This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Our favorite Memorial Day recipes include meats, sides, salads, desserts, and drinks! They’re perfect for any holiday cookout!
More Collections: Memorial Day Desserts, BBQ Appetizers, Summer Recipes
We Love Cookouts and BBQs!
In Arizona, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer. We love to have a BBQ or picnic where we typically serve Burgers, grilled Huli Huli Chicken, Steaks, and a favorite side dish like Potato Salad and Watermelon.
Whoever is hosting the Memorial Day celebration is typically in charge of the main dish or grilling the meats, and then everyone else brings sides, salads, desserts, and drinks.
These Memorial Day recipes will help you plan the perfect party!
Why we love these recipes:
- A collection of the best. We have it all! It’s a one-stop resource for anyone looking to host the perfect holiday BBQ.
- Beyond the Memorial Day menu. You’ll find valuable tips for grilling multiple items, using a meat thermometer, and grilling vegetables.
- Planning the spread. Don’t know how much to make? We’ve got you covered there as well!
Memorial Day grilling tips
Keep these things in mind when preparing some Memorial Day recipes.
- Plan the menu ahead of time. This helps with shopping and if guests offer to bring a dish.
- Prep the grill. Clean the grill a few days before the event. Adding a light layer of oil to the grill grates can help keep food from sticking.
- Let meat come to room temp. Take meats out of the fridge 20-30 minutes before grilling.
- Grilling multiple items at once. Create a chart that lays out what item will be grilled in what section as well as how long each item will need to cook. Be sure not to overlap the different types of food before or during grilling.
- Level of doneness. Cook and serve meat according to well done, medium, and rare. Have designated signs labeling which plate is which.
How much to make
- Meats. Plan on serving each adult 6 to 8 ounces of meat. Children will only need 3-4 ounces. People tend to eat more in the late afternoon and evening than during the day.
- Salad. Depending on how many salad options are available, plan for each guest to be able to have about ½ -1 cup of salad.
- Sides. Most adults will have about 3-4 total servings of sides. Children will have 2-3 servings.
- Drinks. Plan for guests to drink 4-8 ounces in the first hour of the party and 4 ounces for every hour after.
- Dessert. No matter how many dessert options there are, plan for each guest to have two total servings of dessert.
Keeping Food at the Right Temp
Food should not be out for more than 2 hours. Only put out enough food that can be consumed within that window of time. To keep food hot or cold before and while they’re being served:
- Have two coolers, one for hot dishes and one for cold dishes.
- Once you’re done cooking food, set the grill to the lowest heat and use it like an oven to keep food warm.
- Keep food warm in a crockpot or chafing dish.
- Keep food cold by using a tray of ice to place bowls and platters of cold food on.
- Keep lids or plastic wrap handy to keep food covered and pesky bugs out.
Favorite Memorial Day Recipes
Keep it simple with Country Style Pork Ribs, Smothered Pork Chops, or Burgers piled high with your favorite ingredients like sliced red onion, cheddar cheese, tomato, and bacon. Or enjoy any of these mouth-watering options!
Be sure to also check out our summer dinner ideas.
1 Dr. Pepper Ribs Recipe
2 Huli Huli Chicken
3 Best Hamburger Recipe
Recipe Video
4 Pulled Pork Recipe
5 Ranch Burger Recipe
6 Steak Marinade
7 Hot Dogs in Crock Pot
8 Crock Pot Brisket Recipe
9 Kalua Pork Recipe
10 How to Make Baby Back Ribs
Memorial Day Appetizers
We are always down for chips and appetizer dips or a pile of Baked Chicken Wings, but there are plenty of other favorites to choose from for a quick bite!
Also, be sure to check out our best summer appetizers.
11 Bacon Wrapped Smokies Recipes
12 Easy Fruit Dip
13 7 Layer Bean Dip
14 Jalapeno Poppers Recipe
15 How to Make a Charcuterie Board
16 Chicken Kabobs
17 Steak Kabobs
18 Buffalo Chicken Dip
19 Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
20 Hot Corn Dip
21 Knorr Spinach Dip
22 Fruit Salsa Recipe
23 Dill Veggie Dip Recipe
24 Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites Recipe
25 Deviled Eggs Recipe
Memorial Day Sides + Salads
Classic sides include a Summer Corn Salad or Grilled Corn on the Cob. For a bit of crunch try Sweet Coleslaw. Choose a few of these favorites, and include a sweet and savory for balance!
We also have some great summer side dishes and summer salads to choose from!
26 Baked Beans Recipe
27 Macaroni Salad
28 Easy Coleslaw Recipe
29 Potato Salad Recipe
30 Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
31 Corn on the Cob on the Grill
32 How to Cut a Watermelon
33 Pretzel Salad
34 Ambrosia Salad Recipe
35 Summer Corn Salad Recipe
36 Broccoli Salad Recipe
37 Corn Casserole Recipe
38 Fruit Salad Recipe
39 Easy Tortellini Salad Recipe
40 Pasta Salad Recipe
41 Fruit Kabobs
42 Cheesecake Fruit Salad Recipe
43 Pea Salad Recipe
44 Grilled Asparagus
45 7 Layer Salad Recipe
MEMORIAL DAY DESSERTS
End the day with a touch of sweetness! Whether you lean towards chocolate, a tangy Cheesecake, a decadent cake, or a fruit pie, we have a delicious variety to choose from.
No need for store-bought with these simple recipes. And don’t forget to pile on a few scoops of Vanilla Ice Cream!
Our summer desserts list has even more tasty options.
46 4th of July Poke Cake Recipe
47 Red White and Blue Cake
48 American Flag Cake
49 4th of July Rice Krispies Treats
50 Triple Berry Pie
51 Dirt Cake Recipe
52 Fruit Tart Recipe
53 Fruit Pizza
54 Jello Poke Cake Recipe
55 Lemon Lasagna Recipe
56 Dessert Parfait Recipe
57 Oreo Ice Cream Cake Recipe
58 Strawberry Icebox Cake Recipe
59 Angel Food Ice Cream Cake Recipe
60 Dessert Kabobs Recipe
Memorial Day DRINKS
One easy tip to amp up the flavor is to add fresh herbs like fresh basil or mint, chopped fresh strawberries, or a squirt of lime to your Homemade Lemonade to take it up a notch!
From fresh lemonades and beyond, we have refreshing and festive summer drinks for your celebrations!
61 4th of July Punch Recipe
62 Sonic Cherry Limeade Recipe
63 Frozen Strawberry Lemonade Recipe
64 Watermelon Juice Recipe
65 Pineapple Pink Lemonade Soda Recipe
66 Non Alcoholic Mint Julep
67 Best Strawberry Lemonade
68 Shirley Temple Recipe
69 Ocean Water Recipe
70 Homemade Lemonade Recipe
A Grilling Classic!
There is something very American about getting outside and grilling. And what do we grill most often? Hamburgers!
I think I’ve complied THE BEST hamburger recipe for forming and cooking up a perfect patty every single time. My mouth is watering just thinking about these juicy burgers!
Here is the recipe:
65+ Memorial Day Recipes
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds ground beef, 80% lean/20% fat; or ground chuck
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1½ teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1½ teaspoons seasoned salt
- 4 brioche buns, toasted
Toppings
- lettuce, tomato, cheese, pickles, onions, bacon and avocado, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to reach 375° F.
- Combine beef, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and pepper in a large bowl. Using your hands, mix until just combined. (Do not overmix)
- Shape into patties by dividing mixture into fourths. The patties should be about ¾ inch thick. Make an indent in the middle of each patty using the back of a wooden spoon to keep it from puffing up too much in the middle while cooking. Top patties with a sprinkle of seasoned salt.
- Cook for 3–3½ minutes per side on heated grill. For a medium-cooked burger, the internal temperature should reach 140° F.
- Place each burger on a toasted bun and top with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipes for any summer get-togethers
So many great Memorial Day recipes perfect for any summer get-together. We would love to know which ones are your favorites!
More Collections: Easy Appetizers, Grilled Dinner Ideas, Pasta Salad Recipes
My husband and I recently had our kitchen cabinets refinished and wanted to host our family for our Memorial Day lunch. We ended up making the broccoli salad as a side and it was perfect. Thanks for the recipe!
Super yummy recipes! Hard to pick just one!
One stop site for all your Memorial Day foods. A great variety for everything you’ll need and all the food is delicious!
Love all of these suggestions! They’re wonderful and there is something on here for everyone. Thanks for the best recipes!
You’re welcome! Happy Memorial Day weekend!
This is such an amazing list! Complete and all of them are delicious!
WOW! These are all amazing! I would love to try them all!
I am so excited for Memorial Day! It’s the first, big bbq of the summer & we love all the food!! We make so many of your salads & sides. We love them all!