60+ Best Memorial Day Recipes

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Whether you’re grilling with your family or venturing into post-pandemic entertaining, these recipes will spark joy in you and everyone around you! Wishing you a happy Memorial Day filled with your favorite recipes and all the people who matter most.

Strawberry Jello Poke Cake decorated like an American Flag.
Strawberry Jello Poke Cake.


 

For many of us, Memorial Day serves as the unofficial start to summer. The last day of school is just around the corner, and then it’s off to summer camp, the lake, camping, or any myriad of wholesome family fun.

But first, let’s barbecue! “Monday holidays” are always an excuse to fire up the grill, gather with friends and family, and dig in to your favorite warm-weather dishes.

Best Bacon Cheeseburger

If you’re like me, you’ve been eatings beer brats any day that is warm enough to grill! So this Memorial Day, I’m shifting gears ever so slightly in favor of burgers with bacon and cheese (or whatever else floats your boat!). I love a good burger!

The best bacon cheeseburger in a paper wrapper.

1

Best Bacon Cheeseburger

The Best Bacon Cheeseburger has a thin and crispy smashburger-style patty, plenty of bacon, gooey cheese, and all your favorite toppings.
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More backyard barbecue favorites

A plate of beer brats with ketchup, mustard, onions, and sauerkraut.

2

Wisconsin Beer Brats

It's not summer or tailgate season without beer brats. If you like the flavor of caramelized onions, then you'll love this easy 4-ingredient grilled brat recipe.
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Grilled Pork Chops on a white platter.

3

Grilled Pork Chops

Succulent grilled pork chops make a perfect dinner, any night of the week. A super simple marinade that you throw together with common pantry ingredients does all the work for you; all you have to do is fire up the grill and make a salad.
Slices of smoked tri tip on a serving platter.

4

Smoked Tri-Tip

Ideal as a barbecue main dish, Smoked Tri-Tip is hearty, juicy, and surprisingly simple. With just 3 ingredients, learn how to smoke tri-tip to tender perfection.
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Easy Garden Salad

There is no better way to celebrate new spring vegetables than with a fresh, colorful garden salad. Follow my ingredient suggestions OR create the salad of your dreams! And I’m all about store-bought shortcuts except when it comes to salad dressing. I hope you can find one you’ll love to make.

Easy garden salad on a white platter.

5

Easy Garden Salad

This Easy Garden Salad is colorful, delicious, and completely customizable depending on the season, where you live, and what you have. It's the perfect side dish to almost any meal!
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More spectacular veggie salads

The best macaroni salad in a white serving bowl.

6

The Best Macaroni Salad

The Best Macaroni Salad doesn't make you choose between ham or bacon. Use both in this easy pasta salad recipe, along with a creamy, classic Midwest salad dressing. This big-batch macaroni salad is perfect for potluck and party menus.
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Creamy cucumber salad on a blue plate.

7

Creamy Cucumber Salad

This Creamy Cucumber Salad is a classic German recipe, an all-around summer favorite, and an easy, tasty way to use up your cucumber bumper crop.
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Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Somewhere between a salad and dessert, this classic Midwestern side dish is the perfect combination of salty and sweet, creamy and crunchy, and downright delicious addictiveness. This strawberry version is most popular but the raspberry pretzel salad is good too!

A serving of strawberry pretzel salad on a white plate with a fork.

8

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

More dessert than salad, Strawberry Pretzel Salad is sweet, salty, made with Jell-O, and topped with cool whip.  If you're still reading, it loves to be made ahead and is an absolute winner at potlucks and parties!
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More classic fruit sides

Fruit salad in a small white bowl.

9

Fruit Salad

Freshen up your menu with an easy, make-ahead Fruit Salad that's tossed in a zippy honey and citrus dressing. Toss it together, then allow this crowd-pleasing Fruit Salad to chill for an hour (or more) for a simple and healthy side dish recipe.
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Frog eyed salad in a clear dish.

10

Frog Eye Salad

Pasta salad meets fruit salad, with a creamy homemade custard and whipped topping in the mix, in this classic Frog Eye Salad recipe. Frog Eye Salad has roots in Utah, but it reminds me of a Midwest "salad," so I've adopted it into our culinary canon!
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Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy Caviar lands somewhere between an appetizer and a salad, and it’s fantastic. This classic Midwestern side dish is loaded with beans, corns, vegetables, and a sweet and spicy dressing. It’s great with chips or on the side of grilled meats, and it’s perfect for cooling down in hot weather.

Cowboy caviar in a bowl on a white plate with tortilla chips.

11

Cowboy Caviar

This easy recipe for Cowboy Caviar is fun, fresh, colorful, and endlessly adaptable. It makes a great dip, salad, side dish, or even a topping for grilled meats. Always a potluck favorite!
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More fantastic warm-weather snacks

A metal pie pan filled with crockpot meatballs.

12

Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly Sauce

The easiest party appetizer on the planet is also the most delicious. Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly Sauce is a lifesaver for hungry crowds and cocktail parties, so make a double batch! 
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Bruschetta on a white platter.

13

Bruschetta

Bruschetta, the classic Italian appetizer featuring fresh tomatoes, basil, and garlic crostini, is a cinch to make at home in just 20 minutes.
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Scotcheroos

These “elevated” Rice Krispy bars have peanut butter in the mix and melted chocolate and butterscotch on top. Make or bring a plate of them to pass and watch them disappear!

Scotcheroos on a cooling rack.

14

Scotcheroos

If you like Rice Krispie treats, then you’ll go head over heels for no-bake Scotcheroos, a crispy, chewy, chocolate-and-peanut butter decadence. They’re ready in minutes and devoured in seconds.
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More treats to share

Congo bars on a cooling rack.

15

Congo Bars

Loaded with chocolate, nuts, and coconut, Congo Bars hit all the right notes. Some say nothing else even comes close to how good they are. No mixer is required and, like other bar cookies, they travel well! 
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A stack of blondies on a cooling rack.

16

Blondies

Blondies are like a brownie without the chocolate: Sweet, golden, and buttery, these easy bars are made with just 6 simple ingredients.
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Fruit Punch

Quench your thirst with this easy, tropical punch flavored with lemonade, orange juice, and pineapple juice. This recipe doesn’t have alcohol, but you can stash a bottle on the side (vodka, rum, brandy) for the adults who want a splash.

Glasses of fruit punch.

17

Fruit Punch

This Fruit Punch recipe lives up to its name: It's sweet, fruity, and guaranteed to be guzzled by kids and adults alike. Learn how to make Fruit Punch, how to spike it for a cocktail recipe, and how to customize it.
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More thirst quenchers

Two glasses of strawberry peach frose on a plate surrounded by slices of strawberries and peaches.

18

Strawberry Peach Frosé

This delicious Strawberry Peach Frosé is sweet, summery, and made with just 4 ingredients! If you keep frozen wine cubes on hand, you'll always be 1 minute away from your own personal happy hour.
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Strawberry margarita in a clear stemmed glass.

19

Strawberry Margarita

This easy-breezy Strawberry Margarita is made with just 5 ingredients and a blender. Add a salted rim and have it on the rocks or frozen. Either way, its delicious!
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Wishing you and yours a safe and happy Memorial Day!

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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

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