21 Memorial Day Party Foods
Memorial Day weekend has the potential to be one of the most delicious holidays of the year. Our Memorial Day celebrations could include a perfectly grilled burger or a tasty grilled chicken. But this year, when you are celebrating Memorial Day, take your barbecue to the next level without stressing to the max.
APPETIZERS
Wings
When you think of the ultimate finger food, wings are absolutely the iconic go-to snack. Crispy, dripping in spicy Buffalo sauce, or even dunked in barbecue sauce, wings make an appearance at every Super Bowl party and summer tailgate.
To Serve: Try using a vegetable dip tray. This allows you to artfully spread your wings (pun intended!) around a central dipping sauce filled with blue cheese or ranch dip.
Click here for a delicious wings recipe.
Shrimp Cocktail
This popular party staple is great because of its natural simplicity. Cook shrimp using a variety of your favorite spices, whip together some cocktail sauce, and boom — you have an elegant appetizer that works for any party.
To Serve: Fill your fanciest cocktail glasses and drape shrimp around the edges for a delicious and beautiful presentation.
Click here for a delicious shrimp cocktail recipe.
Mini Meatballs
Make snacking easy with the mini meatball. Take mom's classic meatball recipe and shrink it down so guests can peruse your appetizer table and pop them in their mouths for a quick bite as they make their way around the room!
To Serve: Instead of letting them sit in marinara sauce, serve them dry! Spear them with a toothpick and put out an array of various dipping options.
Click here for a delicious mini meatball recipe.
Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Serve it hot, serve it cold — whatever tickles your party's fancy! This creamy dip pairs well with pita chips, soft pretzels, and regular chips, making it super versatile.
To Serve: Try breaking the dip up into several serving bowls. This is a crowd-pleaser and will definitely make guests commune around one dish if presented in a single vessel.
Click here for a delicious spinach and artichoke dip recipe.
Guacamole
It isn't a fiesta without some guacamole! This recipe will be gobbled up in minutes at your party — no matter what time of year it is — so be sure to make a lot.
To Serve: If you made your dip from fresh avocados, save the shells. You can use them as quirky bowls to make cleanup super quick!
Click here for a delicious guacamole recipe.
Crostini
These crispy, cute breads are the perfect vessels for a variety of creative toppings. Use them to dip in fresh sauce or as a carrier for meats and cheeses.
To Serve: Crostini are pretty sturdy, so don't be afraid to play. Stack them high if you are serving them plain.
Click here for a delicious crostini recipe.
HOT DOGS
Reuben Dog
I sub out pastrami for an all-beef, char-grilled hot dog, which I top with all the best parts of a Reuben: melted Swiss, hot sauerkraut, and tangy-sweet Russian dressing.
— Emma Laperruque
Click here to see the Reuben Dog Recipe.
'No-Name' Hot Dog
This never happens. I was completely stumped for a title on this one. The name is admittedly a bit of a cop-out — but that doesn't change the fact that this is a simple and delicious combination.
— Will Budiaman
Click here to see the 'No-Name' Hot Dog Recipe.
Sonoran Hot Dog
Hot dogs are an amazing invention, partly because of how versatile and fun they can be when you trick them out with toppings. Wrapped in bacon, nestled into a bun, covered with colorful toppings and a zigzag of condiments, the Sonoran dog has to be one of the coolest, most visibly striking riffs of the genre.
— Arthur Bovino
Click here to see the Sonoran Hot Dog Recipe.
Hot Dog with Onion, Tomato, and Balsamic Sauce
Options for hot dog toppings are infinite — this version is a play on the traditional New York-style onion sauce.
— Dan Myers
Click here to see the Hot Dog with Onion, Tomato, and Balsamic Sauce Recipe.
Polynesian Hot Dogs
Looking for a hot dog recipe that's outside the bun? Then try Judith Hannemann's recipe. Hannemann is a member of the Culinary Content Network and author of the blog Bake at Midnight.
Click here to see the Polynesian Hot Dogs Recipe.
BURGERS
Taco Dip Cheeseburger Recipe
Turn a taco into a burger with this easy recipe. Taco seasoning adds flavor to the beef patty and crispy tortilla strips lend some crunch.
Click here to see the Taco Dip Cheeseburger Recipe
Big Mac Burger Recipe
Skip the drive-thru and try making your own Big Mac burger at home, complete with bread and butter pickles.
Click here to see the Big Mac Burger Recipe
French Onion Burger Recipe
Take all the flavors of a classic French onion soup and layer them on a grilled burger patty with crispy fried onions.
Click here to see the French Onion Burger Recipe
Black Bean Burger Recipe
This is the ultimate vegetarian burger. Hearty black beans are loaded with flavor to deliver a burger that will satisfy the whole family.
Click here to see the Black Bean Burger Recipe
Pizza Burger Recipe
Who said pizza can't be a burger? Layer tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese for a delicious mash-up.
Click here to see the Pizza Burger Recipe
CORN
Grilled Corn
Grilled corn is one of the best things about summer. Fresh, juicy, and slightly charred is exactly how I want my corn — and grilling it is the perfect way to achieve these qualities. Start with good quality corn on the cob, which is usually found during the peak summer months. This is a basic recipe with butter and seasoning, but grilled corn is also great with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and chopped herbs.
Elotes Callejeros
An addictive spring/summer recipe from chef Akhtar Nawab of La Esquina in New York City. If you're unable to find cotija (a tangy, crumbly cheese), try using feta instead.
Mexican-Style Grilled Corn
In a nod to the corn on the cob often served by street vendors in Mexico, sweet corn is brushed with a smoky chipotle spread before grilling, and then finished with crumbled cheese, cayenne, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Grilled Corn and Figs with Balsamic Reduction
The golden vegetable and dark fruit are a great-tasting and pretty combination just as they are, but if you happen to have some balsamic drizzling sauce already made (or a bottle of balsamic vinegar to reduce), it's definitely worth applying the final swirl of sauce. The acidic tang sets off the sweetness of the sugars in the corn and figs, already intensified by the heat of the grill. You can use either a gas or a charcoal grill for this recipe, but keep the fire moderate (and pay attention, especially with the figs) so the sugars are caramelized, not burned.
Chili Lime Corn
Grilled corn on the cob gets some Latin flair with this simple and quick recipe.
RED, WHITE, AND BLUE DESSERTS
Flag Cake
This is a great recipe to make with young kids. Start by baking a plain yellow cake in a 9-by-13-inch pan. Prepare your favorite vanilla frosting and make sure to have lots of raspberries and blueberries on hand for decorating. Once the cake is frosted, decorate it like a flag, using the blueberries for the upper-left corner and rows of raspberries as the stripes.
Ricotta Cheesecake with Berries
Topped with blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and sliced strawberries, this light dessert from Rancho La Puerta Spa is the perfect patriotic indulgence for those watching what they eat.
Blueberry Pie
When served with vanilla ice cream, this is as all-American as desserts get. Wondering where the red comes in? Stick out your tongue when you're done and then look in the mirror. (Or see what happens to your white shirt when that roque blueberry dribbles down your collar.)
Patriotic Chipwiches
Whip up a batch of these White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies, then sandwich two around a scoop of ice cream. Instead of rolling the sides in mini chocolate chips, coat them with dried blueberries.
Strawberry Shortcakes
Instead of filling these tender biscuits with plain old strawberries and cream, dress them up for the holiday by adding blueberries and/or blackberries to the mix.