The 50 Best Recipes to Make for Your Memorial Day Cookout By Camryn Alexa Wimberly Camryn Alexa Wimberly Camryn Wimberly is EatingWell's Editorial Fellow. As a food and mental health blogger, Camryn explores how food and cooking can help improve mental health and also be an avenue to connect with one's culture and heritage. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on May 20, 2025 Close Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Whether you’re curating a full menu or just looking for something to pack in a cooler, choose your Memorial Day dishes from this collection of bright and flavorful recipes. In this roundup, you’ll find everything from refreshing salads and frozen drinks to barbecued meats and festive desserts—every type of dish you and your loved ones would want to enjoy while spending the day in remembrance. Not to mention, these recipes already have a seal of approval from EatingWell readers’ glowing four- and five-star reviews, so we’re sure you’ll love them, too. Please a crowd with our mouthwatering High-Protein Pasta Salad and send a cool welcome to summer with cold items like our delicious White Bean Salad with Feta & Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette and High-Fiber Whipped Raspberry Lemonade. Love any of these recipes? Tap "Save" to add them to MyRecipes, your new, free recipe box for EatingWell. 01 of 50 BBQ Carrot Dogs Shock everyone with this recipe for veggie dogs that actually taste like hot dogs. They're an amazing (and healthy!) vegan alternative to traditional meat hot dogs. Serve in whole-wheat hot dog buns and top with all your favorite toppings—such as sauerkraut, relish, ketchup and mustard—for the ultimate barbecue meal. View Recipe Save 02 of 50 High-Protein Pasta Salad Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Crunchy cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, roasted red peppers and red onions are all mixed together in a heart-healthy vinaigrette for a dish that is as delicious as it is eye-catching. Chickpea pasta, whole chickpeas and fresh mozzarella pearls add to the dish’s protein. View Recipe Save 03 of 50 White Bean Salad with Feta & Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen White beans provide plant-based protein while also adding fiber to keep you full. Creamy feta cheese provides a tangy, salty contrast to the bright vinaigrette. Tossed with fresh herbs and toasted walnuts, this salad is perfect for a light lunch. View Recipe Save 04 of 50 Lemon Chicken Orzo Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong This lemon chicken orzo is a true weeknight classic—comforting and bursting with fresh flavor. Tender bites of chicken, orzo pasta and a bright, creamy broth come together in a one-pot meal. View Recipe Save 05 of 50 Fajita-Stuffed Mushrooms Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer This flavorful vegetarian dish fills roasted portobello mushroom caps with fajita-style veggies and black beans, giving them a boost of fiber and protein. Top it off with melted cheese and Greek-style yogurt for a satisfying dinner. View Recipe Save 06 of 50 Lemon-Blueberry Cheesecake Jars Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Made with reduced-fat cream cheese and part-skim ricotta, these lemony cheesecake jars are packed with protein while maintaining a rich and velvety texture. Fresh blueberries add natural sweetness, but feel free to use frozen berries in their place. View Recipe Save 07 of 50 Strawberry Caprese Salad Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle This caprese salad is a fruity twist on the classic Italian dish, with juicy, ripe strawberries standing in for tomatoes. The sweet-tart flavor of strawberries pairs beautifully with fresh mozzarella, basil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. View Recipe Save 08 of 50 Turkey Burgers with Spinach, Feta & Tzatziki Creamy tzatziki and crisp sliced cucumber add a refreshing twist to this easy burger recipe, loaded with feta and spinach. No tzatziki? No problem! Make your own at home by combining plain strained yogurt with a squeeze of lemon, dill and finely chopped cucumber. View Recipe Save 09 of 50 High-Fiber Whipped Raspberry Lemonade Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong. This whipped raspberry lemonade is a refreshing blend of tart lemon, fresh raspberries and creamy coconut milk, all whirled together to create a perfectly balanced beverage. View Recipe Save 10 of 50 Grilled Shrimp Tostadas Jason Donnelly Grilling gives these shrimp tostadas a boost of smoky flavor. Skewering the shrimp prevents them from falling through the grates while getting even char on each side. View Recipe Save 11 of 50 Zucchini-Chickpea Veggie Burgers with Tahini-Ranch Sauce Ali Redmond Savory chickpea and zucchini patties are topped with a creamy, herb-flecked tahini ranch sauce, juicy tomato slices and peppery arugula for a satisfying and healthy homemade veggie burger. Serve these vegan burgers on buns or stuff them in pitas. View Recipe Save 12 of 50 Black Bean Brownies Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley These black bean brownies are everything you could possibly want—moist, rich and fudgy with big chocolate flavor. Black beans not only enhance the texture but also give these brownies a nutritional boost! View Recipe Save 13 of 50 Roasted Veggies with Halloumi & Chickpeas Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer This sheet-pan halloumi, chickpea and veggie recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner with easy cleanup. Chickpeas and halloumi provide protein to make this dish filling and satisfying. Roasting everything on the same sheet pan creates crispy, caramelized bites that meld beautifully with the creamy yogurt spread underneath. View Recipe Save 14 of 50 Rhubarb-Raspberry Crumble Rhubarb is a tangy counterpart for sweet raspberries in this fruit crumble recipe. For a nutty flavor and a boost of nutrition, this healthy dessert uses whole-grain rye flour and toasted pecans. Serve the crumble with your favorite vanilla frozen yogurt or a dollop of whipped cream. View Recipe Save 15 of 50 Air-Fryer Buffalo Wings A sports bar favorite comes home with these deliciously crispy chicken wings in the air fryer, which require just 10 minutes of active prep time. View Recipe Save 16 of 50 Cucumber, Tomato & Avocado Salad with Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette Ali Redmond Crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes and creamy avocado create a delicious contrast in this easy salad. Tossed with a zesty lemon-shallot vinaigrette, this salad is bright, tangy and perfectly balanced. View Recipe Save 17 of 50 Jalapeño Popper Burgers We've taken a simple burger recipe and made it pop with an easy three-ingredient jalapeño cheese topping. Ground sirloin is lean ground beef made exclusively from the center loin cut. View Recipe Save 18 of 50 Fresh Lemon-Blueberry Bundt Cake Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel This fresh blueberry Bundt cake is a crowd-pleasing dessert that offers a perfect balance of moist, tender cake with fruity blueberries and a hint of lemon. View Recipe Save 19 of 50 Mushroom-Quinoa Veggie Burgers with Special Sauce These hearty mushroom, black bean and quinoa veggie burgers are a healthy and satisfying homemade alternative to store-bought veggie burgers. View Recipe Save 20 of 50 Chickpea Chopped Salad with Pita Chips Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel Packed with crunchy pita chips, creamy feta and briny olives, this chickpea, cucumber and tomato salad is fresh and delicious. Enjoy it as a side dish or add grilled or roasted chicken or salmon to make it a main dish. View Recipe Save 21 of 50 Key Lime Pie Cheesecake Bars Greg Dupree These Key-lime-pie-meets-cheesecake bars are the perfect mashup of creamy and tangy flavors, offering just the right amount of sweetness. Use fresh-squeezed Key lime juice if Key limes are in season. View Recipe Save 22 of 50 Watermelon-Lime Mocktail Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman This gut-healthy mocktail is the perfect sipper, featuring refreshing watermelon and probiotic kombucha to support healthy digestion. It has a subtle kick of spice, thanks to the jalapeño—but if you want to tame the heat, you can leave it out. View Recipe Save 23 of 50 Garlic Butter Campfire Corn This flavorful corn couldn't be easier to prepare. Just cover the ears of corn in a quick garlic-and-chive-flavored butter and wrap in foil, and they're ready to throw on the grill at home or over coals at the campsite. View Recipe Save 24 of 50 Lemon-Blueberry Trifle Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling This lemon-blueberry trifle is a stunning yet simple dessert that features layers of lemon-flavored pastry cream, store-bought angel food cake and fresh blueberries. View Recipe Save 25 of 50 Carrot-Cucumber Salad Photographer: Brie Goldman Food Stylist: Annie Probst Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali Carrot salads are refreshing, and this one—with cucumber, red onion and a zesty cilantro-chile vinaigrette—is sure to become a new favorite. It’s excellent served with grilled fish. View Recipe Save 26 of 50 Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajitas Photography: Carson Downing, Food: Holly Dreesman, Props: Gabe Greco One sheet pan is all you'll need to whip up these chicken fajitas. They're quick and easy to make, and cleanup is even faster! View Recipe Save 27 of 50 No-Cook Chickpea, Beet & Quinoa Salad Ali Redmond This easy, no-cook chickpea salad comes together in minutes. Look for precooked beets in the produce section of the grocery store. With a bright lemony-garlic dressing, this salad is the perfect side to accompany grilled chicken or roasted salmon. View Recipe Save 28 of 50 Broccoli Crunch Salad Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Renu Dhar, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle From the crunchy nuts and Parmesan crisps to the chewiness of sun-dried tomatoes, this broccoli salad has a satisfying medley of textures. The red-wine vinaigrette brings a briny flavor that is balanced by the nuttiness of the cheese. View Recipe Save 29 of 50 No-Added-Sugar Sangria Mocktail Heami Lee, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley This sangria mocktail is a refreshing drink that highlights the fruity flavors of traditional sangria without added sugars or alcohol. Fruit adds plenty of natural sweetness, bolstered by a combination of pomegranate and orange juice. Berry-flavored seltzer adds to the fruity taste, but plain seltzer will work well too. View Recipe Save 30 of 50 Jerk Chicken Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman Sweet, savory and spicy all at once, this jerk chicken recipe is absolutely delicious. Serve with a slightly sweet side dish, such as sweet potatoes or cornbread, to balance the heat. View Recipe Save 31 of 50 Elote-Inspired Pasta Salad Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Anna Kelly, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman This zesty pasta salad draws inspiration from the flavors of elote—Mexican grilled corn on the cob that's smothered in a creamy mayo-based sauce and sprinkled with chili powder, cotija cheese and lime. Corn kernels blister in the hot pan and a sprinkle of smoked paprika brings out the flavor. View Recipe Save 32 of 50 Hot-Honey Chicken & Pineapple Kebabs Photographer: Stacy k. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf These grilled chicken kebabs are sweet and hot thanks to hot honey, juicy chunks of pineapple and the grill itself, which caramelizes the bell peppers, onion and chicken pieces to smoky perfection. View Recipe Save 33 of 50 Sheet-Pan Balsamic Chicken & Asparagus Ali Redmond Chicken cutlets are coated in a tangy-sweet balsamic glaze, roasting right alongside tender asparagus for an easy, well-balanced dinner. It’s a simple one-pan meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. View Recipe Save 34 of 50 Strawberry Shortcake Cake Sweet strawberries are nestled between layers of sponge cake and a cream filling in this easy cake. We add nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt to whipped cream to lighten up the filling and give it a little tang. View Recipe Save 35 of 50 Raspberry-Spinach Salad with Avocado & Walnuts Photographer: Jen Causey, food stylist: Julian Hensarling, prop stylist: Josh Hoggle This salad includes juicy raspberries, creamy avocado and crunchy walnuts, which create a delightful mix of colors and flavors. The bright, citrusy dressing sets this salad apart and complements the richness of the avocado and the walnuts. View Recipe Save 36 of 50 Chunky Black Bean Salsa with Corn & Bell Pepper Fred Hardy This veggie-packed salsa gets inspiration from Texas caviar (aka cowboy caviar), a dish created in 1940 to ring in the New Year by Helen Corbitt, who was a chef at Neiman Marcus. Scoop it up with tortilla chips or try it as a topping for grilled meat or fish, or as a filling for a quick quesadilla. View Recipe Save 37 of 50 Grilled Blackened Shrimp Tacos Give juicy shrimp tacos a Cajun flavor spin with spices and a quick sear on a hot grill. An easy avocado mash adds creaminess to cool off the spicy kick. View Recipe Save 38 of 50 Strawberry Spinach Salad with Avocado & Walnuts Serve this colorful strawberry spinach salad alongside soup or a half sandwich, or top it with grilled chicken or roasted salmon for a complete and easy healthy meal. View Recipe Save 39 of 50 Sweet Potato–Black Bean Burgers These vegan sweet potato–black bean burgers spiced with curry powder are easy to make. Blending the mixture with your hands gives you a soft, uniform texture, and then the outside gets crispy by cooking in a cast-iron pan. View Recipe Save 40 of 50 Blueberry Lemonade Photographer / Jen Causey, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Chelsea Zimmer This blueberry lemonade is just sweet enough, with gorgeous color from fresh blueberries. Whole lemons with a thinner skin add flavor without bitterness. View Recipe Save 41 of 50 Creamy Corn Casserole with Lime, Chiles & Cilantro Greg DuPree If you like the Mexican corn dish known as esquites, you'll love this creamy corn casserole. Sweet corn and tangy lime brighten up this easy casserole, while serrano chiles and cotija cheese add spice and a salty note to keep everything balanced. View Recipe Save 42 of 50 Zucchini Salad with Burrata Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop stylist: Lindsey Lower This zucchini salad is a taste of peak-season bliss, combining sun-kissed zucchini with the creaminess of burrata cheese. Pink peppercorns offer a sweet, fruity and slightly floral taste that pairs nicely with the citrus flavors in the dressing; however, freshly ground black pepper can be used in their place. View Recipe Save 43 of 50 Bacon-Ranch Potato Salad Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall This potato salad is a versatile and crowd-pleasing side that complements just about everything, making it a perfect choice for bringing along to potlucks, barbecues and family gatherings. Our tangy, creamy ranch dressing features all the same classic herbs and seasonings as the bottled version. In a pinch, you can swap it out for store-bought. View Recipe Save 44 of 50 Fresh Tomato Salsa Jason Donnelly This easy fresh tomato salsa recipe yields about 5 cups of salsa—plenty to serve a crowd. If you like spicy salsa, use the full amount of jalapeños and add more cayenne pepper. Serve with chips, tacos and more. View Recipe Save 45 of 50 Marinated Grilled Vegetable Kebabs Tender vegetables soak up this tangy marinade and turn delicately smoky and tender on a hot grill. These kebabs make a wonderful side dish with grilled meats or fish. View Recipe Save 46 of 50 Cheesy Spinach & Chicken alla Vodka Sandwich Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser This cheesy spinach-and-chicken alla vodka sandwich is full of textures and flavors. Crispy chicken cutlets are smothered in creamy tomato sauce, wilted spinach and gooey mozzarella cheese. View Recipe Save 47 of 50 Caprese Casserole Sara Haas This healthy casserole comes together easily, making it the perfect choice for any weeknight dinner. Be sure not to overcook the pasta or it will turn mushy. And don't skip the balsamic vinegar at the end—it's a bright finishing touch. View Recipe Save 48 of 50 Shrimp Cobb Salad with Dijon Dressing We've replaced chicken with shrimp in this delicious and easy spin on the classic Cobb salad. This satisfying salad takes just 20 minutes to make, so it's perfect for weeknight dinners. But it's elegant enough to serve to guests. View Recipe Save 49 of 50 Tomato, Cucumber & White-Bean Salad with Basil Vinaigrette This no-cook bean salad is a delicious light dinner or lunch. Fresh basil elevates an easy vinaigrette recipe that dresses up this simple salad into something extraordinary. View Recipe Save 50 of 50 Ranch Roasted Chicken Bites EatingWell We reinforce the flavors of ranch dressing by coating the chicken in dried herbs like dill, parsley and tarragon. Serve these chicken bites with even more ranch on the side for a crowd-pleasing appetizer, or add them on top of your favorite salad greens. View Recipe Save Explore more: Healthy Recipes Holidays More Holiday Memorial Day Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit