35 Easy Memorial Day Recipes

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Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer in the US, and what better way to mark the occasion than a backyard cookout, potluck, picnic, or neighborhood block party?

Whatever your weekend plans involve, this list of Memorial Day menu ideas has got you covered! From classic grilling recipes like steak, burgers, and ribs to crowd-pleasing sides, delicious sweet treats, and refreshing beverages, these are the recipes you’ll be reaching for this Memorial Day weekend and all season long.

Yeap, this collection of Memorial Day food is full of flavor and easy to prepare, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the weekend with friends and family.

Memorial Day Grilling Recipes

• Grilled Chicken Kabobs Skewers—These chicken skewers are an easy and delicious treat made with pantry ingredients. The subtle coconut and lime flavors add a nice flair to your meal.
• Grilled Shrimp Skewers – Easy Grilled Shrimp Skewers are ready in less than 15 minutes and are packed full of tangy, savory, sweet, and spicy flavors thanks to a unique Korean gochujang marinade.
• Grilled Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe – This salad has so much flavor, it’s easy to make healthy choices. Customize it with your favorite salad toppings for a totally delicious and good-for-you eat. 
• Easy Grilled Steak – Grilled Steak is quick and easy to make with just 4 simple ingredients. Juicy and perfect for your guests.
• Grilled Watermelon Salad – Sweet, colorful, and fresh Grilled Watermelon Salad with feta and blueberries is ready in under 20 minutes and makes an easy main dish for Memorial Day celebrations.
• Juicy Air Fryer Hamburgers – These juicy Air Fryer Hamburgers are quick and easy to prepare with simple ingredients and cook in less than 10 minutes. They can be customized with various toppings. Grill these if you prefer.
• Easy Instant Pot Ribs – This recipe for Instant Pot Ribs (West African Style) will produce heaven on a plate. They are fall-off-the-bone good and a must-try. 
• Grilled Lamb Kabobs – These grilled Lamb Kabobs are marinated in an aromatic and easy Mediterranean marinade before being grilled barbequed or cooked over a campfire. So, so good.

Crowd Pleasing Side Dishes

• Greek Potato Salad – Flavorful Greek Potato Salad is a delicious twist on the classic. Made with oil and lemon juice rather than mayonnaise, it’s the perfect potato salad side dish.
• Southern Coleslaw Recipe – This Easy Southern Coleslaw Recipe is tangy and crunchy with just a hint of sweetness. The perfect dish for all your summertime parties, picnics and BBQs
• Easy Hawaiian Pasta Salad – Hawaiian Pasta Salad is sooooo quick, easy and inexpensive to make. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a taste of the tropics all year long.
• Baked Potato On The Grill – Grilled Baked Potatoes are creamy and fluffy inside, with delicious crispy skin on the outside and a hint of smoky flavor.
• Boiled Corn On The Cob – Fresh sweet corn symbolizes summer, and this boiled corn recipe is ready in less than 10 minutes!
• Peach, Tomato Feta Salad – Classic tomato feta salad gets a colorful and flavorful upgrade with the addition of peaches and strawberries.
• Strawberry Avocado Pasta Salad – Sweet, tangy, colorful, and fresh Strawberry Avocado Pasta Salad with poppy seeds is ready in under 20 minutes.

Easy Memorial Day Appetizers

• Best Homemade Guacamole — Take all of your favorite dishes to the next level with this simple Homemade Guacamole which is easily made with everyday ingredients.
• Italian Pinwheels — Italian pinwheels are savory appetizers featuring a delightful combination of Italian-inspired ingredients rolled up in a soft tortilla, and the perfect appetizer! 
• Air-Fried Bacon Wrapped Shrimp—Are you looking for a quick and simple seafood appetizer for festivities? Then look no further than these tasty Air-Fried Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp.
• Pico De Gallo (Chipotle Copycat) – Making a batch of fresh pico de gallo is a great way to add freshness to any meal.
• Mezze Platter – Make a Mezze Platter that’s perfect for serving with family and friends all day long.
• Oven Baked Chicken Tenders – Baked chicken tenders come out crispy, crunchy and totally delicious every time. You can have juicy oven fried chicken tenders in less time than it would take you to drive to the closest fast-food restaurant. 

Breakfast and Brunch

• Red, White, and Blue Puff Pastry Breakfast Tart—This 5-ingredient, easy-to-make Tart is a festive breakfast or brunch perfect for the Fourth of July, and Memorial Day.
• Strawberry Overnight Oats – Strawberry Overnight Oats are a fun, prep ahead breakfast or brunch made with simple ingredients you probably have on hand. Make, store and simply grab a jar for an easy eat.
• Summer Fruit Salad – Looking for a taste of paradise? Summer fruit salad gives you just that with bits of pineapple and mango drizzled in a flavorful honey and lime dressing!
• Buttermilk Pancakes – This Buttermilk Pancakes recipe gives you the tallest, tastiest fluffy buttermilk pancakes that the whole family will love.
• Buttermilk Waffles – This Buttermilk Waffles recipe will be your family’s new favorite way to enjoy waffles. They are easy to make with pantry staples and make nice fluffy waffles with crispy edges and a perfectly fluffy interior.
• Strawberry Muffins – Juicy fresh strawberries, orange zest and fragrant vanilla sugar combine into this easy Strawberry Muffins recipe. They are quick to put together and great for breakfast, brunch or lunch on the go.
• 4th of July Fruit Kabobs – These colorful 4th of July Fruit Kabobs are an easy to make and healthier dessert that is perfect for your patriotic celebrations, summer BBQs, and picnics.
• 6 Ingredient Egg Bites – These pantry staple 6-Ingredient Veggie Egg Bites are ready in less than 30 minutes.
• Crockpot Breakfast Casserole – Crockpot Breakfast Casserole is hearty, flavorful, and easily made from pantry staples. Plus it can be prepped the night before and is totally freezer friendly.
• Air Fryer Homemade Berry Pop Tarts – Air Fryer Pop Tarts are a truly delectable version of the popular store-bought toaster pastries. Kids and adults alike will love starting their day with these homemade pop tarts!
• Air Fryer Bacon Cinnamon Rolls – Easy to make homemade bacon cinnamon rolls, whipped up with pantry staples, are perfect for bringing to holiday breakfasts and special occasion brunches.
• Instant Pot Cinnamon Rolls – This utterly delicious Instant Pot Cinnamon Rolls recipe will have everybody waiting in the kitchen waiting for them to finish cooking. And all it takes is 30 mins to proof the dough in the Instant Pot!
• Brioche French Toast Casserole – This Brioche French Toast Casserole has a delightful flavor, with its rich brioche bread, sweet banana slices, and caramelized cashew nuts.

Memorial Day Patriotic Sweets And More

• Red White And Blue Fruit Salad – You only need 5 essential ingredients and a few minutes of prep time to make this easy Red White And Blue Fruit Salad. 
• Fresh Peach Crumb Bars – These best Homemade Peach Crumb Bars have sweet, juicy spiced peaches surrounded by a buttery crust and sweet crumble topping.
• Banana Cream Pie – This Banana Cream Pie starts with an easy homemade flaky pie crust followed by a layer of custard and is finished with a topping of creamy whipped cream.
• Instant Pot Memorial Day Rice Krispie Treats – This fun and festive Instant Pot Rice Krispie Treat recipe is just the thing for your holiday celebrations! Easy to make and perfectly portable, you’ll want to bring them to all your festivities.

Cooling Drinks And Frozen Desserts

• Ninja Creami Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe – With this Ninja Creami Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe, it’s incredibly easy to make flavorful, ultra creamy, and utterly delicious vanilla ice cream right at home!
• Easy Rainbow Popsicles – This two ingredient rainbow popsicle recipe is the perfect frozen treat, bursting with are tons of fruit flavor and so very easy to make.
• Easy Fresh Peach Lemonade. This fruity fresh peach lemonade comes together with a few minutes of effort and only 4 everyday ingredients. Serve with tons of ice.
• Iced Boba Coffee – Homemade Iced Boba Coffee is a wonderful marriage of cold brew coffee and boba or bubble tea. It’s the most refreshing drink for a hot summer day, BBQ, or backyard pool party.

Do come back and let me know if you make any of these Memorial Day recipes. I would love to know how you liked them in the comments below!

Memorial Day Summer Cookout Tips

• Plan Ahead—Work out your menu a week in advance. Choose 1-3 items in each category, e.g., appetizers, sides, etc. Please remember to cater to a range of diets and think of things like skewers, serving platters, napkins, etc.
• Shop ahead – Do your grocery shopping at least 3 days in advance so you have time to adjust your plan if a major ingredient is not available.
• Prep Ahead—Try to prep your ingredients about two days ahead so you can see if you have enough of everything. Also, some things may need to be marinated, soaked, etc. You can do things to make your life easier, like chop veggies, wash lettuce leaves, marinate things, make salad dressings, bake, etc.
• Set up ahead—I find it much easier to set up as much as possible the night before. Set up your tables, chairs, decorations, plates, napkins, cake platter, and more. This way, you have one less thing to worry about when you wake up in the morning.

Recommended Tools

• Sharp knives will make your prep work a breeze.
• These handy grilling tongs are a Memorial Day must!
• Airtight storage containers for keeping foods fresh.
• For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.

Thank you for reading my Memorial Day Food recipes post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

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