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Our favorite Memorial Day recipes include meats, sides, salads, desserts, and drinks! They’re perfect for any holiday cookout!

Collage of Memorial Day 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 summer-friendly meals will help you plan the perfect party!


Our Top 10 Memorial Day Recipes

1 Dr. Pepper Ribs Recipe

Dr. Pepper Ribs Recipe
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Pork ribs cooked in Dr. Pepper, grilled to perfection, and smothered in BBQ Sauce. These Dr. Pepper ribs are fall off the bone delicious!
4.91 from 31 votes
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2 Huli Huli Chicken

Huli Huli Chicken
Total Time: 1 day 21 minutes

Recipe Video

Grilled Huli Huli chicken is juicy, smoky, and glazed with a sweet and tangy Hawaiian-style marinade! Serve it alone or on rice or noodles.
5 from 75 votes
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3 Best Hamburger Recipe

Best Hamburger Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes

Recipe Video

This is the BEST Hamburger recipe for grilling up a juicy American classic. You'll have a perfect burger every time!
5 from 37 votes

4 Pulled Pork Recipe

Pulled Pork Recipe
Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes

Recipe Video

This deliciously easy pulled pork recipe is made in the slow cooker and takes just minutes to prep making it a go-to dinner idea!
4.98 from 47 votes
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5 Ranch Burger Recipe

Ranch Burger Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes
These are the BEST homemade hamburgers!! This cheesy Ranch Burger is complete with the most delicious secret sauce!
4.96 from 48 votes
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6 Steak Marinade

Steak Marinade
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes

Recipe Video

Our all-time favorite steak marinade requires only four ingredients and makes mouth-watering steak that tastes amazing!
4.97 from 82 votes
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7 Hot Dogs in Crock Pot

Hot Dogs in Crock Pot
Total Time: 2 hours 2 minutes
Hot dogs in crock pot is the easiest way to feed the masses and keep your hot dogs warm and juicy for hours.
5 from 40 votes
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8 Crock Pot Brisket

Crock Pot Brisket
Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes

Recipe Video

Try this effortless crock pot brisket recipe for delectably juicy and tender meat that will melt in your mouth.
5 from 304 votes
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9 Kalua Pork Recipe

Kalua Pork Recipe
Total Time: 9 hours 5 minutes

Recipe Video

Our 3-ingredient homemade Kalua pork recipe is tender, smoky, and slow-cooked to Hawaiian-style perfection!
5 from 81 votes
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10 How to Make Baby Back Ribs

How to Make Baby Back Ribs
Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes

Recipe Video

Learn how to cook baby back ribs! Slathered in both a dry rub and sauce for a flavor explosion, they are tender and utterly delicious.
5 from 20 votes
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More Memorial Day Recipes

11 Chicken Kabobs

Chicken Kabobs
Total Time: 8 hours 50 minutes
Mouth-watering chicken kabobs are loaded with veggies for the ultimate sweet and savory grilled summer dish.
5 from 10 votes
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12 Steak Kabobs

Steak Kabobs
Total Time: 8 hours 27 minutes

Recipe Video

Easily grill up perfectly tender and flavorful steak kabobs packed with your favorite veggies all summer long!
5 from 7 votes
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13 Country Style Pork Ribs Recipe

Country Style Pork Ribs Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes

Recipe Video

Tender + delicious country style pork ribs are finger-licking good! They are perfect for a BBQ, or any night of the week.
5 from 16 votes
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14 Turkey Burger Recipe

Turkey Burger Recipe
Total Time: 13 minutes

Recipe Video

This lean & juicy turkey burger recipe is packed with flavor but light on calories. They are a perfectly delicious addition to your next BBQ!
5 from 18 votes
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15 Teriyaki Chicken Burgers Recipe

Teriyaki Chicken Burgers Recipe
Total Time: 1 day 20 minutes
Marinated Teriyaki Chicken Burgers are quick, easy and full of sweet, tangy flavor! Grilled pineapple make these burgers perfection.
5 from 20 votes
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16 Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Sandwiches Recipe

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Sandwiches Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
Loaded with juicy grilled pineapple, red onion and crisp lettuce, this Hawaiian BBQ Chicken sandwich is perfect for summer entertaining!
5 from 6 votes
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17 Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Recipe

Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Recipe
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes

Recipe Video

Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken is juicy, flavorful. and preps in minutes! This simple dish is great for holidays, parties and potlucks!
5 from 44 votes
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18 How to Boil Hot Dogs

How to Boil Hot Dogs
Total Time: 5 minutes
Learn how to boil hot dogs for the fastest and easiest way to cook for a crowd or for your family dinner. You will love it!
5 from 17 votes
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19 Flat Iron Steak Recipe

Flat Iron Steak Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
This flat iron steak recipe is marinated and grilled for a sweet and savory flavor explosion and a perfectly tender steak. 
5 from 1 vote
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20 Cilantro Lime Chicken

Cilantro Lime Chicken
Total Time: 55 minutes

Recipe Video

Cilantro lime chicken is marinated with fresh lime and herbs, bursting with zesty flavor for an easy weeknight meal.
5 from 16 votes
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21 Carne Asada Recipe

Carne Asada Recipe
Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes

Recipe Video

Make an authentic carne asada recipe right at home! Easily create perfect Mexican-flavored meat to add to tacos, burritos, and more.
5 from 11 votes
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22 Bacon Wrapped Smokies Recipes

Bacon Wrapped Smokies Recipes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Recipe Video

Just 3 ingredients to make candied bacon wrapped smokies. They are the ultimate appetizer and always the first to disappear!
5 from 81 votes
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23 Easy Fruit Dip

Easy Fruit Dip
Total Time: 10 minutes

Recipe Video

Fresh and creamy fruit dip is one of our top requested recipes, it whips up in no time, and ALWAYS vanishes in minutes!
5 from 207 votes
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24 7 Layer Bean Dip

7 Layer Bean Dip
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Recipe Video

This 10-minute 7 layer bean dip is a must-have at every function! It has loads of flavor and all your favorite dip ingredients!
4.98 from 46 votes
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25 Jalapeno Poppers Recipe

Jalapeno Poppers Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes

Recipe Video

Spicy fried jalapeno poppers are a classic appetizer that everyone wants! Bite into these cheesy poppers for a flavor explosion!
5 from 55 votes
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26 How to Make a Charcuterie Board

How to Make a Charcuterie Board
Total Time: 20 minutes

Recipe Video

We all love to graze during parties. Learn how to make a charcuterie board and fill it with all of your favorites!
5 from 15 votes
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27 Buffalo Chicken Dip

Buffalo Chicken Dip
Total Time: 25 minutes

Recipe Video

Extra creamy buffalo chicken dip has all the flavor of hot wings in one of our easiest, cheesiest, and most popular hot dips!
4.97 from 65 votes
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28 Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Recipe Video

This savory bacon ranch cheese ball is party-perfect. It's prepped in 10 minutes and feeds a dozen people or more!!
5 from 16 votes
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29 Hot Corn Dip

Hot Corn Dip
Total Time: 30 minutes

Recipe Video

Perfectly spiced hot corn dip is deliciously chunky and perfect for dipping. Serve it as an appetizer or side!
5 from 17 votes
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30 Knorr Spinach Dip

Knorr Spinach Dip
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes

Recipe Video

Creamy Knorr spinach dip's savory flavors pair perfectly with veggies and your favorite crackers making it a party favorite!
5 from 4 votes
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31 Fruit Salsa

Fruit Salsa
Total Time: 18 minutes
Fresh fruit salsa is a perfect pairing for our sweet homemade cinnamon chips. Ready in under 20 minutes, you can make it for any occasion!
5 from 9 votes
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32 Dill Veggie Dip Recipe

Dill Veggie Dip Recipe
Total Time: 7 minutes
Our go-to fresh and creamy dill veggie dip recipe is ready in only 7 minutes, – quick, simple, and perfect for parties and all your snacking needs!
5 from 49 votes
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33 Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites Recipe

Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites Recipe
Total Time: 55 minutes

Recipe Video

BBQ Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites are simple, quick , and delicious. Chicken smothered in barbecue sauce and wrapped in bacon make for a popular appetizer at any gathering!
5 from 12 votes
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34 Deviled Eggs

Deviled Eggs
Total Time: 35 minutes

Recipe Video

There's nothing better than a platter of these perfect deviled eggs. They are easy, flavorful, and great for parties and holidays!
5 from 53 votes
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35 Baked Beans Recipe

Baked Beans Recipe
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes

Recipe Video

Easy Homemade Baked Beans is a must-have at all of our BBQ's. Everyone who tries it agrees it's the best baked beans recipe!
4.98 from 41 votes
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36 Macaroni Salad With Ham

Macaroni Salad With Ham
Total Time: 20 minutes

Recipe Video

A favorite for generations, our kid-approved macaroni salad with ham is a potluck winner made in only 20 minutes!
4.98 from 111 votes
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37 Easy Coleslaw Recipe

Easy Coleslaw Recipe
Total Time: 10 minutes

Recipe Video

This quick and Easy Coleslaw makes the perfect side dish for any picnic or BBQ. It takes just minutes to put this classic coleslaw recipe together, and it can easily be customized with the spices and flavors you love most.
5 from 26 votes
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38 Potato Salad Recipe

Potato Salad Recipe
Total Time: 55 minutes

Recipe Video

This perfect Potato Salad is a famous family recipe. It's simple, packed with flavor, and our most requested side for parties!
5 from 33 votes
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39 Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Recipe Video

Everyone loves a good slow cooker recipe, and this crock pot mac and cheese is so simple, cheesy, and delicious!
4.99 from 284 votes
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40 How to Grill Corn on the Cob

How to Grill Corn on the Cob
Total Time: 17 minutes

Recipe Video

Unlock the secret to unbelievably delicious grilled corn with our super simple guide on how to grill corn on the cob!
5 from 7 votes
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41 How to Cut a Watermelon

How to Cut a Watermelon
Total Time: 5 minutes

Recipe Video

Is there anything better than a ripe juicy watermelon? Learn How to Cut a Watermelon into cubes, sticks, and triangles with our top tips!
5 from 25 votes
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42 Pretzel Salad

Pretzel Salad
Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes

Recipe Video

Classic pretzel salad is the ultimate combination of sweet and salty – a chilled layered jello treat that's always a hit!
5 from 21 votes
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43 Ambrosia Salad Recipe

Ambrosia Salad Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Recipe Video

Ambrosia Salad will take you straight back to your childhood. This Southern creamy fruit salad is filled with mini marshmallows!
5 from 9 votes
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44 Corn Salad

Corn Salad
Total Time: 12 minutes

Recipe Video

This vibrant corn salad is veggie-packed, lightly dressed for a fresh taste, and ready to brighten your plate in under 15 minutes!
4.99 from 87 votes
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45 Broccoli Salad

Broccoli Salad
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes

Recipe Video

Simple broccoli salad recipe delivers a hearty and satisfying crunch with a vibrant mix of fresh ingredients smothered in a creamy dressing.
4.98 from 82 votes
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46 Fruit Salad Recipe

Fruit Salad Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Recipe Video

This fruit salad recipe includes an array of colorful and healthy fruits, making it a delicious side dish for any meal.
5 from 52 votes
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47 Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
Total Time: 2 hours 27 minutes

Recipe Video

Easy pasta salad with Italian dressing takes minutes to make. It's a classic side dish, perfect for BBQs, picnics, or any night of the week!
5 from 252 votes
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48 Fruit Kabobs

Fruit Kabobs
Total Time: 30 minutes
Our quick and colorful fruit kabobs are easy to customize, creating a healthy and delicious appetizer or side – perfect for every occasion!
5 from 15 votes
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49 Grilled Asparagus

Grilled Asparagus
Total Time: 8 minutes
Sprinkled with salt, pepper, and a little parmesan cheese, grilled asparagus is a simply flavorful side for any dinner recipe! 
5 from 10 votes
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50 4th of July Punch Recipe

4th of July Punch Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes
This layered Patriotic drink is pure magic! It's not difficult to make, all it takes is Hawaiian Punch, blue Gatorade, and sprite zero.
4.43 from 7 votes
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51 Sonic Cherry Limeade Recipe

Sonic Cherry Limeade Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes

Recipe Video

Delicious recipe for Sonic’s Cherry Limeade – tastes just like it! Ingredients include 7-Up, cherries, a lime, and maraschino syrup!
5 from 77 votes
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52 Frozen Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

Frozen Strawberry Lemonade Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes
Frozen strawberry lemonade takes minutes to make. With a pop of pineapple, it's a refreshingly tasty summertime drink!
4.63 from 8 votes
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53 Watermelon Juice Recipe

Watermelon Juice Recipe
Total Time: 8 minutes

Recipe Video

Delicious and refreshing watermelon juice is a favorite drink in the summertime! It takes minutes to make and is perfect for fruit lovers.
4.95 from 35 votes
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54 Pink Punch

Pink Punch
Total Time: 3 minutes

Recipe Video

This incredibly easy, 3-ingredient vibrant pink punch is a fruity and delicious all-time favorite that you can whip up in minutes!
4.99 from 311 votes
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55 Non Alcoholic Mint Julep

Non Alcoholic Mint Julep
Total Time: 10 minutes
Ready in minutes, this copycat non-alcoholic mint julep captures the magic of Disneyland in one refreshing drink!
5 from 19 votes
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56 Best Strawberry Lemonade

Best Strawberry Lemonade
Total Time: 5 minutes
The BEST Strawberry Lemonade filled with chunks of your favorite fruit including strawberries, pineapple, mangos, cantaloupe and watermelon!
5 from 5 votes
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57 Shirley Temple Recipe

Shirley Temple Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes
Our classic Shirley Temple recipe is a favorite non-alcoholic drink – sweet and vibrant red, perfect for any party and any age!
5 from 12 votes
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58 Ocean Water Recipe

Ocean Water Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes

Recipe Video

Fizzy coconut Ocean Water is easy and refreshing! This copycat Sonic drink is perfect for parties or a hot, summer day.
4.94 from 46 votes
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59 Homemade Lemonade Recipe

Homemade Lemonade Recipe
Total Time: 50 minutes

Recipe Video

Refreshing homemade lemonade is made with a simple syrup for the perfect sweet-to-tart ratio. It is perfect for warm summer days, or any day!
5 from 28 votes
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About Kristyn

Kristyn Merkley is a published cookbook author, wife, mom of six, and major food enthusiast! For the past 15 years, she has been sharing foolproof, family-friendly recipes—each one tested in her kitchen—that anyone can master. As a seasoned recipe creator, she loves making cooking simple, stress-free, and totally doable for everyone!

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8 Comments

  1. Kara P. says:

    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!

  2. Jaffe perniciaro says:

    Super yummy recipes! Hard to pick just one!

  3. Olivia says:

    One stop site for all your Memorial Day foods. A great variety for everything you’ll need and all the food is delicious!

  4. Eden says:

    Love all of these suggestions! They’re wonderful and there is something on here for everyone. Thanks for the best recipes!

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      You’re welcome! Happy Memorial Day weekend!

  5. Toni says:

    This is such an amazing list! Complete and all of them are delicious!

  6. katerina @ diethood.com says:

    WOW! These are all amazing! I would love to try them all!

  7. Joy says:

    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!