Fire up the grill! Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and we are here for it. Our backyard barbecues may be a little more intimate than usual, but that’s not going to stop us from celebrating. Whether you’ve got warm weather dish amnesia or are just looking for a little cookout inspo, we’ve rounded up some recipes that are sure to be a hit with your crew this holiday weekend.
Seven Layer Dip
Instead of separate layers of guacamole and salsa, our Seven Layer Dip combines the two by using Herdez® Guacamole Salsa. Another thing that sets our dip apart from the classic is adding a couple of tablespoons of sour cream to the refried bean and taco seasoning layer to make it more smooth and creamy. We also include modifications you can make, like heating it up or adding cream cheese to the sour cream layer.
Hamburgers
Burgers for a backyard barbecue? Groundbreaking, we know. To make sure you come out with the perfect patty, first, find out How To Season Your Burger, then Learn How to Perfectly Cook Burgers On the Grill. For beef-free burgers, here’s How To Make Veggie Burgers From Scratch.
BBQ Ribs
Can’t go wrong with this crowd-pleaser. For an unbelievably tender rack of ribs, try grilling them. Here’s How To Grill The Best Rack Of BBQ Ribs You’ll Ever Taste. No grill? No problem. Here’s our recipe for Instant Pot Pork Ribs. And of course, no baby back is complete without our Homemade Kansas City-Style Barbecue Sauce.
Honey Barbecue Chicken Wings
Wings are a no-brainer for any get-together. The secret to our Honey Barbecue Chicken Wings is in the spice rub—a delectable amalgamation of garlic, onion, and chili powders. Coat them in a saucy blend of honey, barbecue sauce, and butter, and you’ve got a party in your mouth. If hot sauce is more your style, check out our Classic Spicy Buffalo Wings.
Oven-Baked Potato Skins
What better excuse to indulge in these cheesy carb boats than a national holiday? Our drool-inducing Oven-Baked Potato Skins could probably be broiled on the grill after they’re baked, halved, and scooped.
Sweet and Spicy Pineapple Salsa
Put a sweet and spicy spin on your salsa with fresh pineapple and jalapeno. Our Sweet And Spicy Pineapple Salsa recipe forgoes tomatoes for a more tropical twist. This bright chip dip is a delish way to kick off the summer.
Blackberry Cobbler
Memorial Day comes during peak berry season, making it the perfect time to bust out a Blackberry Cobbler. You can substitute any fresh berries as well as cherries, apples, peaches, or rhubarb in this classic dessert. It’s all delicious under the biscuit-like crumb topping!
Homemade Strawberry Shortcake
Speaking of berries, what says summertime more than Homemade Strawberry Shortcake? While some recipes are more drop cake style or use a cake pan, we bake our small sugary cakes in a muffin tin for yummy uniformity. This recipe also uses real whipped cream, which tastes so much better than the store-bought stuff.
Easy Homemade Lemonade
Sure, you could stir up some Country Time and call it a day, but our Easy Homemade Lemonade is surprisingly simple to make. Pro tip: Buy your lemons a few days before you’ll be using them to ensure they are nice and juicy. This refreshing summer beverage starts with simple syrup, which is just equal parts boiled water and sugar. If you don’t have a citrus squeezer, you can use a juicer or a stand mixer or juice the lemons. Make it fancy with fruit puree, add herbs to simple syrup, or put in some cranberry juice to turn it into pink lemonade.
Pina Colada
Bust out the blender, because this Memorial Day, we’re serving the national drink of Puerto Rico. Our Pina Colada recipe combines frozen pineapple, pineapple juice, and coconut cream with white and dark rum for a frosty, tropical treat. I’ll take one for each hand, please.
Velveeta Queso Dip
No one’s going to be mad at queso. Oola’s Velveeta Queso Dip kicks up the ol’ cheese and Rotel combo with chili, cumin, some yellow onion, and fresh cilantro. Make it meaty with some ground beef and get creative by throwing in some different cheeses.
Perfect Instant Pot Pulled Pork
An instant pot turns what would be a five-hour cooking time in the slow cooker into a one-hour pressure cooking process. For quick BBQ that feeds a crowd, try our Perfect Instant Pot Pulled Pork. Here’s the rub: brown sugar, smoked paprika, mustard powder, kosher salt, and pepper. Pork perfection!
Classic Deviled Eggs
No picnic is complete without this time-tested appetizer. The worst part about preparing Classic Deviled Eggs is peeling off the shell. Here’s How To Peel Hard Boiled Eggs Like A Chef.
Bacon Sriracha Potato Salad
Peas and Crayons improved upon the standard carbolicious concoction by kicking it up a notch with pork and hot sauce. This Bacon Sriracha Potato Salad will make a stellar side on Memorial Day, and at backyard barbecues throughout the rest of the summer.
