58 Amazing Recipes for the Best Memorial Day Ever

Whether you're enjoying a cookout on the back porch or simply celebrating Memorial Day at home, you can still have a festive time thanks to our amazing list of Memorial Day recipes. From small bites to start with to burgers, cocktails, and even dessert, here are some of our favorite recipes to whip up for every type of summer cookout.

Small Bites

The combination of the perfect lean protein; shrimp, with tangy-sweet mango, and a few crunchy strips of red pepper will make for seriously good eating! Adaptable and delicious, once you master the simple wrapping technique, feel free to fiddle with the filling and find your favorite combination of deliciousness.

Get our recipe for Shrimp and Mango Summer Rolls. 

This recipe is also only a few ingredients, ones you might not think go well together, but the subtlety of the scallops is the perfect protein to pair with the complex bite of the teriyaki and let's be real, what doesn't taste great wrapped in bacon?

Get our recipe for Teriyaki Scallops Wrapped in Bacon. 

Filled with all sorts of delicious goodness, these spicy potato skins rival the ones that you typically order in restaurants, and are the perfect appetizers to share before a Memorial Day cookout!

Get our recipe for Spicy Potato Skins. 

For this appetizer, we use a flavorful olive oil-based mayo instead of the fat-filled alternative to cut calories and boost nutrition. Chiles bring some extra heat to the equation, while toasted wheat pitas work as super scoopers instead of the greasy chips you might be used to.

Get our recipe for Spinach Artichoke Dip. 

If cheese is the focus, surround it with a strong supporting cast. Brie is the unquestionable star here, but the sautéed vegetables add plenty of vital substance to our melted brie cheese recipe.

Get our recipe for Melted Brie with Vegetables. 

In our version, we cut back on the salt by making a fiery homemade cocktail sauce and improve matters with the shrimp by skipping the pre-cooked store-bought kind (most of which are pretty disappointing tasting) in favor of quickly oven-roasting fresh crustaceans tossed in Old Bay seasoning. The only thing this recipe is missing is a frosty beer, but we had a feeling you might have a few waiting for you in the fridge.

Get our recipe for Oven-Roasted Shrimp Cocktail. 

You can serve this in one giant dish, but building separate layered servings in individual glasses (for a fancy effect, grab some martini or wine glasses) makes for a dramatic presentation and allows for all the double-dipping one could want.

Get our recipe for 7-Layer Dip. 

In this healthy stuffed jalapeños recipe, we pull back on quantity and add in quality ingredients that will pack a flavorful punch and harness the heat of the jalapeños, rather than slathering it in unnecessary fat and calories.

Get our recipe for Cheese and Chorizo Stuffed Jalapeños. 

Sweet, salty, smoky, creamy: In a single bite, these tiny packages take you through the highest peaks of flavor country. Each bite containing a single, natural date, wrapped in delicious bacon and blue cheese.

Get our recipe for Bacon and Blue Cheese Stuffed Dates. 

Mains

When topped with a spicy wasabi mayo, you'll get a burger that brings the heat in every bite. This is far from the basic burger you might be used to!

Get our recipe for a Tuna Burger with Wasabi Mayo. 

The best part about sloppy joes is that everything you need is likely already in your pantry and spice cabinet, gathering dust, waiting for a chance to shine. Open a can, measure out a few spices (if you have children, employ them as your sous chefs), and you'll have a crowd-pleasing dinner on the table in about 15 minutes.

Get our recipe for Turkey Sloppy Joes.

The United States is flush with quirky regional burgers, from the pastrami-topped burgers of Utah to the butter burgers of Wisconsin. Our favorite is the Midwestern smashed burger, which involves using a spatula to thwack a ball of ground beef into a thin patty while it cooks in a cast-iron skillet.

Get our recipe for A1 Swiss Burgers. 

Grilling or oven-roasting your wings, on the other hand, cuts fat significantly; it's also easier, cheaper (no quart of oil for frying), and (especially on the grill) tastier.

Get our recipe for Buffalo Wings. 

Craving a KFC chicken sandwich right now? Don't worry, this recipe is going to satisfy that craving in an instant. We have a copycat KFC chicken sandwich recipe that's going to knock your socks off.

Get our recipe for Copycat KFC Chicken Sandwiches. 

Traditional North Carolina pulled pork is dressed with nothing more than a bit of spicy cider vinegar that's used to accentuate the meat's flavor, not mask it. We get back to the humble hog treatment and turn out a sandwich flush with flavor and light on calories.

Get our recipe for Pulled Pork Sandwiches. 

Even though this recipe teaches you how to fry up chicken wings after they sit in the marinade, this marinade is also great for grilling, air-frying meats, vegetables, and much more.

Get our recipe for Gai Tod Thai Chicken Marinade. 

If you're looking for a leaner burger that will satisfy that craving, this southwest turkey burger will do just that! Topped with a homemade chipotle mayo and pepper jack cheese, this burger is sandwiched between an English muffin and topped with a healthy amount of avocado.

Get our recipe for Southwest Turkey Burgers. 

Enjoy a classic Chicago dog at home with our easy-to-make recipe. Remember, no ketchup!

Get our recipe for Chicago Hot Dogs. 

Because one slider recipe wasn't enough, we give you two, so you'll be able to deliver some huge flavor for a truly mini caloric price tag. They're great for appetizers, snacks, or even as the main event!

Get our recipe for Sliders. 

Why more people don't cook food in packets is one of the culinary world's great mysteries. Not only is it one of the healthiest, easiest ways to cook fish, chicken, and vegetables, but the abundance of flavorful steam trapped inside the packet means your food will still be delicious, even if you overcook it. Plus, there are no pots or pans to clean—just toss the foil in the trash and move on.

Get our recipe for Sea Bass Packets. 

This grilled chicken sandwich delivers heroic flavor by employing chimichurri, an Argentine herb-based sauce that would make shoe leather taste like fine dining, along with a solid supporting cast of sweet peppers, sharp raw onions, and peppery greens.

Get our recipe for Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Chimichurri Sauce. 

When the chicken breast pieces are cooked to perfection, with a slightly crispy exterior, they'll be impossible to resist. Add that to the spicy jalapeño dip, and you've got an appetizer that just might steal the focus of the whole meal.

Get our recipe for Garam Masala Chicken Skewers with Fire-Roasted Jalapeño Dip. 

Sides

Over the years, we've tested dozens of iterations of the classic—spiked with chiles, topped with bacon, toned down with non-fat cheese. However, we keep returning to this formula: a béchamel base, laced with extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, and finished with a bit of yogurt to give the sauce that perfect texture.

Get our recipe for Mac and Cheese. 

Looking for a salsa recipe that's going to wow a crowd? Then this kiwi, cucumber, and mango salsa will do just that. Why? It's all because of this salsa's secret ingredient: kombucha!

Get our recipe for Kiwi, Cucumber and Mango Salsa. 

Sweet potatoes have two big nutritional boons that regular potatoes lack: big doses of fiber and vision-strengthening vitamin A. Plus, the natural sugars found within them will intensify and strengthen when baked or roasted, and they pair just as perfectly with the fiery cayenne to make fries every bit as enjoyable as the ones that bathe in oil.

Get our recipe for Baked Sweet Potato Fries. 

Whether you need a side salad to add to the table for your Memorial Day cookout, or simply need something prep for lunches, this dried beef salad is perfect for both.

Get our recipe for Biltong Salad. 

The key here is washing the surface starch from the potatoes before baking, which helps encourage surface browning and crisping. The rosemary and Parmesan are nice touches, but the real star of this show is the spud itself. This side dish goes great with a steak and a side of spinach, a juicy burger, or better yet, a turkey burger.

Get our recipe for Oven-Baked French Fries. 

To keep the biscuit as healthy as possible while still producing a genuine, flaky, Southern-style treasure, we've cut out the shortening (trans fats are so 1990s), showed some restraint with the butter, and used low-fat buttermilk to bring moisture and tang to the mix.

Get our recipe for Southern-Style Biscuits. 

Make this caprese salad one of your go-to summer salads. It's great for appetizers or as a salad served at your Memorial Day cookout.

Get our recipe for Caprese Salad. 

A great salad should be many things: sweet and salty, crunchy and tender. In short: a full exploration of taste and texture, but not at the cost of a whole meal's worth of calories. With the addition of caramelized apples, toasted pecans, and creamy goat cheese, this retro spinach salad finally achieves perfect harmony.

Get our recipe for Spinach Salad. 

Don't worry, we promise, the smoke of the bacon, the heat of the red pepper flakes, and the crunch of the almond will win over even the most stubborn veggi-phobe.

Get our recipe for Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Almonds. 

To preserve the health status of baked beans and simultaneously maximize their deliciousness, we mitigate the sugar surge and build flavor instead with a few of our all-time favorite foods and spices: cayenne, beer, and bacon. See what we mean about maximizing deliciousness? Yep, these smoky baked beans will be both healthy and addictive. Dig in!

Get our recipe for Smoky "Baked" Beans with Bacon. 

This version is about as classic as potato salad can get, except for the fact that we resist the urge to drown the vegetables in a viscous sea of mayo. Instead, the mayo is bolstered with Dijon and a tangy shot of vinegar. The result: a healthier potato salad that cuts nearly half the fat from the equation and still tastes like the picnic classic we all adore.

Get our recipe for Potato Salad. 

These chips aren't just considerably better for you than the standard supermarket fried variety, they're also about three times as delicious, thanks to the fresh potato flavor and a smoky touch from paprika. Eat them as a snack, or serve alongside a grilled steak or a burger.

Get our recipe for Smoked Paprika Potato Chips. 

This recipe resides in that small but happy space between side dish, condiment, and healthy meal. It's good enough to eat on its own, but it's also the type of punchy, assertive salad that can be served over a piece of grilled salmon, chicken, (or even steak) and you can even tuck it into your favorite a wrap or sandwich.

Get our recipe for Pickled Cucumber Salad. 

Drinks

Use up that leftover bottle of white in your fridge and make a sauvignon blanc margarita for your Memorial Day cookout.

Get our recipe for Sauvignon Blanc Margarita. 

While sangria is a fun cocktail to enjoy at happy hour, it can be loaded with some hidden sugars. Between the juice, the simple syrup, and even the fruit, sangria tends to be higher in sugar compared to other cocktails or a glass of wine. So we found a way to make a healthier pitcher of sangria for your Memorial Day cookout so you can save that sugar count for dessert later!

Get our recipe for Blackberry Sangria. 

There really is nothing like a cold glass of rosé after a long summer day. If you find yourself getting bored of that usual bottle, why not make a summery cocktail with the same kind of flavor, but made with kombucha instead? And yes, you do float a scoop of vanilla ice cream in there!

Get our recipe for Bubbly Rose Kombucha Float. 

With this cocktail recipe, you're getting the best of both worlds. This rosé Paloma cocktail is the perfect drink to have on a hot, summery day

Get our recipe for Rose Paloma Cocktail.

Here's how to make this delicious margarita with all the Mexican staples you love—avocado, pineapple, lime, chili powder, and of course, tequila!

Get our recipe for Avocado Pineapple Margarita. 

Use up those leftover strawberries and can of ginger ale and make a Pimm's cup to sip on! Bonus points if you can garnish yours as beautifully as this.

Get our recipe for Pimm's Cups. 

If you're looking for a cocktail to impress, the clover club should be your go-to. This cocktail recipe calls for an egg white and a homemade raspberry syrup!

Get our recipe for Clover Club. 

Whether served in a glass or a copper mug, Moscow mules are a great approachable drink that everyone can enjoy at the Memorial Day cookout.

Get our recipe for Moscow Mule. 

An original cocktail made by a New York City bartender, the 77 St. Mark is made with tequila, Aperol, and green chartreuse.

Get our recipe for 77 St. Mark. 

Get our recipe for Lucien Gaudins. 

Looking for a cocktail that involves a little kombucha and tequila? Riberio provides a few drinks that do just that! To make this fruit drink, you need a great combination of strawberries and kiwis with spicy jalapeño.

Get our recipe for Berry Spicy Kombucha Cocktails. 

A mix of spicy and sweet, this cocktail is made with tequila and mezcal and is the perfect refreshing cocktail for a Memorial Day cookout.

Get our recipe for Jalapeño en Jaliscos. 

Sweet Treats

Not only do the oats and almonds give this dish a shot of fiber, healthy fat, and antioxidants you wouldn't find in a standard flour-based crumble, but the crunchy texture of the topping makes for a more rewarding contrast to the soft cooked apples.

Get our recipe for Apple Crumble. 

Sure, you could run to the ice cream truck and get your favorite treat, but why not make some popsicles at home? Especially if you can make them with a little bit of your favorite kombucha!

Get our recipe for Kombucha Pina Colada Popsicles. 

Add a swirl of rum sauce and some toasted coconut to this grilled pineapple sundae recipe, and it's like having a piña colada, minus the hangover. It's like a vacation on a plate.

Get our recipe for Vanilla Grilled Pineapple and Rum Sauce Sundae. 

With a restrained amount of butter and sugar and a dose of good, antioxidant-rich dark chocolate, you're going to have a delicious square to devour, rather than a sweet treat that leaves you disappointed. This brownie may be low-calorie, but it's 100 percent the real deal.

Get our recipe for Fudgy Brownies. 

The wonder of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies lies in the texture: a perfectly chewy interplay of butter-softened flour and baked oats, with a surprising jolt of chocolaty goodness. The oatmeal provides a great opportunity to bring a healthy ingredient to a dessert.

Get our recipe for Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. 

That small circle from the peach pit is practically screaming for a little scoop of yogurt or ice cream to go in it! This grilled peach recipe is filled with fiber, protein, and healthy fat—is about as good as dessert ever gets.

Get our recipe for Grilled Apricots. 

Combining the delicious taste of apples with cranberries, oats, and walnuts, this dessert is pretty much fall in a bowl. Plus, you can make it in a pressure cooker, so there's not a lot of elbow grease (and dirty dishes) required. It's bound to be one of your favorite Memorial Day recipes to date.

Get our recipe for Apple-Cranberry Crisp. 

Looking for a way to use up that can of light coconut milk? Try this coconut cream pie! This dessert recipe will satisfy any sweet tooth, and it will have every coconut fan savoring every delicious bite.

Get our recipe for Triple Coconut Cream Pie. 

If you're looking for an easy dessert that will wow a crowd, this homemade ice cream recipe will do just the trick. Bring out all the sauces, sprinkles, and candy toppings, and you can have yourself the ultimate ice cream sundae extravaganza!

Get our recipe for Homemade Ice Cream. 

Milkshakes on Memorial Day sound like the most American thing to indulge in! The trick to making thick milkshakes is your ice cream to milk ratio. You actually want to have more ice cream than milk in order for the milkshake to be thick and creamy. It's kind of an art, but once you get used to it, making it at home is a breeze—and rather addicting if I'm being honest here!

Get our recipe for Milkshakes. 

Did you know that the base of a fruit pizza is a giant sugar cookie? Yep, that's right! When you make a fruit pizza recipe, it's actually one large sugar cookie topped with icing and fruit. So making a fruit pizza recipe with glaze is actually easier than making pizza dough from scratch—simply because the "crust" is easier to put together. It's the perfect, colorful dessert to share during your Memorial Day cookout.

Get our recipe for Fruit Pizza. 

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