Memorial Day Food Ideas: Delicious Recipes to Honor Our Heroes

Once you've tried Ladd Drummond's legendary tenderloin recipe, it'll become a staple in your cookout rotation. Melted butter is the key to keeping each cut as juicy as possible.

Not all Memorial Day dishes need to be served hot off the grill. This cool, refreshing salad is an excellent addition to any barbecue-centric menu.

A spicy bacon butter adds just the right amount of heat to this tantalizing appetizer. Parsley, jalapeños, and bacon fat (yes, fat!) give it a serious kick.

As soon as warmer weather hits, corn is a must. Slice it off the cob, add it to this summery salad, and top with a bright cilantro vinaigrette.

Fresh herbs and a tangy mayo-based dressing give this salad a delightfully fresh taste and vibrant color. Don't forget the chopped celery bits—they add a nice crunch to the final product.

You'll finish off this tender brisket on the grill to make it smoky as well as tender. Pro tip: Don't skip the homemade barbecue sauce—it's practically a requirement here.

It is a known fact you can never have just one fried pickle. 😉 In all seriousness, this side is the perfect dish to accompany burgers, hot dogs, or grilled chicken.

In late spring, fresh strawberries are everywhere. Take advantage before the season comes to an end by whipping up this show-stopping dessert.

This creamy red potato salad is just the thing to tote to a potluck this Memorial Day weekend. Bits of crunchy celery and crispy bacon add texture.

A classic combo in pasta form. The key to making this pasta salad so delicious is in the dressing. The mayo-based topping is made with one of our favorite kitchen hacks—ranch seasoning mix! It’s creamy, herby, and packed with flavor.

It's not the start of summer without watermelon! Charred on the grill and seasoned with lime, salt, and sugar, this unexpected take will have your whole gang grinning.

The smoky, sweet flavors of grilled corn combined with salty, garlic-chive butter makes this recipe an obvious winner. You'll get a kick out of the hybrid grilling approach used here, too: Some husks are left on, some are left off.

There's just no beating burgers when it comes to crowning the ultimate Memorial Day food. But even after the holiday is over, keep this particular recipe bookmarked! You never know when you'll be craving a burger.

Turn your feast into a fiesta with tacos, guacamole, and Mexican street corn! This grilled corn recipe is loaded with zesty flavor you’ll love.

If you're serving barbecue for Memorial Day this year, baked beans are a must! Ree's variation is rich, flavorful, and topped with slabs of crispy bacon.

This simple recipe comes together in just 10 minutes, plus it goes with just about any main course from burgers to ribs.

This versatile recipe can be served as a party dip with homemade tortilla chips or as a topping for grilled steak, fish, or even tacos.

It wouldn't be Memorial Day without a red, white, and blue dessert! This one is easy to make and even tastier to eat.

This pasta salad is everything you love about a classic Greek salad, plus the addition of bowtie noodles! It's delicious for a light lunch or BBQ side.

Making these ribs takes a little extra time and patience, but it's totally worth it. The result: sticky, sweet and smoky goodness!

Ree's classic cornbread is a staple any time of year, but come summertime it's particularly delicious with your favorite BBQ foods. We're talking pulled pork, ribs, and more.

Ree takes her hot dogs to the next level by brushing them with BBQ sauce and adding a creamy, crunchy homemade slaw. It'll be the talk of the party.

Kick things off with a Memorial Day appetizer that everyone loves. Enter: guacamole! There’s nothing fancy about it, it's just a good simple recipe.

Cookouts and ribs go hand-in-hand. It just wouldn't be the same without this sticky main course.

It only takes 20 minutes to whip up this quick and easy chicken burger recipe. You can even serve them alongside your favorite beef burgers, too. It's always a good idea to have options!

Cheesy tortellini gives this pasta salad a fun (and hearty) twist! Plus, it's loaded with mix-ins, like salami, black olives, and zucchini.

Grilled chicken is never boring when you're armed with this marinade recipe. It helps keep the chicken moist, tender, and flavorful!

For Ree Drummond, it isn't a cookout without lemonade! And this pretty version takes things one step further by adding sweet strawberries to the mix.

Each one of these skewers is loaded with peppers, onions, mushrooms, and sirloin beef. It's like a full meal on a stick.

Making this sweet strawberry dessert in a cast iron skillet helps to get those golden, crisp edges—some might say it’s the best part!

This hearty, comforting side dish is a classic for a reason. It's always the first thing to go at a summertime cookout!

What's the key to making these grilled pork chops the best-ever? Bone-in pork chops that are at least 1 inch thick. The thickness helps create that nice crust while staying tender on the inside.

Unlike the heavier, mayo-based pasta salads, this one is light and refreshing—perfect for summer! It's filled with summer-y ingredients like cherry tomatoes and fresh basil, too.

Fresh sweet corn and spicy jalapeño come together in this flavor-packed side dish. There's also a creamy dressing made with smoky chipotle.

This refreshing pitcher drink is great for making ahead. The white wine and fruit can be mixed up the night before, then just top it off with prosecco right before serving.

If you like a pasta salad that has big, bold flavors, this recipe is for you! The smoky chipotle dressing tossed with pasta, beans, corn, avocado, and even shredded Mexican cheese!

This fluffy corn casserole is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. The sweetness from the fresh corn kernels and creamed corn are paired up with spicy bits of chopped jalapeño peppers.

Making pizza on the grill is such a fun party trick that will get everyone excited. It's easy to do with a sheet of aluminum foil and different toppings, like caprese and arugula-prosciutto.

Bring the campfire to your own home with this fun s'mores-inspired dessert. While you don't actually need to build a fire to make them, they still have plenty of toasty marshmallow, chocolate, and graham cracker flavor.

A special occasion like Memorial Day weekend calls for a special steak! Luckily, this one is fit for a crowd and topped with an herby ranch butter that you'll want to melt over your whole plate.

Caesar salad meets pasta salad in this fun cookout mash-up! It's creamy and cheesy with chunks of hearty chicken, crunchy croutons and crisp lettuce.

If you're looking to keep the appetizers light before you dig in to a BBQ feast, try this creamy avocado dip that's fresh and herby. It's great when served up with spring or summer veggies and pita chips for dipping.

The only thing better than a hot dog is a hot dog wrapped in bacon! It's a decadent treat that everyone will love, especially when topped with pickled jalapeño slices.

This recipe has a few key ingredients to give it that classic loaded potato flavor—bacon, cheese, and green onions. The fact that it has ranch seasoning in the dressing is just an added bonus!

Kick off your cookout with a fresh version of salsa that's spicy, but not unbearably hot. It's just as delicious as a dip with tortilla chips as it is as a topping for grilled chicken or steak.

Using creamy ranch dressing for pasta salad is absolutely divine! It also pairs so well with the smoky flavor of bacon, the fresh veggies, and the cheddar cheese.

You'll be surprised by how easy it is to cook asparagus on the grill. The spears cook up in a matter of minutes, and they can even be customized with different spices depending on your preferences. Try cumin, smoked paprika, or even Chinese five spice.

This long, lean cut of beef cooks up quickly from the fire of the grill. It can be paired with so many toppings, like cowboy butter, mango salsa, or chimichurri.