30 Memorial Day Recipes for Your Holiday Cookout
Mark the unofficial start of summer with a selection of crowd-pleasing favorites.
Memorial Day is a poignant time of remembrance; it offers a moment for the nation to honor those who have died while serving in the military. It also signals the unofficial start of summer and is often celebrated with parades, picnics, and other gatherings. If you're planning a cookout this year, use our Memorial Day recipes to craft your menu. We have everything you need to mark this special holiday, from potato salad and pulled pork to baked beans and refreshing desserts—plus burgers, grilled chicken, and sides galore.
Related: 30 Easy Potluck Recipes for All Kinds of Parties
Chili-Pie Burgers
This is a handheld riff on Frito pie that's sure to be the hit of your Memorial Day cookout. Beef patties are topped with chili-spiked sautéed onions, pickled jalapeños, melty American cheese, and crunchy Frito chips on a soft potato roll.
Cauliflower Faux-tato Salad
If you think you can't have a cookout without potato salad, think again. This "faux tato" salad hits the spot but cuts the carbs. We'd never have guessed steamed cauliflower would make such a delicious side and substitute for white potatoes, but it does. It's tossed with celery, onion, and a mustard vinaigrette—and this salad is even better the next day as the flavors meld.
Red, White, and Blue Potato Chips
Skip store-bought potato chips and make our special Memorial Day recipe instead. We use three different types of potatoes to give these chips some all-American color.
Blueberry Crumble
Summer's shining stars—blueberries—form the base for the sweet, jammy filling. The topping is a crumbly combination of butter, brown sugar, and flour.
Classic Potato Salad
Potato salad is a Memorial Day classic—and this recipe is as good as it gets. Mayonnaise brings the necessary creaminess, while a couple of tablespoons of whole-grain mustard and sliced cornichons give it a tangy edge.
Classic North Carolina Pulled Pork
Instead of slow-cooking pork, try grilling the boneless pork shoulder before pulling it. Grilling gives the meat an extra smoky flavor that complements the sweet and sticky barbecue sauce.
Perfect Lobster Roll
Even if you're not spending Memorial Day at the beach, your tastebuds will be transported seaside with this lobster roll. It's the perfect blend of a hot lobster roll and cold lobster salad—poached lobster meat is tossed with just a touch of mayonnaise, plus lemon juice and butter.
Simple Coleslaw
Complete your Memorial Day cookout with our quick coleslaw recipe. There's nothing fussy or unexpected—just plenty of crunchy cabbage and carrots and the stellar duo of mayonnaise and Dijon mustard.
Celery-and-Cucumber Salad With Herbs
When it comes to entertaining for a holiday like Memorial Day, our philosophy is the more that can be made ahead, the better. This low-key, fragrant salad fits the bill. You only need four ingredients, which can be made into a salad an hour—or up to a day—in advance.
Quick BBQ Sauce
Everyone's favorite barbecue sauce recipe is just the thing for adding to pulled pork sandwiches, grilled ribs, or even burgers. Our recipe calls for just six ingredients: ketchup, light brown sugar, white wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, and cayenne for heat.
Martha's Strawberry Ice Cream
Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, which means it's also start of ice cream season. Martha of course has the perfect recipe, a pretty-in-pink ice cream that's made with an entire pound of strawberries. For an optional boozy edge, add a generous splash of tequila or vodka.
Classic Burger-Joint Cheeseburger
Some might say it's not a Memorial Day cookout without a cheeseburger. This recipe hits the spot. It calls for all the best fixings—American cheese, thick slices of tomato, dill pickle slices, and shredded lettuce.
Cincinnati Chili Dogs
Want to serve something new at your cookout this year? Try this hot dog inspired by a Cincinnati classic: chili with a delicious and unexpected cocoa flavor piled on top, along with diced onion, mustard, and sharp cheddar cheese.
Chewy Brownies
No matter the occasion, brownies are a winner but we especially love them for a casual backyard barbecue or Memorial Day cookout. This easy recipe makes the ultimate fudgy treat.
Baked Beans With Bacon
Homemade baked beans are an essential Memorial Day recipe. A little bit of garlic and fresh thyme add an earthiness that offsets the sweet barbecue-style sauce.
Grilled Corn With Chile-Lime Salt
Grilled corn is always juicy and delicious as is, but accessorized with grated Parmesan cheese, chipotle-chile powder for some heat, and lime zest, it's just sublime.
Lemonade
Our homemade lemonade is sweet as can be and couldn't be easier to make. All you need is freshly squeezed lemon juice and granulated sugar to make this favorite Memorial Day beverage.
Strawberry Biscuit Sheet Cake
Quick to make but so very special, that's this sheet-cake take on strawberry shortcakes. All the classic elements are there; flaky, sweet biscuits, whipped cream, and juicy berries—but in a feed-a-crowd format.
Barbecue Chicken
Our all-star recipe calls for a whole chicken, cut into breasts, thighs, and wings so everyone can choose their favorite cut. The pieces are grilled and then tossed with a simple yet spectacular sauce made from ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce.
No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecake
Come summer, we're all about no-bake desserts and this one fits the bill for Memorial Day weekend. That's because the light and creamy cheesecake is topped with a sweet blueberry compote that makes use of this in-season berry.
Lemon Mezcal Margarita
Surprise (and delight!) your loved ones with this smoky twist on a classic margarita.
Grilled Skirt Steak and Hearts of Palm Salad
Steaks are an extra-special treat for a Memorial Day gathering. Pair the thinly sliced meat with grilled hearts of palm and fresh greens to get this ultimate Thai-inspired salad, packed with flavor and just the right amount of spiciness.
Martha's Sour Cherry Pie
Show off your baking skills for Memorial Day with this mouthwatering sour cherry pie (one of Martha's favorites for the season!) to round up your ultimate summer meal.
Creamy Macaroni Salad
The duo of mayonnaise and low-fat yogurt brings the creaminess—and a touch of tang—to this classic Memorial Day recipe. For some crunch, we added thinly sliced radishes, celery, and dill pickles, which also cut through the richness of this staple side.
Grilled Chicken Breasts With Lemon-Thyme Sauce
Dress up grilled chicken breasts for the holiday with a zesty sauce made from lemon juice, fresh thyme leaves, a pinch of sugar, and red pepper flakes.
Gazpacho Salad With Croutons
Inspired by the cool Spanish soup, this genius salad combines small tomatoes, yellow bell peppers, mini cucumbers, and croutons for a colorful and refreshing cookout side dish.
Balsamic Potato Salad
If you're not a fan of mayo-rich potato salads, we bet that you'll love this more delicate recipe. Red and Yukon Gold potatoes are tossed with a combination of extra-virgin olive oil and white balsamic vinegar, plus a handful of arugula for green and crunch.
Zucchini Dill Pickles
Make homemade zucchini pickles for some crunch at your cookout. The squash is pickled in white vinegar and fresh dill along with mustard seeds, cumin seeds, celery seeds, and chile peppers. You can serve them right away, or let them marinate for up to one month.
Rose Sangria With Nectarines and Strawberries
Get the party started with this sangria recipe that uses everyone's favorite summer wine. Combine vodka, fresh strawberries, and sliced nectarines and let the fruit absorb the booze—then top with two bottles of rosé and garnish with fresh mint.
7-Layer Ice Cream Cake
Colorful, patriotic, and extremely simple to build, this layered ice cream is made with store-bought ingredients. Plan ahead so you can get your layers right (it is indeed an easy recipe, but there's a major waiting game involved), and don't be afraid to mix dairy-based ice cream with fruit sorbet for bold flavors and textures.
Related: View Recipe
Read the original article on Martha Stewart.
