mozzarella

If you haven’t invested in a spiralizer, the time is now.

May 17: Croque-monsieur With Poached Eggs

Oh là là.

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May 18: Shrimp Scampi With Tagliatelle

It’s a classic for good reason.

Get the recipe

May 19: Green Goddess Salmon Burgers

Warning: This dressing is totally addictive.

May 20: Spring Detroit-style Pizza

A deep-dish square crust? Sign us up.

May 21: Roasted Red Pepper Mezze Platter

It’s a straight-up springtime feast.

May 22: Broiled Arctic Char With Citrus Sauce

So light and refreshing.

May 23: Roasted Ancho Chile Cauliflower Sandwich

Sprinkle on some radishes for extra crunch.

May 24: One-pot Greek Chicken With Lemon Rice

Save the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

May 25: Spring Pea Soup With Leeks And Lentils

It’s basically springtime in a bowl.

May 26: Slow-cooker Pulled Pork

Set it, forget it and then make sandwiches.

May 27: Paneer Tikka Masala

About a billion times better than takeout.

May 28: One-pot Beans, Chicken And Rice

So low-maintenance, it basically makes itself.

May 29: Thai Basil Beef With Rice

Chopsticks optional.

May 30: Springtime Chicken Noodle Pho

When in doubt, put an egg on it.

May 31: Spicy Sesame Zoodles With Crispy Tofu

Because it’s almost bathing suit season. Almost.

Zoodles Might Be the Best Thing to Ever Happen to Dinner


Lindsay Champion

Freelance Editor

From 2015-2020 Lindsay Champion held the role of Food and Wellness Director. She continues to write for PureWow as a Freelance Editor.
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