While we all get ready to celebrate this upcoming Memorial Day holiday, let’s not forget to give thanks to the countless admirable men and women who have given their lives for this great country. Memorial Day also signifies that summer is right around the corner so it’s time to start dusting off that BBQ grill.
It also wouldn’t help to start planning out your memorial day menu and we’ve got you covered with 9 great recipes. Burgers and dogs are great at any BBQ but make it extra special with these Memorial Day BBQ recipes.
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Your BBQ Was Made for More Than Just Burgers and Dogs
1. Chile-Lime Grilled Corn
We love corn on the cob as much as the next guy but since it’s Memorial Day, why not try this spiced-up version of a classic? We love the charred flavor that a barbecue grill gives to corn and the tangy spiciness of the marinade sends this one over the top.
If you’re grilling more than just corn, the marinade works pretty well with all grilled veggies recipes. Don’t forget to hit the corn with grated Pecorino as soon as it comes off the grill.
2. Creamy Potato Salad
If no one brings potato salad to a BBQ, can you really call it a BBQ? We didn’t think so and we wouldn’t want your BBQ to be incomplete without a dependable potato salad recipe like this one from Good Housekeeping. If you like a little spice in your potato salad, kick it up a notch by adding a few taps of cayenne pepper to the mix.
Also, don’t forget to adequately salt your water when boiling potatoes. Just like when cooking pasta, potatoes’ flavor can benefit a ton from starting the seasoning process early. Unlike most Memorial Day BBQ menu items, this can make this the night before and ready to serve as soon as you’re done on the grill.
3. Grilled Onion Dip
Before you start grilling the big-ticket items, throw a few onions on the grill first. After that, whiz them in a food processor with a few other ingredients and you’ve got yourself a wicked grilled onion dip.
Garlicky, creamy, tangy are the flavors this dip offers so make sure to stock up on chips if you’re planning on making this! We love the combination of this dip with naan or pita chips but potato chips will work just fine as well if you can’t find them at your local grocery store.
4. Classic Cheeseburger
Not too many things in this world are more American than apple pie and hamburgers. And since it’d be kind of difficult to cook a pie on the grill, let’s stick with the burgers.
Please, for the love of all that is good, avoid buying the frozen hockey puck-like burgers at your grocery store. Just don’t do it. Make your own patties, they’ll be more flavorful and juicier than anything you’ll find at the store. General rule of thumb for that juiciness factor:
- Buy ground beef that is 80 percent lean and 20 percent fat.
- Keep your burgers around 4 to 6 ounces so they’re easier to cook and don’t pack them too tightly otherwise your burgers will come out tough.
- Salt your burgers right before you put them on the grill. Season them too early and you’ll start drawing out moisture from the meat which is definitely not the key to great burgers.
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5. Best Grilled Chicken Breast
Most people tend to shy away from grilled chicken breasts because they have a tendency to turn out dry and tasteless. Not if you marinade them properly and grill them to the right temperature. Perfect time to whip out that meat thermometer if you have one handy!
The FDA says chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F. The key though is to pull your chicken off the grill around 5°F before that since it will keep cooking even after it’s taken off the grill. Marinate your chicken the night before that way they’ll be ready for the grill for your Memorial Day BBQ.
6. Coffee-Cured Pulled Pork
Technically, this recipe won’t be cooked on your BBQ grill but pulled pork is a welcome recipe to most BBQs and picnics alike. Also, this recipe is great because you can just let it roast away in the oven while saving you valuable grill space to tackle other dishes.
This recipe from Food And Wine may take a little prep and planning ahead but it’s totally worth it. We love the smoky, earthy flavor that the coffee gives the pulled pork and you can use them for sliders or serve it as is!
7. Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce
What’s a barbecue without some sauce? While it’s not mandatory, we appreciate a good BBQ sauce and this Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce is special. A bit on the sweeter side, we love drizzling this over smoked brisket and grilled pork. Keep an eye on it while it cooks down since it can burn easily with its sugar content.
8. Peach Sweet Tea With Bourbon
With all that great food on the table, you’re going to need something to wash it all down with. Nothing says summertime refreshment like a cold glass of sweet tea. Sweet, tangy, and an element of spice from the fresh ginger makes this drink a hit at any barbecue.
Feel free to omit the bourbon if serving to kids but either way, this one’s a great refreshing drink to have on hand for your Memorial Day BBQ.
9. Grown-Up S’mores
Last but not least, always save room for dessert. Before the fire dies down on your barbecue don’t forget to bring out the marshmallows for this sweet recipe from Good Housekeeping. The element that really sets these s’mores apart from the ones you enjoyed over campfires as a kid is the delectable salted caramel.
Get more tips for a successful Memorial Day grilling in this video from YouAndMeThisMorning:
And there you go, nine Memorial Day food ideas for you to try out this upcoming holiday. Plan ahead, experiment, and of course, have fun this Memorial Day holiday. Lastly, a big thank you to all military personnel, current and past, for your service.
What are some of your favorite Memorial Day BBQ recipes? We’d love to hear from you! Tell us in the comment section below!
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