A collection of summer-inspired recipes to celebrate this Memorial Day deliciously. From Chicken al Pastor on the grill to Burnt Ends that are a crowd favorite; I have you covered this holiday!
Oh hello, 3-day long weekend! I so am looking forward to your sexy, carefree attitude, your grilling scents, and your tempting dishes! For most folks, Memorial weekend signifies the start of summer.
Appetizers and Finger Foods
If you ever went some a cookout or gathering I threw or my parents threw there always, ALWAYS were appetizers and finger foods. Mom, traditionally, would have a single 8′ bingo table at the very front of the ‘line’ full of nothing but these snacky-type/nibbles of food.
Triple Pepper Roasted Salsa
Get ready for THE BEST roasted salsa you’ll ever have! 3 types of peppers make up this crave-worthy, chip-loving, need-to-have, salsa!
Chips & Dips Chipcuterie Grazing Board
Whether it’s game day, movie night, games with friends, or when that snack attack hits, a “chipcuterie” grazing board of your favorite chips and dips is exactly what’s needed!
Grilled Nashville Hot Chicken & Potato Bites
Bringing a little bit of Nashville to your backyard bbq with these easy, hot, and delicious Nashville hot chicken and tater bites! Paired with a Bread & Butter Pickle dipping sauce, folks will be begging you to make these!
Bacon Chicken Ranch Meatballs
Everything we all love about the flavors of bacon, chicken, and ranch but in a mini meatball form
Cheesy Stuffed Kielbasa & Sauerkraut Bombs
Warm pizza dough stuffed with cheesy-filled kielbasa, mustard sauce, and sauteed sauerkraut. Easy, scrumptious, perfect for parties & absolutely irresistible!
Cheesy Asparagus & Salami Puff Pastry Bundles
These Puff Pastry Bundles are filled with grilled asparagus, salami, smoked gouda, & garlic herb cheese spread and topped with Smoked Sea Salt Flakes. They are such an easy and elegant appetizer, brunch dish, or perfect for meal prep!
Elote – Mexican Street Corn Dip
This Elote (Mexican Street Corn) is truly the best dip ever. Grilled corn mixed with a luscious creamy spicy mixture, spices, fresh cilantro and Cotija cheese!
Cheesy Heirloom Tomato Garlic Butter Tart
Crispy, flaky phyllo pastry crust brushed with garlic butter & sprinkles of cheesy bread crumbs, topped with the summer’s freshest heirloom tomatoes and basil.
Mains
Sure I can share with you hot dogs and burgers (traditional) but nowadays, folks want a full-on experience when it comes to foods. Oh I’ll still serve up grilled dogs and killer bacon cheeseburgers but I do have to also have other stuff there.
As Mom would say, “something for everyone!”.
Ultimate Pressure Cooker BBQ Coke Pulled Pork – Break out the Instant Pot folks!
One of the best, and easiest, pulled pork recipes! You can make this in advance and throw it in a pan on the grill or slow cooker with some sauce to reheat the day of your cookout!
Instant Pot Mexican Pulled Chicken
Seriously the most tender pulled chicken in a blend of spices that ready in under 30 minutes. It’s a Flavor Fiesta perfect for your favorite Mexican night meal. Plus it’s so easy for meal prep and freezer meals!
Mom’s Classic Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
No summer cookout is complete without a tray of stuffed cabbages! Tender cabbage leaves stuffed with rice, seasoned ground meats and a rich tomato sauce make this the perfect summer comfort food. Plus these freeze beautifully!
Korean-Style Crispy Shrimp Burgers
These panko-crusted shrimp patties are jam-packed with flavor, air fried until crispy golden brown then topped with melted cheese, spicy pepper jam, lettuce, and nestled in a sesame seed brioche bun. It’s truly one of the best bites you’ll ever have!
Grilled Beer Can Chicken
Let’s fire up the grill and whip up one of the best-grilled beer can chickens you’ll ever eat! So juicy, full of flavor, and incredibly easy to make! Winner, winner 5-star chicken dinner!
Gochujang Burnt Ends Sandwich
Tender Burnt Ends glazed in a sticky Gochujang sauce topped with a Crispy Asian Slaw. The sandwich nobody asked for but everyone wanted!
Grilled Chicken al Pastor on the Big Green Egg
Fire up the grill as we’re making the most amazing grilled chicken al pastor with slices of fresh pineapple and onions! It’s a fiesta flavor bomb of deliciousness!
Instant Pot Sticky Gochujang Pork Belly Burnt Ends
These Korean flavor-inspired pork belly burnt ends are so tender, they melt in your mouth. And that lip-licking gochujang sweet heat sauce they are coated in is like a religious experience!
Salads and Sides
If you’ve been following along on Facebook, you’ll know I’m going through an arduous process to recreate my Mother’s FAMOUS potato salad. Every recipe of hers I’ve recreated (from memory as she never wrote things down) I’ve been successful. However since I hate potato salad (hers had tons of mayo and chunks of veggies), I refused to eat it.
However Mr. Fantabulous LOVES this stuff. He loved it when my sister made it using her recipe but sadly Dianna passed away and she, too, never wrote down the recipe either. So for now, here are some other amazing sides and salads to serve!
Stone Fruit Summer Salad with Burrata & Prosciutto
Say hello to summer deliciously with this stone fruit salad with shaved prosciutto, luscious burrata, and 2 types of basil!
Charred Corn Black Bean & Shrimp Salsa
This chunky salsa takes full advantage of summer-fresh vegetables, herbs, seasoned shrimp, and a honey lime drizzle in the most delicious and addictive way!
Watermelon Berry Feta Salad
Say HELLO TO SUMMER YUM with this Watermelon Berry Feta Salad! Watermelon, strawberries, and blueberries mixed into a refreshing & delicious salad topped with fresh mint, feta cheese, and a honey-lime glaze. Kick it up a notch with a balsamic drizzle too!
How To Perfectly Grill Italian Parmesan Asparagus
Truly the best-grilled asparagus you’ll ever eat! Perfectly smoky & coated in an Italian Herbed oil & Cheese that will keep the family coming back for more!
Pittsburgh Slaw
The Iconic Pittsburgh slaw with no mayo, lots of tang, and a seriously delicious!
Crunchy Asian Cabbage Ramen Noodle Salad
The iconic ramen cabbage slaw we all grew up loving but with a choice of 2 different dressings: Classic & Upgraded!
Best Broccoli Slaw Salad
This is a new spin on a classic broccoli slaw. Crispy and packed with veggies, seeds, cranberries, and bacon topped with my Grandma’s amazing old-fashioned boiled dressing. Every cookout needs this dish!
Honey Mustard Coleslaw
The Best Honey Mustard Coleslaw! Just 5 ingredients are needed to make one of the best coleslaws you’ve ever had! Perfect as a side, snack, or on sandwiches!
Sweets & Treats
I honestly don’t recall a single cookout, bbq, or gathering growing up that never had at least 1 sweet treat. From pies to cookies, freeze pops to jell-o salad, we had it all.
Black & Blue Berry Crisp
A combination of Black and Blueberries topped with a crispy cinnamon oat pecan streusel makes for one easy and delicious anytime dessert!
White Chocolate Cheesecake Frosted Berry Cookie Pizza
Say hello to YUM! A soft vanilla sugar cookie topped with white chocolate cheesecake, glazed berries & kiwi finished with a white chocolate drizzle.
Cookie Grazing Board
Entertain sweetly with this scrumptiously simple yet elegant cookie grazing board for your next gathering.
Upside Down Pastry With Brie, Berries, & Hot Honey Squares
Blackberries nestled in hot honey then topped with shallots, balsamic glaze, brie, and puff pastry baked up to caramelized perfection. Taking the viral upside-down puff pastry trend to an amazing & delicious level!
Grandma’s Orange Cream Ice Box Pie
My Grandmother’s orange cream ice box pie with NILLA Wafers crust is luscious, creamy, dreamy, and no-bake! It’s the perfect warm-weather pie!
Grilled Angel Food Cake Topped With Strawberry Compote
Strawberry Compote with Grilled Angel Food Cake Cubes – the perfect anytime dessert during the summer!
What Are Your Favorite Memorial Day Foods?
Grilling has become a huge part of my life. I’m adding more and more grilled foods on here plus throughout social media. Is there something you absolutely must have at your cookouts (besides cold beer lol)?