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Today I’m rounding up 25+ of my best Memorial Day recipes! Barbecue, summer salads, patriotic desserts, and refreshing drinks–all perfect for a summertime picnic or potluck.
Top Memorial Day Recipes
The unofficial start of summer is nearly here–are you ready? If not, my Memorial Day recipes will have you prepped in no time. I’ve collected a few of my most popular summer recipes and patriotic desserts (like my star spangled cookies!) into one comprehensive guide.
Of all the recipes in this list, my macaroni salad comes out on top every year. In fact, it’s one of my top performers year-round! Why? Creamy, a little sweet, and full of crunchy veggies, it pairs well with just about any protein and is usually the first to go at any potluck. It’s simple to make, but has that classic taste so many love!
Let’s get to the rest of the list 👏
1. Macaroni Salad
A crowd-favorite with hamburgers, hot dogs, and so much more! I also have a shrimp pasta salad that is very similar, if you want to try that version.
Macaroni Salad
Macaroni, crisp veggies, and a creamy dressing–what’s not to love?! This recipe is a summer staple and very popular for potlucks and barbecues.
2. Pulled Chicken
BBQ is extremely popular on Memorial Day, and this pulled chicken is no exception. My BBQ chicken meatballs are another great option!
Crock Pot BBQ Chicken
Slow cooker pulled chicken comes together so easily and is perfect for parties and potlucks.
3. Coleslaw
The perfect pairing with BBQ, my coleslaw recipe skips the pre-shredded veggies and bottled sauce for the BEST flavor and texture.
Easy Coleslaw Recipe
Shredded cabbage and carrots tossed in a creamy homemade dressing. A simple staple!
4. Blueberry Cobbler
An easier alternative to blueberry pie! Serve with ice cream for the ultimate experience.
Blueberry Cobbler
Juicy, jammy blueberries topped with a tender, flavorful biscuit-like topping. Ready in under an hour!
5. Deviled Eggs
Another classic Memorial Day recipe! My version is a crowd-favorite with an extra special addition to the filling.
Million Dollar Deviled Eggs
A simple staple that’s always a huge hit at parties! My recipe is an elevated version of the classic.
6. Red, White, & Blue Cookies
A fun and festive version of classic chocolate chip cookies! These transport nicely if you are traveling for Memorial Day.
Red White & Blue Chocolate Chip Cookies
Classic chocolate chip cookies with a patriotic twist! Perfect for Memorial Day or the Fourth of July.
7. Potato Salad
A summer cookout classic! Make sure you keep this one chilled if it’s hot where you’re celebrating.
Potato Salad
My potato salad has sweet pickles, smoked paprika, and a few other flavor boosters that set it apart from the rest.
8. Strawberry Shortcake
A sweetened version of my popular biscuit recipe layered with homemade whipped cream and macerated strawberries. So good!
Strawberry Shortcake
Buttery, sweetened shortcakes topped with juicy berries and fluffy whipped cream. A summer favorite!
9. BLT Dip
A fun twist on the classic sandwich! This one is a big hit at summer parties.
BLT Dip
A creamy, bacon-infused base topped with lettuce, tomato, cheese, green onions, and even more bacon. Easy and unique!
10. Blueberry Crumb Bars
I also have strawberry crumb bars and lemon crumb bars, if you want more options.
Blueberry Crumb Bars
Buttery shortbread crust topped with jammy blueberries and an equally buttery crumb topping. Works with fresh or frozen berries and transports beautifully!
11. Lemonade
I have so many other flavors: pink lemonade, blueberry lemonade, watermelon lemonade, strawberry lemonade, raspberry lemonade.
Homemade Lemonade Recipe
Homemade lemonade is far better than any prepared mix! My simple recipe uses just 3 ingredients and is so refreshing.
12. Star Spangled Cookies
So fun and pretty! These may look tricky, but the decoration is actually quite simple.
Star-Spangled Cookies
Soft, buttery, vanilla glazed sugar cookies with whirls of red, white, and blue on top. So festive, and fun to make too!
13. Broccoli Salad
One of my most popular memorial day recipes! It pairs well with just about everything.
Broccoli Salad
Broccoli salad made with bacon, sunflower seeds, cranberries, and cheddar. The homemade dressing makes it over the top delicious!
14. Angel Food Cupcakes
A mini version of my popular angel food cake! Whipped cream and berries are optional, but they help sell the cupcake look.
Angel Food Cupcakes
Fluffy angel food cupcakes topped with whipped cream and fresh berries. Ready in half the time it takes to make a the full cake!
15. Strawberry Cobbler
Perfect with in-season May strawberries! Or try my apple cobbler or peach cobbler.
Strawberry Cobbler
Sweet and juicy berries topped with a cobbled biscuit-like topping. Takes just minutes to prep and has a gourmet, bakery-style taste!
16. Street Corn Salad
Unique and refreshing, this salad is a summer favorite. I also have a Mexican street corn pasta salad!
Mexican Street Corn Salad
Sweet corn, salty cheese, fresh cilantro, and more come together in this crowd-pleasing side dish. Can be served hot or cold!
17. Pulled Pork
Ready in just over an hour! Serve with my homemade BBQ sauce for best results.
Instant Pot Pulled Pork
Pulled pork in just over an hour! This recipe tastes slow-cooked but is ready in a fraction of the time, thanks to a pressure cooker.
18. Cheesecake Bites
My no-bake cheesecake and no-bake chocolate cheesecake would be great Memorial Day recipes as well!
Cheesecake Bites (in sugar cookie cups)
No-bake cheesecake in crisp, buttery sugar cookie cups. Just an hour to make and entirely from-scratch!
19. Strawberry Pretzel Salad
A party favorite, but from-scratch! This recipe is especially good with ripe May strawberries.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad (no Cool Whip or Jello)
No Cool Whip or gelatin! My version substitutes homemade versions of each for the BEST flavor.
20. Smash Burgers
Serve on my burger buns if you’re feeling extra ambitious!
Smash Burger Recipe
Learn how to make restaurant-quality smash burgers at home! They have the same crisp, caramelized crust and irresistible sauce you’d get from a restaurant burger.
21. Blueberry Cream Cheese Pie
I also have a lemon cream cheese pie and a strawberry cream cheese pie.
Blueberry Cream Cheese Pie
Crisp, buttery graham cracker crust, creamy filling, and a juicy blueberry topping. This one will be the hit of your summer parties!
22. Pasta Salad
Another summer cookout favorite, this pasta salad is a must-have among my Memorial Day recipes!
(The Best) Pasta Salad Recipe
Crunchy veggies, perfectly cooked pasta, and a zippy homemade dressing! Serve it with just about anything–it pairs well with so many dishes.
23. Cucumber Salad
Need a quick Memorial Day recipe? This cucumber salad takes just 10 minutes to prep.
Cucumber Salad
So quick and easy! This cucumber salad combines a few simple ingredients into an incredibly tasty side dish. We make it all summer long!
24. Strawberry Shortcake Cake
Top with blueberries for a red, white, and blue dessert 🇺🇸
Strawberry Shortcake Cake
Tender vanilla cake layered with juicy berries and homemade whipped cream. This cake is celebration-worthy!
25. Corn Salad
Use ripe summer corn and crisp cherry tomatoes in this simple summer salad.
Corn Salad
Sweet corn, juicy tomatoes, and ripe avocado tossed in a light and flavorful dressing. This is a unique summer side dish!
Frequently Asked Questions
Grilled meats (burgers, hot dogs, etc.) are the most popular foods prepared on Memorial Day, and they are usually paired with side dishes like potato salad and coleslaw. Cold watermelon, corn on the cob, pies, and refreshing drinks are also popular!
Something red, white, and blue! I included a few tasty and patriotic Memorial Day desserts above, like my cheesecake bites, angel food cupcakes, star spangled cookies, and red, white, and blue chocolate chip cookies. Some more crowd-favorites include s’mores cookies, apple pie, chantilly cake (another patriotic option!), and banana pudding.
I’ll end on an important note: let us not forget that the real significance of this day isn’t the food, it’s about honoring the sacrifices that have been made by our military 🇺🇸
Enjoy!
If you try any of these recipes, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook 💜
