What is a 3 course meal? I’m sure you’ve heard the term before. Well, today I’m going to explain exactly what a 3 course meal is, and give some examples. A 3 course meal is a perfect idea for a Valentine’s dinner, so keep reading if you are looking for some inspiration for this year’s holiday.
What Are The Courses In A 3 Course Meal?
I’ve already discussed what a 5 course meal is, and a 3 course meal isn’t very different. It is basically a shrunken down version of the 5 course meal. As one might assume, it has 3 courses instead of 5, making a 3-course meal the better option if your budget is tight.
The type of courses in a 3 course meal can vary, but generally it will include an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert. You could opt to replace dessert with a pre-entree soup or salad if sweets aren’t your thing. Furthermore, you could opt for a soup or salad in place of an appetizer.
Serving meals in courses can help elevate a meal and make it appear fancier. More refined. It’s a great way to dress up even some of your regular dinner ideas and transform them into special moments. Below are some examples I’ve put together:
Italian 3 Course Meal Ideas
Italian-American cuisine offers a great variety of ideas for appetizers. A simple plate of meatballs topped with marinara and mozzarella can work in a pinch. You could opt for some fresh bruschetta, toasted bread with roasted tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of olive oil. Fried ravioli has become a favorite of mine in recent years.
There are even more options when it comes to entrees. Lasagna is an iconic dish in Italian-American cuisine. My homemade lasagna recipe is simple but delicious. Give it a try if you don’t have one of your own. For a similar but different version, try my pizza casserole recipe.
Alfredo is another wonderful entree idea. Chicken is a classic choice, but if you are looking for something totally different and love seafood, give Crawfish alfredo a try! Shrimp alfredo is another phenomenal choice.
Chicken Parmesan is one of my favorite Italian dishes. Sometimes I’ll mix it up and swap the chicken for pork chops and do a pork chop parmesan, which is also delicious.
For dessert, you can’t go wrong with tiramisu. It doesn’t get much more Italian than that. For a simple option, gelato is a great idea. Cannolis are fantastic as well and can be found in most grocery stores.
Southern Style 3 Course Meals
It should come as no surprise that a lot of Southern appetizers are fried. Fried green tomatoes are a Southern delicacy, and they can be easily elevated with a good cream sauce topping. I’m partial to a crawfish cream sauce myself. For a lighter option, fried pickles are a nice treat.
Chicken and pork dominate Southern entrees. You can’t go wrong with fried chicken or Southern fried pork chops. If you are going with a fried appetizer and don’t want to double up on fried food, chicken and dumplings are an excellent Southern-style entree.
For a classic Southern dessert, sweet potato pie is hard to beat. Banana pudding is another favorite, especially in the warmer months.
Seafood Meals
To start off our seafood 3 course meal, shrimp cocktail is the way to go. You can make your own cocktail sauce with just a handful of ingredients: ketchup, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice. This option is both delicious and visually appealing.
Another fine choice for an appetizer is oysters. They can be served raw or cooked on the half shell. Just know that raw oysters will not be everyone’s cup of tea, so plan according to your audience. An alternative that just about anyone will enjoy is fried crab claws.
For entrees, I love serving fish over rice with a sauce on top. This meal can be tailored to almost anyone’s taste. Southern fried catfish is a delicious choice as well. If the budget is big enough, snow crab legs are sure to impress.
There are not many seafood based desserts to choose from, but beignets are a good fill in. Topped with powdered sugar and dipped in your favorite dessert sauce, beignets are the perfect end to a delicious seafood dinner!
