It’s starting to feel like summer here in Chicago (at least for now) and I couldn’t be more excited for evenings on the patio and endless dinners from the grill.
Memorial Day is already NEXT weekend and I’ve got over 30 recipes perfect for cooking and grilling with friends and family. If you’re wondering what to serve at a Memorial Day picnic, BBQ, or party, I’ve got your back. These fresh, seasonal recipes are perfect for your Memorial Day menu!
I picked out my go-to Memorial Day appetizers, mains & desserts to cover all of your bases. You’ll find grilling recipes and ones you can make without a grill, plus plenty of fresh salads to pair with juicy burgers.
GF = Gluten Free
V = Vegan
VT = Vegetarian
If you make any of these healthier Memorial Day recipes, leave a comment below and let me know how you liked it! You can also tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram so that I can see your creations.
Dips & Salsas
Fresh & Healthy 7-Layer Dip VT, GF
Spicy Green Feta Sauce VT, GF
Fresh Mango Salsa Recipe V, GF
Garlic & Herb Whipped Cottage Cheese Dip VT, GF
Cilantro Pistachio Pesto Hummus V, GF
The Best Guacamole You’ll Ever Eat V, GF
Garlic White Bean Basil Hummus V, GF
Whipped Feta Yogurt Dip with Hot Honey, Basil & Toasted Almonds VT, GF
Avocado Strawberry Mango Salsa V, GF
Handheld Appetizers
Roasted Strawberry, Basil, and Goat Cheese Crostini VT
Thai-Inspired Peanut Chicken Wings
Jalapeño-Goat Cheese Grilled Stuffed Mini Peppers VT, GF
Greek Salad Pinwheels VT, GF
Strawberry Balsamic Bruschetta VT, GF
Rainbow Fruit Skewers V, GF
Easy Side Dishes
Best Healthy Coleslaw Ever (no mayo!) V, GF
Homemade Slow Cooker Baked Beans GF
Honey Lime Basil Peach Fruit Salad VT, GF
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs with Bleu Cheese Yogurt Dip GF
How to Grill Delicious Vegetables (4 different ways!) V, GF
How to Grill Fruit (2 different ways!) V, GF
Gluten Free Cornbread Muffins VT, GF
Garlic Fingerling Potatoes (roasted or grilled!) V, GF
Fresh Veggie Salads
Summer Glow Strawberry Kale Salad VT, GF
Everything Spring Green Salad with Basil Lemon Vinaigrette VT, GF
Grilled Corn Salad with Avocado, Goat Cheese & Hot Honey Vinaigrette VT, GF
California Roasted Sweet Potato Kale Salad V, GF
Summer Strawberry Spinach Salad with Avocado VT, GF
Vegan Curried Broccoli Chickpea Salad V, GF
Sesame Chicken Cabbage Crunch Salad GF
Vegan Potato Salad with Herbed Tahini Sauce V, GF
Italian Chopped Brussels Sprouts Salad GF
Healthy Summer Broccoli Salad V, GF
Cashew Crunch Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad V, GF
Spicy Ranch Chopped Chicken Cabbage Salad GF
Vegan Caesar Salad V, GF
The Easiest Chopped Greek Chickpea Salad VT, GF
Wonderful Quinoa & Pasta Salads
*Use gluten-free pasta to make any of the pasta salads gluten-free
Street Corn Pasta Salad with Cilantro Pistachio Pesto & Goat Cheese VT
Herby Chickpea and Feta Pasta Salad VT
Damn Good BLT Pasta Salad with Creamy Jalapeño Cashew Dressing
Herby Olive Italian Orzo Salad VT
Copycat Portillo’s Chopped Salad
Grilled Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Kale, Edamame & Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette V
Avocado Tomato Chickpea Pasta Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette VT
Avocado Blueberry Quinoa Salad VT
Burgers, Sandwiches & Tacos
Jalapeño Curry Turkey Burgers GF
Incredible Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Sandwiches GF
Buffalo Zucchini Chicken Burgers GF
Grilled Tahini Chicken Caesar Sandwiches GF
Seriously Good Sweet Potato Cheddar BBQ Chicken Burgers GF
Crazy Good Street Corn Chicken Tacos GF
Moroccan-Spiced Turkey Burgers with Creamy Feta Sauce GF
Ultimate Vegan Black Bean Burgers with Tahini Garlic Cream Sauce V, GF
Amazing Easy Turkey Tacos (with a slow cooker option!) GF
Easy Grilled Proteins
Grilled Jalapeño Cilantro Chicken GF
How to Grill Perfect Salmon (plus recipes!) GF
Baked or Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken (with the best honey mustard marinade!) GF
How to Grill Delicious Tofu (2 different ways!) V, GF
Vegan Turmeric Pineapple Tofu Kabobs V, GF
How to Grill Chicken Breast that’s Perfectly Juicy GF
Sazon Grilled Chicken Thighs GF
Sticky, Sweet & Spicy Grilled Ginger Chicken GF
Cocktails
Spiked Tropical Green Juice (aka Green Margarita)
Rebecca’s Pomegranate Margarita
Skinny Jalapeño Watermelon Margaritas
Gorgeous Cakes & Pies
Lemon Blueberry Zucchini Cake with Lemon Frosting GF
Orange Zucchini Cake with Orange Frosting GF
Almond Flour Strawberry Shortcake Cake with Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese Frosting GF
Inside Out Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cake GF
The Best Cookies
Salted Tahini Butterscotch Cookie Skillet GF
Grain Free Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookie V, GF
Peanut Butter Cup S’mores Chocolate Cookies
Lemon Cookies with Lovely Lemon Glaze
Grain Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies GF
White Chocolate Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies
Brownies, Bars & Chocolate
Ooey-Gooey Tahini S’mores Bars GF
Grain Free Tahini Brownies (The Best Brownies I’ve Ever Eaten!) GF
Healthy Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats GF
Vegan Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Bars V, GF
Fudgy Almond Butter Blondies GF
Salted Tahini Caramel Millionaire Bars (vegan + paleo) V, GF
Healthy Peanut Butter Twix Bars (vegan & gluten free) V, GF
No Bake Chocolate Caramel Tahini Chex Bars (allergy-friendly!) V, GF
Easy Fruit Desserts
Strawberry Crumble Bars V, GF
Strawberry Crisp with Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Crumble V, GF
Raspberry Crumble Bars V, GF
Blueberry Pie Bars with Oatmeal Crumble (vegan & gluten free) V, GF
Drunken Strawberries V, GF
If you make any of these Memorial Day recipes, be sure to leave a comment below and let me know how you liked it! You can also tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram so that I can see your creations. Thank you, xo!
