Memorial Day is the unofficial kickoff of summer for many families across the country. All weekend, kids will be jumping in the pool, families will be heading to the beach, and dads will be dusting off the BBQ grill. If you’re organizing a summer kick-off party, all you need is good food. While there are always classics like BBQ ribs and macaroni salad, we’ve rounded up our favorite too quick and healthy Memorial Day recipes to try† Trust us, after making these dishes you will want to make them all summer long.
For even more ideas, check out 50 Awesome Summer Recipes You Must Try.
Caprese salads are one of our favorite easy dishes. Oh My Veggies enhances the flavor and nutritional value by adding the ancient grain vinaigrette, farro and basil.
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Kebabs are a great feast because they are portable and easy to make. Fit Foodie Finds also gives a tip to grill your limes and squeeze them over the cooked kebabs before serving them for a tangy zip.
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The green dressing is the real star of this summer wedge salad from Healthy Happy Life. If you’re not vegan, you can also swap the vegan mayo and tempeh for regular mayo and bacon.
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Staying hydrated on hot summer days is important. With this watermelon and mint juice from VeguKate you will feel fresh all day long. You’ll definitely want to follow the tip for straining the juice, as the pulp left over from the watermelon can have a weird texture.
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Ribs are a must for Memorial Day, but if you’re inviting vegetarian or vegan friends over, you’ll want to try these vegan ribs from My Darling Vegan. The sauce is what makes this one so delicious, and you probably already have all the ingredients in your pantry.
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For a sweet treat, especially for grown-ups, try making tropical tequila sunrise ice creams from Real Food by Dad. If you have kids running around at your party, you can also easily leave out the tequila for audiences under 21.
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Use those carrots rolling around in your crisper drawer with this baked carrot chips recipe from Running to the Kitchen. The recipe has two variations, sweet and spicy, so you can make a bit of both for your guests.
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There’s nothing better at a party than dips, especially those with gooey cheese, like this one from Simple Green Moms. The addition of black beans to the dip makes it a bit firmer and helps the dip stretch further.
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Feta cheese is a blank canvas for many tastes. Gourmand in the Kitchen’s citrus-and-herb-marinated feta needs to be refrigerated for at least 24 hours before serving, so plan your party time well.
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Begin Within Nutrition has a fantastic dupe for Whole Foods rainbow coleslaw. The recipe calls for a lot of cutting and chopping, so make sure you allow enough time for that and the one hour period for the slaw to rest in the fridge.
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Salsa doesn’t always have to be made with tomatoes, and Gimme Some Oven proves it with easy strawberry salsa. There is a little heat coming from a jalapeno, but if you take out the seeds and membrane, the spice level drops quite a bit.
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After a super savory feast, nothing is better than a sweet treat. Love from the Oven shared their favorite icebox cake inspired by a French pastry, the eclair. The no-bake dessert is so easy and an instant crowd pleaser.
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If you live in an area where the peaches are already starting to come in, you’ll want to make this silky smooth cheesecake from Love & Olive Oil. The real secret to the perfect dessert is that all ingredients should be at room temperature.
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Taco bars are always a hit in the summer. This Love & Olive Oil recipe has a few components, but you can easily buy your own taco shells and skip making your own to save some time.
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Cowboy caviar has a few different iterations across the country, but we like The Girl Who Ate Everything recipe the most because it uses store-bought Italian dressing instead of homemade dressing for an easy shortcut.
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Fruit Pizza from Pinch of Yum is sure to be a hit with all the kids who come to your house for Memorial Day. The pizza starts with a sugar cookie crust and cream cheese frosting, then you can put almost any fruit you like on it.
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While it may be a bit more time consuming than other recipes, Pinch of Yum’s fried chicken sandwiches will be a big hit. Pan-frying the chicken makes cleaning easier than a deep-fat fryer, and your friends can help make the slaw or get the toppings. Simply put everything on a shelf and let your guests put together their own sandwiches.
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Frozen peas are super versatile, as evidenced by this recipe for frozen pea guacamole from Eating Bird Food. After grinding the peas in a food processor, they are added to a large bowl to be mixed with the other ingredients. Before you can put the dip on the table, it’s pretty much devoured.
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Banana pudding is a southern staple at summer get-togethers. While The Seasoned Mom’s recipe takes a while, most of the time is when the banana pudding is in the fridge. The time in the cool box is essential for the dish to come out well.
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Ambitious Kitchen’s BBQ chicken burgers are kept juicy with the addition of sweet potatoes and lots of melted cheddar cheese. Be sure to follow their tip to ensure your ground chicken is at least 93% lean so the added fat can impart flavor and keep the patty moist.
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This recipe from Lil’ Luna is super easy and only has four ingredients. Wrapping the bacon around the asparagus can be a bit time consuming, but if you have kids they can help too.
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