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    🏠Home » Holiday Recipes

    Memorial Day Recipe Roundup

    May 20, 2023 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · Last modified: May 28, 2023 · 7 Comments

    It's summertime again. Time for family gatherings, the beach, and picnics. We want great food, but it needs to be easy and quick but more importantly, it needs to be great—here are 18 recipes to get you started in planning the holiday.

    Memoral Day College-Image licensed from Fotolia May 26, 2016. Copyright igoror - Fotolia. Modified per allow by licensed.
    Image licensed from Fotolia May 26, 2016. Copyright igoror - Fotolia. Modified per allow by licensed.
    Jump To:
    • Main Dishes
    • Sauce and Rubs
    • Side Dishes
    • Sweet Endings
    • FOOD SAFETY
    • Don't Forget to Take the Party Animals
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    This coming weekend is Memorial Day, a federal holiday for us in the USA, remembering the people who gave their lives while serving in its armed forces. But it also is commonly recognized as the kick-off for summer and a three-day holiday weekend.

    Once known as Decoration Day, which started after the American Civil War to honor the Union dead, later it merged with a similar Confederate holiday and ultimately for all American war dead.

    But on to the other part of this holiday. It’s FINALLY SUMMER—time for some deck and picnic food. I'm starting with Oven Pulled Pork, Memphis BBQ Sauce, and a big slice of Fresh Strawberry Pie.

    Main Dishes

    Grilled Pork Butt on a Gas Grill for BBQ Smoked Pulled Pork
    Grilled Pork Butt makes wonderful BBQ smoked pulled pork cooked low and slow on a gas grill. Moist, tender, and with great smoky bark without a smoker.
    Pulled Pork on a Gas Grill from 101 Cooking for Two
    Oven Pulled Pork—Low and Slow Pork Butt
    Oven Pulled Pork from pork butt cooked low and slow is tender, moist, and delicious. This is the easiest recipe to get great pulled pork at home.
    pulled pork sandwich with BBQ sauce
    How to Cook a Brisket on a Gas Grill
    Cook smoked Grilled Brisket low-and-slow on your backyard gas grill—moist and tender meat with crusty bark and a smokey taste. Make classic BBQ brisket without a smoker.
    Cooked brisket on a gray board
    How to Grill Hamburgers on a Gas Grill
    Learn How to Grill Hamburgers on a Gas Grill—it is easy and quick once you learn a few simple steps. Juicy and flavorful grilled burgers will become a family favorite.
    burger on a bun
    How to Grill a Pork Tenderloin
    Let's learn How to Grill a Pork Tenderloin that is juicy, moist, and tender. It's easy in 30 minutes on your charcoal or gas grill.
    pork tenderloin on blue platter
    Grillied Chicken Drumsticks-Quick and Easy
    Perfectly Grilled Chicken Drumsticks are easy and quick with this never fail recipe. Fall off the bone tender with delicious flavor. They will be the hit of any meal.
    chicken drumsticks cooking on the grill
    Grilled Chicken Thighs—Quick and Easy
    Crispy Grilled Chicken Thighs are quick and easy on your gas grill with this simple recipe. Juicy, moist, and tender, they make a flavorful economical dinner.
    grilled chicken thigh on white plate
    Grilled Whole Chicken without Spatchcocking
    Grilled Whole Chicken is as easy as a simple prep without spatchcocking (butterfly or flattened) and grilling the full chicken with indirect heat on your backyard gas grill.
    Grilled whole chicken on a gray plate

    Sauce and Rubs

    Memphis BBQ Sauce—Sweet and Tangy
    This easy Memphis BBQ Sauce recipe is the best homemade barbecue sauce A sweet and tangy sauce that's perfect with pulled pork, ribs, brisket, or even chicken.
    BBQ sauce on pork
    BBQ Dry Rub for Ribs, Pork, Beef, and More
    The best BBQ Dry Rub recipes will enhance the meats' taste and complement the sauce's flavors. This easy-to-adjust homemade rub recipe has classic BBQ flavors.
    Spice for 8311 BBQ Rub
    Memphis Dry Rub Recipe
    A classic sweet and spicy Memphis Dry Rub Recipe from Marlowes of Memphis. Bring the great taste of Memphis to your grilled ribs or other BBQ recipes.
    Applying Memphis dry rub to baby back ribs

    Side Dishes

    Great side dishes make the meal. Image some corn on the cob with a nice spinach salad or grilled pineapple to make your meal special.

    Easy Macaroni Salad—Small Batch
    This Easy Macaroni Salad is s small batch recipe with tender pasta, creamy dressing, and crunchy vegetables. Simple to adjustable in size and to your taste.
    macaroni salad on a white plate
    Grilled Pineapple Slices with Brown Sugar Cinnamon Glaze
    Glazed grilled pineapple slices are an easy delicious summer side dish. With a buttery caramelized brown sugar glaze, it also makes a great dessert when combined with ice cream—Ready in less than 15 minutes.
    close up of Grilled Pineacpple with grill marks on a blue plate
    Broccoli Salad with Bacon
    Easy Broccoli Salad with Bacon is fresher and tastier than the deli version. Make classic cold broccoli salad with this small batch recipe that's adjustable in size and ingredients.
    broccoli salad with bacon on white plate-2
    Simple Spinach Salad
    A Simple Spinach Salad with an easy homemade vinaigrette dressing, toppings, and baby spinach. Use it as a side dish, or load up the proteins for a delicious summer lunch.
    simple spinach salad on a white plate
    Grilled Baby Potatoes
    Delicious Grilled Baby Potatoes with crispy golden skin are perfect for any grilled meal. Use small potatoes like red, new, fingerling, or trimmed larger thin-skin potatoes.
    grilled baby potatoes going into a blue bowl
    Microwave Corn on the Cob in the Husk
    Microwave Corn On the Cob in the Husk is super easy. No husking, just short microwaving, and you will have perfect sweet corn every time with no mess.
    corn on the cob in serving trays B

    Sweet Endings

    Fresh Strawberry Pie with Jello
    This quick and easy recipe for Fresh Strawberry Pie with Jello comes together in 25 minutes using fresh strawberries, a refrigerated crust, and a Jello filling.
    raw pie crust ready for the oven-3
    Small Batch Apple Crisp
    This quick and easy Small Batch Apple Crisp has delicious tender apples and a sweet crumb topping. Perfect for a small household of two or make a double recipe for a family.
    apple crisp on a white plate
    Old Fashioned Lemon Bars
    This Old Fashioned Lemon Bar recipe is easy and quick but still uses a classic shortbread crust and a tangy and sweet custard filling of eggs and lemon juice. It's a small 8X8 recipe that is easy to double for more lemon squares.
    two lemon bars on a white plate.
    Philadelphia Cheesecake Recipe—Vanilla or Chocolate Chip
    Philadelphia Cheesecake Recipe is a creamy, decadent dessert but is an easy recipe to make as classic vanilla or with mini chocolate chips—it will become your signature dessert.
    slice of chocolate chip Philadelphia cheesecake
    Easy Cheesecake Bars
    These Easy Cheesecake Bars are creamy and delicious with a Graham cracker crust and lemon—the quick small-batch recipe you need with great tasting cheesecake bars.
    Cheesecake bars on a blue plate

    FOOD SAFETY

    It's easy to forget food safety. But it's up to you to keep your friends and family safe. I see dangerous food handling on TV food shows and other blogs frequently. So know the rules. PLEASE.

    As a start, please review my Summer Food Safety post. Let's be safe out there. Uncle Joe cannot have his burger rare even though you wouldn't mind seeing him sick. It is your responsibility to keep them safe.

    Don't Forget to Take the Party Animals

    Low-Fat Homemade Dog Treats—Healthy & Delicious
    Low Fat Homemade Dog Treats are the perfect low-calorie treat for your dog. With only five ingredients, your dog will love the peanut butter and pumpkin taste. Much healthier than commercial treats—any veterinarian would approve.
    Pile of homemade dog treats on a wire rack

    Molly and Lilly dogs playing with a ball on a rope. Part 1.
    Molly and Lilly dogs playing with a ball on a rope. Part 2.
    Molly and Lilly dogs playing with a ball on a rope.

    Please remember what it is all about. Have a great holiday weekend and enjoy your summer.

    DrDan

    PS. Stay safe out there, and please follow your local health department's recommendations.

    ↑Jump to Table of Contents

    Publisher note: This is a re-edit of the previous year's ( since 2016) post. New recipe recommendations are added as needed to keep it fresh.

    More Holiday Recipes

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      Pumpkin Cheesecake Without a Water Bath
    • Labor Day Recipe Roundup
    • turkey slice with gravy on orange plate.
      Roasted Turkey Breast—The Easy Way
    • Graphic collage for Fouth of July. Has copyrighted material.
      Fourth of July Recipes

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    1. Ashley

      May 22, 2019 at 10:14 am

      Our beautiful English Golden, Abby, will be 7 years old this Saturday! I think she might love to celebrate her birthday and Memorial Day with a juicy burger or some pulled pork. Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

        May 22, 2019 at 10:22 pm

        Hi Ashley,
        Welcome to the blog.
        I'm doing pulled pork myself but the girls will eat anything. Just not very picky.
        Molly and Lilly say high to Abby.
        Thanks for the note.
        Dan

    2. michele strong

      September 12, 2018 at 5:29 pm

      I just stumbled across your site today and am already a fan! so happy I found you ☺ what kind of pups do you have? sometimes I can't tell the difference between an english cream retriever and a great pyrenees.. we were blessed with the most beautiful, smart, amazing.... pyr a couple of months ago! 😊

      Reply
      • DrDan

        September 12, 2018 at 9:25 pm

        Hi Michele,
        Welcome to the blog.
        The girls are 4 1/2 yr old English Golderns. They are litter mates and have be the blog mascots since being babies.
        Thanks for the note.
        Dan

    3. Jean

      August 09, 2018 at 4:41 pm

      Dr. Dan,
      I hope your feeling well. My whole family loves your recipes, your dog pictures, and you. Your a favorite of mine when sharing your recipes, your philosophy on cooking and while talking to friends. Friends come through the front door asking "what Dr. Dan recipe are we enjoying tonight". Your the best.
      Take very good care of yourself.
      Warmly,
      Jean Rawlings

      Reply
      • DrDan

        August 09, 2018 at 8:16 pm

        I snuck that in this post and very few saw it but I feel better I "told" everybody. Just chronic things getting worse.

        If you can only stand for 10 minutes, it is hard to cook a new recipe and take pictures. I can cook but the extra 10-15 minutes it takes for the pictures is just a bit too much.

        Also, with 450 plus recipes, it is getting hard to find good ideas. So more older recipes nobody saw and less new one. A new one when I find something I really want to do like the grilled Ribeye post. It is long and very complete. I enjoyed writing it and I loved the results.

        Thanks for the note and good wishes.

        Dan

    4. Mike

      June 03, 2016 at 5:50 am

      Thank you so much for the food safety tips, I didn't realize a lot of the things you wrote there!

      Thanks DrDan

      Reply

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