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Memorial Day is a weekend full of patriotism, but it’s also the unofficial kickoff to cookout season! It’s the perfect time to dust off your grill and break out your favorite BBQ recipes. Whether you’re hosting a big backyard party or just a small dinner with the family, this list of Memorial Day recipes has something for everyone. You can kick things off with summer appetizers and a pitcher of sangria, then make a spread of burgers, hot dogs, and BBQ sides. Of course, you can’t go wrong with Ladd Drummond’s grilled tenderloin—it’s perfect alongside grilled asparagus and watermelon-feta orzo salad! The only thing that could make your patriotic party better would be a red, white, and blue dessert!
But before we get ahead of ourselves, here are some delicious ideas for Memorial Day recipes. Whether you’re planning a small picnic, a trip to the beach, or a big backyard cookout, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to whip up these summer recipes for all your family and friends. Looking to try something new this year? There are tons of creative Memorial Day foods like grilled pizza, lamb burgers, and bacon ranch pasta salad. Otherwise, stick to the classics with grilled steak, kebabs, ribs, and skillet cornbread. You’ll be making these cookout favorites all summer long!
Grilled T-Bone Steak
These steaks have a ton of flavor thanks to the homemade spice rub. It’s made up of salt, paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, brown sugar, onion powder, and cumin. There’s nothing boring about it!
Get Ree’s Grilled T-Bone Steak recipe.
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Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
This classic pasta salad is creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet. It has bits of chopped celery, shredded carrots, and green onion for a welcome crunch.
Get the Hawaiian Macaroni Salad recipe.
Grill-Fried Chicken
Fried chicken is delicious, but the thought of standing over a pot of hot oil during Memorial Day weekend just isn’t that fun. That’s why making this crispy chicken on the grill will blow your mind! It’s less mess but the same great reward.
Get the Grill-Fried Chicken recipe.
Watermelon-Feta Orzo Salad
This cool, refreshing salad is an excellent addition to any barbecue-centric menu. The sweet watermelon and salty feta cheese are a match made in summertime heaven!
Get Ree’s Watermelon-Feta Orzo Salad recipe.
Grilled Veggie Skewers
The best part about these grilled vegetables is that they can go with just about any main course. Serve them up with burgers, steaks, or even chicken. Just don’t forget the tangy balsamic marinade to make them shine!
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Blackberry Pie
This blackberry pie will win high remarks amongst your family and friends. The flaky butter crust and juicy berries are begging for a scoop of ice cream or dollop of whipped cream!
Get the Blackberry Pie recipe.
Juicy Lucy
Take your burgers to the next level by stuffing them with molten cheese! The mouth-watering dish comes topped with caramelized onions for even more irresistible flavor.
Get the Juicy Lucy recipe.
Grilled Flank Steak
This versatile steak can be served up in so many different ways. Top it with melted cowboy butter, fresh mango salsa, or herby chimichurri. Either way, it’ll be so easy to make!
Get the Grilled Flank Steak recipe.
Grilled Asparagus
Memorial Day falls right at the peak of asparagus season. And this method for cooking the green, tender spears is sure to become your new favorite. It’s simple, flavorful, and pretty, too!
Get the Grilled Asparagus recipe.
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
This recipe features three of our favorite ingredients: ranch dressing, crispy bacon, and hearty pasta! You really can’t go wrong when they’re combined into one delicious BBQ salad.
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Pico de Gallo
Get the party started with this fresh tomato salsa! The chopped tomato, onion, jalapeño, and cilantro make it a cool and refreshing summer dip.
Get Ree’s Pico de Gallo recipe.
Grilled Shrimp Skewers
These lemony shrimp skewers cook up in just a matter of minutes on the grill. Serve them on skewers or pile them over a big salad or pasta dish.
Get the Grilled Shrimp Skewers recipe.
Loaded Baked Potato Salad
Sour cream, bacon, cheese, and green onion give this potato salad that classic loaded baked potato flavor. It’s the perfect make-ahead Memorial Day side!
Get the Loaded Baked Potato Salad recipe.
Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs
Sure, you can throw some hot dogs on the grill and call it a day, but if you really want to make the weekend memorable, try wrapping your hot dogs in bacon instead! They even get a spicy kick from pickled jalapeños.
Get the Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs recipe.
Cowboy Steak
This cowboy-sized steak is fit for a crowd. The extra-thick-cut, bone-in ribeye will make anybody swoon—especially when it’s topped with melty ranch butter!
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Avocado Dip
If you’re looking to keep the appetizers light before you dig in to a BBQ feast, try this creamy avocado dip that’s fresh and herby. It’s great when served up with spring or summer veggies and pita chips for dipping.
Get the Avocado Dip recipe.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Caesar salad meets pasta salad in this fun cookout mash-up! It’s creamy and cheesy with chunks of hearty chicken, crunchy croutons and crisp lettuce.
Get the Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad recipe.
S’mores Bars
Bring the campfire to your own home with this fun s’mores-inspired dessert. While you don’t actually need to build a fire to make them, they still have plenty of toasty marshmallow, chocolate, and graham cracker flavor.
Get the S’mores Bars recipe.
Grilled Pizza
Making pizza on the grill is such a fun party trick that will get everyone excited. It’s easy to do with a sheet of aluminum foil and different toppings, like caprese and arugula-prosciutto.
Get the Grilled Pizza recipe.
White Sangria
This refreshing pitcher drink is great for making ahead. The white wine and fruit can be mixed up the night before, then just top it off with prosecco right before serving.
Get the White Sangria recipe.
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Corn Soufflé
This fluffy corn casserole is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. The sweetness from the fresh corn kernels and creamed corn are paired up with spicy bits of chopped jalapeño peppers.
Get the Corn Soufflé recipe.
Southwestern Pasta Salad
If you like a pasta salad that has big, bold flavors, this recipe is for you! The smoky chipotle dressing tossed with pasta, beans, corn, avocado, and even shredded Mexican cheese!
Get the Southwestern Pasta Salad recipe.
Corn Salad
Fresh sweet corn and spicy jalapeño come together in this flavor-packed side dish. There’s also a creamy dressing made with smoky chipotle.
Get the Corn Salad recipe.
Grilled Pork Chops
What’s the key to making these grilled pork chops the best-ever? Bone-in pork chops that are at least 1 inch thick. The thickness helps create that nice crust while staying tender on the inside.
Get the Grilled Pork Chops recipe.
Hushpuppies
Hushpuppies are basically small bites of fried cornbread so you know they’ll be delicious alongside your favorite BBQ recipes. They also make for a tasty appetizer.
Get the Hushpuppies recipe.
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Caprese Pasta Salad
Unlike the heavier, mayo-based pasta salads, this one is light and refreshing—perfect for summer! It’s filled with summer-y ingredients like cherry tomatoes and fresh basil, too.
Get the Caprese Pasta Salad recipe.
Southern Potato Salad
This hearty, comforting side dish is a classic for a reason. It’s always the first thing to go at a summertime cookout!
Get the Southern Potato Salad recipe.
Strawberry Cobbler
Making this sweet strawberry dessert in a cast iron skillet helps to get those golden, crisp edges—some might say it’s the best part!
Get the Strawberry Cobbler recipe.
Beef Kabob
Each one of these skewers is loaded with peppers, onions, mushrooms, and sirloin beef. It’s like a full meal on a stick.
Get the Beef Kabob recipe.
Tortellini Pasta Salad
Cheesy tortellini gives this pasta salad a fun (and hearty) twist! Plus, it’s loaded with mix-ins, like salami, black olives, and zucchini.
Get the Tortellini Pasta Salad recipe.
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Strawberry Lemonade
For Ree Drummond, it isn’t a cookout without lemonade! And this pretty version takes things one step further by adding sweet strawberries to the mix.
Get the Strawberry Lemonade recipe.
Grilled Chicken Marinade
Grilled chicken is never boring when you’re armed with this marinade recipe. It helps keep the chicken moist, tender, and flavorful!
Get the Grilled Chicken Marinade recipe.
Homemade Chicken Burgers
It only takes 20 minutes to whip up this quick and easy chicken burger recipe. You can even serve them alongside your favorite beef burgers, too. It’s always a good idea to have options!
Get the Homemade Chicken Burgers recipe.
Sweet and Smoky Ribs
Cookouts and ribs go hand-in-hand. It just wouldn’t be the same without this sticky main course.
Get Ree’s Sweet and Smoky Ribs recipe.
Skillet Cornbread
Ree’s classic cornbread is a staple any time of year, but come summertime it’s particularly delicious with your favorite BBQ foods. We’re talking pulled pork, ribs, and more.
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Best-Ever Guacamole
Kick things off with a Memorial Day appetizer that everyone loves. Enter: guacamole! There’s nothing fancy about it, it’s just a good simple recipe.
Get the Best-Ever Guacamole recipe.
BBQ Hot Dogs with Cilantro Slaw
Ree takes her hot dogs to the next level by brushing them with BBQ sauce and adding a creamy, crunchy homemade slaw. It’ll be the talk of the party.
Get Ree’s BBQ Hot Dogs with Cilantro Slaw recipe.
Best-Ever Grilled Ribs
Making these ribs takes a little extra time and patience, but it’s totally worth it. The result: sticky, sweet and smoky goodness!
Get the Best-Ever Grilled Ribs recipe.
Greek Pasta Salad
This pasta salad is everything you love about a classic Greek salad, plus the addition of bowtie noodles! It’s delicious for a light lunch or BBQ side.
Get the Greek Pasta Salad recipe.
Classic Coleslaw
This simple recipe comes together in just 10 minutes, plus it goes with just about any main course from burgers to ribs.
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Red, White, and Blue Trifle
It wouldn’t be Memorial Day without a red, white, and blue dessert! This one is easy to make and even tastier to eat.
Get the Red, White, and Blue Trifle recipe.
Baked Beans
If you’re serving barbecue for Memorial Day this year, baked beans are a must! Ree’s variation is rich, flavorful, and topped with slabs of crispy bacon.
Get Ree’s Baked Beans recipe.
Classic Cheeseburger
There’s just no beating burgers when it comes to crowning the ultimate Memorial Day food. But even after the holiday is over, keep this particular recipe bookmarked! You never know when you’ll be craving a burger.
Get the Classic Cheeseburger recipe.
Grilled Corn On The Cob
The smoky, sweet flavors of grilled corn combined with salty, garlic-chive butter makes this recipe an obvious winner. You’ll get a kick out of the hybrid grilling approach used here, too: Some husks are left on, some are left off.
Get the Grilled Corn On The Cob recipe.
Grilled Watermelon
It’s not the start of summer without watermelon! Charred on the grill and seasoned with lime, salt, and sugar, this unexpected take will have your whole gang grinning.
Get the Grilled Watermelon recipe.
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BLT Pasta Salad
A classic combo in pasta form. The key to making this pasta salad so delicious is in the dressing. The mayo-based topping is made with one of our favorite kitchen hacks—ranch seasoning mix! It’s creamy, herby, and packed with flavor.
Get the BLT Pasta Salad recipe.
Red Potato Salad
This creamy red potato salad is just the thing to tote to a potluck this Memorial Day weekend. Bits of crunchy celery and crispy bacon add texture.
Get the Red Potato Salad recipe.
Easy Strawberry Pie
In late spring, fresh strawberries are everywhere. Take advantage before the season comes to an end by whipping up this show-stopping dessert.
Get the Easy Strawberry Pie recipe.
Ladd’s Grilled Tenderloin
Once you’ve tried Ladd Drummond’s legendary tenderloin recipe, it’ll become a staple in your cookout rotation. Melted butter is the key to keeping each cut as juicy as possible.
Get Ladd’s Grilled Tenderloin recipe.
Spicy BBQ Brisket
You’ll finish off this tender brisket on the grill to make it smoky as well as tender. Pro tip: Don’t skip the homemade barbecue sauce—it’s practically a requirement here.
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