May Meal Plan Week 3
Take the stress out of weeknight dinners. Use this free weekly meal plan complete with recipes and the grocery list for each entrée.
Also, visit our Meal Plans page for more year-round meal-planning ideas. Meal Planning is one great way to save on the grocery budget.
This article contains affiliate links. Please see our Disclosure Policy.
May Events
Occasions to celebrate in May and we like to celebrate with special recipes.
- May 1st National Day of Prayer (Mealtime prayers for children)
- May 3rd Kentucky Derby
- May 4th- Star Wars Day
- May 5th, Cinco de Mayo (Mexican recipes)
- May 11th, Mother’s Day (Brunch recipes)
- May 13th National Apple Pie Day (recipe)
- May 14th National Buttermilk Biscuit Day (recipe)
- May 26th Memorial Day (Patriotic Ideas)
Celebrate Graduation with a Luau Tropical Party! See these fun ideas:
More Meal Plans
About the meal plan
- This meal plan will serve 4. Some recipes will serve more than four, depending on your portion sizes.
- It is understood that you have common ingredients in your pantry, such as salt and pepper, so those are not included in the ingredient lists.
- There are 7 dinner ideas each week, in no particular order.
- Scroll down for the recipe links.
- Subscribe to my Newsletter to have these meal plans delivered to your inbox.
- Follow my Facebook page for lots of recipes shared daily.
May Meal Plan Week 3
Need to know
- All recipes are linked at the bottom of this article.
- The grocery list for each of the seven entrées includes the ingredients required for that entrée.
- Ingredients are not included for side dish ideas
- Scroll all the way down for homemade dessert recipes to try this month
1. Bacon-Wrapped Herb Butter Pork Loin
With this easy recipe, bake tender, juicy pork loin slathered in homemade herb butter and wrapped in bacon.
Side Dishes
I recommend the Italian Roasted Cauliflower Steaks Recipe or the Roasted Brussels Sprouts recipe, or stick to an old favorite: rice and green beans.
Grocery List for entrée
- 1/2 stick salted butter, softened to room temperature for the Herb butter
- 1 Tbsp. Herbs de Provence for the Herb butter
- 3-4 Lb. pork loin
- 7-8 slices thick-sliced bacon
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
2. Homemade Easy Swedish Meatballs
These Swedish Meatballs are delicious when served on a bed of cooked egg noodles and garnished with parsley. Save some homemade uncooked meatballs for Hoagie Sandwiches the next day.
Side Dish
If you feel the need for something green, I suggest a simple garden salad. We enjoy also serving this Pear and Cherry Salad with Swedish meatballs.
Grocery List
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 lb. ground mild sausage
- 1 pkg. Beefy Onion Dry Soup Mix
- 1 cup garlic and herb bread crumbs
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 3 Tbsp. olive oil or vegetable oil
- 1 Tbsp. flour
3. BBQ Meatball Hoagie Sandwiches
Use the saved meatballs from the Swedish meatball recipe yesterday. Place the desired number of meatballs into your Crockpot. Cover with your favorite BBQ sauce and cook on low for about 2 hours. Dip them out and make Hoagies for dinner.
Side Dish
These Chili Cheese Tater Tots are a great side dish to go with Meatball Hoagies for a tasty and fun meal.
Grocery List
Leftover, premeditated leftover meatballs from the day before, above. You can use store-bought frozen meatballs or grab these ingredients and make them from scratch.
- leftover meatballs from yesterday
- BBQ Sauce
- Hoagie rolls
- Your choice of sandwich spreads and toppings
4. Crockpot Three Cheese Stuffed Manicotti **Popular recipe
If an Italian meal that is meaty, cheese and delicious is what you’re craving, you’ll love this dish. Totally worth the effort and leftovers are great.
Side Dishes
Since this Manicotti is totally Italian, make this Copycat Olive Garden Salad as your side.
Grocery List
- 2 cups Ricotta Cheese
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese, shredded
- 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 8-oz. pkg. of Manicotti shells, uncooked
- 1 lb. ground beef or ground turkey, browned and drained
- 1 24 oz. jar of Pasta sauce, like Prego spaghetti sauce
- 1 tsp. Garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning, optional
- Salt and pepper to taste
5 Create A Chef Salad Buffet
Eat lighter with less cooking, or possibly no cooking, when you choose from this list of salad toppings. A nice Chef Salad Buffet is a fun meal to have at home.
Side Dishes
No need for a side dish because a Chef salad checks all the boxes. Make these Homemade croutons a day ahead.
Ingredients
Your ingredients for a Salad buffet depend on your personal preferences. This list includes the basics
- Iceberg lettuce
- Romaine lettuce
- Cucumbers
- Tomatoes
- Sunflower seeds
- Crackers
- Salad dressing(s)
6. Shrimp Fried Rice or Chicken Fried Rice
Use your choice of shrimp or grilled chicken to make this popular restaurant dish at home. It is easier than you think and the best part is that it is a one dish dinner. Can be cooked on the Blackstone or in an electric skillet.
Side Dish
No side dish is needed for this hearty meal. Serve bread of your choice if you like.
Grocery List
- 1 1/2 Cups Uncooked White Rice
- 3 Cups Water
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 4 Tbsp. Oil plus 1 additional Tbsp. Oil
- 1/4 Cup plus 2 Tbsp. Soy Sauce
- 2 Eggs beaten
- 1 Cup Frozen Peas and Carrots thawed
- 1 lb. Peeled and Deveined Shrimp or cooked chicken cut into bite-sized chunks
- 1/2 Cup Chopped Onion Optional
- 1 pkg. Fried Rice Seasoning
- Yum Yum Sauce for serving
7 Pork Chop Casserole
An easy dinner to get in the oven. Pork Chop Casserole is made with only a few simple ingredients.
Side Dish
Since the potatoes are cooked with the pork chops, all you need is a green vegetable. Make a batch of Copycat McDonald’s Biscuit Recipe and a pitcher of this Southern Sweet Tea Recipe for a filling dinner.
Grocery List
- 6 Bone-in pork chops, average, not the really thick ones
- 1 Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
- 4-5 medium Red Potatoes sliced thin
- 1 carton of fresh sliced mushrooms rinsed (optional)
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 Tbsp. Smoked Paprika
Scroll down for all of this week’s menu plan recipe links.
May Meal Plan Recipes Week 3
- Bacon-Wrapped Herb Butter Pork Loin Recipe
- Homemade Swedish Meatballs with Egg Noodles recipe
- Meatball Hoagie Sandwiches- leftovers from the day before
- Crockpot Three Cheese Stuffed Manicotti recipe
- Chef Salad recipe (a list of 20+ Chef salad toppings)
- Shrimp Fried Rice recipe
- Pork Chop Casserole recipe
Your thoughts?
Got tips others can use? Questions? I love hearing from you. Please scroll down and leave a comment.
Desserts To Make At Home
- The Ultimate Strawberries and Cream Rice Krispies Treats Recipe
- The Best Rainbow Chip Cookies Recipe
- Homemade Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream
- Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting recipe
- Oatmeal Cream Pie Cupcakes recipe
- Homemade Crescent Apple Turnovers recipe
