With Memorial Day weekend coming up at the end of May, there is plenty to do. First, take a moment to get reacquainted with the holiday’s history. Next, put together a patriotic playlist via these Memorial Day songs. Then, it’s time to plan some family-friendly activities. But the centerpiece of the weekend will be the cookout! The kids want burgers, adults crave chicken, and, of course, everyone wants desserts! Put a spin on your usual plates with these fresh and delicious Memorial Day recipes.
Grilled Hotdogs with All the Fixin’s
Serve a spread of toppings including Zesty Pickle and Onion, Tangy Horseradish, and Spicy Chiles to go along with these frankfurters. Now everyone can enjoy their dog just how they like it.
How to Cook the Perfect Burger
If you’re feeling a little unsure of your grill skills after a long winter, give yourself a quick primer on getting burgers just right.
Glazed Bacon-and-Cheese-Filled Burgers
It doesn’t get much easier or more delicious than these burgers. This recipe sneakily amps up the flavor with bacon and cheese inside!
Beef Burgers with Jalapeños, Cheddar, and Crispy Pepperoni
This spicy beef burger will please your favorite heat-heads. And the crispy pepperoni is a great twist on the more standard bacon.
Turkey Burgers with Blue Cheese–Celery Slaw
Cooking for folks that are avoiding red meat? This Buffalo sauce–flavored burger is a beef-free crowd-pleaser.
Eggplant Burgers with Yogurt-Feta Sauce and Quick Pickled Cucumbers
Looking for something plant-based to toss on the grill for the vegetarians in your crew? These eggplant burgers are packed with flavor. Hearty sourdough buns help hold everything together.
Salt-and-Pepper BBQ Ribs
Cooked low and slow until the meat is falling off the bone, then grilled to give it just the perfect amount of char, BBQ ribs are the perfect backyard cookout celebration food.
Kebabs, Four Ways
What’s better than freshly grilled food? Freshly grilled food on a stick! These savory combos, from beef and mushroom to tofu and veggies, will hit everyone’s sweet spot.
Get the recipe for Chicken and Sweet Potato Kebabs.
Get the recipe for Teriyaki Beef-and-Mushroom Kebabs.
Get the recipe for Tofu, Tomato, and Zucchini Kebabs.
Get the recipe for Shrimp, Pepper, and Chorizo Kebabs.
Smoky Grilled Dry-Rub Pork Chops with Peach Relish
These smoky chops glazed with brown sugar are absolutely unbelievable.
Sausage Pinwheels with Marinated Peppers and Grilled Broccolini
Looking for something a little more eye-popping than your standard brat? Pinwheel sausages are what you want. They’re easy to cook, look stunning, and of course taste great.
Spatchcock Chicken with Piri Piri Sauce
Skip the cut-up chicken pieces this year, and grill the whole thing in one go. Spatchcocking flattens the bird, so it cooks all the way through faster. Plus, it looks fantastic on a serving platter.
Grilled Corn, Three Ways
Corn on the cob, toasty from the grill, is everyone’s favorite veggie side. But to make it truly unbeatable, try one of these three spreads.
Get the recipe for Grilled Corn with Red Pepper Jelly Glaze.
Get the recipe for Grilled Corn with Mexican “Street Style” Topping.
Get the recipe for Grilled Corn with Pesto and Basil Schmear.
Marinated Melon with Mint and Lime Zest
Searching for the perfect dish to bring to a friend’s Memorial Day cookout? Serve this sweet fruit salad, and you’ll be taking home an empty bowl.
Cherry, Mint, and Pistachio Salad
Redefine your idea of a fruit salad. Cherries and fresh mint marinate in a simple oil and vinegar dressing with crunchy roasted pistachios.
Grilled Green Bean Salad with Cucumbers and Dill
The best part of this green salad—besides the flavorful crunch—is that it absolutely won’t wilt. You’ll be making this healthy, delicious dish all summer.
BLT Potato Salad
Give your standard potato salad a serious upgrade with everyone’s favorite BLT flavors.
Grilled Corn Salad with Feta, Walnuts, and Shallot
Corn salad is so good, it shouldn’t be this easy to make. This recipe takes just 15 minutes.
Grilled Ratatouille Pasta Salad
This is not Grandma’s pasta salad. But maybe it should have been!
Grilled Sausages with Toppings
Pair some brats with an assortment of delicious toppings, including marinated peppers, grilled horseradish slaw, and more.
Charred Baby Peppers with Lime and Cashew Vinaigrette
This sweet side redefines salad! Baby peppers are grilled until they’re smoky-sweet and topped with a tangy cilantro-cashew dressing.
Get more recipes HERE!