Memorial Day Recipe Ideas: Here’s What I’m Cooking

Celebrate the beginning of summer and Memorial Day weekend with a few favorite recipes made especially delicious when shared with friends and family.

Hello and happy Saturday!

3-day weekends bring on all of the desires of wanderlust, relaxation, and deciding what’s on the menu.

I was on a phone call with a client yesterday. After talking shop I couldn’t wrap things up before asking the most pressing question of our whole conversation: What are you cooking for Memorial Day?

His answer was unexpected of sorts, and a reminder of why we’ve come to celebrate this 3-day weekend with food. “Meat. Lots of meat.” He was joining his wife’s family at his father-in-law’s home where every year for Memorial Day they celebrate the life of her brother who was killed in action. He explained more, “My father-in-law spends days preparing and grilling so much meat​ for 40-50 people. I don’t know how he does it every year, but it’s important to him that he does.”

Memorial Day is a special holiday where we shouldn’t forget the real reason it was established: to honor our fallen patriots. And like so many traditions, it’s food that brings us together to do so. And so with a very grateful heart and a full stomach, we salute you and the families who’ve loved and lost.

My Memorial Day Menu​​

Have you nailed down your Memorial Day weekend eating plans? If not, here are the recipe ideas that will most likely be on my menu. We’ll be cooking more than just one night so there’s a few recipes to decide upon.

MEAL 1

My grandma’s and mom’s famous potato salad. Always and forever. It is absolutely the best, and verified by Google who ranks it in the top 3 of searches of all potato salads. Let’s make it #1 !! 

Burgers are a toss up between going healthy with Greek turkey burgers (give me all the feta!) or just going for it with my very favorite garlic burgers. Which sounds better to you?

My classic macaroni salad. It goes with everything.

And maybe my easy creamy coleslaw to make sure ALLL the classics are included. 

The easiest grilled corn, because I don’t know if my husband even knows how to light up the grill unless corn is going on it.

MEAL 2

I have totally been craving this grilled skirt steak with chimichurri so it will definitely be happening. The marinade is so tangy and the garlicky herby sauce is bright, fresh, and straight up addicting.

We LOOOVE this easy tomato and hearts of palm salad. It’s so fresh, and beyond simple to make. The good thing about making it at the beginning of the summer is cherry tomatoes are good just about all year round. And it goes so well with the Med flavors of chimichurri and meat.

And I’ll keep the Mediterranean flavors flowing with my strawberry, arugula and feta salad. I may or may not add watermelon because my husband loooooves the melon.

MEAL 3

We’ll likely be going deep dive and dirty into shared one-pot steamer appetizers that make a meal. It will depend on if we can find some good clams to make my husband’s amazing steamed clams (dipping bread in the sauce is worth making them alone) or peel and eat beer-steamed shrimp. 

Sourdough bread for dipping from my favorite bakery. Lots of it.

Then, everyone can help themselves to my favorite way to serve a salad.

And this Mediterranean grilled balsamic chicken with olive tapenade is soooooo good with loads of flavor.

or…

My husband says he wants to do a rotisserie chicken. You’ll never eat a grocery store version again.

DESSERT

I like to keep it easy with dessert so my grilled strawberry shortcake is so simple and makes everyone go, WOW. The balsamic seals the deal.

but…

I’m totally feeling the urge to make pie, it’s just deciding whether it’s keeping it spring-like with my sweet 4-berry pie (all the ice cream please!) or head to the chocolate side with this easy chocolate pie.

And that should do it! Knowing me, I will probably add a few more to the mix :) If you want to see what actually ends up on our table, follow my Instagram stories where I’ll be sharing more.

Happy weekend, and happy eating!

Craving more life balance, less stress, and better health? Check out my Nourished Planner, the daily planner to help create simplicity and under-schedule your life.

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