Best Memorial Day Recipe Ideas – Summer might not start until the end of June, but Memorial Day is the unofficial start to cookout season, so it’s the perfect time to fire up the grill and make plans for delicious Memorial Day recipes. These easy Memorial Day recipes will fit your menu, whatever your cooking style, from corn salads to grilled chicken thighs! We didn’t forget the drinks too! And with some amazing side dishes, desserts, and appetizers to round out your backyard bash, you’ll have a Memorial Day menu your guests will be talking about all summer long. Enjoy!

Memorial Day Recipes: 45 Best Recipes for Memorial Day

1. Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

Marinated and seared chicken thighs come out perfectly juicy and tender every time. This boneless skinless chicken thighs recipe will be your new dinner routine!
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

2. Slow Cooker Honey-Garlic BBQ Pork Tenderloin

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin Dinner is done just when you walk the door at night!
Cooking time: 240 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

3. Strawberry Iced Tea Cooler

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This dreamy goodness will cool down any warm afternoon.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

4. Healthy Tomato Potato Salad

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This easy tomato potato salad recipe is light, nourishing, and super delicious. Bring the potato salad to your next potluck and prepare yourself for rave reviews!
Cooking time: 12 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

5. Pineapple BBQ Baked Chicken Foil Packets in Oven

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

These baked chicken in foil packets are easy and packed with tons of flavor. You’ll love the simplicity!
Cooking time: 35 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

6. Strawberry Lime Soda

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This strawberry lime soda recipe is a refreshing drink to sip on a sunny spring afternoon.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

7. Roasted Potato Salad

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This roasted potato salad recipe is super nourishing and packed with flavor. The perfect side dish for your BBQ menu.
Cooking time: 30 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

8. Strawberry Cheesecake Mousse

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

Smooth and creamy, these strawberry cheesecake mousse cups are the ultimate dessert for a 4th of July dinner!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

9. Salsa Chicken Lettuce Wraps

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

These chicken lettuce wraps are so delicious - Citrusy, sweet, spicy, and savory all in one, the salsa that goes with grilled chicken will steal the show. Perfect for a quick lunch, dinner, or meal prep!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

10. Perfect Marinated Tomatoes with Mozzarella

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

These marinated tomatoes make a perfect hors d’oeuvre full of fresh summer flavors!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

11. Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad with Avocado, Tomato, and Basil 

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This Healthy chicken pasta salad is packed with flavor, protein and veggies. Try this pasta salad recipe for a quick lunch or a light dinner!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

12. Cilantro Lime Watermelon Feta Salad

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

Sweet, fresh and juicy - This Cilantro Lime Watermelon Feta Salad recipe is a definite crowd pleaser!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

13. The Easiest Creamy Cucumber Salad

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This creamy cucumber salad recipe is delicious and refreshing — Great for grilling or a light dinner!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

14. Easy Tomato Cucumber Salad

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This tomato cucumber salad is light and refreshing. Fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, chopped fresh parsley, and cilantro are marinated in a delicious vinaigrette dressing. This tomato salad is perfect for a casual dinner or a potluck party!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

15. Marinated Cucumber Salad with Creamy Dill Sauce

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This fresh cucumber salad is here to help you conquer your cravings!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

16. Apple Bacon Coleslaw

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This coleslaw recipe only takes a few minutes to make and is packed with bright and delicious flavor! Super creamy, crunchy, and fresh coleslaw you can make in a cinch!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

17. Chunky Cheese Guacamole

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

Dazzle your guests with this Cheesy Guacamole recipe! So Creamy, so Fresh! The best last-minute appetizer ever.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

18. Blueberry Crumb Bars

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

These blueberry crumb bars are made with a sweet blueberry filling, a buttery shortbread crust and a crumbly topping! The blueberry bars are delicious for brunch, dessert, or snack!
Cooking time: 40 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

19. Garlic Butter Steak & Potato Foil Packs

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

These steak and potato foil packets make a quick and nourishing meal perfect for any occasion.
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

20. Grilled Ribeye Steaks with Melting Parsley Butter

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

Reward yourself with this juicy, flavorful weeknight indulgence.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

21. Grilled Asparagus & Steak Fajita Roll-Ups

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

A gourmet Grilled steak dinner with bold Southwestern flavors!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

22. Fried Baby Potatoes with Garlic Brown Butter

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

These epic Fried potatoes baby with garlic brown butter are the perfect side dish to practically anything!
Cooking time: 25 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

23. Baked Shrimp and Broccoli Foil Packs with Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This baked shrimp foil pack meal is ready in under 30 minutes. Shrimp is seasoned to perfection with garlic and herbs. The easiest way to bake shrimp in your oven!
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

24. Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

Sheet pan shrimp fajitas make an easy weeknight dinner that tastes amazing. Make this baked shrimp fajita recipe once and you'll make it over and over!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

25. Grilled Garlic Mushroom Skewers

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

These grilled garlic mushrooms on skewers are so good, you’ll want to make them every single day of the week!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

26. The Ultimate Grilled Chicken Thighs

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This grilled chicken thighs recipe is the bomb, perfect for a festive cook out! Everyone RAVES about these delicious grilled chicken thighs!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

27. Grilled Chili Lime Butter Corn on the Cob

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This Grilled Corn on the Cob recipe is recipe a flavor-packed side dish for your backyard BBQ — So easy and flavorful!
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

28. Mini Strawberry Cheesecake Tart

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This Shortbread mini strawberry cheesecake Tart recipe is filled with homemade cheesecake filling, fresh strawberry. This is an easy dessert that everyone loves.
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

29. Grilled Honey Chili Lime Cilantro Chicken

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This is the perfect Grilled chicken recipe for your Summer cookouts.
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

30. Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This chicken recipe is a winning dish for a weeknight dinner for two!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

31. Cheesy Chicken Fritters

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

Stack these chicken fritters up in your lunch box for easy meal prep during the week!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

32. Mediterranean Salad with Cucumber, Tomato and Onion

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

Our easy Mediterranean salad recipe comes together in 10 minutes with just a handful of ingredients. This chopped salad recipe works as a side dish but also makes a vegetarian meal on its own.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

33. White Bean and Carrot Salad

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

A warm white bean carrot salad recipe with a 2-ingredient lemon maple sauce as a dressing! This white bean carrot salad is easy to make and full of bright flavors!
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

34. Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This Mediterranean chickpea salad recipe is a bright, colorful, and delicious salad perfect for hot summer days.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

35. Salmon Salad with Avocado, Tomato, and Cucumber

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This salmon salad recipe is filled with veggies for a vibrant meal. What’s even easier to love? The salmon salad on the table in less than 25 minutes!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

36. Grilled Corn with Garlic and Parmesan

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

This grilled corn recipe is perfect as a side for your barbecue parties, or as salad for a quick lunch on the go!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

37. Watermelon Fries with Cream Cheese Marshmallow Dip

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

These watermelon fries with cream cheese and marshmallow dip are a great and refreshing Summer snack!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

38. 2-Ingredients Peach Popsicles

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

These peach popsicles celebrate the delicious fruit of summer in a juicy, sweet, and refreshing blend.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

39. Strawberry & Blueberry Margarita Popsicles

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

Show your colors this summer!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

40. Grilled Chicken Breasts with Lemon Garlic

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

Make the juiciest grilled chicken skewers with this easy chicken recipe. These grilled chicken breasts kabobs are made with marinated chicken and served with crisp asparagus for a complete low-carb, Keto-friendly dinner!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

41. Grilled Steak Kabobs

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

So juicy and delicious grilled steak Kabobs - Your BBQ parties just won’t be the same without them!
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

42. Healthy Grilled Peaches Recipe

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45 Best Memorial Day Recipes

These Grilled Peaches are perfect for summertime! The perfect healthy dessert.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

45 Best Memorial Day Recipes: Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs

by eatwell101
Yield: 4 servings    Prep Time: 10 min     Cook time: 15 min

Marinated and seared chicken thighs come out perfectly juicy and tender every time. This boneless skinless chicken thighs recipe will be your new dinner routine!

PIN TO SAVE PRINT RECIPE Meal plan

Ingredients you need for the Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided 4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 tablespoon lemon zest 2 tablespoons minced garlic 4 teaspoons chili powder 2 teaspoons chili pepper flakes 2 teaspoons ground cumin 2 teaspoons kosher salt 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper 2 teaspoons instant chicken bouillon

Directions

1.  To make the Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs: In a medium bowl, combine cilantro, 4 tablespoons olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, chicken bouillon, chili powder, chili pepper flakes, cumin, salt, and pepper. Divide the mixture into two.

2. In a gallon-size Ziploc bag or large bowl, combine chicken thighs and half the marinade mixture; marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight, turning the bag occasionally. Drain the chicken thighs from the marinade.

3. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a cast-iron grill pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs to the grill pan in a single layer and cook until golden brown and cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165ºF (74ºC), about 4-5 minutes per side.

4. Serve the Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs with the remaining lemon-garlic-cilantro mixture on the side immediately. Enjoy!

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What food is the most eaten on Memorial Day?

Barbecue is the favorite food for any great outdoor gathering, especially on Memorial Day. So anything that goes on the grill will work: chicken, pork, shrimp, beef, fish, peppers, corn, and any other veggies!

What to bring to a Memorial Day gathering?

Besides these easy Memorial Day recipes, some items are always welcome to a Memorial day cookout:

• Bags of ice
• Coal for the barbecue
• Watermelons
• Ice cream
• Jars of homemade condiments
• Extra paper towels or toilet paper
• Extra paper plates and recyclable cutlery