Our best Memorial Day recipes! We've rounded up summer salads, sides, dips, desserts, and more—everything you need for a delicious cookout.
The unofficial start of summer is just a few days away—it’s time to plan your Memorial Day menu!
I’ve rounded up our best Memorial Day recipes below. They include fresh appetizers, salads, side dishes, drinks, desserts, and more. They’d all be perfect for a Memorial Day cookout…and cookouts all summer long. I know I’ll have many of these recipes on repeat this summer. I hope you also find some you love!
Memorial Day Appetizer Recipes
Antipasto Platter
Bring an Italian vacation to your own backyard with this aperitivo-inspired platter! It’s loaded with marinated mozzarella balls, gigante beans, olives, and more. Sip a bubbly Aperol spritz while you snack.
Caprese Skewers
The classic salad in bite-size form! Use a mix of cherry tomato colors to make these look extra-fun and festive.
Summer Fruit Platter
Fruit + cheese = the easiest Memorial Day appetizer ever. And it’s delicious! Set it out on a cute platter with nuts, olives, and crackers, and guests will love it.
Mango Salsa
This fresh, fruity take on pico de gallo is perfect for early summer. Serve with tortilla chips for dipping!
Guacamole
A crowd pleaser at any occasion, Memorial Day picnics included!
Easy Bruschetta
It’s summer—bring on the tomatoes and basil! This classic Italian appetizer is one of my favorite ways to enjoy them. Because it’s so simple, it lets their fresh flavors shine.
Summer Pasta Salads
Easy Pasta Salad
What’s a summer bbq without a pasta salad? This recipe is a reader favorite—it has over 500 5-star reviews!
Pesto Pasta Salad
If you (like me) can’t get enough basil pesto in the summertime, this recipe is for you! It’s pesto pasta in picnic form—bright green, herbaceous, and super fresh.
Italian Pasta Salad
My homemade Italian dressing, olives, and pepperoncini pack this pasta salad with tangy, zesty flavor.
Macaroni Salad
My twist on this nostalgic picnic dish is filled with crunchy veggies and tangy dill pickles and tossed in a creamy dressing. Definitely make it ahead—the flavors get better the longer it sits in the fridge!
More Memorial Day Side Dish Recipes
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Serve it slathered with butter or dress it up with elote fixings. No space on the grill? Make boiled corn on the cob instead.
Greek Salad
Filled with a refreshing jumble of crisp and juicy veggies, this classic salad tastes like summer. You can assemble it ahead, but hold the mint leaves until just before serving so that they don’t wilt in the dressing.
Best Potato Salad
This classic potato salad is creamy, pickle-y perfection! I use pickle brine in the dressing and add chopped dill pickles to the salad for an extra tangy pop. Tip: Mix two peeled and chopped hard boiled eggs into the salad to make it extra-creamy.
Best Broccoli Salad
A fresher twist on the Midwest classic! Instead of using the traditional bacon, I top this reader favorite salad with smoky roasted nuts.
Cucumber Salad
I crave this sweet and tangy salad all summer long. Luckily for me, it couldn’t be easier to make. Just toss cucumbers and red onions in a 3-ingredient dressing and top them off with fresh herbs. Simple and delicious!
Mexican Street Corn Salad
This elote-inspired salad gets RAVES whenever I bring it to a summer gathering. Make it on Memorial Day weekend, and I guarantee that it will be the star of any cookout you take it to!
Creamy Coleslaw
The secret to great coleslaw? A great homemade coleslaw dressing! Mine is creamy, sweet, and tangy, made with mayo, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, and a little celery seed for savory depth of flavor.
Red Potato Salad
If creamy potato salad isn’t your thing, try this ultra-herby one instead. L&L reader Tracy commented, “Husband is not a potato salad fan. Made this and he LOVED it and I think it’s my favorite ever.”
Avocado Salad
Ok, guacamole lovers—this avocado salad is the Memorial Day recipe for you! Tossed in a zesty lime dressing, it’s basically a deconstructed guac with some chopped cucumbers thrown in for crunch.
Watermelon Feta Salad
This salad is my favorite recipe to make on a hot summer day! The combination of juicy watermelon, cucumbers, salty feta, and mint is so cooling and refreshing.
Broccoli Slaw
A delicious mashup of coleslaw and broccoli salad! Make it ahead so that the crunchy broccoli matchsticks have time to marinate in the creamy dressing.
Grilled Vegetables
Can’t choose between grilled corn and grilled zucchini? You don’t have to! These colorful veggie skewers are a flavorful and festive addition to any summer cookout. I love to serve them with a side of tzatziki sauce.
Memorial Day Main Dishes
Best Veggie Burger
Seriously, the best ever. Sautéed mushrooms, tamari, balsamic, and mirin give these patties an unbeatable umami flavor. Tip: Assemble them up to a day ahead, cover, and refrigerate until you’re ready to grill!
Easy Black Bean Burger
These one-bowl burgers are ready in 30 minutes!
Portobello Mushroom Burger
Don’t underestimate humble mushroom caps! Grilled with balsamic and tamari, they become juicy, meaty, and savory—a perfect plant-based “patty.”
Mushroom Tacos
Not in the mood for hot dogs or burgers? Make these mushroom tacos for your Memorial Day cookout! They’re super simple, filled with meaty, savory grilled mushrooms, avocado salsa, and pickled onions.
Summer Drinks
Homemade Lemonade
Made with fresh lemon juice and simple syrup, this homemade lemonade is sooo much better than store-bought.
Red Sangria
The perfect cocktail for a crowd! Chill it overnight for the best fruity flavor.
Margarita
Margaritas at a summer gathering are never a bad call. Keep it classic with this recipe or make watermelon margaritas or strawberry margaritas for a fun twist.
Mojitos
Garden overrun with fresh mint? Put it to work in this fizzy rum cocktail. L&L reader Elizabeth called it the “best cocktail for a hot summer day!”
Memorial Day Desserts
Strawberry Shortcake
You can’t make a roundup of Memorial Day recipes and not include strawberry shortcake! Other fresh fruits would be wonderful here too—try adding blueberries, blackberries, or even fresh peaches.
Best Homemade Brownies
No one will complain about brownies at a cookout. 🙂 These ones are chewy, fudgy, and packed with rich chocolate flavor.
Lemon Bars
Lemon desserts = the best summer desserts! With a buttery shortbread crust and pucker-y lemon curd filling, these lemon bars are the best of the best.
Rhubarb Crisp
Memorial Day falls in the heart of rhubarb season. Make this easy crisp to show it off at its best! Tip: Don’t forget the vanilla ice cream for serving. Its sweetness really makes the tart rhubarb pop.
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
Do you have a summer bucket list? I hope making homemade ice cream is on it. It’s easy to make with 5 basic ingredients, and it’s just too good to miss out on. I’m making some over Memorial Day weekend…you should too!
Best Memorial Day Recipes: Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound fusilli or rotini pasta
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1½ cups mini fresh mozzarella cheese balls, 8 ounces
- 1 medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and diced
- ½ English cucumber, diced
- 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
- ¾ cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- ¾ cup sliced pepperoncini
- ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 recipe Italian Dressing
- 1½ teaspoons sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare the pasta according to the package instructions, cooking until slightly past al dente. Drain and toss with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Transfer the cooled pasta to a large bowl and add the cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, red pepper, cucumber, red onion, olives, pepperoncini, and parsley. Toss to combine, then add the dressing, salt, and several grinds of pepper and toss again.
- Stir in the basil and season to taste. Garnish with more basil and serve.
