Hot dogs and potato chips are fine… but they’re not exactly memorable. This Memorial Day, I’m upgrading the entire spread with recipes that are fast to make (no all-day projects, please), loaded with flavor, and honestly? Way more fun. From tangy dill pickle chicken to boozy wine slushies, this lineup has everything you need for a backyard party that people will actually talk about.
The best part? You don’t have to pick just one. Mix and match mains, sides, desserts, and drinks from this list and you’ve got a full Memorial Day menu that comes together in no time. Let’s get into it.
11 Memorial Day Recipes That Are Anything But Boring
1. Dill Pickle Chicken Thighs
Brined in dill pickle juice for extra tenderness and tangy flavor, these grilled chicken thighs are the unexpected hero of your backyard cookout. 🥒 They come together fast and taste like something you’d order at a restaurant — not basic BBQ.
Dill Pickle Chicken Thighs Recipe
These pickle-brined chicken thighs are brined in a tangy dill pickle juice marinade, coming out ultra tender and grilled to perfection. Serve ’em with a homemade dill sauce for an extra burst of flavor!
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2. Slow Cooker Shredded Beef
Set it and forget it — this melt-in-your-mouth shredded beef does all the work while you focus on everything else. Pile it onto buns, stuff it into tacos, or serve it over rice. It’s the move for feeding a crowd without breaking a sweat.
Shredded Beef Recipe
My slow cooker shredded beef is ultra tender and flavor-packed, making it a meal-prep friendly meal that’s not only packed with protein, but super versatile as well. Serve on a sandwich, in a bowl or even as tacos — the options are endless.
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3. Grilled Gnocchi Skewers
Wait — you can grill gnocchi?! Yes, and it’s absolutely genius. 🍢 These skewers get perfectly crispy on the outside with a soft, pillowy inside. Thread them up with your favorite veggies and let the grill do its thing. Guaranteed conversation starter at any cookout.
Grilled Gnocchi Skewers Recipe
These delicious grilled gnocchi skewers feature colorful sliced veggies and perfectly crispy grilled potato gnocchi tossed in a flavorful herby lemon dressing. They’re a yummy vegetarian side dish.
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4. Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
Everything you love about deviled eggs — the creamy, tangy, mustardy filling — transformed into a pasta salad that serves a crowd. This one disappears fast at every potluck, so you might want to make a double batch.
Deviled Egg Pasta Salad Recipe
This delicious deviled egg pasta salad is easy to make with simple ingredients. It’s perfect for picnics, grill outs and any summertime get-together.
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5. Strawberry Broccoli Salad with Poppyseed Dressing
Fresh, colorful, and impossibly good — this salad brings major wow factor with sweet strawberries, crunchy broccoli, and a dreamy poppyseed dressing. 🍓 It’s the side dish that makes everyone ask for the recipe.
Strawberry Broccoli Salad
This strawberry broccoli salad is tossed in a homemade poppy seed dressing. You’ll love the vibrant flavor of this summery salad.
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6. Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
Cheesy tortellini tossed in bright, herby pesto makes a pasta salad that actually tastes exciting. It comes together in about 20 minutes and gets even better as it sits — making it a perfect make-ahead option for a busy holiday weekend.
Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipe
Upgrade your pasta game with Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad. Made with cheese tortellini and a delectable pesto sauce, it’s perfect for any occasion.
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7. Sheet Pan Fruit Crisp
Dessert for a crowd, made easy. This sheet pan fruit crisp is bubbling with jammy fruit and topped with the crunchiest oat topping — and it feeds everyone without the fuss of individual portions. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and watch it disappear. 🍑
Sheet Pan Fruit Crisp Recipe
This sheet pan fruit crisp is super easy to make and uses 3 different fruits, creating a medley of flavors. The buttery sweet crumble topping pairs perfectly with the tartness of the berries, making for a satisfying and indulgent dessert.
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8. Maple Chocolate Chip Blondie Bars
Fudgy, chewy, and loaded with chocolate chips — these blondie bars are the portable dessert your cookout needs. The touch of maple syrup takes them from “great” to “I need this recipe immediately.” Bake them the day before and you’re golden.
Maple Chocolate Chip Cookie Blondie Bars
These delicious maple chocolate chip cookie blondie bars are inspired by mom mom’s famous cookie bar recipe, but use a little maple to warm them up!
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9. Dole Whip
The frozen treat that needs no introduction. 🍍 This homemade Dole Whip is creamy, tropical, and ridiculously easy to make at home. It’s the kind of thing that makes kids (and adults) very, very happy on a hot day.
Dole Whip
This 4-ingredient homemade Dole Whip recipe is equal parts refreshing and creamy. Ready in 15 minutes!
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10. Wine Slushies — 3 Ways
Frozen wine drinks that take five minutes to prep and make everyone feel like they’re on vacation? Yes please. 🍷 Three flavor variations means there’s something for everyone, and they’re perfectly make-ahead friendly — blend before guests arrive and keep in the freezer.
Wine Slushies – 3 Ways
Wine slushies are the most delicious frozen cocktail to make! Here we’re sharing 3 different wine slushie recipes using frozen fruit and ice.
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11. Spicy Pickle Margaritas
Tangy, spicy, and wildly refreshing — this is the cocktail that always gets the “wait, what IS this?!” reaction. 🌶️ Pickle brine + jalapeño + margarita = the most unexpected (and addictive) drink at the party. Your guests will love you for it.
Spicy Pickle Margarita
This is going to be your new, go-to cocktail –> spicy pickle margaritas made with dill pickle juice and jalapeños!
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Tips for the Best Memorial Day Spread
Make it easy on yourself with a few simple strategies: start the slow cooker shredded beef in the morning so it’s completely hands-off by party time. Make both pasta salads and the blondie bars the night before — they only get better overnight. Blend the wine slushies and Dole Whip before guests arrive and stash them in the freezer. And always, always make extra dill pickle chicken. It goes fast.
