50+ Easy Memorial Day Recipes for Cookouts and Picnics

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With the holiday weekend nearing, these easy Memorial Day recipes are perfect for the unofficial start of summer. From burgers and ribs to summer salads, picnic sides, and simple desserts, you'll find festive favorites for every kind of gathering.

See our Memorial Day Desserts collection for more festive, sweet treat ideas!

A Memorial Day recipes spread with saucy ribs, berry salad, and grilled corn on wooden boards.

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Best Memorial Day Recipes for Your Holiday Weekend
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Best Memorial Day Recipes for Your Holiday Weekend

Whether you're planning a backyard cookout, packing a casual picnic, or setting out a relaxed meal for family and friends, these Memorial Day recipes are easy, seasonal, and crowd-friendly. You'll find main dishes, summer sides, salads, drinks, and desserts to help you build a simple holiday menu.

Closeup top view of BBQ chicken drumsticks on a white plate with fresh parsley.

carlsbadcravings.com

BBQ Chicken on the Grill with Homemade BBQ Sauce

"Grilled BBQ Chicken enveloped in a tantalizing spice rub, slathered with Homemade Barbecue Sauce and grilled to perfection for the best juicy, smokey flavorful chicken every single time!"

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A Seattle-Style Hot Dog topped with cream cheese, sautéed onions, jalapeño slices, and hot sauce, served on a plate with crispy potato chips.

The Seattle Hot Dog

A Seattle-style hot dog is an iconic local favorite topped with cream cheese, caramelized onions, and jalapeños. Simple, savory, and perfect for game day.

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Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Skewers close up with bell peppers, onion and zucchini.

Easy Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Skewers are a simple, savory and sweet BBQ kabob recipe! These simple Chicken Teriyaki Skewers are an easy go-to dinner idea everyone will love, all season long stacked with onions, peppers and zucchini - all the summer vegetables that taste their best cooked on the grill!

Grilled Chicken Skewers

Cut grilled and seared back baby ribs on a wooden parchment lined serving tray with fresh rosemary on the side.

Grilled and Tender Foil Wrapped Baby Back Ribs

Learn how to make deliciously Tender and Juicy Foil Wrapped Baby Back Ribs on the grill this summer! It's grilling season and nothing says BBQ quite like a fall-off-the-bone pork baby back ribs made with a homemade dry rub and a mouthwatering basting sauce.

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Grilled chicken thighs, marinated in a savory chicken marinade, are garnished with fresh herbs, lemon slices, and edible flowers on crinkled parchment paper, with a whole lemon in the background.

Easy Grilled Chicken Marinade

This easy Grilled Chicken Marinade is so incredibly delicious. It's filled with savory herbs, sweet with honey, and citrusy with lemon flavors. It's a marinade you're going to love for the grilling season. Bonus… the marinade helps keep the chicken moist and juicy. Just as we love it!

Easy Grilled Chicken

Three grilled chicken skewers with barbecue sauce are served on parchment with lime wedges, fresh herbs, a bowl of corn topped with cheese, and a striped napkin on a wooden tray.

Easy BBQ Chicken Skewers

These easy BBQ Chicken Skewers are tender, juicy, and caramelized with a flavorful spice rub and homemade sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes-perfect for grilling season!

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Firecracker Chicken Burgers

Firecracker Chicken Burgers, a delicious blend of peppers, cheese, and aromatic spices, are mouthwatering and ready in 20 minutes or less.

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Grilled shrimp skewers garnished with chopped herbs, served with lemon slices, fresh parsley, and a small bowl of herb sauce-perfect for your Memorial Day recipes collection.

downshiftology.com

Garlic Grilled Shrimp Skewers

"Garlic grilled shrimp skewers are what summer is all about. Jumbo shrimp are marinated in a delicious garlic herb mixture, then grilled to perfection in under 10 minutes. You can't beat a recipe that's easy to make yet fancy enough to serve at your next party."

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Hot Dog Bar

"Grab your buns and dogs and a whole lot of toppings. This is super fun and delicious!"

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Side view of BBQ Chicken on a white plate with a bun and chips

Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken (3 Ingredients, 5 Minutes Prep)

This Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe has three simple ingredients, 5 minutes of prep, and is ready in 3 hours. It's juicy, tender, and oh-so-delicious.

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sliders

Side view of sliced ribeye steak, corn kernels, and chimichurri sauce drizzled over the top

Grilled Ribeye Steaks with Chimichurri and Corn

Grilled Ribeye Steaks with Chimichurri Sauce and grilled corn cobs are everything we love about summer! Easy and ready in 30 minutes or less.

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Easy Instant Pot Ribs

How to make fall off the bone Instant Pot Ribs. Easy method for baby back or spare ribs. So much faster and the sweet and savory dry rub is to die for!

Instant Pot Ribs Save

Greek turkey burger with feta and herbs served on a bun with fresh toppings.

Easy Greek Turkey Burgers

Mix up burgers for Memorial Day with these easy Greek Turkey Burgers. They are the ultimate healthy burger upgrade!

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A close-up of a sesame seed bun burger with leafy greens, a thick beef patty, and two slices of tomato sits on parchment paper-perfect inspiration for your next burgers recipe-striped cloth and blurred greenery in the background.

Best Easy Grilled Burgers Recipe

This is our favorite grilled burgers recipe. Plus, it's super easy. And we all love that. Whether grilled indoors or out, this burger reciple is packed with flavor and easy to make ahead too.

Grilled Beef Burgers Save

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken Slider close up with a red and white cabbage and carrot slaw.

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders

Let the slow cooker do the work with this easy Memorial Day recipe of Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders.

Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Sliders

Three ears of grilled corn on the cob garnished with herbs rest on an oval white dish, accompanied by small bowls of salt, red pepper flakes, and a yellow sauce.

Grilled Corn on the Cob Recipe

Grilled Corn on the Cob in Foil Packets is a favorite 3 ingredient summer side dish that is sweet and juicy and smoky with herbs and spices.

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Top view of Grilled Vegetables Platter with bowls of burrato cheese on a white background.

Easy Grilled Vegetables with Burrata

Easy Grilled Vegetables with Burrata is a centerpiece of summer grilling. With a simple balsamic glaze drizzled over delicious and slightly charred vegetables, it's a feast for the eyes and the palate.

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A blue plate with white stars holds a vibrant Mexican corn salad topped with diced tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, cilantro, and crumbled cheese. A fork rests on the plate. Nearby are fresh tomatoes and a green towel.

Easy Mexican Corn Salad

A simple salad with big flavor is the perfect compliment to delicious Memorial Day food.

Mexican Corn Salad

German Potato Salad

This German Potato Salad is a simple hot potato salad recipe with fork-tender potatoes, savory bacon, and fresh parsley tossed in a delicious tangy dressing you will love.

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Closeup view of Grilled Corn Salad in a white bowl

Grilled Corn Salad with Feta

This easy Grilled Corn Salad is a delicious salad recipe, perfect for summer BBQs and picnics. A simple lime vinaigrette enhances the bright, sweet, and refreshing flavors of this chilled salad.

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Instant Pot Potato Salad

Summer isn't summer without potato salad. This Instant Pot Potato Salad is so easy and time-saving that you will make it often. Guaranteed!

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Instant Pot Baked Beans

A perfect summer side. They're delicious and quick!

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Baked Beans with fresh chopped parsley in a cast iron skillet

Quick and Easy Skillet Baked Beans

It's that time of the year again. Time for baked beans. And this is my go-to quick and easy skillet baked beans recipe. For years. Delicious, savory... and easy!

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A bowl of spinach strawberry salad with blueberries, raspberries, cucumber, pecans, and crumbled feta cheese sits beside a jar of dressing.

Spinach Strawberry Salad Recipe

This Summer Spinach Strawberry Salad is bursting with juicy berries, baby spinach, creamy cheese, and crunchy toasted pecans-all tossed together with a vibrant homemade Strawberry Balsamic Dressing. It's an easy, crowd-pleasing salad that's perfect for summer entertaining, from backyard BBQs to the 4th of July.

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Closeup view of Classic Macaroni Salad with homemade dressing

Easy Summer Macaroni Salad

Macaroni Salad is a classic and delicious pasta salad recipe every summer cookout, BBQ, potluck, and picnic deserves! Incredibly simple to make, it's filled with fresh vegetables and macaroni tossed in a tangy, slightly sweet, and creamy homemade dressing.

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Easy Fruit Salad

This Fruit Salad recipe with sweetened mint is a refreshing and delicious addition to summer dining, garden parties, or any time you're in the mood for an exceedingly delightful treat that is ready in minutes!

Fruit Salad

A white bowl filled with vibrant quinoa salad, featuring chickpeas, diced tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, and fresh parsley, sits on a wooden surface with a blue and white striped cloth in the background.

Quinoa Salad Recipe

This Quinoa Salad is a favorite healthy salad, packed with vegetables and herbs, and perfect for lunches, picnics, and sides.

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Pasta Salad in a White Bowl with salami and vegetables.

Easy Summer Pasta Salad Recipe

This Mediterranean-inspired Pasta Salad is a favorite with salami, peppers, broccoli, zesty Italian dressing, and Feta cheese.

Summer Pasta Salad Save

Summer Easy Pasta Salad with Shredded Carrots

It isn't Memorial Day for me without my mom's Pasta Salad. Super easy and perfect for the weekend!

Macaroni Salad with Shredded Carrots

A white bowl filled with cucumber salad, crisp red onion slices, and fresh dill sits on a gray cloth napkin.

Simple Cucumber Salad with Creamy Greek Yogurt Dressing

A quick and easy refreshing salad to go with the spicy, savory flavors of a 4th of July cookout.

Creamy Cucumber Salad

Hot Slaw in the Foreground with Spare Ribs in the Background

Hot Slaw with Bacon

This Hot Slaw recipe with Bacon Dressing is a quick and easy side dish. And a perfect complement to heftier favorites like pork, sausages, or, of course, chicken. Whether it be fried, grilled... or pulled!

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A white bowl of strawberry spinach salad with pecans and crumbled cheese, served with wooden tongs on a white napkin.

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Feta and Toasted Pecans

Perfect for Memorial Day this simple salad with fresh, seasonal strawberries is both healthy and delicious!

Strawberry Spinach Salad

A wooden bowl filled with White Bean Salad, cherry tomatoes, red onion, parsley, and green peppers sits on a wooden board, with a spoon inside and fresh herbs nearby.

10 Minute Make Ahead White Bean Salad with a Quick Vinaigrette

If you have 10 minutes, this White Bean Salad is for you. Packed with healthy protein, this creamy salad is filled with fresh vegetables and herbs. And then dressed in a deliciously simple vinaigrette.

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Quick Pickled Red Onions to Brighten the Season's Best | 31Daily.com

Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe

Quick Pickled Red Onions are easy to make at home in under 30 minutes. Seasonless, they're incredible with tacos, salads, nachos, burgers and more.

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Side view of unsliced berry cake on a white cake stand.

Anytime Berry Cake Recipe

This easy Berry Cake recipe is a red, white, and blue cake filled with summer blueberries and raspberries, hints of fresh lemon, and a buttery, tender crumb you'll fall in love with.

Red White & Blue Berry Cake Save

Red, White, and Blue Berry Parfait (in 15 minutes)

This 15 minute Red White and Blue Berry Parfait is the perfect Memorial Day treat. Layered with blueberries, strawberries, and a delicious lemon-infused Greek yogurt filling, it's quick, easy, and perfect for the holiday.

Easy Berry Parfait

Top side view of a serving of strawberry cobbler in a white tart dish with melting vanilla ice cream

Skillet Strawberry Cobbler

This Strawberry Cobbler is a quick and easy recipe made with fresh strawberries, pantry ingredients, and is ready in about 35 minutes. Serve straight from the skillet with a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream.

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Top view of Blueberry Cobbler in black skillet

Skillet Blueberry Cobbler

This Blueberry Cobbler is a quick and easy recipe made with fresh or frozen blueberries, pantry ingredients, and ready in 35 minutes. Serve straight from the skillet with a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream.

Skillet Blueberry Cobbler Save

Square image of berry trifle with layers of fresh berries, chantilly cream, and fresh mint in a trifle dish ready for serving.

Simple Berry Trifle Recipe

This simple Berry Trifle Recipe is a super quick and easy layered dessert of fresh summer berries, delicious pound cake, and heavenly pastry cream.

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Stacked Strawberry Crumble squares stacked with fresh strawberries

Strawberry Crumble Bars

These simple Strawberry Crumble Bars are deliciously summery with sweet fresh strawberries and an irresistible crumble topping. Perfect for backyard summer BBQ, picnics, or when you're craving a sweet treat.

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A slice of cherry pie with a lattice crust, reminiscent of classic rhubarb pie, is topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and sits on a white plate with a fork.

Rhubarb Pie Recipe

This Rhubarb Pie recipe is the essence of spring and the taste of summer to come. It's fresh, bright, fantastically delicious, and just like Grandma used to make.

Rhubarb Pie Recipe Save

Sliced chocolate brownies, reminiscent of a rich chocolate cake, dusted with powdered sugar on parchment paper, with a potted plant and woven basket in the background.

Anytime Fudgy Picnic Chocolate Cake

This Picnic Chocolate Cake is a rich and fudgy, slightly decadent anytime cake you're going to love. And easy? Oh my, yes! Made in one bowl with a spoon and baked in an 8 x 8 square pan in 30 minutes, it's a delicious picnic cake, perfect for the season.

Picnic Chocolate Cake

Four golden-brown blueberry hand pies with a sweet filling are arranged on a wooden board, decorated with fresh blueberries and small daisies, next to a bowl of blueberries and a colorful napkin.

Spiced Blueberry Hand Pies Recipe

Old-fashioned and just sweet enough, these Spiced Blueberry Hand Pies wrap juicy summer berries and warm spices into a golden, flaky crust. A nostalgic treat that's as perfect for picnics as it is for cozy afternoon teas.

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www.tasteofhome.com

Strawberry Pretzel Pie

"This cool no-bake strawberry pie is the perfect cure for your sweet tooth, especially in summer. Made with pantry staples, it is as easy as pie to make and has become one of my most requested warm-weather treats."

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A homemade blueberry pie sits on a tray next to plates, utensils, two glasses, and a picnic basket filled with tableware, ready for an outdoor gathering on the grass.

Open Face Blueberry Pie: Fresh and Easiest Pie Ever

It isn't summer until there's been a blueberry pie on the table, or picnic table. And this easiest ever Open Face Blueberry Pie is simply rustic and summer perfect. Different than a traditional blueberry pie, yet incredibly juicy and delicious.

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Side view of Non-Alcoholic Sangria in a glass pitcher with strawberries, blueberries and white star shapes

Red, White, and Blue Non-Alcoholic Sangria

Celebrating a festive Memorial Day with this mock sangria filled with red, white, and blue colors!

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A glass pitcher and two mason jars filled with sweet tea, lemon slices, ice cubes, and mint leaves sit on a wooden surface. Whole and sliced lemons surround the drinks, with a green, sunlit background outdoors.

Sweet Tea is a Perfect Elixir of Summer

There's nothing more refreshing on a warm summer day than an ice cold glass of southern-inspired Sweet Tea for Memorial Day.

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Observing Memorial Day

While Memorial Day weekend often marks the beginning of summer, it is also a time to pause and remember those who gave their lives in service to our country. If you're looking for thoughtful ways to reflect on the day, these posts may be helpful:

More Memorial Day Weekend Favorites

Here are a few of our latest recipes in the Memorial Day recipes collection. Don't miss these easy Memorial Day Desserts for a sweet finish to a beautiful weekend.

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