No matter how old you are, there's something special about Memorial Day. The pools are opening up, the kids are playing outside, your backyard garden veggies are sprouting—Memorial Day weekend is, for many of us, an unofficial kickoff to the summer season.
And what better way to celebrate than with a cookout with family and friends, full of some of our country’s most classic dishes? We’re here to help you plan a menu with our picnic-perfect collection of Memorial Day recipes, from dinner to dessert.
All-American Main Dishes
Your summer rendezvous wouldn't be complete without someone manning the grill. Hand a pair of tongs to the grillmaster in your family and sit back as the smell of juicy, tender grilled meat wafts through your backyard.
Kansas City Style BBQ Ribs
Perfect for a backyard BBQ, these iconic ribs will have everyone licking their fingers. The payoff is well worth the time you’ll invest in this recipe, which is treated with a homemade rub that blends spicy flavors, like cayenne and chili pepper, with sweet undertones from sugar, molasses, and tangy Hunt’s® Tomato Sauce to create a perfectly seasoned rack of fall-off-the-bone, tender ribs. Don’t skimp on the napkins!
Best Ever Grilled Burgers
These thick, juicy burgers, seasoned with just salt and pepper, are proof that sometimes, simpler really is better. For a meatless option, try Gardein™ Ultimate Plant-Based Burgers—you won’t believe how much they remind you of the real thing. Bonus points if you set up a condiments spread with some Hunt's 100% Natural Tomato Ketchup, Gulden's® Bold Yellow Mustard, and Vlasic® Ovals Hamburger Dill Chips so everyone can exercise their American freedom of choice with their hamburger toppings.
Kosher Italian Beef Topped Chicago Dog
These Chicago-style dogs put a gourmet flair on the classic hot dog with creative toppings like spicy giardiniera peppers, roast beef, sweet relish, and tomatoes. Make sure to use Hebrew National® Beef Franks to give your Chicago dogs that all-American, summertime feel.
Uncle Sam-Approved Sides
A great main dish will go a long way, but let's face it–the sides are what everyone’s piling onto their second plate. Since there's no such thing as too many sides, try a few of these options.
Avocado Corn Salad
The Mexican-inspired flavors in this zesty Avocado Corn Salad bring the flavors of taco night to your cookout with lime, fresh cilantro, red onion, and smoky chili powder. Birds Eye® Sweet Kernel Corn makes this simple recipe even more seamless to prepare, or try it with a few ears of freshly shucked corn. Eat it with a spoon, or give it the dip treatment and scoop it up with some tortilla chips.
Zesty Fire-Roasted Tomato Salsa
Making fresh salsa sounds intimidating, but it’s easier than you think–especially when you use RO*TEL® Fire Roasted Tomatoes with Green Chilies. While you’re at it, use an extra can of RO*TEL to whip up a batch of RO*TEL Famous Queso Dip–because nobody says no to queso.
Grilled Potato Salad with Mustard Dressing
Punch up this all-American cookout staple with a few simple changes: Sear the potatoes on the grill, add in plenty of fresh dill, and use Gulden’s zippy Spicy Brown Mustard for a subtle flavor kick. If you’re really short on time (or looking to lighten it up), skip the dressing recipe and use a generous pour of herby Healthy Choice® Garden Ranch Power Dressing instead.
Perfectly Patriotic Desserts
The best meals end with dessert. Finish the night by watching the sunset while you cool down with one of these fresh fruit-forward sweet treats.
Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream Pie
Pie is about as all-American as it gets when it comes to dessert. We’re all about a good, fresh-baked piece of pie, but in the summer, cold desserts reign supreme. This pie mixes the best of both worlds with a crunchy, homemade graham cracker crust and layers of cool, creamy vanilla ice cream, a rich blueberry filling, and fresh strawberries on top.
RED WHITE AND BLUE DESSERT FRUIT PIZZA
Pizza… for dessert? We can’t think of a better way to celebrate. The base for this festive dessert pizza is a sweetened pizza crust, and you’ll top with a creamy and slightly tart mixture of Snack Pack® Vanilla Pudding and Greek yogurt, which is the perfect contrast to fresh, juicy berries. Top each slice off with a big whoosh of Reddi-wip® and you’re ready to dig in!
Grilled Fruit Ice Cream Sundaes
Who knew—your grill isn’t just for meats and veggies. Grilling your fruit will bring out all of its juicy, natural flavor, so once you’re done with your main meal, clean off the grill and make dessert. Paired with cool ice cream, these sundaes make for an incredibly simple sweet treat. Bonus: They're easily adaptable depending on whatever fruit you have in the crisper.
Whether you're crafting the perfect main dish, sides, dessert, or all three, these Memorial Day recipes bring out the best of the sunny season. Fire up the grill, pour yourself a frosty drink, and kick off the season with the flavors of summer in your backyard.
Looking for even more ideas for your Memorial Day weekend menu? Check out our full collection of Memorial Day Recipes and get cookin’.
