Memorial Day Weekend Recipe Ideas
Memorial Day weekend is one of my favorite weekends of the year — the unofficial start of summer filled with longer days, backyard barbecues, cold drinks, and gathering outside with your favorite people. I pulled together some of my favorite recipes for the long weekend, from loaded pasta salads and fall-off-the-bone tender ribs to crowd-friendly sandwiches, summery cocktails, and desserts packed with peak seasonal produce.
Whether you’re firing up the grill, heading to a cookout, hosting friends, or just looking for an excuse to make a cocktail and sit outside in the sun, there’s a little something for everyone in here. From my go-to pasta salad and juicy buffalo chicken burgers to strawberry rhubarb shortcakes and spicy pineapple margaritas, these are the recipes I come back to all summer long.
Now the only question is: what are you making first?!
Strawberry Rhubarb Shortcake
Buttery, flaky orange zest flecked shortcakes piled high with juicy strawberries, jammy rhubarb, and mascarpone whipped cream are basically what Memorial Day weekends were made for.
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Slow cooked pulled pork loaded onto soft buns with a bright and zesty coleslaw is the kind of low effort, high reward cookout recipe perfect for a crowd.
The Best Summer Pasta Salad
My go-to pasta salad reins supreme over every other pasta salad – with cubed salami, marinated mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, fresh herbs, and all tossed in a bright pepperoncini spiked Italian dressing
Honey Deuce
It doesn’t need to be US Open season to enjoy this refreshing cocktail with lemonade, raspberry liqueur, vodka, and melon ball “tennis balls”. Such a crowd pleaser and easy enough to batch for a crew!
Peach BBQ Chicken
One of my favorite menu items at a cookout is a good ole BBQ chicken. This homemade BBQ sauce is made with peaches, adding a natural sweetness and depth of flavor that will have you licking your plate!
Dill Pickle Dip
If you’re a pickle lover like me, this creamy, tangy dip will disappear within approximately five minutes of hitting the table.
Hibiscus Ginger Margarita
People tend to sleep on hibiscus for cocktails/mocktails but it truly is one of my favorite flavors. Slightly sweet with a hint of ginger, and just as delicious as a mocktail.
Elote Pasta Salad
This is the pasta salad I get asked to make every single BBQ. It’s smoky from the bacon, with pops of fresh corn and a creamy chipotle dressing that adds flavor to every bite.
Buffalo Chicken Burgers
These juicy buffalo chicken burgers bring all the flavors of wings to an easy backyard burger night.
Summery Corn & Tomato Salad
When summer & spring produce is at its peak, you don’t need much to let the flavors shine. Simplicity at its finest, and proof side dishes don’t need to be an afterthought.
Blackberry Mojito
At my cousin’s wedding years ago, I learned a bartending trick of using jam in cocktails instead of muddling fruit with sugar, and I’ve never looked back. This mojito uses blackberry jam for a simple and incredible cocktail everyone will love.
Lemon Cheesecake Bars
Creamy cheesecake with lemon curd ribbons throughout, the perfect dessert when you want something comforting but light.
Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
These fall-apart BBQ ribs taste like you spent all day tending a smoker when your slow cooker actually did the work.
Lu’s Potato Salad
This is my godmother’s recipe, and the potato salad that turned me from a hater to a lover of potato salad. Creamy, seasoned, with pops of chopped pickles, I can’t do a cookout without it.
Grapefruit Rose Sangria
Light, citrusy, and easy to make ahead, this sangria was built for long afternoons outside.
Strawberry Mango Crisp
Sweet strawberries and juicy mango get tucked under a buttery crisp topping and topped with ice cream for a peak easy summer dessert
Carne Asada
Citrusy, garlicky carne asada is one of my favorite things to throw on the grill for a crowd.
Guacamole en Molcajete
Charred jalapeno and garlic get mashed into avocado to take your guacamole to the next level.
Micheladas
Salty, spicy, limey, and ice cold, micheladas are basically summer’s answer to a Bloody Mary.
Bacon Corn Basil Pasta Salad
Smoky bacon, sweet corn, and a bright basil dressing make this pasta salad so addicting.
Herby Grilled Shrimp Skewers
These bright, herb loaded shrimp skewers cook in minutes and disappear even faster. Easy to prep ahead, and even easier to throw down a few of these.
Grilled Vegetables with Romesco Sauce
Smoky grilled vegetables piled onto a swoosh of romesco sauce make even the veggie platter exciting.
Tinto de Verano
It’s not an outdoor gathering for me without a tinto de verano in hand. You won’t pass a patio bar in Spain without seeing these all over, because they’re like sangria’s simpler cousin.
Rice Krispie Treats
A gooey, buttery pan of homemade Rice Krispie treats will always disappear and they’re the perfect, not fussy dessert.
Baja Fish Tacos
This would be the ideal lineup for a smaller crew: crispy beer battered fish, crunchy slaw, and creamy sauce tucked into warm tortillas is never a bad idea.
Coctel de Camarones (Mexican Shrimp Cocktail)
This bright, chilled Mexican shrimp cocktail is always the first appetizer to go whenever I host a spread. Easy to make ahead and keep in the fridge until you’re ready to eat.
Spicy Pineapple Margarita
Sweet pineapple and spicy jalapeño are the kind of margarita combination that will always please.
Cinnamon Roll Cookies
These soft, cinnamon roll inspired cookies, are amazing on their own, but sandwiched with ice cream in the middle? Now that’s the kind of dessert I want to be having.
Elote Shrimp Tacos
These shrimp tacos topped with a creamy elote inspired corn salsa are messy, delicious, and worth every napkin.
Grilled Steak Salad
The perfect dinner for a lowkey night at home that you want to feel a little more special. Tender grilled steak, with a fresh salad and creamy blue cheese dressing.
Let me know which one is your favorite!
