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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    57 Irresistible Recipes to Kick Off Your Memorial Day Weekend

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on May 23, 2024, updated May 21, 2024 - Leave a Comment

    Kick off your Memorial Day weekend with these 57 irresistible recipes. From perfectly grilled mains to delicious sides and oh so tasty desserts, these dishes are sure to impress you - and your guests.

    Strawberry Filled Cupcakes

    A strawberry filled cupcake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    These are the ultimate summer cupcakes, and loved by kids and adults alike. Super easy to make with just vanilla cupcakes, fresh strawberries and whipped cream they come together in under 1 hour.

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    Grilled Lemon Basil Chicken

    Grilled lemon chicken.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Make the best Lemon Chicken Marinade in just a few minutes with simple, healthy, ingredients. It's great for grilling, pan frying and oven baking. With olive oil, lemon & basil the chicken comes out so juicy, tender and loaded with flavor.

    Get the recipe

    Chocolate Walnut Brownies

    Brownies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    These brownies are done in 35 minutes with super simple prep and sure to satisfy all your chocolate cravings. Sweet & salty, crunchy & chewy, with a fudgy center - no wonder everyone loves them!

    Get the recipe

    Ezme

    Acili ezme.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This classic Turkish sauce/salad/meze comes together in just a few minutes and is great served as part of a meze platter, or with just some nice bread to dip in it.

    Get the recipe

    Grilled Halloumi & Watermelon Salad

    Grilled Halloumi & Watermelon Salad
    Photo Credit: The Food Blog.

    This is a perfect summer meal on its own, or alongside any grilled meats, chicken, or fish.

    Get the recipe

    Raspberry Passion Fruit Gino

    Raspberry white chocolate gino.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Gino is a beloved Swedish dessert, with baked fruit covered in lots and lots of white chocolate. It's easy to make in under 20 minutes and perfect to prep ahead for dinner parties. This version has bananas, kiwis, raspberries and passion fruit - but you can use most fruits and berries. Serve hot over vanilla ice cream for the ultimate experience!

    Get the recipe

    Buffalo Ranch

    Buffalo ranch sauce.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This is the perfect spicy ranch dip for wings, fries, and burgers, and a great dressing when you want to add a bit of a kick to your salad.

    Get the recipe

    Mexican Chicken Marinade

    Air fryer chicken legs.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This zesty Mexican Chicken Marinade recipe is a quick, flavor-packed addition to your dinner. Bursting with vibrant spices and tangy citrus, it will transform ordinary chicken into a super tender fiesta of flavors.

    Get the recipe

    Raspberry White Chocolate Muffins

    raspberry white chocolate muffins.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    With the perfect balance of sweet & tart, these Raspberry White Chocolate Muffins are done with just 10 minutes of prep. They come out juicy, delicious and not too sweet - with chunks of white chocolate melted on top.

    Get the recipe

    2-minute BBQ Sauce

    Collage showing how to make a simple barbecue sauce at home.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This simple BBQ Sauce is made with 5 ingredients in just 2 minutes. Just a little bit spicy with a touch of sweet honey - it has all the flavor, but doesn't require any cooking. Perfect on top of a burger, or to dip some chicken tenders in!

    Get the recipe

    Grilled Rosemary Shrimp

    Grilled Rosemary Shrimp
    Photo Credit: What a Girl Eats.

    Grilled rosemary shrimp are so easy to make, and packed with flavor!

    Get the recipe

    Summer Berry Gino

    Berry gino.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This super easy berry bake is filled with bananas, strawberries and blueberries and topped with white chocolate for a delicious dessert. Perfect for any dinner party - and great to prep ahead of time. Serve over vanilla ice cream for the ultimate, indulgent experience.

    Get the recipe

    Air Fryer Steak Fries

    Air Fryer Steak Fries.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Make Air Fryer Steak Fries from scratch in just 25 minutes for the perfect rustic side dish for any meal. Easy to make with just a few steps, these fries are crispy on the outside, and perfectly baked on the inside.

    Get the recipe

    Grilled Chicken Drumsticks

    Grilled chicken drumsticks.
    Photo credit: Jamil Ghar.

    Are you looking for a tasty excuse to fire up the grill? Grilled chicken drumsticks are just what you’re looking for! These smoky, well-seasoned chicken legs are a healthy and delicious way to get a meal on the table that everyone will love. And the best part? They’re perfect for meal prep!

    Get the recipe

    S'Mores Casserole

    Smores casserole.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This S'mores Casserole is a simple version of everyone’s favorite camping treat. Made in a baking dish so you can make it even without a campfire, and perfect to make for a crowd. Use graham crackers or digestive biscuits, and your favorite milk chocolate!

    Get the recipe

    Caprese Pasta Salad

    Caprese pasta salad.
    Photo credit: Leftovers Then Breakfast.

    This is an easy and delicious summer salad full of fresh ingredients! A tangy balsamic dressing ties the fresh tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and tender pasta together for the perfect side dish to any potluck or BBQ.

    Get the recipe

    Umami Burgers

    Umami Burgers.
    Photo credit: Pups with Chopsticks.

    Juicy beef and pork burgers recipe, made with ground pork and beef, seasoned with miso and seasonings for some extra umami flavor.

    Get the recipe

    Lemon Blueberry Tart

    Lemon Blueberry Tart.
    Photo credit: Spatula Desserts.

    This Lemon blueberry tart recipe is the perfect French tartlet with lovely refreshing flavors and an easy yet impressive design! Delicious homemade Pâte Sablée (sweet shortcrust) filled with tangy and creamy lemon curd, decorated with natural color blueberry whipped ganache and loaded with fresh, sweet blueberries.

    Get the recipe.

    Greek Potatoes with Lemon & Feta Cheese

    Greek potatoes.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Lemon + Feta cheese = best friends forever.

    Get the recipe

    Cajun Chicken Foil Packs

    Cajun Chicken Foil Packets.
    Photo credit: Camp Grill Eat.

    These foil packets are an easy grilling meal made with boneless chicken thighs and sliced peppers and onions that are gently infused with Cajun seasoning. They're a mess-free meal that's ready in 30 minutes!

    Get the recipe

    Chocolate Passion Fruit Tart

    Chocolate Passion Fruit Tart.
    Photo credit: Spatula Desserts.

    In this Chocolate Passion fruit tart recipe silky & rich chocolate ganache meets floral & tropical yet tangy passion fruit curd! If you have not tried pairing passion fruit and chocolate before, you are missing out, they are truly match-made in heaven.

    Get the recipe.

    French Potato Salad

    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Try the best easy, homemade potato salad! Without mayo, eggs or any dairy products it's made creamy the traditional French way with a Dijon mustard dressing - which makes it naturally vegan, gluten free and dairy free.

    Get the recipe

    Mango and Grilled Shrimp

    Mango and Grilled Shrimp Appetizers
    Photo Credit: The Flavor Bender.

    Juicy, delicious, and Asian-spiced with sweet mangos and crackers - this is an easy, flavourful dish, perfect for summer entertaining!

    Get the recipe

    S'Mores Cupcakes

    S'Mores Cupcakes.
    Photo credit: FODMAP Everyday.

    Graham cracker crust is baked underneath moist, dark chocolate cake that is so easy to make, you can whisk it up by hand in a bowl. The crowning glory is a homemade, fluffy, marshmallow frosting.

    Get the recipe: S'Mores Cupcakes.

    Easy Six Ingredient Dinner Rolls

    Easy Six Ingredient Vegan Dinner Rolls
    Photo Credit: Urban Farmie.

    These easy dinner rolls are the perfect addition to any meal! They are vegan as written and have a rich, buttery flavor and a tender crumb that just melts in your mouth.

    Get the recipe

    Balsamic Marinated Chicken

    Balsamic marinated chicken.
    Photo credit: Striped Spatula.

    Say goodbye to dry, “boring” chicken! This juicy, flavorful Balsamic Marinated Chicken is easy to make and prep ahead for weeknight dinners. Use it to make an impressive entree chicken salad, or serve it on its own with your favorite sides. This versatile balsamic chicken marinade is great for grilling, baking, or air frying!

    Get the recipe

    4th of July Brownie Cupcakes

    4th of July Brownie Cupcakes.
    Photo credit: Spatula Desserts.

    Make these 4th of July Brownies to celebrate Independence Day in style! These patriotic brownies have a classic chocolate brownie taste and fudgy texture, and surely both kids and adults will love the red, white, and blue frosting.

    Get the recipe: 4th of July Brownie Cupcakes.

    Instant Pot Creamed Corn

    Homemade Creamed Corn in the Instant Pot
    Photo Credit: The Foreign Fork.

    With a 3 minute cook time, you’ll have a family favorite side on the table in no time!

    Get the recipe

    Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken

    Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken
    Photo Credit: Pups With Chopsticks.

    This Grilled Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken is incredibly quick and easy to prepare, loaded with flavor from a lemongrass chicken marinade and grilled to perfection to give you a delicious sweet and savory, juicy grilled chicken that can be served in many different ways.

    Get the recipe

    Strawberry Crunch Cupcakes

    Strawberry Crunch Cupcakes.
    Photo credit: Spatula Desserts.

    This easy recipe for moist homemade Strawberry Crunch Cupcakes is going to become your new favorite! Flavorful vanilla cupcakes with a simple cream cheese frosting and a yummy, fruity strawberry crunch topping. The highlight of these Strawberry cupcakes is the delicious strawberry shortcake crunch that adds the most amazing texture and flavor to the cupcakes!

    Get the recipe: Strawberry Crunch Cupcakes.

    Avocado Mango Salad

    Avocado mango salad.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    A must for salmon tacos - and delicious next to almost any type of protein, especially something barbecued!

    Get the recipe

    Copycat Chiavetta's Marinade

    Grilled chicken.
    Photo credit: An Edible Mosaic.

    Chiavetta’s chicken marinade is a Buffalo, New York tradition that yields tender, moist, and juicy meat. It’s made from pantry staples that you probably have in your kitchen right now!

    Get the recipe

    4th of July Cupcakes

    4th of July Cupcakes.
    Photo credit: Spatula Desserts.

    These 4th of July Cupcakes are a delicious way to show off your American spirit! Decorated in patriotic red, white, and blue to match the American flag, this festive and easy-to-make dessert will be the star of your Independence Day gathering and a wonderful dessert for Memorial Day too!

    Get the recipe: 4th of July Cupcakes.

    Blue Cheese Coleslaw

    Blue cheese coleslaw.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Make Blue Cheese Coleslaw in under 15 minutes for the perfect side for any steak, barbecue, or buffalo-flavored dish. With lots of blue cheese flavor and well-balanced seasoning, this will quickly become your new favorite coleslaw version.

    Get the recipe

    Grilled Thai Coconut Chicken Skewers

    ©Provided by Pups with Chopsticks

    These smoky grilled chicken skewers are marinated in ginger, garlic, coconut cream, and soy sauce, and finished with a sweet coconut cream glaze. Served with a simple peanut sauce, they are big on flavor and super easy to throw together!

    Get the recipe

    Roasted Strawberry Yogurt Popsicles

    Roasted Strawberry Yogurt Popsicles.
    Photo credit: Hey Nutrition Lady.

    These Roasted Strawberry Yogurt Popsicles take advantage of the season's best juicy berries, roasted to bring out the flavours and juices, then gently folded into honey-sweetened yogurt and a squeeze of lime. If you love fresh fruit popsicles, you've gotta try these! These strawberry popsicles are easy, delicious, and healthy!

    Get the recipe.

    Air Fryer Baby Potatoes

    Baby potatoes in a bowl.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    These small, crispy potatoes are a perfect side for meaty dinners. Heavily seasoned with salt, they resemble the Canarian potatoes "Papas Arrugadas".

    Get the recipe

    Grilled Halloumi & Peaches

    Grilled halloumi and peaches.
    Photo credit: Coley Cooks.

    Here's a simple spring and summer meal that's fresh, healthy and absolutely delicious! Salty Halloumi cheese turns crispy and melty on the grill, making it a perfect pair for the jammy, sweet charred peaches. A hefty mound of arugula, spicy jalapeños and a sweet and tangy honey lemon vinaigrette bring it all together for an awesome salad that's great for dinner, lunch or even brunch!

    Get the recipe

    Cast Iron Skillet Peach Cobbler

    Cast Iron Skillet Peach Cobbler.
    Photo credit: Peanut Butter and Julie.

    A juicy, lightly spiced fresh peach filling bubbles under crisp, buttery-sweet biscuits and a melting cool scoop of vanilla ice cream. What could be better?

    Get the recipe

    Greek Chicken Souvlaki

    Chicken souvlaki.
    Photo credit: Recipes from Europe.

    Chicken Souvlaki is a classic Greek dish that often needs little introduction! Made from fresh chicken marinated in a simple blend of oil and spices, souvlaki is then placed on skewers and grilled to perfection.

    Get the recipe

    Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cakes

    Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cakes.
    Photo credit: Valerie's Kitchen.

    Transform a boxed cake mix into these delightful Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cakes. This easy recipe brings all the flavors of the classic dessert into individual-sized treats.

    Get the recipe

    Grilled Pork Tenderloin With Apples And Sage

    Grilled Pork Tenderloin With Apples And Sage
    Photo Credit: Just a Little Bit of Bacon.

    Grilling is at its best with this easy grilled pork tenderloin which is paired with grilled apple slices and fresh sage.

    Get the recipe

    Arugula Salad with Honey Lemon Vinaigrette

    Arugula salad.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sweet, salty, acidic salad pairs perfectly with any protein, especially a nice piece of salmon or steak.

    Get the recipe

    Blueberry Rhubarb Crisp

    BLUEBERRY RHUBARB CRISP.
    Photo credit: Through the Fibro Fog.

    This blueberry rhubarb crisp is packed with sweet fruit and is so easy to make as a family dessert for spring and summer.

    Get the recipe

    Grilled Salmon with Sour Cream

    Grilled Salmon with Sour Cream
    Photo Credit: Girl Gone Gourmet.

    This easy salmon recipe only takes 20 minutes but tastes like a restaurant dish. The sauce for the grilled salmon is a simple sour cream sauce with thyme that takes about a minute to make! It’s a simple and delicious dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Dump-and-Bake Mac & Cheese

    Mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Making Mac and Cheese has never been this easy! With just 10 minutes of prep and 45 minutes in the oven you can make the best baked Mac and Cheese - in one pan, without boiling, no flour and no roux. With both Cheddar and Gruyere this is as cheesy & flavor packed as it gets!

    Get the recipe

    Bourbon Cherry Cheesecake in a Jar

    Bourbon Cherry Cheesecake in jars.
    Photo credit: Chef Sous Chef.

    Decadent, dreamy and sweet, these no-bake cheesecakes are the perfect and portable picnic or backyard BBQ dessert. Word of warning, they're definitely for adults only!

    Get the recipe

    Pasta Salad Skewers

    Pasta Salad Skewers
    Photo Credit: Inquiring Chef.

    Everything you love about pasta salad comes together in these Pasta Salad Skewers that are a fun appetizer or side dish. These are easy to make ahead and great to serve to a crowd - no utensils necessary!

    Get the recipe

    Flat Iron Steak with Creamy Peruvian Green Sauce (Aji Verde)

    Flat Iron Steak with Creamy Peruvian Green Sauce (Aji Verde)
    Photo Credit: Foodess.

    A juicy, flavourful flat iron steak recipe for the grill. Top it with a delicious creamy-spicy Peruvian green sauce, called Aji Verde.

    Get the recipe

    Blue Cheese Sauce

    Blue cheese sauce.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This classic blue cheese sauce comes together in under 5 minutes with just 6 ingredients, without both boiling and buttermilk. Loaded with blue cheese flavor it's perfect with salad, meat, and anything "Buffalo" flavored.

    Get the recipe

    Shrimp Kabobs

    Shrimp Kabobs.
    Photo credit: Scarlati Family Kitchen.

    Fresh shrimp and vegetables are seasoned and grilled, then finished off with a banana pepper sauce for a light and fresh meal with zesty flavors.

    Get the recipe

    Incredibly Easy Pesto Pasta Salad

    Incredibly Easy Pesto Pasta Salad
    Photo Credit: project meal plan.

    The simplest make-ahead dish that’s perfect for any occasion – it has just six simple ingredients for a fresh and classic pasta dish everyone loves.

    Get the recipe

    Cherry Cheesecake Cookies

    Cherry Cheesecake Cookies.
    Photo credit: I Heart Eating.

    Butter cookies meet a slice of cheesecake in these tender Cherry Cheesecake Cookies.

    Get the recipe

    Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

    An air fryer baked potato.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Looking for the perfect baked potato recipe? These air fryer baked potatoes minimize your cooking time and result in a tender, flavorful inside wrapped in a crispy delicious shell. With only three ingredients, this recipe will become your new favorite side dish, or top it with whatever you have in the fridge to make it a main!

    Get the recipe

    Red Pesto Pasta Salad with Veggies

    Red pesto pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Done in under 30 minutes with just 15 minutes of active prepping & cooking this red pesto pasta is packed with veggies & flavor. Easy to make with homemade or store-bought pesto - and just as delicious served cold as it is hot.

    Get the recipe

    White Chocolate Covered Strawberries

    White chocolate covered strawberries.
    Photo credit: Spatula Desserts.

    White chocolate-covered strawberries make the perfect dessert or sweet treat! Fresh strawberries are dipped into molten white chocolate; every bite gives you a taste of delicious ripe berries and sweet chocolatey goodness.

    Get the recipe

    Cheesy Baked Olive Dip

    Cheesy Baked Olive Dip.
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This cheesy olive dip comes together in just 30 minutes and is loaded with salty, briny olive flavors that your guests will love! This creamy, crowd-pleasing appetizer can be made up to 5 days in advance so it's the perfect make-ahead dip for any get-together.

    Get the recipe

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    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has more than 20 years of experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN  and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, Daily Kos, The Grio, The Asian Parent, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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