50 Memorial Day Grilling Recipes
Memorial Day grilling is a tricky thing. You’re ready to kick off the season and fire up the grill, but depending where you live, it’s not quite time for the good summer produce just yet. No corn on the cob. No decent tomatoes. No peaches. These recipes still give you plenty of options, though, for your Memorial Day barbecue: flavorful grilled chicken, grilled vegetables, all of our favorite ribs, the ultimate grilled pizza, grilled dip (yes, that’s right, grilled dip) and more. Below, you’ll find our favorite picks for your May 29th menu—or any time you might get the grill going before then.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone1/503-Ingredient Garlic-Herb Grilled Chicken Wings
If you want to make your Memorial Day grilling truly easy, this three-ingredient recipe has your name on it. Okay, there's salt, pepper, and oil, too, but otherwise you only need chicken wings, garlic, and whatever sturdy herbs you like best. Rosemary and oregano work especially well. Keep your instant-read thermometer handy so you know when the chicken is done.
Photo by Caleb Adams, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell2/50Cedar-Plank Salmon
Salmon is so luscious that it rarely dries out, but it's even better when grilled on a cedar plank, which imbues the fish with a softly smoky flavor. Serve with a crisp, fresh salad.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell3/50Make-Ahead Instant Pot Grilled Ribs
No more chewy ribs. An Instant Pot tenderizes ribs in no time, so all you need is to throw them on the grill for the last few minutes before serving. These ribs are rubbed with black pepper, cumin, red pepper flakes, brown sugar, kosher salt, and cinnamon, and you can do the pressure-cooking part up to three days ahead of your Memorial Day gathering.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton4/50Open-Face Mushroom Sandwiches With Pecorino Salsa Verde
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich5/50Grilled Chicken Caesar Sandwiches
Deeply charred boneless chicken thighs, which do their marinating in mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and lemon, are paired with a crunchy and refreshing fennel-basil slaw for this crowd favorite. Brioche buns add a nice richness.
Photo by Gentl & Hyers6/50Marinated Chicken Breasts With Grilled Pineapple Relish
Pineapple goes two ways in this Memorial Day recipe from The Outdoor Kitchen: it helps to tenderize the chicken breasts, and caramelizes nicely on the grill. The rest of the fruit deepens in flavor after a few minutes on the grates, and makes a fantastic salsa with jalapeño, cilantro, and onion.
Photo by Gentl & Hyers7/50Crudités With Grilled Green Goddess Dip
Treat your Memorial Day grillfest as a bit of a cookbook club and add on this second recipe from The Outdoor Kitchen: lightly charred vegetables served with a grilled spin on Green Goddess. Avocados, tomatillos, and jalapeños all get grill marks, the move into a blender to turn into a luscious, slightly smoky dip that's great with whatever crudités options look best at the market. Maybe your move is asparagus?
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova8/50Maple Barbecue Grilled Chicken
Barbecued chicken is one of the surest signs that summer's finally on its way. Store-bought sauce has nothing on this easy homemade version, which uses maple syrup for sweetness and Sriracha for heat. Use whatever bone-in chicken parts you like and save the leftover sauce for everything else you plan to grill this week.
Photo and Food Styling by Anna Stockwell9/50Grilled Coconut Shrimp With Shishito Peppers
The garlicky, mojo-inspired marinade for this grilled shrimp recipe has a bunch of lime zest. Add grated coconut and a post-cook squeeze of fresh lime juice, and you might just have found your favorite dish of the season.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson10/503-Ingredient Charred Green Beans With Ricotta and Lemon
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Sue Li12/50Grilled Carrots With Avocado and Mint
It might not be quite the season yet for grilled corn, but that's okay, we'll get there. For now: Grill your carrots, then toss with a dressing laced with cumin, lemon juice, and honey.
