Last Updated 08-02-2024
Celebrate the start of summer by gathering with family and friends and enjoying delicious food. This recipe collection has you covered with great Memorial Day main dishes, sides, salads and desserts.
Memorial Day is a wonderful time of year to get together with family and friends, remember loved ones, and welcome warmer weather.
Whether you’ll be grilling or enjoying the day indoors, this collections features main dishes, sides, salads and desserts that are perfecting for potlucks and backyard barbecues.
You’ll find pasta salads, summer fruits, slow cooker recipes and delicious grilled favorites in this collection, as well as refreshing sweet treats that are perfect for summer.
But first, some tips for hosting a backyard barbecue.
TIPS FOR HOSTING A STRESS-FREE BACKYARD BARBECUE
- Keep it casual (the food and the dress code). Don’t feel like everything has to be ready when guests arrive. People love the smell of food grilling, and it’s a great time to mingle and have drinks and appetizers.
- Be sure to provide plenty of seating, even if it means pulling out the camping and beach chairs. There’s nothing wrong with asking people to bring their own portable seating.
- Plan a few activities, like bocce ball or horseshoes. Music is always a good idea at a backyard party.
- Keep drinks cold in a large tub or bucket filled with ice. And whatever you do, don’t forget the ice!
- Relax and let everyone help out. When someone says, “Can I bring something?” your response should always be yes! You’ll never regret making one less dish so you can have more time to spend with family and friends.
Best Memorial Day Potluck Recipes
Strawberry Buttermilk Pie
A classic Southern buttermilk pie meets a fresh glazed strawberry pie in this delightful dessert mash-up that's perfect for spring and summer.
Lemon Berry Fruit Salad
This simple fruit salad is loaded with fresh berries and tossed with lemon curd and fresh mint for a refreshing summer salad that's perfect for warm weather.
Mediterranean Orzo Salad
Orzo pasta is tossed with tomatoes, red pepper, olives and spinach and a simple balsamic vinaigrette for a light, healthy salad you can prepare in no time.
Italian Hoagie Dip
Your favorite Italian sub sandwich fixings, chopped and served dip-style with crusty baguette slices.
Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad
Chicken, tomatoes and edamame are combined with shell pasta and tossed with basil pesto in this simple but delicious salad.
Slow Cooker Barbecue Cola Chicken
This super simple shredded barbecue chicken is the perfect easy meal for those busy week nights!
Best Blueberry Cream Pie
With a pecan shortbread cookie crust, a luscious no-bake cheesecake filling, and a homemade blueberry topping, this pie really is the best.
Greek Pasta Salad
Rotini pasta is combined with tomatoes, peppers, olive, feta and pepperoni, then tossed in an olive oil and vinegar dressing in this easy-to-make pasta salad recipe.
Red Velvet Berry Parfaits
This easy, patriotic dessert is made with red velvet cake mix, whipped cream, and fresh berries. Perfect for Memorial Day, Independence Day, or any summer celebration.
Italian Bean Salad
A healthy, protein packed salad featuring two kinds of beans, pepperoni, cheese, artichoke hearts, peppers and an Italian vinaigrette.
Layered Summer Fruit Salad with Creamy Lime Dressing
Fresh fruit and a creamy lime dressing come together in this layered summer fruit salad!
Garden Veggie Pasta Salad
This classic macaroni salad, with a mayonnaise and vinegar based dressing, is loaded with fresh vegetables and herbs. Perfect for summer potlucks and barbecues.
Italian Hoagie Pasta Salad
Everything you love about your favorite Italian sub sandwich is packed into this hearty pasta salad. Perfect for barbecues, potlucks, or a light summer meal.
Mini Berry Tarts
Mini sugar cookie cups filled with vanilla pastry cream and topped with fresh berries.
Broccoli Ramen Noodle Salad
Just dump all the ingredients for this unique salad into a big bowl, toss and refrigerate, and you'll have a tasty salad that's perfect for potlucks and backyard barbecues.
Best Slow Cooker Barbecue Beef Brisket
Beef brisket is covered in a blend of savory spices and liquid smoke, then smothered in your favorite barbecue sauce and slow cooked to perfection. The most delicious, tender brisket you'll ever try!
Simple Strawberry Cake
A simple homemade cake batter is loaded with fresh cut strawberries and baked in a skillet. Best served warm with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Fresh Cucumber Tomato Salad
Crunchy cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, red onions and fresh dill are tossed in a sweet and tangy vinaigrette in this classic summer salad.
Patriotic Party Mix
Rice cereal, pretzels, marshmallows and chocolate candy pieces are coated in white chocolate and finished off with red, white and blue sprinkles in this fun and easy Independence Day treat.
Ranch BLT Pasta Salad
Rotini is tossed with tomatoes, crispy bacon, Swiss cheese and Romaine lettuce and a Ranch inspired dressing in this pasta salad loaded with all the flavors of a classic BLT sandwich.
Slow Cooker Dr Pepper Pulled Pork
Pork roast is cooked in Dr Pepper and seasonings until tender, then shredded and served on crusty buns. Easy and delicious, it's a great way to feed a crowd or just a hungry family.
Shredded Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches (Slow Cooker)
Slow cooked, shredded chicken in a spicy Buffalo sauce, served on sandwich buns with Ranch dressing.
Mandarin Orange Chicken Pasta Salad
Bowtie pasta is combined with tender chicken, fresh veggies, mandarin oranges and more, then tossed in a sweet and savory sauce to create this family favorite pasta salad.
Triple Berry Pie
This amazing pie, with a flaky homemade crust, is loaded with a sweet and tart berry filling for an out-of-this-world dessert experience. Don't forget a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
Hawaiian-Style Deli Pasta Salad
This super simple pasta salad, with a slightly sweet and creamy dressing, is always the first thing to go at potlucks and backyard barbecues. This is a must-make summer recipe!
Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pork
Slow cooked pulled pork in a sweet and tangy pineapple, brown sugar and soy sauce glaze.
Best Slow Cooker Baked Beans
Pork and beans simmer in the slow cooker with bacon, garlic, and jalapenos, in a sweet and savory maple barbecue sauce.
Easy Any Fruit Cobbler
A simple but delicious cobbler recipe that can be made with practically any kind of fruit. Don't forget to top it off with some vanilla ice cream!
Deep Dish Fruit Pizza
With a thick sugar cookie crust, a layer of sweetened cream cheese, and lots of fresh glazed berries, this fruit pizza is the perfect summer dessert.
Sesame Chicken Dip
Cream cheese, seasoned chicken, sweet and sour sauce, fresh greens and peanuts are layered together and served with rice crackers in this unique and delicious dip that's always a hit at parties and potlucks.
Roasted Corn and Jalapeno Dip
Grilled corn and fresh jalapenos are combined with lots of cheese, spices, red peppers and green onions in the warm, savory dip that's always a crowd favorite!
Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
Slow cooked, shredded chicken in a tangy homemade barbecue-style sauce. Perfect for sandwiches, tacos and more!
Mexican Street Corn (Torchy's Copycat)
Grilled corn is tossed with mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice and spices in this delicious Tex-Mex side dish (Torchy’s Tacos copycat).
Confetti Corn with Orzo
Orzo pasta is combined with corn, peppers and savory seasonings in this easy, colorful side dish that's perfect with almost any meal.
Chipotle Chili Dogs
Traditional chili dogs are given a smoky, spicy kick thanks to the addition of chipotle peppers in adobo. Topped with spicy sour cream, cheddar cheese and green onions, these Southwest inspired chili dogs are bound to be a hit!
Cherry Cola Pulled Pork Sliders
Pork roast is slow cooked in a sweet, spicy, and slightly smoky mixture of cherry cola and cherry preserves, then shredded and served in sandwich buns for the ultimate crowd-pleasing meal.
Orzo with Roasted Vegetables
Orzo pasta is combined with savory roasted peppers, zucchini, asparagus and more in this flavorful dish that can be served as a side dish or salad.
Grilled Steak Potato Mushroom Kabobs
Juicy steak, tender potatoes and savory mushrooms are skewered and grilled to perfection!
Peachy Dr Pepper Baked Beans
Baked beans are combined with Dr Pepper, peach preserves and fresh diced peaches in this one-of-a-kind side dish for summer potlucks and barbecues.
Mexican Street Corn Dip
Grilled corn combines with jalapenos, spices, sour cream, cheese and spices in this warm, creamy dip that's always a hit--especially on game day!
Grilled Pesto Corn
Fresh grilled corn kernels are tossed with pesto and herbs in this simple summer side dish that will have everyone coming back for seconds!
Coconut Cream Pie Bars
Layers of sweetened cream cheese, coconut cream pudding and homemade whipped cream come together on a pecan shortbread crust in this creamy dessert that's perfect for any summer celebration!
Classic Deviled Eggs
This recipe for traditional deviled eggs is always a hit at potlucks and Easter celebrations. Hard boiled yolks are mixed with mayo, mustard, vinegar and spices for a delicious deviled egg filling everyone will love.
Copycat Nieman Marcus Dip
This loaded dip features cheddar cheese, bacon, slivered almonds, green onions and hot sauce in a mayonnaise and sour cream base. Perfect with potato chips, veggies or crackers.
Easy Chip and Veggie Dip
Made with ingredients you probably always have on hand, this delicious dip is perfect for last minute party invitations or late night snack cravings.
Ranch Veggie Pinwheels
Cream cheese and ranch seasoning are combined with colorful chopped veggies, then rolled into tortillas and sliced for the perfect party appetizer for any occasion.
Dill Pickle Dip
Featuring crunchy diced pickles and fresh herbs, this dip is perfect with salty potato chips.
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
All the flavors of Mexican street corn, including fresh grilled corn on the cob, come together in this colorful and delicious pasta salad.
White Texas Sheet Cake
This variation on the classic sheet cake recipes features a moist white cake topped off with a delicious pecan studded frosting with a hint of almond extract.
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