It’s starting to feel like summer here in Chicago and we 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 (okay, over 50) recipes perfect for cooking and grilling with friends and family. If you’re wondering what to serve at a Memorial Day picnic, potluck, 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 finger foods, 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
Roasted Garlic Whipped Feta Dip VT, GF
High Protein Sour Cream & Onion Dip VT, GF
Hot Honey & Basil Pepperoni Pizza Dip GF
Fresh Mango Salsa Recipe V, GF
Creamy Jalapeño Spinach Artichoke Dip VT, GF
Tony’s Ridiculously Easy Homemade Salsa V, GF
Spicy Green Cashew Dip V, GF
Garlic & Herb Whipped Cottage Cheese Dip VT, GF
Avocado Peach Salsa V, GF
Garlic White Bean Basil Hummus V, GF
Bleu Cheese Yogurt Dip (or dressing!) VT, GF
Cilantro Pistachio Pesto Hummus V, GF
The Best Guacamole You’ll Ever Eat V, GF
Whipped Feta Yogurt Dip with Hot Honey, Basil & Toasted Almonds VT, GF
Easy + Cheesy Southwest Bean Dip GF
Roasted Garlic Hummus V, GF
Avocado Strawberry Mango Salsa V, GF
Vegetarian Three Cheese White Bean Buffalo Dip VT, GF
Handheld Appetizers
Grilled Crostini with Roasted Cherries, Goat Cheese & Basil VT, GF
Roasted Strawberry, Basil, and Goat Cheese Crostini VT
10-Minute Smoked Salmon Pinwheels GF
Thai-Inspired Peanut Chicken Wings
Jalapeño-Goat Cheese Grilled Stuffed Mini Peppers VT, GF
Peach, Goat Cheese & Basil Wonton Bites VT
Greek Salad Pinwheels VT, GF
Vegetarian Plantain & Black Bean Taco Cups VT
Tortilla Chip-Crusted Baked Jalapeño Poppers VT, GF
Pesto Tuna Caprese Cucumber Bites 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
Sesame Garlic Grilled Sweet Potato Fries with Yogurt Curry Dip VT, GF
Crispy Smashed Potatoes VT, GF
Cauliflower Tots VT, GF
How to Grill Fruit (2 different ways!) V, GF
Spicy Maple Dijon Grilled Brussels Sprouts 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
Grilled Carrot Arugula Salad with Fig, Goat Cheese & Avocado VT, GF
Vegan Potato Salad with Herbed Tahini Sauce V, GF
Fiesta Mango Black Bean Quinoa Salad V, GF
Chopped Thai-Inspired Chickpea Salad with Curry Peanut Dressing V, GF
Italian Chopped Brussels Sprouts Salad GF
Peach Brussels Sprouts Crunch Salad with Creamy Tahini Poppy Seed Dressing V, GF
Healthy Summer Broccoli Salad V, GF
Avocado Peach Tomato Salad with Dilly Tahini Dressing 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
Dad’s Dilly Greek Yogurt Cucumber Salad VT, GF
Roasted Sweet Potato Black Bean Salad with Pineapple Corn Salsa V, GF
Wonderful Quinoa & Pasta Salads
Street Corn Pasta Salad with Cilantro Pistachio Pesto & Goat Cheese VT, GF
Damn Good BLT Pasta Salad with Creamy Jalapeño Cashew Dressing GF
Herby Olive Italian Orzo Salad VT
Copycat Portillo’s Chopped Salad GF
Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad V, GF
Grilled Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad GF
Fiesta Mango Black Bean Quinoa Salad VT, GF
Peach, Tomato & Corn Arugula Pasta Salad VT, GF
Famous Crunchy Cashew Thai Quinoa Salad V, GF
Kale, Edamame & Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette V, GF
Avocado Tomato Chickpea Pasta Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette VT, GF
Avocado Blueberry Quinoa Salad VT, GF
Burgers, Sandwiches & Tacos
Jalapeño Curry Turkey Burgers GF
Buffalo Zucchini Chicken Burgers GF
Grilled Tahini Chicken Caesar Sandwiches GF
Chipotle Lime Salmon Tacos with Corn Avocado Peach Salsa & Cilantro Yogurt Sauce 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
Pesto Turkey Burger Sliders on Sweet Potato Buns GF
Blackened Salmon Tacos with Forbidden Rice & Mango Guacamole GF
Sheet Pan Roasted Veggie Tacos (with yummy sauce options!) V, GF
Ultimate Vegan Black Bean Burgers with Tahini Garlic Cream Sauce V, GF
Sweet & Spicy BBQ Bacon Hawaiian Turkey Burgers GF
Gaby’s Grilled Fish Tacos with Pineapple-Mango Salsa GF
Incredible Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Sandwiches GF
Jalapeño Curry Turkey Burgers GF
Chipotle Chicken Tostadas with Pineapple Salsa GF
Amazing Easy Turkey Tacos (with a slow cooker option!) GF
Vegan Sweet Potato Burgers V, 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
Firecracker Salmon with Peach Avocado Salsa GF
Unique Main Dishes
Buffalo Mac and Cheese Stuffed Zucchini Boats VT, GF
Vegan Pasta Primavera with Creamy Garlic Cashew Sauce V, GF
Pesto Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats GF
Creamy Sweet Corn & Brown Butter Ricotta Pasta VT, GF
Jerk Chicken with Caribbean Rice & Mango Salsa GF
30 Minute Brown Butter Goat Cheese Grilled Veggie Orzo VT, GF
Cheesy BBQ Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats GF
3-Ingredient Grilled Stuffed Poblano Peppers VT, GF
How to Grill Pizza that’s Crispy, Chewy and Ready in only 15 Minutes VT
Ultimate Chili-Stuffed Sweet Potato Skins GF
Cocktails
Spiked Tropical Green Juice (aka Green Margarita)
Rebecca’s Pomegranate Margarita
Skinny Jalapeño Watermelon Margaritas
Gorgeous Cakes & Pies
Lemon Pistachio Cake with Lovely Lemon Frosting GF
Almond Lemon Raspberry Poppy Seed Cake GF
Lemon Blueberry Zucchini Cake with Lemon Frosting GF
Brown Butter Strawberry Coffee Cake with Lovely Strawberry Icing
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
Spiced Zucchini Sweet Potato Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting GF
Chocolate Zucchini Cake (healthy + gluten free) GF
The Best Tart Cherry Pie You’ll Ever Eat
Grain Free Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake GF
The Best Cookies
Salted Tahini Butterscotch Cookie Skillet GF
The Best Bakery-Style Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
Healthier Flourless Monster Cookies GF
The Best Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies You’ll Ever Eat GF
Grain Free Chocolate Chunk Skillet Cookie V, GF
Key Lime White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies
Blow Ya Mind Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies 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
Paleo Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies GF
Grain Free Birthday Cake Cookies GF
Brownies, Bars & Chocolate
The Best Zucchini Brownies You’ll Ever Eat GF
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
No Bake High Protein Peanut Butter Cereal Bars V, GF
Healthy 4 Ingredient Reese’s Eggs V, GF
Birthday Cake Rice Krispie Treats GF
Healthy Peanut Butter Twix Bars (vegan & gluten free) V, GF
No Bake Chocolate Caramel Tahini Chex Bars (allergy-friendly!) V, GF
Small Batch Paleo Almond Flour Brownies with Raspberries GF
Easy Fruit Desserts
Strawberry Crumble Bars V, GF
Grilled Peaches (+6 different topping ideas!) V, GF
Strawberry Crisp with Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Crumble V, GF
Healthy Lemon Bars (gluten free, dairy free & paleo!) GF
Raspberry Crumble Bars V, GF
Tart Cherry Pie Bars with Oatmeal Crumble V, GF
Blueberry Pie Bars with Oatmeal Crumble (vegan & gluten free) V, GF
Rainbow Fruit Skewers V, GF
Drunken Strawberries V, GF
Lightened-up Vanilla Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp (vegan, gluten free) V, GF
Gluten Free Peach Crisp with Salted Coconut Milk Caramel 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!
