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Wildly Delicious Weeknight Dinners For May

These recipes will help you welcome in summer!

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ground beef and cheese baked over chips in a casserole dish
PHOTO: LINDA XIAO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Regardless of what the calendar says, May is always when it feels like summer really begins. Sure, officially it’s on the Summer Solstice in June, but May is when we first start taking our meals outside for BBQs, picnics, and more—if that’s not the best sign of summer, we don’t know what is. Join us as we fully change over our dinner habits from heavy casseroles and soups to warm weather favorites like grilled everything, meal prep-able grain bowls, and salads (don’t worry, we’ve still got some family-friendly bakes here too). We’ve got 40 recipes to help inspire you to make dinner this May— one for every day of the month, and then some!

We’ve included a good mix of new recipes here, like our pork dumpling bowls, our copycat Taco Bell grilled cheese burritos, and our cheesy asparagus orzotto, as well as some new and improved favorites, like our cheesy taco bake, our chicken & broccoli casserole, and our Greek power bowls. Looking to start dipping your toes into al fresco dining for the year again, but want to start off slow? We’ve got some fun, easy tacos and skewer recipes that are just the thing to get your confidence up: our grilled portobello tacos, our campfire hot dog skewers, and our grilled chicken salad are extra tasty, without taking too much skill.

Speaking of salad: if you’re like us, summer is also when we start craving lighter meals, so we’ve also included a number of stellar salads here to kick off the season right. And don’t worry, we’re not just talking about boring greens. Our green goddess pasta salad, our Tuscan tortellini salad, and our copycat Panera Bread strawberry poppyseed salad are all FULL of tons of other ingredients, so even if you hate greens, you’ll love these.

We’re also taking inspiration from the season, and including recipes that are synonymous with May holidays like Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day. May is also Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, so we’ve included some of our favorite recipes to celebrate how much influence and enrichment AAPI cuisine has brought to us here at Delish. For more early summertime inspiration, check out our favorite summer side salads (like potato and pasta salads, mmm), our best healthy summer dinners, and our top cookout menus too.

Cheesy Taco Bake

ground beef and cheese baked over chips in a casserole dish
PHOTO: LINDA XIAO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you love our taco lasagna, then get ready to meet a new staple in your weeknight dinner rotation: this cheesy taco bake. Instead of using tortillas, like we do in our lasagnchiladas, we're layering seasoned ground beef, cheese, and tomato-sour cream mixture on top of tortilla chips for added texture.

Get the Cheesy Taco Bake recipe.

Cheesy Asparagus Orzotto

creamy orzo with asparagus
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Orzo—the "rice" of the pasta world—gets the risotto treatment in this recipe, and it’s a game-changer. Aromatic leeks, grassy asparagus, and sweet peas bring bright, springy vibes to the dish, while rich cream, nutty Parmesan, and just the right amount of butter stirred in at the end make it super-luxe.

Get the Cheesy Asparagus Orzotto recipe.

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Spicy Coconut Grilled Chicken

spicy coconut grilled chicken
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

Get these spicy coconut chicken thighs on the grill ASAP, you won’t regret it. They're insanely tender thanks to a tasty duo of coconut milk and tenderizing pineapple juice in the marinade. We bet you'll revisit this simple recipe again and again this summer (so why not start now?).

Get the Spicy Coconut Grilled Chicken recipe.

Shrimp Caesar Salad

horseradish marinated seared shrimp, crisp romaine, salty shaved parm, and crunchy homemade sourdough croutons tossed in a creamy, cheesy umami packed dressing
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Caesar salad is at the top of our list of favorite sides, and adding protein-packed marinated shrimp upgrades it from side-dish status to a must-make dinner main. Quick to prepare yet full of flavor, this shrimp Caesar salad recipe is your answer to a simple yet satisfying meal.

Get the Shrimp Caesar Salad recipe.

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Chicken & Broccoli Casserole

this creamy, cheesy, ritz cracker topped casserole is packed with chicken, rice, and freshly blanched broccoli with the quintessential cream of mushroom soup
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

This creamy, cheesy, Ritz cracker-topped casserole is packed with chicken, rice, and freshly blanched broccoli with the quintessential cream of mushroom soup. This is my ideal Sunday dinner, and it's perfect for when you have a few extra mouths to feed this May.

Get the Chicken & Broccoli Casserole recipe.

Pork Dumpling Bowls

pork dumpling bowls
PHOTO: RYAN LEIBE; FOOD STYLING MAKINZE GORE

Craving dumplings, but not the effort it takes to make them? Enter: pork dumpling bowls. These deconstructed bowls are our favorite hack that delivers on the same salty-savory, soy sauce-soaked pork, shrimp, and cabbage filling, but combined with easy wheat noodles that mimic the same chewy flavor you love in a dumpling—no wrapping required.

Get the Pork Dumpling Bowls recipe.

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Copycat Taco Bell Grilled Cheese Burritos

grilled cheese burrito
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

What do you get when you mix a burrito and a grilled cheese sandwich? Joy. Pure joy. There’s a good reason why the Taco Bell grilled cheese burrito has inspired a cult following, and now you can make them at home.

Get the Copycat Taco Bell Grilled Cheese Burritos recipe.

Grilled Portobello Tacos

grilled portobello tacos topped with cabbage slaw, avocado, and queso fresco
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Mushroom lovers alert: warm weather taco nights just got upgraded. Featuring portobello mushrooms marinated in taco spices and grilled to perfection, these vegetarian tacos will delight meat-lovers and vegans alike.

Get the Grilled Portobello Tacos recipe.

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Avocado Toast Focaccia

avocado toast focaccia
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Have a bunch of leftover avocados to use up after Cinco De Mayo this year? You could make plain avocado toast, OR you could make this upgraded avocado toast focaccia. We know what we'll be making!

Get the Avocado Toast Focaccia recipe.

Peanut Chickpea Protein Bowls

peanut chickpea protein bowls with rice, crispy chickpeas, red cabbage, carrot, cucumbers, and peanut sauce
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Chickpeas and peanut sauce are two of my current obsessions, so these peanut chickpea protein bowls are my idea of paradise for dinner. Crispy chickpeas, cabbage slaw, and brown rice are topped with more veggies and herbs and drizzled with creamy peanut sauce for a satisfying dinner that’s both hearty and healthy.

Get the Peanut Chickpea Protein Bowls recipe.

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Sloppy Joes

sloppy joes served on a toasted bun with chips
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

If you're craving a reliable, nostalgic, easy (and cheap) weeknight dinner, then there’s no debate: A sloppy Joes’ night is in order. Our tried-and-tested recipe uses the unstoppable sloppy Joes trio—ground beef, tomato flavors, and onion—to create a flavor-packed meal that’s for way more than just sandwiches this May.

Get the Sloppy Joes recipe.

Greek Power Bowls

bowls filled with chicken, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, feta, and avocado
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

These grain bowls are not only packed with protein, but are endlessly versatile. They starts with a brown rice or quinoa base, then layer in chicken breasts, Greek-inspired fresh veggies, feta, and a simple, fresh dressing that ties everything together. They come together in just 25 minutes too!

Get the Greek Power Bowls recipe.

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Southwestern Wedding Soup

a bowl of soup with pasta, meatballs, spinach, cilantro, and cotija cheese
PHOTO: LINDA XIAO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

This Southwestern wedding soup has many of the same ingredients you’d expect from a classic Italian wedding soup, like meatballs, pasta, and plenty of vegetables. My version, however, uses many of the aromatics and seasonings you’d typically find in Tex-Mex food for a fun spin on a cozy classic.

Get the Southwestern Wedding Soup recipe.

Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders

cracked pepper sliced turkey, velvety white cheddar sauce, crispy bacon, and sliced tomatoes, layered on king's hawaiian rolls and topped with everything bagel seasoning
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Every sandwich is better in slider form, especially Southern classic Kentucky hot brown. Just like the OG version, these are piled high with turkey breast, cheese sauce, crispy bacon, and juicy sliced tomatoes. Whether you need a Kentucky Derby-inspired meal or are just looking for an easy-to-share, super flavorful meal this May, these are for you.

Get the Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders recipe.

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Green Goddess Pasta Salad

pasta with chickpeas, asparagus, and cucumbers tossed in a green goddess dressing
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Introducing a fresh new take on pasta salad that’s much more exciting than a lot of the traditional options you see at potlucks. It’s bright green with a zesty green goddess dressing and some extra veggies mixed in to make it feel more like a salad than a pasta dish. Don’t worry though, there is still plenty of pasta!

Get the Green Goddess Pasta Salad recipe.

Turkey Lavash Wraps

tortilla wrap with turkey, spinach, cucumbers, and red peppers
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Filled with a zingy dill-arugula salad, sliced turkey, roasted red peppers, and crunchy cucumbers, and sealed with a creamy goat cheese spread, this wrap is exactly the kind of colorful light dinner we crave to brighten up our weekdays.

Get the Turkey Lavash Wraps recipe.

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Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken

brown sugar bbq chicken in a sandwich with slaw

Craving BBQ pulled chicken? Good news—this slow-cooker recipe makes it easier than ever to create delicious, tender, and extra-flavorful pulled chicken right at home with minimal effort.

Get the Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken recipe.

Brie, Asparagus, & Prosciutto-Stuffed Chicken

brie asparagus and prosciutto stuffed chicken
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Our brie, asparagus, & prosciutto bundles are one of our most-popular appetizers, so we decided we needed an excuse to enjoy it even more. Instead of puff pastry, we swapped in chicken for a rich and creamy weekend, date night, or holiday meal.

Get the Brie, Asparagus, & Prosciutto-Stuffed Chicken recipe.

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Enchilada Casserole

enchilada fillings in a casserole topped with avocado cubes
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

This casserole has all of the flavors of chicken enchiladas (with a few worthwhile additions), but eliminates the most tedious part of making them: all that rolling! In this recipe, you just layer all your components in a casserole dish, bake until melty and saucy, add your desired toppings, and serve.

Get the Enchilada Casserole recipe.

Sopes

sopes made of masa harina and topped with refried beans salsa roja shredded lettuce mexican crema radishes and cojita
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

One of the greatest pleasures of Mexican street food are sopes: round bundles of masa lightly fried and piled with refried beans, shredded chicken, salsa roja or salsa verde, and cotija cheese. Best part? They're endlessly versatile so you can make them again and again this May.

Get the Sopes recipe.

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