Happy almost long weekend, everyone! In addition to honoring those who have given their lives in service to our country, Memorial Day weekend always seems like an unofficial kickoff to summer and all the good things that come along with it. I’m looking forward to the barbecues, picnics, happy hours on rooftop bars, outdoor brunches, peach picking trips, and perhaps another round of Diner en Blanc! What are you most excited about?
To kick off Memorial Day weekend, I’ve rounded up 14 of my favorite tried-and-true recipes that would be perfect for any outdoor gathering. From crowd-pleasing mains, to easy side dishes and summery drinks, I hope you find a recipe or two to make and enjoy this weekend!
Creamy Greek Yogurt Guacamole is full of flavors but half the guilt.
Four-Layer Chili Cheese Dip is one of the easiest dips to put together and seems to disappear FAST. I know I’d be going back for seconds…and thirds!
Baked Pita Chips are great with any dip and a healthier alternative to tortilla chips.
French Fruit Tarts with Vanilla Pastry Cream Make these beautiful desserts and decorate with strawberries and blueberries to show off your patriotic spirit. If you are pressed for time, you can use store-bought pastry shell.
Beef Burger with Homemade Chipotle Ketchup In addition to the usual ketchups, mustards, pickles, and other condiments, why not add a homemade ketchup to the mix? This one is a serious flavor bomb!
Skirt Steak Fajitas with Chimichurri Sauce Slather this bright, tangy, herbaceous sauce over grilled steak or chicken.
Peanut Sesame Cold Noodles will make your taste buds want to keep going back for more. Toss in some crunchy vegetables like carrots and snow peas for added texture.
Asian Salad with Carrot Ginger Dressing Lettuce salads can be a boring affair, but this one is a perfect light side to the heartiest of barbecue.
Lobster, Corn, and Avocado Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing Skip the mayo and use greek yogurt for a healthy, creamy, scrumptious lobster salad.
Sparkling Ginger Lemonade My mom showed me that grating fresh ginger on a microplane makes the ginger flavor much stronger. Give it a try!
Beer-Braised Cowboy Beans Bacon and beer are added to the classic baked beans to give an unexpected bit of flavor to every bite.
Grilled Corn with Parmesan Garlic Butter Grilled sweet corn is a summertime staple. Try this version dressed up with a parmesan garlic butter.
Peach and Ginger Iced Green Tea Now this is what I want to gulp down on a hot summer day. Peaches, ginger, and green tea make a refreshing combination.
Butter Pecan Ice Cream What’s better than a spoonful of brown sugar based ice cream dotted with pecans that have been toasted in butter?
