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17 Festive Recipes To Make This Memorial Day Weekend

This comprehensive list features all of our favorite must try Memorial Day recipes – these are sure crowd pleasers!

The unofficial start of summer is right around the corner, and I can already feel the seasonal depression washing off of me. I will gladly take hot and sweaty over cold and frozen any day of the year!

Memorial Day is often celebrated with friends and family, with large barbecues, picnics, and general togetherness with tons of different foods and drinks.

Lest we forget, the real reason for Memorial Day is to honor all the men and women that made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country. Spending time around the grill with family and friends is the bonus.

If you haven’t yet, now is also a great time to start thinking about your end of the school year party plans!

1
Grilled Cilantro Lime Beef Skewers with Jalapeño Avocado Dipping Sauce Photo
Meghan Bassett
Grilled Cilantro Lime Beef Skewers Recipe
This grilled cilantro lime beef skewers recipe is one of those recipes that is super easy to put together and is packed full of flavor – especially paired with the jalapeño avocado dipping sauce! These skewers are perfect for large or small gatherings – for added convenience, marinate your meat overnight.
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2
Grilled Stuffed Zucchini with Shrimp Photo
Taylor Kiser
Grilled Stuffed Zucchini with Shrimp Recipe
Zucchini boats are a fun and inventive way to eat more veggies without sacrificing on flavor or fun – and they’re perfect when grilling out over Memorial Day weekend! Packed full of nutrients and heart-healthy vegetables and cauliflower rice, you will fill up and stay full. Marinated charred shrimp are piled on top for the tastiest of meals.
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3
Oatmeal Cookie Blueberry Peach Cobbler Photo
Nora Rusev
Oatmeal Cookie Blueberry Peach Cobbler Recipe
There are few things I love more than blueberries and peaches. Without a doubt, my two favorite fruits. The oatmeal cookie dough of this oatmeal cookie blueberry peach cobbler recipe is an added, delicious bonus. I would serve this warm with a decadent scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Perfection!
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4
Spicy Ginger Grilled Chicken Thighs with Mango Avocado Salsa Photo
Meghan Bassett
Spicy Ginger Grilled Chicken with Mango Avocado Salsa
Chicken thighs have become our go-to staple for most chicken dishes. They’re so much more tender, juicy, and flavorful. The ginger and spice of our spicy ginger grilled chicken thighs with mango avocado salsa recipe really pop out in this dish, with the salsa cooling everything down perfectly.
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5
Blackberry Mojito Sangria Photo
Susan Palmer
Blackberry Mojito Sangria Recipe
This blackberry mojito sangria recipe is probably the best sangria I’ve ever had. The combination of berries and mint is so good, and it’s so refreshing on a hot summer day. In fact, it’s so tasty that you’ll want to make sure you keep track of how much you’ve had. Sangria hangovers are rough. Ask me how I know.
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6
Gluten Free Pasta Salad with Pumpkin Seed Pesto Photo
Brianna Hobbs
Gluten Free Pasta Salad with Pumpkin Seed Pesto Recipe
Pumpkin seeds aren’t just for fall dishes! They actually make a great snack anytime of the year – or in this case, a great pesto for this gluten free pasta salad. Traditional pesto calls for pine nuts, which are extremely expensive. With pumpkin seeds you don’t sacrifice flavor and your wallet won’t be as light!
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7
Summer Maple Lime Watermelon Zoodle Bowl Photo
Taylor Kiser
Summer Maple Lime Watermelon Zoodle Bowl Recipe
This summer maple lime watermelon zoodle bowl recipe is for our vegetarian friends. In fact, if you omit the feta cheese, it’s vegan as well. These power food bowls have become a huge thing lately, and for right reason. This recipe makes the most of bright, fresh summer flavors, which is perfect for Memorial Day.
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8
Boozy Nutella Popsicles Photo
Shashi Charles
Boozy Nutella Popsicles Recipe
Who doesn’t like a little booze with their dessert?! Do you have milk, Nutella, and bourbon? If so, you have all the ingredients needed to make our crowd favorite boozy Nutella popsicles recipe. Waiting for them to freeze is the hardest part! A grown up version of the fudgesicles of our youth, you will love these pops!
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9
Shrimp Avocado Salad with Watermelon Photo
Taylor Kiser
Shrimp Avocado Salad with Watermelon
If you’re not on the watermelon salad train, what are you even doing with your life?! Feta and watermelon go together like PB&J. They were just meant to live together in harmony. The added shrimp in this tasty shrimp avocado salad with watermelon is a wonderful complement – try adding a little red onion!
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10
Easy Focaccia with Strawberries and Feta Photo
Stacey Mebs
Easy Focaccia with Strawberries and Feta Recipe
When it comes to baking, I try to avoid it at all costs. It’s too precise for me. I cook with love, not measuring spoons! However, I decided to give this easy focaccia with strawberries and feta recipe a whirl. I’m really glad I did, because it wasn’t that hard, and everyone was begging I make twice as much next time.
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11
Roasted Corn and Tomato Salad Photo
Serene Herrera
Roasted Corn and Tomato Salad Recipe
One of my favorite things about summer are the salads. There are so many varieties, it’s hard to pick a favorite. However, any recipe that calls for grilled corn and queso fresco, is going to be at the top of the list. This roasted corn and tomato salad is a refreshing salad packed full of flavor and a light homemade vinaigrette. *Chef’s kiss*
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12
Homemade Otter Pops Photo
Meaghan Mountford
Homemade Otter Pops Recipe
I was today years old when I found out you can buy your own freeze pop bags! Scrap those high fructose corn syrup pops that seem to be in everyone’s freezer. No one even remembers buying them. They’re just there. This homemade Otter pops recipe is easy to follow, fun to make and kids of all ages will love them!
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13
Strawberry Pimm’s Slush Photo
Susan Palmer
Strawberry Pimm’s Slush Recipe
If you’re not familiar with Pimm’s No.1, it’s a gin-based liqueur from 19th century London most famously used in a the famed Pimm’s Cup cocktail. This slushy version, our strawberry Pimm’s slush recipe, will remind you why summer is your favorite season. It’s bright, refreshing and cold – perfect for summer.
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14
Peaches and Cream Pie Photo
Jamie Lothridge
Peaches and Cream Pie Recipe
Our peached and cream pie recipe had me at peaches! And since this recipe uses canned peaches, you don’t have to wait until the end of summer to enjoy. This decadent cream pie tastes exactly like summer should. It’s a simple recipe that tastes like it took hours to make, which is a perfect choice for Memorial Day.
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15
Taco Pasta Salad Photo
Erin S.
Taco Pasta Salad Recipe
If you are a fan of American style tacos, then this taco pasta salad is right up your alley. (Yes, taco pasta salad is a thing.) It’s creamy and delicious and has all your favorite taco toppings, plus you can switch up the specific ingredients based on your favorites. My personal favorite being the use of black olives. I’ll take extra, please!
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16
Jerk Chicken Mango Avocado Sliders Photo
Meghan Yager
Jerk Chicken Mango Avocado Sliders Recipe
The jerk chicken mango avocado sliders recipe may look a little intimidating because of all of the ingredients, but that’s just what goes into a jerk seasoning. You can use a store-bought version to save time. This is the perfect recipe for feeding a large group of people. The salsa is perfect with the zesty chicken.
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17
BBQ Jalapeño Popper Dip Photo
Jamie Lothridge
BBQ Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe
I saved my favorite recipe for last – our BBQ jalapeño popper dip recipe! I’m a sucker for anything jalapeño related, especially jalapeño poppers! If you’re like me, then this dip is everything you could want in a snack. It’s creamy, cheesy, and has a nice kick to it. If you like it extra hot, try it with habanero peppers!
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