43+ Memorial Day Recipes

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By:Kimberly Vargo Last updated:
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Find the best Memorial Day recipes to kickstart your summer with a bang! Try everything from juicy stuffed burgers and refreshing pasta salad to bbq grilled chicken. Don’t forget to try our delicious mojitos and decadent peanut butter pie at your holiday get togethers!

Close up photo of a hamburger with cheese.

Looking for the best Memorial Day recipes to make your cookout one to remember? The best holiday spreads are built around dishes that are easy to pull together, big on flavor, and fun to share. From juicy stuffed burgers and smoky slow-cooked ribs to fresh pasta salads and fruity summer cocktails, this collection has something for everyone at the table.

One of the best things about Memorial Day cooking is the variety. You can go all in on the grill, set up a slow cooker to do the heavy lifting, or throw together a handful of no-cook sides and desserts that come together in minutes. Mix and match however you like because there are no rules at a cookout!

A few of my personal favorites from this list are the Juicy Lucy Burgers and the Frozen Peanut Butter Pie. The burgers are always a showstopper and the pie is the kind of easy, no-bake dessert that disappears before the main course is even finished.

Whether you are hosting a big backyard bash or keeping it low-key with family, the right recipes make all the difference. Browse through everything below and pick your favorites to build out the ultimate Memorial Day menu!

Top down view strawberry tequila cocktail with lemon slice.
Strawberry Paloma
Strawberry Paloma is a twist on the traditional paloma. It's full of fresh strawberries, honey, ginger beer, grapefruit soda, and tequila.
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White serving dish full of crock pot baked beans.
Crock Pot Baked Beans
These Crock Pot Baked Beans are made with beans infused with flavor from bacon, onion, and pepper and smothered in a sweet and tangy sauce. 
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Gray bowl filled with pasta salad.
Pesto Pasta Salad
Pesto Pasta Salad is full of rotini pasta, mozzarella pearls, olives, cherry tomatoes and basil, then tossed with fresh basil pesto. It's an easy side dish for your next picnic or potluck.
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Top down view of strawberry cobbler on a plate.
Fresh Strawberry Cobbler
This easy strawberry cobbler is made with fresh strawberries and a soft, buttery, cake-like crust. The strawberries bake into a sweet, syrupy filling that’s perfect with vanilla ice cream.
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Close up view of sliced sirloin steak on a plate.
How to Cook a Sirloin Steak
Learn how to cook a sirloin steak with a simple red wine vinegar and garlic marinade, then pan-sear it in butter to your perfect doneness.
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The finished orange in a two quart pitcher with spout.
Orange Drink
A fun and fizzy orange drink that your whole family can enjoy! All you need are two ingredients to create this bubbly kid-friendly orange soda.
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Dill pickle dip topped with chopped pickles in a small bowl.
Crunchy Dill Pickle Dip
A creamy, crunchy dill pickle dip made with four ingredients that's ready in minutes! Serve it with pretzel chips, veggies, or anything you desire.
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Slice of peanut butter pie with crushed peanuts.
Frozen Peanut Butter Pie
My easy frozen peanut butter pie is made with simple ingredients like peanut butter, Cool Whip, cream cheese, and powdered sugar, and can be assembled in just 10 minutes or less.
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Top down view of a summer snack board.
Baseball Snack Board
Celebrate the baseball season, a themed birthday party, or even after a school win with this Baseball Snack Board!
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Fried okra on a plate.
Southern Fried Okra Recipe
This Breaded Fried Okra is made with fresh okra pods dipped in a mixture of buttermilk and savory spices, then coated in a light breading and fried to perfection. 
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Raspberry Italian soda in two tall glasses.
Raspberry Italian Soda Recipe
A brisk and refreshing raspberry flavored Italian soda. Craving a cream soda, we got you covered. Nothing quenches your thirst better than a bubbly drink!
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White bowl filled with spicy firecracker crackers.
Firecracker Crackers
This Alabama Firecracker Recipe is the perfect afternoon snack! Classic saltines are amped up with a burst of ranch flavor, savory garlic, and spicy red pepper flakes to fire these crackers up.
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An aerial picture of the grilled shrimp skewers, over rice, with a square bowl of key lime aioli.
Grilled Shrimp with Key Lime Aioli
A fast and easy grilled shrimp appetizer that mixes savory seafood seasoning with tart and tangy key lime dipping sauce. It’s sure to be a BBQ favorite!
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Instant Pot potato salad topped with chopped eggs and chives.
Instant Pot Potato Salad
Instant Pot Potato Salad makes an easy side dish for potlucks, picnics, and barbecues. It's full of all the classic ingredients like potatoes, eggs, onions, and a savory mayonnaise dressing only it's prepared in less time.
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Fresh strawberry pie topped with glossy sliced berries.
Fresh Strawberry Pie Recipe
This fresh strawberry pie has juicy berries in a pre-baked crust, and uses a shiny strawberry Jell-O glaze. It's an easy, make-ahead dessert!
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Glass mug filled with cherry limeade next to fresh lime wedges.
Easy Cherry Limeade Recipe
Our easy cherry limeade is the perfect cold drink any time of year. We make it with lemon lime soda, fresh lime juice, and a homemade cherry simple syrup
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The crab dip has baked and topped with green onions.
Hot Crab Dip Recipe
This creamy dip features jumbo lump crab meat with a special blend of seasonings. It's a hot crab dip infused with the flavors of Southwest Florida!
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Close up view of boneless pork ribs.
Slow Cooker Country Style Boneless Pork Ribs
Slow cooker country style boneless pork ribs cook low and slow in BBQ sauce for tender, saucy pork with easy prep and big flavor.
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Pea salad in a bowl with cheese and crumbled bacon on top.
Green Pea Salad Recipe
A tasty but simple green pea salad with bacon, and a mayonnaise and vinegar based dressing. It’s the best salad for your next grilling get together!
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Cobbler and ice cream on a plate.
Blackberry Cobbler
Blackberry Cobbler – Juicy, tangy blackberries are surrounded by a sweet golden brown crust.
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Margarita in a glass with ice and lime wheels.
Classic Margarita Recipe
Perfectly balanced, made from scratch, and simple to prepare! Our classic margarita recipe takes less than 5 minutes make. So, grab the tequila and triple sec and let's make cocktails!
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Close up view of a bowl of salsa.
Serrano Salsa
Our Serrano Salsa has the perfect blend of rich tomato, cumin, garlic, cilantro, and onion flavors giving it a restaurant-quality taste you’re sure to love.
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Italian sausage sandwiches with cheese.
Italian Sausage Sandwich
Italian Sausage Sandwiches are great for a backyard grill session or for dinner with friends! These sandwiches are a must for summer.
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Chicken Caesar pasta salad in a serving dish.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad pairs two classic dishes and only takes about 20 minutes to prepare.
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Bite taken out of a Mississippi Mud Cake.
Easy Mississippi Mud Cake (with Box Cake)
Warm chocolate cake, sweet and gooey marshmallows, and homemade fudge icing poured over top… this Mississippi Mud Cake is a lesson in decadence!
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Two rum drinks with rum, pineapple, and cherry.
Easy Malibu Sunset Cocktail (with Pineapple Juice)
Malibu sunset blends coconut rum, pineapple and orange juice with grenadine for a single-serve tropical drink.
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Easy tomato bruschetta with fresh basil on a black dish.
Tomato Basil Bruschetta
Our tomato basil bruschetta is a made with ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, onion, olive oil, and a little garlic. It's an easy appetizer idea!
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Gray plate with mahi mahi fillets.
Grilled Mahi Mahi
This easy recipe for Grilled Mahi Mahi shows you exactly how to grill Mahi Mahi using a griddle pan or outdoor grill. Serve grilled mahi-mahi in tacos or burritos, or as the main protein along with your favorite side dishes. 
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Top down view of Mexican street corn pasta salad in a serving dish.
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad takes traditional pasta salad and adds in the unique flavors of Mexican street corn (elote). Packed with roasted corn, spicy jalapenos, savory red onion, a bust of lime juice, and tangy queso fresco, all tossed together with elbow macaroni and a creamy sour cream sauce. Perfect for summer picnics, barbecues, or family get togethers.
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Meatball sandwich cut in half on a gray plate with chips.
Meatball Subs with Frozen Meatballs
These meatball subs are made with frozen meatballs, marinara sauce, toasted garlic butter hoagie buns, and shredded mozzarella cheese. They make an easy weeknight meal.
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Top down view jalapeno bacon mac and cheese.
Jalapeño Bacon Mac and Cheese
Jalapeño Bacon Mac and Cheese has all the flavors of your favorite jalapeno poppers but in a creamy, cheesy pasta. Spicy jalapeños, smoky bacon, and crunchy breadcrumbs take regular macaroni and cheese to the next level!
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Serving of sausage and potatoes foil packet on a tan plate.
Sausage Potato Foil Packets
This Sausage Foil Packets recipe is perfect for anyone looking for easy weeknight recipe that can feed one person or a crowd. Also great for meal-prepping to make dinners and lunches easy!
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The grilled corn on the cob on a plated.
Grilled Corn on the Cob in Foil
Our seasoned grilled corn on the cob in foil recipe features sweet yellow corn seasoned with butter and spices and grilled to perfection!
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Glasses of strawberry mojito on a cutting board.
Strawberry Mojito
Fresh Strawberry Mojito Cocktails are the quintessential drink for spring and summer! Zesty, minty, sweet, and fruity this drink packs a refreshing punch.
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Large white bowl filled dill pickle pasta salad.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Zingy, tart, creamy and chock full of dill pickle flavor, this Dill Pickle Pasta Salad makes the perfect potluck side dish.
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The final photo showing the dip surrounded by fresh peppers and tomatoes.
Corn and Black Bean Salsa
A flavorful corn and black bean salsa made with fresh ingredients including cilantro, jalapenos, queso fresco, red onion, and tomatoes.
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Top down view of grilled BBQ chicken breasts on a plate.
Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts
Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts is an easy 4 ingredient recipe that is on the table in less than an hour. Best of all, you can make it using your favorite barbecue sauce.
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Two mugs of the tropical vodka punch with fruit.
Tropical Vodka Punch
Our tropical vodka punch is a simple 5-ingredient vodka and rum drink that takes minutes to prepare. Making it the perfect party punch for a crowd!
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Close-up bowl of ham and beans recipe with cornbread.
Ham and Beans Recipe (Southern-Style Pinto Beans)
This easy ham and beans recipe simmers pinto beans with a ham hock until tender and creamy for a simple, comforting meal.
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Stuffed burger on a black plate.
Cheese Stuffed Burgers
Stuffed Burgers are seasoned hamburger patties with melted cheese oozing from the center. They make the ultimate stuffed cheeseburger meal.
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Slice of lemonade pie on a white dish.
Pink Lemonade Pie
This deliciously sweet Frozen Pink Lemonade Pie is made with simple ingredients and little prep time. A great way to cool off in the summertime with an easy no-bake dessert!
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Close up view of cornbread on a white dish.
Southern Cornbread
This Southern cornbread batter is mixed together in just one bowl before being popped in the oven and baked to buttery golden perfection.
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Close up view of two Blue Hawaiian Drinks.
Blue Hawaiian Cocktail
This Blue Hawaiian drink is ready in 5 minutes and tastes like a tropical vacation. Coconut rum, Blue Curaçao, and pineapple juice. That's it.
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Flat iron steak and broccoli on a plate.
Flat Iron Steak Recipe
This flat iron steak recipe is one of our go-to ways to cook steak without firing up the grill.
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Question mark next to a whisk.

Common Memorial Day Cooking Questions

Memorial Day is all about classic American cookout food. Grilled burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and ribs are always at the top of the list. Side dishes like potato salad, pasta salad, coleslaw, and baked beans round out the spread. Cold drinks, refreshing desserts, and plenty of snacks to munch on while everyone waits for the grill round out a great holiday meal.

Absolutely! Most side dishes, dips, and desserts in this collection can be prepped a day in advance, which takes a lot of the stress out of hosting. Pasta salads, slaws, dips, and no-bake pies actually taste better after sitting overnight, so making them ahead is a win all around. Save the grilling for the day of and you will have more time to spend with your guests.

A good rule of thumb is to plan for one to two servings of each dish per person. For proteins, budget around six to eight ounces per person. Having a solid mix of mains, sides, snacks, and desserts means no one goes home hungry, and you will likely have leftovers to enjoy the next day too!

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Bacon burger, strawberry pie, pea salad, and a margarita in a photo collage.

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2 Comments

  1. Ooohh, these all look absolutely fabulous! I can’t wait for life to go back to normal so we can all get together and enjoy a picnic table full of gorgeous spreads like this.

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Michelle! I know what you mean. Hopefully, we’ll be grilling sometime in the future. Thank you again for commenting and have a lovely day 🙂

      Reply