Memorial Day holds a special place in my heart, not only for the gratitude I feel towards fallen heroes, but also for the mouthwatering Memorial Day recipes that have become traditions in our family.
This special day serves as a heartfelt tribute to the brave men and women who have selflessly defended our nation’s freedom. And what better way to honor their memory than by gathering with loved ones, sharing stories, and indulging in a feast of Memorial Day recipes that’ll make your taste buds stand at attention!
Join us as we dive into a tantalizing array of easy Memorial Day recipes that will not only satisfy your appetite but also ignite a patriotic spirit within. Whether you’re planning a backyard barbecue, a picnic in the park, or a cozy gathering indoors, these recipes promise to bring people together in a shared appreciation for good food and the memories we create.
Cookout Recipes for Grilling Main Dishes
There is so much more to memorial day cookouts and backyard bbq than hamburgers & hot dogs. Hamburgers & Hot dogs are great too, but here are a few of our favorite for a memorial day party:
Perfect Grilled Pork Chops
Make juicy tender grilled pork chops perfectly every time in just a few simple steps with this easy recipe. There are just a couple of simple tools, cook times, and tips you need to know and use to make perfect grilled pork chops. and I’ll show you how with this Pineapple grilled pork chop recipe! Goes great with BBQ Baked Beans!
Charcoal Grilled Chicken Breast
This is perfect for a memorial day bbq! Cooking chicken on a charcoal grill can be a delicious and delicious way to prepare a meal for your family and friends. Charcoal grills impart a smoky, slightly charred flavor to chicken, and the high heat can help to seal in moisture and create a crispy exterior.
How to Grill Perfect Steaks!
Steaks are a favorite at my house, and if you are reading this, they may very well be at yours house too! Grilled Steaks come out perfect if you know the right temperature for your desired doneness and cook times! Get the details for perfect grilled steaks here!
Savory Boston Butt Roast
(This Boston Butt oven recipe can be made in the grill at same temperature… This feeds a big crowd making it perfect for big family cookouts. Just make sure to start the process the day before because it takes a long time!)
Tender marinated Boston Butt Roast Recipes practically falls apart as you cut it! This Boston Butt Pork Roast is perfect on its own, as pulled pork with baked beans.
Grilled Fish Tacos!!! (My favorite)
If you love fresh grilled fish… You’ll love these grilled fish tacos for memorial day too!
Smoked Meats Recipes for Memorial Day
The smoky flavor in these recipes not only enhances the taste of our favorite Memorial Day recipes but also adds an element of depth and complexity that elevates them to a whole new level of satisfaction!
Slow Smoked Beef Brisket – This simple recipe turns out a tender smoked brisket that loaded with smokey flavor and satisfies the crowd! It’s rubbed with the best seasonings, slow smoked for hours, wrapped and finished to tender perfection… Well rested before slicing, and sliced against the grain for the perfect bites!
Smoked Pork Shoulder – This smoked pork shoulder is next level delicious! It’s rubbed with the best seasonings, and cooked slow and low for hours on the smoker… Talk about enticing aromas!
Smoked Pulled Pork with BBQ sauces! – Another great smoked pork roast recipe that’ll take your memorial day gathering to another level of memorable!
Fall Off The Bone Smoked Ribs
Slow Smoked Baby Back Ribs! – This simple recipe is knock your socks off delicious and perfect for beginners! Rubbed with the best seasonings, marinated for a bit, smoked, wrapped, smoked again and slathered in BBQ sauce before one last smoke session… These smoked ribs are so good they make memories!
Memorial Day Salads
Salads are timeless recipes and some of the best Memorial day Recipes too! These delicious memorial day recipes have been in our family for generations:
Pasta Salad – I love to add red onion and cherry tomatoes to my pasta salad for fresh color and flavor!
Fresh Fruit Salad with fresh berries and an easy lemon citrus juice dressing! This salad is sweet, fresh and refreshing on a hot memorial day weekend!
Green Goddess Salad – The popular green goddess salad is a historic American salad recipe, perfect for memorial day gatherings! It’s loaded with greens, herbs and topped with an herbed creamy dressing!
Strawberry Walnut Salad! – Pictured above. This is one of my favorites! The sweet strawberries with red onions, blue cheese and balsamic dressing go so well together!
Memorial Day Side Dishes
Loaded Potato Salad – Can any salad be more patriotic or American than potato salad?
BBQ Baked Beans – These are a big crowd pleaser around here, especially with grilled or smoked main dishes!
Grilled Corn on the Cob! If you’re already grilling just throw your whole corn on the grill too… It makes the perfect side dish and is so easy!
Candied Yams! (or Candied Sweet Potatoes)
Memorial Day Desserts
You can use any of these suggestions as make-ahead recipes, or put them together memorial day! These are delicious recipes for your memorial day celebration or summer recipes!
All American Cherry Pie! This old fashioned cherry pie recipe is simple, delicious and an American classic! made with canned cherries on a flaky homemade crust! It’s red, white and takes away the blues! (jk) But, it IS the perfect Memorial Day Dessert!
Blueberry Pie – This classic blueberry pie is sweet, tart and simple to make with the perfect filling that doesn’t fall out every where when you cut a slice! Made with frozen blueberries, it’s budget friendly and perfect for family and friend gatherings this Memorial Day!
***Berry Crisp*** with Vanilla Ice Cream! This berry crisp can be made with fresh or frozen berries and has a lovely cookie like crumble topping that goes perfect with Ice cream!
Fresh Strawberry & Cream Pie – Memorial Day is during the height of strawberry season around here… So it’s the perfect time to make a fresh strawberry pie! I love to use this cream cheese base to round out the sweet tart strawberry filling!
Strawberry Milkshakes – These delicious strawberry shakes are made without Ice Cream! It’s a sweet treat that will cool you off on a hot day!
Let me know what YOU think!
I’d really love to hear what you’re cooking… Let me know what you’re coking this Memorial Day, and how it turned out in the comments below!
About Juliea
Juliea Huffaker is the creator of Farmhouse Harvest, and dedicated to teaching from-scratch cooking, sourdough baking, gardening, and food preservation. With over 25 years of hands-on experience she has preserved hundreds of jars of produce, mastered the art of meats and sourdough baking, and nurtured a thriving organic garden. Her recipes and articles have been featured across the web. And she’s passionate about inspiring others to embrace a simpler, self-sufficient life style.
