15 Awesome Memorial Day Recipes Kick Off Summer

I can’t believe that Memorial Day Weekend is coming up soon. Does May seem like it’s going by fast? I have 15 awesome Memorial Day recipes to kick off your summer.

Memorial Weekend officially kicks off summer and with that comes the food we enjoy most: fresh summer produce, eaten outside, super casual, with friends.

Although Sweet Shark and I have some traditional summer holiday dishes, I decided to search for some enticing new Memorial Day recipes to share that could become part of a great Memorial Day menu.

These delicious Memorial Day recipes will take you to the 4th of July and on through summer.

Summer also means white sandals, white jeans, flip flops, and sundresses.  But let’s talk food.

For summer dishes, from starters to entrées to sides to dessert, I’ve gathered some delicious recipes you should try.

I wanted to give you plenty of time to read, study, and PIN these Memorial Day recipes. I’m pleased as punch to focus on food and share these Memorial Day recipes with you.

How did I decide on these particular dishes for my Memorial Day recipes?

I searched through Pinterest, clicked on over 50 promising recipes (I’ll be honest, the pics were a big factor because the food has to look great first, right?).

I focused only on sites that were from bloggers because I wanted “home-grown” recipes that real-life people like you and I make and love.

Then, I searched through some of my own most popular recipes that I knew would be perfect for summertime.

Kick-Off Summer: 15 Awesome Memorial Day Recipes

As a former cooking instructor for 15 years, I’m picky about recipes. As always, I have certain criteria:

• Are they clearly written?
• Are the instructions clear?
• Are the ingredients (fresh, tasty) available?
• Are the recipes easy to make?
• Are the dishes attractive and appealing?

Admittedly, I lean toward dishes that I know our friends would like and fit our Texas grilling, outdoor, summer vegetable, barbecue aesthetic.

Although I haven’t personally made most of these recipes. In some cases, I’ve made similar ones. My biggest criteria: would I make all of these myself? Do I feel comfortable recommending them to you?

The answer to both questions had to be a resounding yes or the recipe got booted off the Memorial Day recipe list. I’ve also included tips that I would share in a cooking class.

Starters

In my neck of the woods, we call this dish Texas Caviar, but Cowboy Caviar from The View from Great Island is close enough. It’s so pretty and fresh. Serve it with lots of chips because it will go fast.

TIP: This dish is prettiest when all the ingredients are diced the same size and the dice is uniform.

I love anything with bacon and Sweet Shark loves jalapeńos. I love the idea of wrapping bacon around tater tots.  And anything dipped in ranch dressing is a winner.

These Jalapeño Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tots with Ranch Dressing from Spicy Southern Kitchen is my idea of a great appetizer: easy to make ahead and easy to serve with toothpicks. They are a one-bite flavor bomb.

TIP: Jalapeños are usually not very hot, but if you have kids at a party, you might make a batch without them.

Another great appetizer that I love for summer is Pimento Cheese. Serve it with crackers or celery sticks. You can easily double this recipe if you need more for a crowd. For the Kentucky Derby, we serve it in a silver bowl, but for a Memorial Day summer party, I would use a melamine bowl if you are serving outside.

Salads

The Café Sucre Farine shared this Mexican Chopped Salad, which is similar to the Cowboy Caviar, but the addition of romaine lettuce puts it in the salad category.  Jicama and fried corn tortilla strips add crunch to an already beautiful salad of fresh vegetables.

If you’re from up North – that’s north of the Mason-Dixon line – you may not know what jicama is. It looks a bit like a coconut, but you can slice or dice it. It provides a great crunch. If you don’t have it in your area, don’t worry. You can just leave it out.

TIP: Think how your recipes will look placed together on a buffet table. I would probably not serve the Cowboy Caviar and the Mexican Chopped Salad together because they look too much alike.

I love the combination of watermelon and feta and I’ve made a version of this salad for years, sans the blueberries. Watermelon, Feta Blueberry Salad from Running in a Skirt is perfect to celebrate Memorial Day. It’s pretty, oh so fresh and refreshing, and healthy.

My all-time favorite salad for summer and a party is Jalapeńo Cornbread Salad. (The link to the cornbread is on the salad post.) I always served it at our Kentucky Derby Party, but I’ve also made it for summer parties. It does take time for the prep, but it is oh-so-worth it.

Barbecue

Around my neck of the woods (Texas), we love our barbecue. For the star of the meal, barbecue ribs can’t be beat, especially if they are smoked outside.

Now we know that in different parts of the country, some folks favor pork ribs and some people favor beef ribs. (If you know where I’m from, you know which I prefer, but I’ve never turned up my nose to any rib.)

This recipe for Smokey Barbecue Ribs from Julie’s Eats & Treats doesn’t specify which type of animal, so pick the one that you prefer – no civil wars on a patriotic holiday. Baked in the oven, the smoky taste comes from liquid smoke.

TIP: Eating anything barbecued with your fingers is messy. Provide plenty of napkins or even rolls of paper towels on the tables for your guests. Even a couple of small packs of baby wipes to clean sticky fingers will be appreciated.

If you are not a meat-eater or want to offer your guests another protein choice, you could add this recipe for Best Barbecue Chicken Thighs from That Which Nourishes.

I love grilling chicken thighs. They stay moist and tender and cost less than chicken breasts. As large as they come today, one thigh is perfect for one serving.

Side Dishes

I love all the sides of a special occasion meal (like dressing and mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving). I’m a slaw lover, and I can’t envision a summer party or picnic without a slaw of some sort on the table.

This one from Sammi of Happi Homemade adds apples and almonds for crunch and blueberries for color. Red, White and Blue Slaw is as patriotic as a slaw can get.

TIP: Some parts of the country, mainly the Southeast, like more of a vinegar-based slaw. Around “these here parts”, we prefer a mayo dressing. Honestly, I like a mixture of mayo and lemon juice for a tangy taste. You could even use Ranch Dressing!

You’ve got to have some kind of potato salad on any Memorial Day recipe list. This version is very different from what we usually serve on a summer holiday. Garlic-Herb Potato Salad from Cooking Classy sounded so darn good that I want to try it. Bonus points: you can serve it warm or cold. Personally, I like potato salad at room temperature for the best flavor.

TIP: Remember that cold inhibits flavor. Some foods should be allowed to come to room temperature to taste best. A little extra seasoning can also compensate for foods that contain mayonnaise and should be kept cold.

I also have to share Sweet Shark’s Southern Potato Salad. We are partial to it. It is full of flavor and everyone loves it.

Summer corn and okra aren’t quite in season yet, but it seems like a green vegetable is in order.

We love zucchini, and this Grilled Zucchini with Parmesan makes great use of summer vegetables. Grilled vegetables just taste better. Cassie of Wholefully adds great flavor with the addition of grated cheese. If you like, throw in asparagus, summer squash, or red bell pepper strips for a medley of color.

TIP: Slicing the zucchini on the diagonal increases the pretty factor and allows more surface area to have grill marks.

Dessert

We have to finish our Memorial Day recipe list with something sweet and festive. 

For dessert, what is more American than cupcakes with blueberries and strawberries (O.K. apple pie)?

I love keeping with the patriotic theme and Red, White and Blueberry Cupcakes fit the bill. Ashley of Baker by Nature shares a made-from-scratch cupcake recipe that can be used for many different occasions.

If cupcakes are too heavy for you or you want a fruit dessert, try Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries. Perfectly in keeping with the red, white and blue theme, these little bites of fruity goodness from Dessert Now, Dinner Later will be a big hit.

She has a cute video to show you how to make this dessert. I think combining this fruit dessert with the cupcakes would give guests 2 great options ~ they can have 1 of each.

If you want a truly all-American dessert, this apple pie is the best I’ve ever made. I got the recipe from a friend when we had a girlfriend’s apple pie-making party.

I hope that you like these menu choices for your Memorial Day recipes as much as I do. Make them all or pick just one or two. Or just read about them. Save them to your Pinterest boards.

For more fabulous Memorial Day dessert ideas, check out these 19 no-bake yummy desserts.

If you are planning on a patriotic party this summer, take a look at these 14 Fun Summer Party Ideas.

If you want more Memorial Day recipe ideas, check out these Pinterest Boards: Appetizers and Small Bites, Salad Recipes, Chicken Recipes, Potato Recipes, Vegetable Recipes, or Dessert Recipes.

Which recipes are your favorites?