50+ of the Best Memorial Day Recipes


It’s starting to feel like summer here in Chicago and we couldn’t be more excited for evenings on the patio and endless dinners from the grill.

Memorial Day is already NEXT weekend and I’ve got over 30 (okay, over 50) recipes perfect for cooking and grilling with friends and family. If you’re wondering what to serve at a Memorial Day picnic, potluck, or party, I’ve got your back. These fresh, seasonal recipes are perfect for your Memorial Day menu!

I picked out my go-to Memorial Day finger foods, mains & desserts to cover all of your bases. You’ll find grilling recipes and ones you can make without a grill, plus plenty of fresh salads to pair with juicy burgers.

GF = Gluten Free

V = Vegan

VT = Vegetarian

If you make any of these healthier Memorial Day recipes, leave a comment below and let me know how you liked it! You can also tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram so that I can see your creations.

Dips & Salsas

Fresh & Healthy 7-Layer Dip VT, GF

Spicy Green Feta Sauce VT, GF

Roasted Garlic Whipped Feta Dip VT, GF

High Protein Sour Cream & Onion Dip VT, GF

Hot Honey & Basil Pepperoni Pizza Dip GF

Fresh Mango Salsa Recipe V, GF

Creamy Jalapeño Spinach Artichoke Dip VT, GF

Tony’s Ridiculously Easy Homemade Salsa V, GF

Spicy Green Cashew Dip V, GF

Garlic & Herb Whipped Cottage Cheese Dip VT, GF

Avocado Peach Salsa V, GF

Garlic White Bean Basil Hummus V, GF

Bleu Cheese Yogurt Dip (or dressing!) VT, GF

Cilantro Pistachio Pesto Hummus V, GF

The Best Guacamole You’ll Ever Eat V, GF

Whipped Feta Yogurt Dip with Hot Honey, Basil & Toasted Almonds VT, GF

Easy + Cheesy Southwest Bean Dip GF

Roasted Garlic Hummus V, GF

Avocado Strawberry Mango Salsa V, GF

Vegetarian Three Cheese White Bean Buffalo Dip VT, GF

grilled crostini with roasted cherries and goat cheese on a platter

Handheld Appetizers

Grilled Crostini with Roasted Cherries, Goat Cheese & Basil VT, GF

Pizza Puff Pastry Tarts VT

Roasted Strawberry, Basil, and Goat Cheese Crostini VT

10-Minute Smoked Salmon Pinwheels GF

Thai-Inspired Peanut Chicken Wings

Jalapeño-Goat Cheese Grilled Stuffed Mini Peppers VT, GF

Peach, Goat Cheese & Basil Wonton Bites VT

Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

Greek Salad Pinwheels VT, GF

Vegetarian Plantain & Black Bean Taco Cups VT

Smoked Salmon Crostini GF

Tortilla Chip-Crusted Baked Jalapeño Poppers VT, GF

Pesto Tuna Caprese Cucumber Bites GF

healthy coleslaw in a bowl with two serving spoons

Easy Side Dishes

Best Healthy Coleslaw Ever (no mayo!) V, GF

Homemade Slow Cooker Baked Beans GF

Honey Lime Basil Peach Fruit Salad VT, GF

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs with Bleu Cheese Yogurt Dip GF

How to Grill Delicious Vegetables (4 different ways!) V, GF

Sesame Garlic Grilled Sweet Potato Fries with Yogurt Curry Dip VT, GF

Crispy Smashed Potatoes VT, GF

Cauliflower Tots VT, GF

How to Grill Fruit (2 different ways!) V, GF

Spicy Maple Dijon Grilled Brussels Sprouts V, GF

Gluten Free Cornbread Muffins VT, GF

Garlic Fingerling Potatoes (roasted or grilled!) V, GF

strawberry kale salad on a platter

Fresh Veggie Salads

Summer Glow Strawberry Kale Salad VT, GF

Everything Spring Green Salad with Basil Lemon Vinaigrette VT, GF

Grilled Corn Salad with Avocado, Goat Cheese & Hot Honey Vinaigrette VT, GF

California Roasted Sweet Potato Kale Salad V, GF

Summer Strawberry Spinach Salad with Avocado VT, GF

Vegan Curried Broccoli Chickpea Salad V, GF

Sesame Chicken Cabbage Crunch Salad GF

Grilled Carrot Arugula Salad with Fig, Goat Cheese & Avocado VT, GF

Vegan Potato Salad with Herbed Tahini Sauce V, GF

Fiesta Mango Black Bean Quinoa Salad V, GF

Chopped Thai-Inspired Chickpea Salad with Curry Peanut Dressing V, GF

Italian Chopped Brussels Sprouts Salad GF

Peach Brussels Sprouts Crunch Salad with Creamy Tahini Poppy Seed Dressing V, GF

Healthy Summer Broccoli Salad V, GF

Avocado Peach Tomato Salad with Dilly Tahini Dressing V, GF

Cashew Crunch Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad V, GF

Spicy Ranch Chopped Chicken Cabbage Salad GF

Vegan Caesar Salad V, GF

The Easiest Chopped Greek Chickpea Salad VT, GF

Dad’s Dilly Greek Yogurt Cucumber Salad VT, GF

Roasted Sweet Potato Black Bean Salad with Pineapple Corn Salsa V, GF

Gaby’s Chicken Taco Salad GF

street corn pasta salad in a bowl

Wonderful Quinoa & Pasta Salads

Street Corn Pasta Salad with Cilantro Pistachio Pesto & Goat Cheese VT, GF

Damn Good BLT Pasta Salad with Creamy Jalapeño Cashew Dressing GF

Herby Olive Italian Orzo Salad VT

Copycat Portillo’s Chopped Salad GF

Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad V, GF

Grilled Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad GF

Fiesta Mango Black Bean Quinoa Salad VT, GF

Peach, Tomato & Corn Arugula Pasta Salad VT, GF

Famous Crunchy Cashew Thai Quinoa Salad V, GF

Kale, Edamame & Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette V, GF

Avocado Tomato Chickpea Pasta Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette VT, GF

Avocado Blueberry Quinoa Salad VT, GF

curry turkey burger on a plate

Burgers, Sandwiches & Tacos

Jalapeño Curry Turkey Burgers GF

Buffalo Zucchini Chicken Burgers GF

Grilled Tahini Chicken Caesar Sandwiches GF

Chipotle Lime Salmon Tacos with Corn Avocado Peach Salsa & Cilantro Yogurt Sauce GF

Seriously Good Sweet Potato Cheddar BBQ Chicken Burgers GF

Crazy Good Street Corn Chicken Tacos GF

Moroccan-Spiced Turkey Burgers with Creamy Feta Sauce GF

Pesto Turkey Burger Sliders on Sweet Potato Buns GF

Blackened Salmon Tacos with Forbidden Rice & Mango Guacamole GF

Sheet Pan Roasted Veggie Tacos (with yummy sauce options!) V, GF

Ultimate Vegan Black Bean Burgers with Tahini Garlic Cream Sauce V, GF

Sweet & Spicy BBQ Bacon Hawaiian Turkey Burgers GF

Gaby’s Grilled Fish Tacos with Pineapple-Mango Salsa GF

Incredible Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Sandwiches GF

Jalapeño Curry Turkey Burgers GF

Chipotle Chicken Tostadas with Pineapple Salsa GF

Amazing Easy Turkey Tacos (with a slow cooker option!) GF

Vegan Sweet Potato Burgers V, GF

grilled jalapeño cilantro chicken on a platter

Easy Grilled Proteins

Grilled Jalapeño Cilantro Chicken GF

Greek Chicken Kabobs GF

How to Grill Perfect Salmon (plus recipes!) GF

Baked or Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken (with the best honey mustard marinade!) GF

How to Grill Delicious Tofu (2 different ways!) V, GF

Grilled Sesame Chicken GF

Vegan Turmeric Pineapple Tofu Kabobs V, GF

How to Grill Chicken Breast that’s Perfectly Juicy GF

Sazon Grilled Chicken Thighs GF

Sticky, Sweet & Spicy Grilled Ginger Chicken GF

Firecracker Salmon with Peach Avocado Salsa GF

buffalo mac and cheese stuffed zucchini on a plate

Unique Main Dishes

Buffalo Mac and Cheese Stuffed Zucchini Boats VT, GF

Vegan Pasta Primavera with Creamy Garlic Cashew Sauce V, GF

Pesto Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats GF

Creamy Sweet Corn & Brown Butter Ricotta Pasta VT, GF

Jerk Chicken with Caribbean Rice & Mango Salsa GF

30 Minute Brown Butter Goat Cheese Grilled Veggie Orzo VT, GF

Cheesy BBQ Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats GF

3-Ingredient Grilled Stuffed Poblano Peppers VT, GF

How to Grill Pizza that’s Crispy, Chewy and Ready in only 15 Minutes VT

Ultimate Chili-Stuffed Sweet Potato Skins GF

frozen strawberry margarita in a glass

Cocktails

Frozen Strawberry Margarita

Spiked Tropical Green Juice (aka Green Margarita)

Spicy Blood Orange Margarita

Spiked Cherry Limeade

Frozen Mango Margarita

Palm Springs Cocktail

Grapefruit Margarita

Coconut Lime Margarita

Watermelon Frosé

Rebecca’s Pomegranate Margarita

Skinny Jalapeño Watermelon Margaritas

lemon pistachio cake topped with strawberries

Gorgeous Cakes & Pies

Lemon Pistachio Cake with Lovely Lemon Frosting GF

Almond Lemon Raspberry Poppy Seed Cake GF

Lemon Blueberry Zucchini Cake with Lemon Frosting GF

Brown Butter Strawberry Coffee Cake with Lovely Strawberry Icing

Orange Zucchini Cake with Orange Frosting GF

Almond Flour Strawberry Shortcake Cake with Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese Frosting GF

Inside Out Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cake GF

Spiced Zucchini Sweet Potato Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting GF

Chocolate Zucchini Cake (healthy + gluten free) GF

The Best Tart Cherry Pie You’ll Ever Eat

Grain Free Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake GF

butterscotch cookie skillet topped with ice cream

The Best Cookies

Salted Tahini Butterscotch Cookie Skillet GF

Soft Lime Sugar Cookies GF

The Best Bakery-Style Soft Peanut Butter Cookies

Healthier Flourless Monster Cookies GF

The Best Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies You’ll Ever Eat GF

Not Your Mama’s Magic Cookies

Grain Free Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookie V, GF

Key Lime White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies

Blow Ya Mind Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies V, GF

Peanut Butter Cup S’mores Chocolate Cookies

Lemon Cookies with Lovely Lemon Glaze

Grain Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies GF

White Chocolate Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies

Paleo Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies GF

Grain Free Birthday Cake Cookies GF

zucchini brownie with a bite taken out

Brownies, Bars & Chocolate

The Best Zucchini Brownies You’ll Ever Eat GF

Ooey-Gooey Tahini S’mores Bars GF

Grain Free Tahini Brownies (The Best Brownies I’ve Ever Eaten!) GF

Healthy Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats GF

Vegan Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Bars V, GF

Fudgy Almond Butter Blondies GF

Tahini Monster Cookie Bars GF

Salted Tahini Caramel Millionaire Bars (vegan + paleo) V, GF

No Bake High Protein Peanut Butter Cereal Bars V, GF

Healthy 4 Ingredient Reese’s Eggs V, GF

Birthday Cake Rice Krispie Treats GF

Healthy Peanut Butter Twix Bars (vegan & gluten free) V, GF

No Bake Chocolate Caramel Tahini Chex Bars (allergy-friendly!) V, GF

Small Batch Paleo Almond Flour Brownies with Raspberries GF

strawberry crumble bars sliced on parchment paper

Easy Fruit Desserts

Strawberry Crumble Bars V, GF

Grilled Peaches (+6 different topping ideas!) V, GF

Strawberry Crisp with Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Crumble V, GF

Healthy Lemon Bars (gluten free, dairy free & paleo!) GF

Raspberry Crumble Bars V, GF

Tart Cherry Pie Bars with Oatmeal Crumble V, GF

Blueberry Pie Bars with Oatmeal Crumble (vegan & gluten free) V, GF

Rainbow Fruit Skewers V, GF

Drunken Strawberries V, GF

Lightened-up Vanilla Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp (vegan, gluten free) V, GF

Gluten Free Peach Crisp with Salted Coconut Milk Caramel V, GF

If you make any of these Memorial Day recipes, be sure to leave a comment below and let me know how you liked it! You can also tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram so that I can see your creations. Thank you, xo!



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