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These recipes for Memorial Day are homemade, crowd-pleasing favorites. From sourdough bread recipes to main dishes, simple sides, and desserts, these recipes are perfect for kicking off summer.
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Memorial Day is both a day of remembrance and the unofficial start of summer, especially here on the North Carolina coast.
Our small beach town sits beside one of the world’s largest military bases, making it a place where patriotism runs deep and summer celebrations welcome tens of thousands of tourists and beachgoers.
Around here, it’s one of the biggest weekends of the year, and to me, there’s no better way to celebrate than with scratch-made food and good company.
Of course, I always love incorporating sourdough for gatherings. Guests and friends are always so excited to try homemade sourdough bread, discard recipes, and sourdough desserts.
It’s also the perfect time to whip up homemade herb butter from the backyard herb garden. And I love highlighting seasonal produce and bright summer flavors.
Last summer, I shared some of my favorite scratch-made summer foods on YouTube.
Since then, I’ve been collecting even more simple, crowd-pleasing dishes—because, for me, creating a simple life starts with scratch-made food, but it finds its meaning when that food is shared with others.
So, no matter where you live— in an apartment, the suburbs, or somewhere in between—these recipes make Memorial Day feel more connected, more memorable, and a little simpler.
Why You’ll Love These Recipes
Summer Flavor: These recipes feature seasonal ingredients and summery flavors that are perfect for celebrating summer.
Perfect for Gatherings: Whether you’re hosting a backyard cookout or bringing a dish to share, these recipes are sure to be crowd-pleasers.
Something Old and Something New: These from-scratch recipes include classics like burger buns and BBQ chicken, as well as fun twists like sourdough lemon bars and watermelon jerky.
Easy to Prep Ahead: I’m all for less time in the kitchen and more time outside. These recipes are easy to prep ahead so you can actually enjoy the holiday.
Simple Ingredients: No complicated grocery lists here. These recipes use pantry staples, garden veggies, and ingredients you probably already have on hand.
Memorial Day Recipes
SOURDOUGH FOR MEMORIAL DAY
MEMORIAL DAY MAIN DISHES
SIDES AND SAUCES
MEMORIAL DAY DESSERTS
Tips for Memorial Day Cooking
- Prep what you can the day before. You can store sourdough dough in the fridge and bake it the next day. And many sauces and sides taste better the day after.
- Cooking outside is always fun to celebrate summer. But it also keeps the kitchen cool. Cook what you can on a grill or smoker.
- Don’t forget the drinks! Make a batch of something festive and refreshing like lemonade or sweet tea.
- Keep serving simple. Use sheet pans and large bowls for minimal clean-up.
- Don’t overthink. Good habits for scratch cooking also extend to cookouts and parties. Remember, everything tastes good with a little butter, salt, and pepper.
Helpful Tools
Stand Mixer: A stand mixer makes dough prep quick and easy. I love my KitchenAid 7-qt mixer because I can do double batches of dough.
Cast Iron Skillet: A well-seasoned cast iron skillet is perfect for searing, warming, or even using in lieu of a grill. Check out my size guide to find the right one for you.
Digital Thermometer: Using an instant-read thermometer is the secret to perfectly cooked burgers, steaks, and other proteins.
Jars: Mason jars are perfect for drinks, serving sauces, and storing leftovers.
Cutting Boards: Large cutting boards are great for serving bread, meats, or charcuterie.
FAQs
Definitely! Many of these recipes are make-ahead friendly. I recommend making sauces and desserts the day before. You can also make your dough the day before and bake the following day.
And if you’re in a pinch, you can freeze bread and thaw it when you’re ready to serve.
Good news! These recipes don’t require a grill. Many of them pair well with grilled food, but you don’t need a grill or smoker to enjoy scratch-made food.
Instead of a grill for foods like burgers and hot dogs, you can use a cast iron skillet or oven broiler.
Yes, most of these Memorial Day recipes are kid-friendly. I have included a few spicy ones, though. You can always skip those or leave out the spicy ingredients.
Let’s Connect
If you made these recipes, leave a comment below. I’d love to hear how it turned out!
Be sure to pin this recipe and follow Moon + Magnolia on Pinterest for more scratch-made favorites.
And if you share your food on Instagram, tag @moon_and_magnolia so I can see it and celebrate with you!