Fire up the grill with my favorite Memorial Day recipes! From juicy grilled mains to crisp summer salads and frozen drinks, these crowd-pleasers make hosting easy and fun.
Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and what better way to celebrate than with a backyard barbecue or potluck? Every year, Alex and I fire up the grill and get ready for our favorite summer flavors!
I have one rule about this holiday: keep it simple! The whole point is to be outside with people, not stuck in the kitchen, right? So I like to plan a Memorial Day cookout around things easy to prep ahead or that cook fast on the grill. Here’s a collection of Memorial Day recipes I come back to every year: tested across summers of grilling and approved by the real humans who sit at my table.
My Favorite Memorial Day Recipes
First up in my Memorial Day recipes, pasta salad! This recipe is ideal for holiday cookouts or summer picnics and potlucks. Packed with colorful vegetables, herbs, and a tangy dressing, this dish is a total crowd-pleaser. Also try my myMediterranean Pasta Salad, Greek Pasta Salad, or Pesto Pasta Salad.
Master the art of juicy, perfectly seasoned grilled chicken breast! Everyone will love this ultra-moist piece of meat that melts in your mouth. Use this method and you’ll never have bland, boring chicken again!
This cucumber salad is perfect for barbecues and picnics, a refreshing mix of tangy and salty sliced cucumbers and onions. The thinly sliced cucumbers and onions are salty, tangy, and lightly sweet all at once, and totally addicting.
Memorial Day is all about the grill and corn on the cob. So got a load of summer corn? Grilling makes it smoky, tender, charred, and sweet: a crunchy blast that hits every flavor receptor in your tongue. If you’re not making yours like this: you haven’t lived (yet!).
Meet the perfect grilled salmon! It’s my tried-and-true easy method that comes out tender with a lightly crisp crust. Even better, it’s sprinkled with my tasty magical seasoning blend. This salmon seasoning tastes so good, you’ll want to put it on everything—you might never make salmon without it again.
Memorial Day is all about the salad table, and this cauliflower salad bursts with flavor! A creamy dressing complements the crisp cauliflower, sun-dried tomatoes add tang, and toasted pine nuts bring a delightful crunch.
Here's my spin on that classic American potato salad recipe, the kind that’s creamy and tangy sweet, loaded with crunchy onions and pickles. It’s that pale yellow color that betrays that it’s swirled with mayo and mustard, and it’s destined for stardom at your next cookout or picnic.
This black bean and corn salad comes together in no time, perfect as a last minute Memorial Day recipe! It’s zingy and refreshing, with a burst of sweetness from corn and zingy lime. It will become your “back pocket” idea for everything: bring it to cookouts and picnics, eat it as a side or in bowl meals, or even dip it with tortilla chips!
This American classic has been a Memorial Day recipe for generations. Here’s our spin on that bean salad of our youth, with a little more complexity and freshness. But don’t worry: it’s still an easy three bean salad that’s as easy as dump and stir.
Here’s a fun summer appetizer that pleases nearly everyone! It's stunning and irresistibly tasty, spearing all the components of a Caprese salad onto a skewer. There’s nothing better than basil and tomatoes in summer, and combined with seasoned mozzarella and a balsamic glaze.
This grilled veggie burger tastes amazing and doesn’t fall apart on the grill, either! This burger is delicious and savory, brushed with BBQ sauce and topped with all the toppings (we like guacamole for an even more savory hit of flavor). The perfect Memorial Day recipe!
Here's a fun Memorial Day recipe that's always a hit: grilled chicken salad! You’ve got juicy chicken, crunchy lettuce, and veggies, all nestled together with our favorite Italian vinaigrette dressing, zingy pepperoncini, and shaved Parmesan.
Grilled shrimp is absolutely perfect for Memorial Day! It’s so simple and the juicy, seasoned flavor has our hearts every time. It’s extremely versatile and you can serve it with rice and grilled vegetables, in a grain bowl, on skewers, or in tacos.
Elote, aka Mexican grilled corn, is one of our top summer side dishes: the smoky sweet corn kernels slathered in a'yecreamy sauce are the epitome of delicious. Here's a fabulous way to eat the same flavors: elote salad, which pairs grilled corn with a tangy sauce and bursts of salty cheese.
This easy bow tie pasta salad has become a favorite when it comes to summer salads! Pair the chewy noodles with tomatoes, fresh herbs, and feta cheese, then swirl it with a quick and easy vinaigrette dressing. It’s a quick side dish that everyone will love!
Grilled chicken thighs are where it’s at for Memorial Day! Marinate them in a zingy mixture of Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce and spices, then throw them on the grill and cook until they’re juicy and infused with smoky flavor. You can make either grilled boneless chicken thighs or bone-in with this recipe.
This dill pickle chicken salad is any pickle lovers dream! With tangy pickles, creamy dressing, and tender chicken, it’s a protein-packed meal that comes together in just 20 minutes and stays delicious all week. For an easy vegetarian swap—use mashed chickpeas instead!
This classic combination of sweet juice melon and salty cheese is one of summer’s great pleasures. This summer salad has grown to massive popularity in recent years, and for good reason: it’s fast and easy to make, and has a lazy, laid-back vibe that screams flip flops, pool parties, and picnics.
Cooking for plant-based eaters on Memorial Day? Try grilled tofu, charred to perfection and brushed with a sweet and savory marinade. Tofu is a healthy grilled dinner idea that’s full of plant-based protein! You might even convert the meat eaters when they take a taste—it’s absolutely delicious.
Here's a fun Memorial Day recipe: chicken tacos! The juicy chicken strips are seasoned to perfection, nestled into a tortilla with guacamole, cheese crumbles and topped with a zingy lime crema. It works on the stovetop or grilled. We just made it for a dinner party with ranch water and black bean and corn salad, and everyone raved.
This orzo pasta salad is bursting with flavor and the perfect accessory for any meal. It stars the tender pasta grains with crunchy veggies, salty feta cheese, fresh herbs and a zippy vinaigrette dressing.
Salsa made with corn is zingy and bright, with sweet pops from the kernels and a zingy flavoring of lime, cilantro and cumin. Use it for dipping tortilla chips at a Memorial Day cookout and everyone will rave.
If you’re looking for a fun grilled fish recipe, this flaky tilapia is bursting with savory, smoky flavor. Top it with sweet and tender blistered cherry tomatoes and it looks stunning. It’s the ideal summer meal for a Memorial Day recipe.
Broccolini looks fancy without any extra work, and we think it tastes even better than broccoli! It’s great with a spritz of fresh lemon juice, or you could shower with Parmesan or add a creamy sauce. It’s one of our favorite grilled side dishes: try it with grilled chicken, grilled shrimp, or grilled salmon and a Hugo spritz for the perfect patio party.
Meet a favorite vegetarian and vegan Memorial Day recipe idea: the Falafel Burger! We don’t always have the energy to fry up a batch of falafel. So eating it in burger form is the next best thing! The combination of a cumin and coriander-scented chickpea patty with cool cucumber sauce is pretty epic.
When it comes to grilled dinner ideas for Memorial Day, there’s not much quicker than seafood. Let us introduce you to our new favorite: these Grilled Shrimp Skewers! Adding shrimp to skewers for grilling makes them easy to turn, and the presentation is simply stunning.
There’s nothing like the honeyed sweetness of a juicy mango, and here’s a fresh way to accessorize it. Pair it with cool cucumber, crunchy bell pepper, and herbaceous mint and cilantro, then cover it all in a honey lime dressing. It’s irresistibly refreshing and a versatile side dish for any Memorial Day dinner.
Throw cubes of this juicy summer fruit together with lime, jalapeño, and cilantro, and it’s an unexpected spin on the classic Mexican dip. Spoon in mouthfuls with tortilla chips, or it’s great for serving with grilled fish, chicken or tacos. It’s perfect for parties, and this bowl always disappears very quickly at our house!
Turns out, the grill is the ideal way to cook this green summer vegetable. Take a bite and it’s tender, with a burst of sweet, tangy, salty and charred flavor. Throw green beans on the grill and it's a great idea for a Memorial Day side dish.
Everything tastes better on a stick, right? This is a simple concept that’s more like an idea than a recipe: but it makes everyone go crazy for pure, fresh fruit. Use whatever fruits you like and if desired, serve with our favorite fruit dip.
Strawberries are a natural flavor pairing with the acidity of balsamic vinegar. Our favorite balsamic vinaigrette dressing perfectly accentuates the bright red sweet berries. Paired with red onions and toasted almonds, it’s a simple and delicious side everyone loves!
Here’s a recipe that’s ideal as a Memorial Day cookout recipe: hummus dip! This one even doubles as a tasty snack or a light dinner with a few other filling appetizers. Spread hummus on a platter or in a bowl, then top with cool cucumber, tomatoes, olives, artichokes and feta cheese.
This dip is 3 ingredients, takes 2 minutes, and tastes like a dream. No need to buy store-bought dip, which is often overly sweet or artificial tasting. This one tastes beautifully natural, simply sweet, and a base of Greek yogurt keeps it healthy and natural.
The best Memorial Day drink recipe? Homemade lemonade with real lemons! Make it at home with fresh squeezed citrus, and you’ll find out why this beverage became so popular in the first place. Also try our Raspberry Lemonade, Fresh Pink Lemonade, Watermelon Lemonade, or Lavender Lemonade.
Here’s an icy treat that’s a perfect Memorial Day drink recipe: a Watermelon Slushie! Blend ripe melon, lime juice, and a little sweetener and you’ve got one deliciously refreshing sweet puree to sip. This drink is ultra refreshing for summer, and a hit with adults and kids alike.
A Hugo Spritz a fun refreshing drink for the holiday, a cocktail made with delicate floral elderflower liqueur and bubbly Prosecco, which complement each other perfectly. It’s nuanced and lightly sweet, compared to the bold sweetness of an Aperol spritz.
This frozen lemonade is the ultimate tangy and refreshing drink! The burst of icy, citrusy flavor will make you melt. Even better, you don’t have to wait hours for anything to freeze: just whip it up with 3 ingredients on demand in a blender!
Here's a drink that's the ideal Memorial Day recipe: ranch water! It’s taken the country by storm and vaulted into popularity as one of the top summer drinks. It’s like a bubbly, lighter spin on the margarita, with all the tangy citrus but less sweetness and booze.
Here’s summer’s best treat, if you can find a bunch of those magical pinkish-green stalks: rhubarb crisp! This homey dessert is absolute summer nostalgia: each bite is a burst of gooey, sweet tart candy topped with a golden oat crumble. Also try Strawberry Crumble or Blueberry Crisp.
Did you know you can make homemade frozen yogurt with only 3 ingredients? Our whole family goes crazy for this homemade frozen yogurt! It’s tangy, creamy, and full of bold flavor. Essentially a Greek yogurt ice cream, it works as topping for fruit desserts or with its own with all the fun froyo toppings.
Want a Memorial Day recipe everyone will be talking about? Try our best-ever fresh strawberry pie! It highlights the summery ripe berry flavor, perfectly sweet tart with a delicious hint of cinnamon. The flavor is almost beyond words.
Last up: a classic Memorial Day recipe is lemon bars! Here, a zingy lemon custard topping layers over a thick shortbread layer, making the best textural contrast of gooey versus crunchy. It’s got just the right burst of lemon and hint of vanilla in the shortbread.
Building Your Memorial Day Menu
When I’m sketching out a spread, I think in five buckets. Hit two or three of these and you’ve got a complete cookout:
- Grilled foods are a staple of any Memorial Day cookout, like burgers, grilled salmon or chicken, and veggie burgers or tofu. Grilled vegetables make great side dishes, like smoky corn on the cob, asparagus, zucchini, and bell peppers.
- Summer salads are a must: a welcome contrast to the heavier grilled options. There’s everything from crisp green salads, pasta salads, potato salads, bean salads, and more.
- Dips and finger foods make the meal fun: like creamy guacamole, spicy salsa, fruit skewers, dill pickle dip, or a classic hummus.
- Summer drinks are the most fun, like lemonade, iced tea, and infused water are all excellent choices. Or make summer cocktails like a watermelon mojito or a blueberry margarita.
- Desserts go big on seasonal fruits like strawberries, blueberries, and peaches. Bake them into cobblers, pies, or throw them fresh over shortcake biscuits with whipped cream.
More Summer Recipes To Try
Memorial Day is all about summer salad, grilled items, fun frozen drinks, and fruit desserts! Here are a few more ideas for your holiday planning:
- Try our top Summer Recipes, Summer Salad Recipes, or Summer Vegetarian Recipes.
- Make Summer Cocktails, Frozen Alcoholic Drinks, or Lemonade Recipes.
- Mix up our best fun Summer Appetizers.
- Try all our Top Grill Recipes or make all the Summer Desserts.
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