Whether you are planning a backyard barbecue or need a side dish to take to a picnic, celebrate Memorial Day weekend with my 37 Amazing Memorial Day Recipes and Menu Ideas roundup updated for 2021.
This comprehensive roundup from some of the country’s top bloggers includes quick and easy recipes for the grill, delicious and nutritious salads and side dishes, and out-of-this-world desserts. Of course, these awesome recipes and menu ideas would also be perfect for the Fourth of July or anytime you grill out!
Because Memorial Day Weekend unofficially marks the beginning of summer, many families celebrate by holding outdoor picnics and barbecues. And, since many of you will probably be grilling over the weekend, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share this roundup of Memorial Day Recipes.
What is Memorial Day?
Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, which honors men and women who served in the U.S. Military, who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it was first observed in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.
In addition to picnics and backyard barbecues, many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials. Each year on Memorial Day, a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 pm.
Memorial Day weekend is also a time for family and friends to gather and share good times. When you are ready to fire up the grill, check out these recipes and menu ideas! Your only problem will be deciding which of these delicious dishes to prepare.
1 Southern Potato Salad – Grits and Pinecones
There are probably as many recipes for potato salad as there are picnics, but this recipe for classic Southern Potato Salad is a reader favorite! And, I predict it will quickly become yours too!
2 Mango Lime Grilled Chicken – Platings and Pairings
Mango Lime Grilled Chicken Features a Sweet and Spicy Mango Lime Marinade that caramelizes perfectly on a hot grill. It’s a perfect Memorial Day recipe!
3 Best Cold Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cranberries – Savory Tooth
Enjoy this creamy cold broccoli salad with crispy bacon, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, diced onions, and mini heirloom tomatoes.
4 The Best and Easiest Grilled Chicken – Grits and Pinecones
Nothing brings out the flavor of chicken like grilling, and this recipe for The Best and Easiest Grilled Chicken is finger-licking good!
5 Creamy Southern Coleslaw – Pudge Factor
Creamy southern coleslaw is full of creamy goodness, with the perfect blend of sweet and sour. It’s consistently amazing and goes well with so many dishes. What’s even better is that the food processor does most of the work.
6 Grilled Beer Can Chicken – Grits and Pinecones
Grilled Beer Can Chicken is a fun and different way to achieve perfect grilled chicken that will have your friends and family thinking you are a prize-winning BBQ Pitmaster! It’s the ideal Memorial Day recipe!
7 Grilled Corn on the Cob with Creamy Avocado Dressing – Happy Kitchen Rocks
Perfectly Grilled Corn on the Cob is very juicy and pairs so well with creamy vegan avocado dill dressing. Easy and impressive recipe for your summer barbecue!
8 Gourmet Hot Dogs – Kleinworth and Company
Did you know that during Hot Dog Season, which is from Memorial Day through Labor Day, Americans eat about 7 billion hot dogs, according to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council? That’s about 818 hot dogs consumed every second during that season!!
9 Crispy Cheesy Grilled Potatoes – Bet on Dinner
These Crispy Cheesy Grilled Potatoes couldn’t be easier – and they’re crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and topped with melty cheese. SO GOOD!
10 Easy Mixed Berry Sherbet – Sweet and Tangy with a Southern Twist
Easy Mixed Berry Sherbet is a sweet, tangy, and delicious ending to any meal. Just the thing to help you cool off on a warm summer evening.
11 Balsamic Baby Back Ribs – Taste and See
These Balsamic Baby Back Ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender and slathered in a garlicky, brown sugar, balsamic sauce with just a touch of “cayenne kick.” Finger-licking good and perfect for summer grilling!
12 Asparagus Potato Salad – Allergy Girl Eats
This asparagus potato salad is ideal as a BBQ side dish, and you can make it well ahead of time.
13 Homemade Strawberry Lemonade with Freshly Squeezed Lemons and Strawberry Slices – Melanie Cooks
Nothing compares to the freshly squeezed lemonade made with REAL lemons! And when we add freshly sliced strawberries and their sweet sticky juice, that’s simply epic!
14 Jalapeno Bacon Cheddar Burgers – Meatloaf and Melodrama
Jalapeno Bacon Cheddar Burgers are glazed with tangy BBQ sauce and topped with cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and spicy jalapeno peppers. They’re perfect for your next summer cookout!
15 Easy BLT Deviled Eggs – A Fork’s Tail
This easy BLT Deviled Eggs Recipe is Wicked Good. They will be the best deviled eggs you will ever make!
16 Cucumber Dill Salad (Gurkensalat) – Pudge Factor
Cucumber Dill Salad or Gurkensalat is an incredible salad that is easy to make. It’s not only tasty but also very refreshing, making it perfect for a backyard barbecue.
17 Southwestern Hamburger with Sweet Guacamole – A Cedar Spoon
This Southwestern Hamburger with Sweet Guacamole is sure to be a hit at your next backyard party this summer. Southwestern flavors are added to hamburgers and paired with a delicious guacamole of avocados and pineapple. These are a real crowd pleaser!
18 Strawberry Cheesecake Bars – The Seaside Baker
These strawberry cheesecake bars will be the hit at your next summer picnic! Creamy, rich, and piled high with fresh glazed strawberries.
19 Summer Pasta Salad – Loaded with Vegetables
Summer Pasta Salad is a delicious, healthy, veggie-filled salad loaded with summer squash, zucchini, carrots, scallions, edamame, broccoli, and cherry tomatoes! Perfect for a backyard BBQ or a potluck supper.
20 Grilled Balsamic Herb Steak with Grilled Onions – Mama Maggies Kitchen
Grilled Balsamic Herb Steak is a thinly sliced steak full of amazing flavors and grilled goodness. So yummy!
21 Pineapple and Melon Fruit Salad with Citrus Mint Dressing – Certified Pastry Aficionado
22 Spicy Red Quinoa Salad – Pass Me Some Tasty
A delicious salad with vegan protein, delicious veggies, and a spicy kick of flavor. Great as a meal in itself or as a side dish. Also tasty with grilled shrimp or chicken added on top.
23 Argentinean Beef Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce – Organic Kitchen
How could you not love Argentinian Beef Kabobs grilled to perfection and slathered with flavorful chimichurri sauce?
24 Red White and Blueberry Yogurt Popsicles – The View From Great Island
Show your colors this summer with these healthy Red White and Blueberry Yogurt Popsicles! Kids of all ages love these berry-licious frozen treats…
25 Grilled Chicken with the Best Balsamic Herb Marinade – Lemon Blossoms
Tender, juicy, delicious, and full of great flavor, this Grilled Chicken with the Best Balsamic Herb Marinade is super easy to make and always everyone’s favorite!
26 Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Delight – Together As a Family
Chocolate raspberry cheesecake delight is an almost no-bake dessert with three delicious layers! A chocolate graham cracker crust, creamy sweet cheesecake middle, and topped with raspberry pie filling.
27 Super Quick Balsamic Grilled Vegetables – Herbivore Cucina
Lots of vegetables, a simple marinade, a super hot grill, and this post. All you need to make your summers memorable.
28 Grilled Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches with Tangy Slaw – Buy This, Cook That
These Grilled Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches are good. Scratch that. Great! The tender and moist pork is full of flavor; the tangy slaw gives this sandwich the right amount of crunch, and let’s not forget about the buttered and toasted bakery rolls.
29 Red, White, and Blue No-Bake Icebox Cake
Memorial Day is right around the corner, and how better to celebrate than serving this easy and delicious, make-ahead, Red, White, and Blue No-Bake Icebox Cake filled with delightfully juicy blueberries and fresh sweet strawberries!
30 Amazing Grilled Vegetable Kabobs
Amazing Grilled Vegetable Kabobs are just that, amazing! Sweet, smoky, caramelized grilled veggies packed with flavor and cooked on a skewer are the ultimate BBQ side dish. Quick and easy to prepare, vegetable kabobs, aka veggie skewers, are quick to disappear too. Even your pickiest eaters will love these grilled vegetables!
31 Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream Pie
End your Memorial Day bash on a sweet note with my cold, refreshing and patriotic Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream Pie with a Biscoff cookie crust dessert.
32 Potato Broccoli Salad with Vinaigrette
Potato Broccoli Salad with Vinaigrette is a lighter, delicious, and healthy change from classic or traditional potato salad. The addition of broccoli and cherry tomatoes ramps up the nutrition value, and the use of a tasty vinaigrette instead of mayonnaise and eggs reduces the calorie count.
33 Easy Southern Broccoli Salad
A healthy, delicious, and flavorful salad, Easy Southern Broccoli Salad is a summer favorite that is often served at barbecues and neighborhood picnics.
34 The Best Oven-Baked Baby Back Ribs and Dry Rub
Don’t let bad weather spoil your plans, oven-baked baby back ribs are mouthwateringly juicy, fall off the bone tender, and when slathered with tangy barbecue sauce, just plain finger-licking’ good!
35 Red, White, and Blue Summer Fruit Salad
Bring on the sparklers and fireworks and celebrate the Memorial Day with this cold and refreshing Red, White, and Blue Summer Fruit Salad!
36 Easy Watermelon Lemonade Ice Pops
Easy Watermelon Lemonade Ice Pops has to be the easiest recipe ever! With only two ingredients, fresh yummy watermelon, and frozen lemonade concentrate, and two steps, you can have a delicious, light, and refreshing treat that your kids will love.
37 Southern Cucumber and Tomato Salad
Southern Cucumber and Tomato Salad is a classic southern salad full of fresh, healthy summer cucumbers and tomatoes which have been marinated in a simple, luscious salad dressing!
More BBQ or summer cookout recipes:
- 20 Super Easy 4th Of July Food Ideas
- Twenty Four Amazing 4th of July Recipes
- 16 Easy Summer Dinner Ideas and Recipes
I’m sooooo hungry now after reading through your post that I want to make every one of these recipes. They all have made my mouth water. What a GREAT collection! As always, thanks so much for sharing.
Sharon, you always have the BEST recipes for the holidays. Your strawberry cheesecake bars look crazy good. And oh my, the mango lime grilled chicken looks out of this world. And of course, I’ve gotta try your jalapeño bacon cheeseburgers. Thanks so much for sharing
a plethora of delicious foods!!