50+ Fresh Memorial Day Recipes
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on May 4, 2025
We’ve almost made it to the weekend! Here are over 50 fresh, healthy and delicious recipes to commemorate Memorial Day. You’ll find grilled main dishes, simple no-cooking-required sides and salads, patriotic desserts, and everything in between.
These crowd-pleasing seasonal dishes are my best Memorial Day recipes. I pulled these options from the “Independence Day” category, so check there for even more recipes. These recipes are perfectly suited for summer parties and cookouts from now through Labor Day. Have a fun and safe holiday weekend!
Table of Contents
Breakfast & Brunch
Set yourself up for a great day with a balanced breakfast. I love these wholesome blueberry muffins with a swipe of peanut butter or almond butter. For a savory option, you can’t go wrong with my go-to frittata formula.
Appetizers & Dips
Dips, dips and more dips! I always seem to fill up on appetizers, so I love to set out some lighter options to balance the more indulgent dips. If you find perfectly ripe avocados, you’re going to love this chunky avocado salsa (shown above), this easy avocado dip, or of course, guacamole. Remember to stock up on tortilla chips.
You could serve homemade tzatziki as a healthy veggie dip. I swear by my quick salsa recipe and ultra-creamy hummus.
Salads & Side Dishes
Freshen up your meal with a crisp salad. For green salads, wait to drizzle in the dressing until you’re ready to serve. A few of my top picks would be the outrageously colorful and bold strawberry arugula salad shown above (or this berry spinach salad for a simpler option), chimichurri chickpeas, and this crunchy Thai-inspired quinoa salad.
A Few Simple Homemade Salad Dressings
- Basic Vinaigrette
- Creamy Tahini Dressing
- Fresh Mint Salad Dressing
- Green Goddess Dressing
- Sunshine Salad Dressing
Main Dishes
My pizza dough works great on a grill (here’s how to grill pizzas), and so do my favorite veggie burgers. If you have my cookbook, follow the burger recipe on page 177, or check out the recipe on the blog. You’ll find more fun handheld options below!
Desserts & Sweet Treats
This no-bake berry yogurt tart looks impressive, but it’s easy to make. Add some blueberries to round out the theme. Another beautiful patriotic option is this gluten-free almond cake with berries on top. Or, try monster cookies with red, white and blue chocolate candies.
Cold Drinks
Here’s an idea: Start with a mimosa and transition to an Aperol spritz later in the day. Both cocktails are bubbly, light and easy to pour.
For non-alcoholic options, try cold brew iced tea, frozen mint lemonade, bubbly hibiscus mocktail or Starbucks-inspired “pink drink” (it’s made with hibiscus tea, coconut milk and strawberries).
More summer recipe roundups to make the most of the season:
Hello Cookie and hello Kate,
Thankyou for your amazing recipes. You are blest with this talent for cooking nourishing, serene and gorgeous looking food; ofcourse the besy part is, it is easy to prepare.
I feel so happy to be receiving your help and ideas.
Thankyou.
Thank you! I hope you find something you love, Reshma.
Love your recipes. I’ve enjoyed all of the ones I’ve tried. I also have a dog named Cookie!
There are so many things here I want to try! Especially those salad dressings! So simple but each one looks great! Love how fresh and bright all your pictures are as well!
I found your blog about 3 months ago. I have loved all the recipes I have tried and appreciated how you research and tweak some of the sources I normally go to! Can’t wait to make the tabouli.
Hi Kate, I love your site but have noticed that recently all content has been repeat recipes, simple drinks, or lists of various recipes and posts aren’t often compared to other blogs. Do you plan to have more posts and recipes or is this what works better for you now? Thanks!
Hi Emily! I’m sorry you have been disappointed by my most recent content, but I appreciate your feedback. To be honest, the current environment has been challenging with my new recipe development (grocery availability, etc). I have trying to provide recipes that seem to work for people right now and revisit some older recipes that there have been lots of questions about(banana bread). I do promise I’m working on new recipes and currently testing new recipes!
I am a long time follower and I agree. Ive started to follow others because there hasn’t been new content recently.
C & K,
Found your blog, bought your book, and have tried several recipes. LOVE IT!
Recalled seeing a recipe for creamy hummus in one of your emails. I tried years ago to make my own, but it was gritty, so I just kept buying from store. Tried your recipe and LOVED IT!!. Will never have to get storebought again. Many thanks!
-DK
It’s an amazing website. I am a regular visitor to your website. Thank you for your recipes.easy to prepare. thanks for superb decoration and delicious food services.
Yesterday was my 76th birthday, and my son treated me to your Aperol “Spritz” cocktail! It took me back to a piazza in Italy!
Thanks, Kate!
I love it! Happy belated birthday, Irene!
Great recipes. Could you give us some non-alcoholic cocktails for those who don’t drink. Thanks so much.
Hi Kim, Refreshing Hibiscus Mocktail is a great one for sumemr!
It appears to be both tasty and healthy.
Thank you for your informative post. Thanks.
Everyone loved this strawberry salad. Excellent flavors and textures and the strawberries were a springtime treat. Highly recommend this delightful salad.