Looking for recipes to make during May? Look no farther than this May Monthly Meal Plan, which includes various recipes to make! Featuring for Cinco de Mayo recipes, Kentucky Derby drinks and treats, Memorial Day fare and more, this monthly recipe list covers these seasonal dishes to make for all.
2025 Update: This monthly meal plan was originally shared in May 2018. It has been updated to include more information, as well as a larger variety of May recipes. I hope you love it and find it helpful!
May is SUCH a foodie month, and I’m super pumped to be sharing a Monthly Meal Plan that highlights recipes for the Kentucky Derby, Cinco de Mayo and Memorial Day weekend with y’all!
To be honest… those are basically the only things covered, but have no fear: I’ve got appetizers, entrees, drinks AND desserts for each of ’em, so there’s plenty to make, even if it’s not for one of these events/holidays.
Like previous months, I’m sharing some of my dishes and recipes to make in this month’s monthly meal plan of sorts.
Please note that I won’t break it down by the day and a specific meal every week, so if you’re looking for a menu planning resource that’s going to give you three complete meals for every day of the month, this isn’t for you.
What should I cook in the month of May?
Well, that depends on you and what you plan to do during this month. It also depends on where you live.
I live in the South, which means that my farmer’s markets have more produce options right now than those of you who are still coming out of winter.
Personally, I’m into all the fresh produce I can get my hands on this time of year.
No matter what sounds good to you for this month, we have all kinds of recipes for May that include options for all kinds of tastebuds. Many of them emphasize fresh fruits and veggies because that’s what it’s all about.
As always, we focus on seasonal produce and easy recipes that are great to share, so there is PLENTY inspiration for you below.
What is in season in the month of May?
There are so many delicious things that are harvested during May, though many of these products are determined by where you live. (Again: if you eat based on the season and what’s being harvested in your area any given month, your plate will look different than mine if you live in Minnesota since I live in Texas.)
Generally speaking, here are some items in season during May:
You will be able to find lots of fruits at the markets. Think melons (like cantaloupe, honeydew and maybe a few early watermelons), figs, some strawberries, etc.
It’s still a little early for stone fruit like apricots, nectarines and peaches, though you might find some early ones, depending on where you live. (Pro tip: local stone fruit is far and away better than stone fruit shipped across the country.)
In addition to these fruits, you’ll find lots of warmer weather veggies available, too. Greens, like spinach, broccoli and carrots are excellent this time of year. May is time for potatoes to be harvested, as well as onions, radishes, parsnips and turnips.
Summer vegetables, like tomatoes (including beefsteak, heirloom, cherry and more), cucumbers and some squash might be available, too, though this is very dependent on where you live and what the weather has been like.
As always, be on the lookout for fresh local produce at your farmers market. That is the best place to find them!
More monthly meal plans:
If you’re in the market for more seasonal menus and recipes, we’ve got them for you here…
The annual running of the roses happens on the first Saturday in May. Since I’m a lifelong horse racing fan, y’all know I have some goodies for you to enjoy that day, whether you’re watching solo or hosting a crowd to cheer on those horses…
1
How to make a Mint Julep
The Mint Julep is a classic bourbon drink for a reason. Calling for just three ingredients, this mint julep recipe highlights the best bourbon and fresh mint. It’s perfect to sip on a warm day.
Celebrate the Kentucky Derby in style with Mini Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pies! Bourbon, chocolate and pecans make for a delightfully sweet filling inside a cream cheese crust. Paired with bourbon, these bite-sized pies are the perfect Derby Day treat!
These Classic Deviled Eggs are the best finger food for any get-together. Calling for a handful of ingredients and ready in about 45 minutes, this Southern-style deviled egg recipe strikes the perfect balance in a single bite. Learn how to make these and my secret ingredient that takes them to the next level!
Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies with Walnuts and Bourbon
Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies with Walnuts and Bourbon are the perfect baked treat for the Kentucky Derby… or any occasion! This delicious twist on a classic chocolate chip cookie recipe calls for brown butter AND a shot of bourbon. The resulting cookies are perfect, straddling the line between gooey and crunchy.
Celebrate Kentucky Derby Week by mixing homemade Blueberry Mint Juleps! This twist on the classic Mint Julep recipe has spring flavors and is utterly delicious.
A twist on the classic Kentucky Derby fan-favorite pie, Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Hand Pies make a delightful hand-held dessert for Derby Day… or any other! Wrap these hand pies in a homemade pie crust, made with butter and bourbon, and fill with bittersweet chocolate, pecan pieces and bourbon. Bake, then serve at room temperature. Easy to carry and enjoy on-the-go, Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Hand Pies are the perfect sweet for summer entertaining!
Step up your adult popsicle game this summer by making Peach Julep Popsicles! These bourbon-y, peachy, minty and oh-so-refreshing pops are what you’ll want to enjoy on a hot summer day! Homemade mint simple syrup serves as the base, and that’s blended with fresh (or frozen) peaches and bourbon. Freeze until solid, put in the popsicle sticks, then enjoy! If you’re a fan of traditional juleps and enjoy a stiff drink, these popsicles are for you!
Hosting folks for a party this weekend? Bourbon Pecan Brownies are a unique dessert! Dense, chocolate and pecan-filled brownies sing with bourbon flavor and are perfect for a crowd.
May 5th is Cinco de Mayo! While this is not the celebration of Mexican Independence (that's in September), these are some great food and drinks to make and share.
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Caramelized Onion Guacamole
Caramelized Onion Guacamole is your run-of-the-mill guacamole… with a twist! Instead of using tomatoes, herbs and avocados, this recipe calls for sautéed onions, caramelized with balsamic vinegar. Once the onions cool to room temperature, mix them into sliced avocados with lime juice, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper and salt-free creole seasoning. Serve with tortilla chips to make the perfect appetizer for any get together.
Skirt Steak Tacos are the BEST dinner to make! Made with marinated skirt steak for tacos and served with your favorite taco toppings, these Skirt Steak Tacos are great for a weeknight meal or feeding a crowd.
Pork Carnitas Enchiladas are a delicious entree for your Cinco de Mayo get-together! Pork simmers in the slow cooker on low all day. Once the meat is fall-apart tender, it is shredded. Combine it with onion and green chiles in a skillet, brown the ingredients slightly, then roll it up. The enchiladas are slathered in spicy enchilada sauce and baked until crisped on the edges. This entree is best served immediately, though it does freeze well!
Turn vine-ripened tomatoes into Roasted Tomato Salsa! This easy salsa recipe highlights beautiful fresh tomatoes (heirlooms or others) with serrano and jalapeño peppers, red onion, garlic and lime. Serve this homemade salsa with tortilla chips all summer long.
These soft shell Ground Beef Tacos are a simple meal to make any weeknight. Ground beef is cooked with onion and garlic, then simmered in vegetable broth before serving atop your favorite tortillas. Top with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and more, then enjoy warm!
15
Black Bean Dip
Start any party off on the right foot with this delightful vegan Black Bean Dip. Perfectly spicy and seasoned to impress, this dip goes wonderfully with fajitas, guacamole and various other TexMex dishes. The black beans are cooked down with onions, a green bell pepper, a jalapeño, oregano, bay leaves, sage, chili powder, cumin, orange juice, lime juice, rice wine vinegar and salt until they fall apart. Serve with tortilla chips to create the perfect vegan gameday appetizer.
Brighten up happy hour with a homemade Strawberry Margarita! These margaritas, made simple using margarita mix and fresh strawberry puree, are a warm weather classic for a crowd. Mix the ingredients in a cocktail shaker before pouring into salt-rimmed glasses. Serve immediately. These cocktails are a fun twist on the classic and incredibly easy to mix for one or more. Perfect for happy hour, mom's night in, Cinco de Mayo and more!
Blackened Shrimp Tacos with a crunchy coleslaw are the BEST entree to make at your football tailgate! Shrimp are liberally sprinkled with homemade blackening seasoning, then cooked. Flour (or corn!) tortillas are warmed on the grill. When the elements of the dish are ready, the shrimp are served atop a (made-at-home) Asian-inspired coleslaw that features green cabbage, toasted almonds, toasted Ramen noodles and a honey vinaigrette. These Blackened Shrimp Tacos go great with beer and are easily transported as you peruse your team’s tailgate scene!
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo or a regular weeknight dinner with Chipotle Lime Spicy Beer Can Chicken! Slather a whole chicken with homemade spicy Chipotle Lime Butter, then roast atop a beer can for additional flavor and moisture. When done, rest the golden brown chicken, then slice and serve. Moist and flavorful, this whole chicken pairs perfectly with a favorite beer, rice, guacamole and more! Let’s make Chipotle Lime Spicy Beer Can Chicken tonight!
If you’re looking how to make a nonalcoholic margarita or a virgin margarita, you’re in the right place! This 4-ingredient mocktail is simple to make at home and doesn’t require any specialty ingredients!
Elevate taco night at home with this delicious Turkey Taco Salad. Sauté ground turkey, onions and black beans, then place on a bed of spinach with toppings. Finish with a drizzle with a homemade Catalina dressing. Easy to personalize, this Turkey Taco Salad is well-loved and perfect for a weeknight meal.
Looking for a simple dinner that's great for a family but also for sharing? These cheesy Chicken and Zucchini Enchiladas are smothered in homemade red enchilada sauce and make for an amazing, hearty meal.
Margarita Cupcakes with Salted Tequila Frosting make the PERFECT dessert for Cinco de Mayo, taco Tuesday, ladies night and more! This dairy free recipe, which makes SIX cupcakes, tastes like its boozy namesake. Lime zest and lime juice add tartness to the batter. Once baked, decorate with salty-sweet tequila frosting, then serve. Moist and flavorful, Margarita Cupcakes with Salted Tequila Icing are sure to be a winner at your next get-together!
Memorial Day Weekend is the “official” start of summer, so many of us like to fire up our grills and enjoy the good weather before the heat of summer comes on. Below are some of our favorites to make and enjoy outdoors.
23
Pulled Pork Coleslaw Eggrolls
A Southern classic combined with an Asian favorite makes this delightful mash-up. Homemade Pulled Pork (in a tangy barbecue sauce!) is made in the slow cooker, then creamy coleslaw, made with yogurt instead of mayo, is tossed together. Roll the pulled pork and coleslaw into eggroll wrappers, fry, then serve with the creamy coleslaw dipping sauce. Pulled Pork Coleslaw Eggrolls are a tasty appetizer to enjoy at a sports watching party!
This weekend, let’s be adventurous and grill up some Cheeseburger Kebabs! This twist on a cheeseburger offers a unique way to enjoy a summertime classic! And they can be made in advance, too. Mix flavorful, all-beef patties with cheddar cheese, then skewer with bacon, red onion, tomatoes, pickles and burger buns. Grill on both sides until perfectly cooked and serve with burger condiments. Cheeseburger Kebabs will be all the rage this summer!
Fire up the grill and make the BEST Turkey Burgers today!These grilled turkey burgers are delicious year-round and incredibly easy to make if you know what you’re doing! Top them with lettuce, tomatoes, condiments and more and serve ‘em to your favorite people for any occasion.
Summertime is the season of barbecue… so it’s time to learn how to make a barbecue classic. Even though ribs take time, they’re well worth the effort, and these Memphis-Style Barbecue Ribs are PERFECT for any summer get-together. Seasoned with homemade barbecue dry rub, these ribs cook low and slow for hours. Finish this nod to the Memphis dry rib on the grill or in the broiler, and serve with traditional barbecue sides to complete the feast!
Sauerkraut Burgers with Oven Fried Pickles and Sweet Sriracha Sauce
Up your burger game by making this sweet-spicy-savory Sauerkraut Burgers with Oven Fried Pickles and Sweet Sriracha Sauce. This recipe, which we’ve dubbed the “Sweet and Sauer” Burger, feeds a crowd with pizzazz. These all-beef burgers are topped with sauerkraut, homemade oven fried pickles and a flavorful sweet Sriracha sauce. Sauerkraut Burgers with Oven Fried Pickles and Sweet Sriracha Sauce are sure to be a hit this season!
Fire up the grill and serve Classic Salmon Burgers to the whole family! These simple salmon burgers highlight the freshness and flavor of Alaskan sockeye salmon. Combine bite-sized salmon pieces with an egg, panko breadcrumbs, soy sauce, lemon zest and seasonings to create the patties, then cook on a grill pan (or outside on the grill) for the ultimate fish burger! Serve with fresh avocado slices and lettuce, then enjoy immediately. SO tasty!
Grilled Hamburger Sliders with Bacon Cherry Compote
Fire up the grill this summer and make a twist on a classic: Beef Sliders with homemade Bacon Cherry Compote! Juicy USDA choice beef burgers are topped with a smoky-sweet-tart compote to make the ultimate summertime entertaining finger food!
Creamy Classic Potato Salad is the perfect side dish for any occasion, especially a summertime potluck. This 7-ingredient old fashioned potato salad recipe is easy to make and absolutely delicious.
Sweetened with honey and barbecue sauce and spiced with Bloody Mary Mix and Sriracha, these Sriracha Baked Beans are a tasty side dish for any summertime get-together.
Red White and Blue Popsicles are a colorful, naturally sweet dessert to make for the hot months ahead. This healthy popsicle recipe is made with fresh fruit, Greek yogurt and sweetened with maple syrup. Perfect for any patriotic gathering or a backyard barbecue!
Celebrate the summertime with Patriotic Strawberry Bruschetta. This dessert bruschetta features a homemade almond pudding, lemon curd, macerated strawberries and blueberries, too! Red, white and blue, these Patriotic Strawberry Bruschetta are the perfect dessert to serve to a crowd, whether you’re celebrating Memorial Day weekend, July 4th or even Labor Day. Festive, colorful and utterly delicious, this dessert bruschetta is sure to impress!
Dairy Free Blackberry Cobbler is the ultimate summertime dessert. Blackberries are tossed in sugar and lemon zest, then roast beneath a cobbler topping. Serve with a scoop of your favorite (dairy free) ice cream to top off this scrumptious treat.
Warm weather calls for warm weather sippers! With the impending summer weather, it’s time we busted out some of our fave drinks for the season. Below, you’ll find recipes that feature fresh fruits and unique blends.
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Honeysuckle Cherry Smash
The Cherry Smash with Honeysuckle Vodka is a favorite summertime cocktail. Calling for just six ingredients, this cherry vodka drink is easy to mix at home and so refreshing. Switch it up and use bourbon, rum or plain vodka in place of the honeysuckle vodka!
Easy homemade Blueberry Lemonade Vodka is the perfect summertime mixed drink. This blender drink mixes together in no time and features frozen blueberries, so you can enjoy it any time of year.
Spiked Watermelon Limeade is the pitcher drink of our dreams! This beautiful pink cocktail highlights just four ingredients for the ultimate summertime cocktail: watermelon, mint, lime and vodka. Puree watermelon chunks, then strain, and add to a pitcher with freshly squeezed lime juice and homemade mint simple syrup. Pour in vodka and chill, then serve to your besties! Refreshing and summery, this Spiked Watermelon Limeade makes a tasty sipper!
Hot weather and long days calls for a Blackberry Ginger White Wine Slush! This adult slushy is what the warm months need, and it’s so simple to make! Puree fresh or frozen blackberries with white wine in the blender, then freeze overnight. Once the mixture is the correct consistency, scoop into cocktail glasses and top with ginger ale. Tart and oh-so-delicious, these Blackberry Ginger White Wine Slushes are sure to become a summertime favorite!
The bubbly Strawberry Honeysuckle Sparkler is a 4-ingredient summertime cocktail featuring fresh strawberries and honeysuckle vodka. This strawberry cocktail recipe is made in the blender and easy to share!
A Blackberry Red Wine Spritzer is a refreshing warm weather drink. This wine spritzer recipe mixes up in less than 5 minutes and requires just a handful of ingredients. Makes 1 blackberry cocktail.
Homemade peach margaritas are a wonderful summertime sipper! This 5-ingredient peach margarita recipe involves real peaches (not peach-flavored liqueur) and mixes up in a blender in less than 10 minutes.
Enjoy a cool Vodka Lemonade with Raspberry! This refreshing warm weather cocktail calls for just three ingredients—Pinnacle® Original Vodka, DeKuyper® Razzmatazz® Liqueur and lemonade—and mixes up in a flash. While the recipe makes enough for one drink, you can easily double, triple or quadruple it for a crowd for laid back entertaining. No matter what you mix it for, this Pinnacle® Lemonade with Raspberry is a perfect summertime sipper!
Cool off with a Blackberry Gin Slush this summer! This cocktail mixes frozen blackberries with ginger ale, mint and gin and makes a delightful, chilled creation that's hard to stop sipping.
Cool off this summer with homemade Watermelon Frosé! A classic frozen cocktail made with rosé wine, this frosé is simple, slightly sweet and utterly delicious.
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
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