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    Home > Roundups > 27 Easy Memorial Day Recipes (Southern)

    27 Easy Memorial Day Recipes (Southern)

    Published: May 24, 2023 by Kathleen · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    My 27 easy Southern Memorial Day recipes you can bring to your weekend cookout. When you don't have a lot of time to spare, I've got you covered with these easy Memorial Day appetizers, grilled meats, side dishes, salads, and desserts!

    Four images of food for Memorial Day with white text overlay for Pinterest.

    First, you need to know that a Southerner doesn't call the cookout party a barbecue. Barbecue is what you eat at the event!

    For a Southerner, traditional Memorial Day food includes grilled chicken, venison burgers, fresh vegetables and casseroles, deviled eggs, salads, and plenty of desserts to choose from.

    Whether you are getting together with your whole extended family for a reunion or just having a small gathering with friends around the smoker or grill, I hope these easy Memorial Day recipes.

    Don't forget the original reason for this special holiday weekend. As you say grace and thank God for your many blessings, remember to be thankful for the many veterans and service members who give up so much for our freedom in this country.

    Easy Recipes for Memorial Day Weekend

    This collection of my best Memorial Day recipes is divided into these categories to help you search what you are looking for better:

    • Appetizers
    • Meats and Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Salads
    • Desserts

    Memorial Day APPETIZERS

    1. Bacon Tomato Dip

    Not only will this easy dip make you the hero of the party, you will want to make it again and again for yourself. One of my most requested Memorial Day foods.

    2. Creamy Jalapeno Pimiento Cheese

    This extra creamy version of pimiento cheese has a bit more cream cheese than my Fire Roasted Pimiento Cheese. It's not spicy so if you want more heat, leave in the seeds!

    white pimento cheese spread in a red bowl on a wooden cutting board with spread on a cracker and green spreader beside it
    Jalapeno Pimento Cheese
    Creamy Jalapeno Pimento Cheese is the perfect spread for any occasion: Football party. After school snack. Lunch box favorite. This extra creamy Southern cheese spread has a little kick!
    Go to recipe!

    4. Cheese Wafers with Pecans

    This is now one of my favorite recipes for Memorial Day. These homemade cheese crackers can be made ahead of time and frozen and they travel to the beach and lake easily in an airtight container. This shortcut recipe also doubles easily for a crowd.

    Stack of 3 cheese wafers with pecan half on top on a white plate.
    Cheese Wafers with Pecans
    Cheese Wafers with Pecans is a shortcut recipe for Cheddar cheese crackers with chopped pecans stirred in the dough and crowned with a whole pecan on top! These cheese pecan wafers taste like a cross between the traditional Southern cheese straw and a pecan-covered cheese ball.
    Go to recipe!

    MEATS and MAIN DISHES

    5. Grilled Venison Burgers

    Even lean beef and turkey will turn out delicious, juicy burgers that won't plump into a ball on the grill with my tips in this easy recipe. Don't forget to make the Come Back Sauce to slather on your burgers or to dip those fries in!

    Grilled burger on a pretzel bun with a tomato, green lettuce, pink sauce on a white plate and onion rings peeking in the right side
    Grilled Venison Burgers
    Everyone loves a burger! I'll show you how to make Grilled Venison (Deer Meat) Burgers with all my tips and tricks for a juicy, flavorful burger that sticks together on the grill.
    Go to recipe!

    6. Shortcut Grilled Chicken Pizza

    Choose from two flavors in this halfway homemade chicken pizza recipe: Thai and BBQ... or make your own pizza with your favorite flavors like leftover smoked brisket.

    Thai Chicken Grilled Pizza is one of my shortcut recipes. It starts with Naan bread. Once you grill a pizza, you won't want to bake it in the oven.
    Shortcut Grilled Chicken Pizza
    This shortcut version of Grilled Chicken Pizza starts with store-bought pizza dough or Naan bread. Make it with Thai flavors or I give you ingredient options for a Southern BBQ pizza. Either way, it's easy and perfect to serve at outdoor cookouts!
    Go to recipe!

    7. Air Fryer Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

    Don't discount the air fryer for crispy, tender chicken wings that cook in much less time than on the grill. If it's raining outside or you just want to stay out of the heat, this recipe includes oven instructions, too.

    Air Fryer Honey BBQ Chicken Wings (With Shortcuts)
    These Air Fryer Honey BBQ Chicken Wings are sweet and savory, perfect for game day food or any party...even if it's a party of two! Cooking them in the air fryer makes them juicy on the inside, crispy like fried chicken on the outside. Slather them in bbq sauce and serve them as classic appetizers or an easy weeknight dinner.
    Go to recipe!

    8. Shortcut Shrimp and Grits: No Roux

    You can have this iconic Southern dish made in minutes without sacrificing flavor.

    Small cast iron skillet filled with gouda cheese grits and topped with shrimp and tomato gravy.
    Simple Shrimp and Grits (No Roux)
    This simple Shrimp and Grits recipe has Gouda cheese stirred into quick yellow grits (never instant). No roux in this easy recipe for shrimp and grits, so you'll have dinner on the table in a snap. For a creamier version, stir in a little whipping cream.
    Go to recipe!

    9. Baked Potato with Barbecue Pulled Pork

    This is a creative way to use leftover bbq pork or chicken that's not just another sandwich on a bun.

    Baked potato stuffed with meat covered in sauce on a white plate. A clear tiny pitcher of bbq sauce in background
    Air Fryer Baked Potato and Pulled Pork with BBQ Sauce
    Need a pantry-friendly, 5 minute prep dinner idea? If you have leftover pulled pork, potatoes, and some bbq sauce, you have the ingredients for Air Fryer Baked Potato with BBQ Pulled Pork.
    Go to recipe!

    10. Parmesan Artichoke Chicken Salad

    Chicken salad is a summer staple for picnics, cookouts, and pool parties for Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Fill a croissant for a sandwich, scoop with a cracker or alongside fruit salad for lunch.

    chicken salad on croissant
    Parmesan-Artichoke Chicken Salad
    This was one of my most popular items on my catering menu when I owned my catering business called The Occasional Gourmet. The flavors blend and develop best when chilled a few hours or overnight. Perfect for Thanksgiving turkey leftovers, too!
    Go to recipe!

    Memorial Day SIDE DISHES

    Here in the south, we're all about the side dishes and vegetables. Many times, I'll fill my plate at a potluck or reunion and skip the meats altogether. That's probably why we have Vegetable Plate on so many Southern restaurant menus.

    FYI: We southerners consider Macaroni and Cheese a vegetable! Just sayin'.

    11. How to make Southern Fried Yellow Squash

    You don't have to "deep fry" or use a lot of oil to call it Southern-fried squash. This easy method (without a messy batter) can be used with any summer squash including zucchini.

    Fried Yellow Squash draining on paper towels Close up
    Southern Fried Yellow Squash
    Fried yellow squash, or summer squash as I've always called it, is a must on my table every summer. It can't get much easier than slicing and pressing the squash into cornmeal and frying in a little bit of oil for a minute.
    Go to recipe!

    12. Fried Green Tomatoes

    I call these perfect-every-time because they are so simple to make...and with no messy batter. My technique to keep the crunchy cornmeal crust from "sliding" off the slick green tomato is foolproof! Try my Fried Green CHERRY Tomatoes, too!

    Three thin sliced Southern fried green tomatoes with cornmeal on brown paper with green tomatoes in background.
    Best Fried Green Tomatoes (Perfect Every Time)
    Simply the best fried green tomatoes recipe, perfect-every-time! No messy, drippy batter needed, making it easy to make them air fryer "fried", too! You'll get crispy, crunchy cornmeal coating on the outside, tangy, tender-but-not-mushy on the inside!
    Go to recipe!

    13. Instant Pot Fresh Green Beans

    With bacon! The electric pressure cooker (Instant Pot) gives the fresh green beans the slow cooked flavor in a fraction of the time it takes to cook them on the stovetop. But if you don't have an Instant Pot, here's my recipe for stovetop Easy Fresh Green Beans with Bacon.

    white bowl with hole for handle full of green beans and bacon on checkered wooden cutting board
    Instant Pot Fresh Green Beans with Bacon
    Instant Pot Fresh Green Beans with Bacon cooks in 6 minutes and tastes like Grandma used to make them down South.
    Go to recipe!

    14. Easy Cheesy Baked Mac n Cheese

    This unconventional way to get creamy, cheesy baked macaroni and cheese doesn't involve making a white sauce (gravy or bechamel sauce). And it's something you probably already have in your pantry cabinets!

    Macaroni and cheese in tan dish with scoop out
    Easy Cheesy Baked Mac and Cheese (With Shortcuts)
    Easy Cheesy Baked Mac and Cheese has a secret ingredient so you don't have to make a white sauce! Enjoy creamy, baked macaroni and cheese goodness with pre-shredded Cheddar and Colby Jack cheeses!
    Go to recipe!

    15. Instant Pot Collard Greens

    Not only is the Instant Pot a shortcut in this recipe, it's also made with bags of pre-washed and pre-cut collards. Of course, I give you the directions if you want to start with bunches of fresh collard greens, too.

    Blue rimmed bowl filled with collard greens and shredded ham hock
    Instant Pot Collard Greens
    Instant Pot Collard Greens is a classic Southern vegetable side dish. When cooked in a pressure cooker, it cooks in a fraction of the time it takes to cook on the stovetop.
    Go to recipe!

    16. Easy Yellow Squash Casserole

    Buttery breadcrumbs top this simple summer squash casserole. It's made in an 8x8 inch baking dish in case you don't need casserole for a crowd-but easily doubles.

    Yellow Squash Casserole with Scoop out on right in a gray dish.
    Easy Yellow Squash Casserole
    Easy Yellow Squash Casserole is made without crackers and comes together quickly when you want to make a homemade Southern side dish. Whether you have a bounty of summer squash from the garden or you're planning your Thanksgiving dinner, this savory squash casserole recipe will be a family favorite.
    Go to recipe!

    17. Perfectly Crunchy Vidalia Onion Rings

    Memorial Day weekend is when Vidalia sweet onions are plentiful. These crispy onion rings are sweet and tender on the inside and have a great big crunch on the outside.

    Vidalia onion rings venison burger pretzel bun
    Perfectly Crunchy Vidalia Onion Rings
    Spring is Vidalia onion season here in the South! These onion rings are sweet and crunchy and only require about 30 seconds in the oil to make them crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
    Go to recipe!

    18. Sweet Heat Shortcut Pickles

    Pickles may not exactly be a side dish, but they are certainly served on the side of burgers at every outdoor Memorial day gathering at our house!

    sweet and hot pickles with onions crushed red pepper in a jar
    Sweet Heat Shortcut Pickles and Onions
    Think “sweet and hot” bread and butter pickles. Start with a jar of store-bought dill
     pickles.
    Go to recipe!

    Memorial Day SALADS

    19. Easy Southern Macaroni Salad

    There's a super quick shortcut for this colorful pasta salad that will save you time!

    White bowl full of macaroni salad
    Easy Southern Macaroni Salad | With Shortcuts
    Easy Southern Macaroni Salad is a classic side dish made with elbow macaroni and a creamy, tangy dressing. Although this make-ahead pasta salad is already simple, I give you plenty of shortcuts to make it even easier to serve at summer barbeques, cookouts, potlucks and picnics.
    Go to recipe!

    20. Caprese Salad with Cherry Tomatoes

    It may sound fancy, but this 4 ingredient recipe is sort of a "chopped" salad version of Caprese salad. This simple salad falls under the category of healthy Memorial Day recipes.

    White bowl filled with dressed salad of cherry tomatoes, cubes of mozzarella cheese and shredded basil leaves.
    Caprese Salad with Cherry Tomatoes
    When it comes to easy side salads my 5 minute recipe for Caprese Salad with Cherry Tomatoes and a balsamic vinaigrette dressing is a go to recipe. Fresh summer ingredients, low-carb, and bursting with flavor and texture everyone will enjoy.
    Go to recipe!

    21. Easy Strawberry Pretzel Salad

    The great debate is, "Is it a salad? or "Is it a dessert"? You decide.

    Strawberry Pretzel Salad square with dollop of Cool Whip.
    Easy Strawberry Pretzel Salad (8x8 pan)
    This old-fashioned, small batch Jell-O salad (or dessert) is made in an 8x8-inch pan for when you crave the sweet and salty dessert but you’re not going to a potluck.
    Go to recipe!

    22. Stained Glass Jello Salad

    We Southerners indeed like our sweet salads. This is an updated, shortcut version of a vintage favorite Jello salad and I show you a red, white, and blue version!

    Close up Stained Glass Jello Salad squares.
    Shortcut Stained Glass Jello Salad
    Make this fun, colorful Stained Glass Jello Salad in a fraction of the time with my shortcuts than it typically takes! Also called Broken Glass Gelatin Dessert, this small batch recipe can be made with sweetened condensed milk or even dairy-free with coconut milk.
    Go to recipe!

    Memorial Day Dessert Recipes

    23. Easy Blackberry Crisp with Pecan Streusel

    If the wild blackberries in your area aren't ripe just yet, the grocery stores not only have them in stock now but are typically on sale for this holiday weekend.

    Close up of mini blackberry cobbler with juices spilling over the side
    Easy Wild Blackberry Crisp with Pecan Streusel
    Similar to a Southern blackberry cobbler, these Easy Wild Blackberry Crisps with Pecan Streusel recipe is made with juicy berries and topped with a sprinkling of crunchy pecans, flour, brown sugar, and oatmeal. Makes 4 personal size mini desserts.
    Go to recipe!

    24. S'Mores Cupcakes

    Even if you're not going camping this weekend, these S'Mores Cupcakes are perfect to serve around a fire pit in your back yard... or on a picnic.

    smores cupcakes on a metal tub with words Campfire Cupcakes strung across
    Campfire S’Mores Cupcakes with Homemade Marshmallow Frosting | With Shortcut Version
    A marshmallow doesn't have to be square! Pipe homemade marshmallow frosting on these quick-mix cupcakes and top with a piece of Hershey's chocolate bar for the best S'mores cupcakes. As a shortcut, just purchase store bought vanilla frosting from a tub instead of the homemade frosting and use a butter cake mix.
    Go to recipe!

    25. Walking Banana Pudding

    You may have had Walking Tacos at a pool party or a concession stand. This is the dessert version of the hand-held party food.

    A hand holding a small bag of vanilla cookies with bananas and whipped cream on them.
    Walking Banana Pudding
    Walking Banana Pudding is the dessert version of Walking Tacos. These are individual banana pudding in a bag! Single serving banana pudding served up in mini Nilla Wafer cookie bags. One of the easiest handheld desserts made in minutes.
    Go to recipe!

    26. No-Churn Peanut Butter Ice Cream

    You won't believe how easy and simple this rich, flavorful ice cream is to make!

    Blue bowl full of scoops of peanut butter ice cream with honey roasted peanuts on wooden surface.
    No-Churn Peanut Butter Ice Cream with Honey Roasted Peanuts
    With only 4 ingredients and no ice cream machine needed, this smooth and creamy no-churn peanut butter ice cream has an intense peanut butter flavor and packed with crunchy honey roasted peanuts.
    Go to recipe!

    27. Blueberry Peach Cobbler

    The oatmeal streusel topping on this summer fruit cobbler makes it taste like an oatmeal cookie. Gild the lily and top it with vanilla ice cream!

    Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube. Be social and share, y'all! Don't forget to sign up with your email so you don’t miss a single post on my Southern shortcut recipes!

    What's the most popular Southern food?

    Fried chicken is probably the first recipe most folks think of when it comes to Southern food. Fluffy homemade biscuits like my 2 Ingredient Biscuits would come in a close second with a plethora of vegetable side dishes right behind them. Now, we do love our fruit pies and ice cream, too.

    But for Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day celebrations, bring on the barbecued and grilled meats for the main attraction and all the other recipes fill in around them.

    Personally, I go for a plate full of sides with just a little meat to go with them.

    More summer southern shortcut recipes

    • "Oven-Fried" Fried Okra (with Air Fryer option)
    • How to Make Southern Fried Yellow Squash
    • One Bowl Lemon Blueberry Muffins
    • Best Ever One-Bowl Banana Bread
    • Instant Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Alfredo

    Want more Southern shortcut recipes? Just use the SEARCH bar at the top of the page or check out the recipe index.

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    Hi y'all! I’m Kathleen. I share Southern shortcut recipes! I’m a food stylist, cookbook author, and former test kitchen director in Alabama. I take traditional Southern recipes you know and love (and a few new ones) and make them with shortcuts so you can enjoy them faster.

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    Hi y'all! I’m Kathleen. I share Southern shortcut recipes! I’m a food stylist, cookbook author, and former test kitchen director in Alabama. I take traditional Southern recipes you know and love (and a few new ones) and make them with shortcuts so you can enjoy them faster. Learn More…

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    Hi y'all! I’m Kathleen. I share Southern shortcut recipes! I’m a food stylist, cookbook author, and former test kitchen director in Alabama. I take traditional Southern recipes you know and love (and a few new ones) and make them with shortcuts so you can enjoy them faster.

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