Memorial Day Recipes
Delight your guests with festive Memorial Day party recipes, crowd-pleasing finger foods, themed drinks, and delicious celebration bites that are easy to prepare ahead of time.
Delight your guests with festive Memorial Day party recipes, crowd-pleasing finger foods, themed drinks, and delicious celebration bites that are easy to prepare ahead of time.
4 Memorial Day recipes
Chilled Rooh Afza Rose Milk Punch
Rooh Afza rose milk punch delivers sweet floral notes, creamy richness, and cooling basil seeds in a quick big-batch drink for festive gatherings.
Big-Batch Mango Lassi Station
This big-batch mango lassi station blends sweet Alphonso mango and tangy yogurt into a chilled drink ready for vibrant, crunchy party toppings.
Big Mac Smash Burger Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
Smash burger sliders bring sweet Hawaiian rolls, crisp beef edges, melty cheese, and tangy special sauce to game day. Easy to prep ahead for a crowd.
Big-Batch Party Jungle Juice Punch
This party jungle juice punch combines crisp spirits, real citrus, and sweet fruit juices into an easy big-batch drink for game days and celebrations.
Memorial Day Recipes FAQ
How much food should I make for a Memorial Day party?
Plan on 4 to 6 bites per guest per hour for a cocktail or appetizer party, or 1 to 2 mains with 2 to 3 side dishes for a full meal. Check our party food calculators to estimate exact quantities.
Can I make these Memorial Day recipes ahead of time?
Many of our Memorial Day recipes include make-ahead instructions so you can prep the day before and enjoy the party with your guests.
Are there vegetarian or gluten-free options for Memorial Day?
Yes, browse our recipe collection and filter by dietary preferences to find crowd-pleasing vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free celebration dishes.
How do you balance remembrance and celebration at a Memorial Day party?
Pause the festivities at 3:00 PM local time for the National Moment of Remembrance to reflect for one minute in silence. Introduce the pause briefly to guests, acknowledging fallen service members with gratitude. Transition smoothly afterward back into your backyard cookout, lawn games, and summer celebration.
How much food should you prepare for a Memorial Day cookout?
Plan on two burgers or hot dogs per adult and one per child, along with four ounces of each side dish like potato salad or coleslaw. Grill hot dogs to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit and ground beef burgers to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Stock a cooler with two cans of soda, seltzer, or beer per guest for every two hours of the party.
What are the best lawn games and activities for a Memorial Day party?
Set up cornhole boards 27 feet apart for adult tournament play, and stage bocce ball or horseshoes nearby. Organize a water balloon toss and three-legged relay races across the grass for kids. You can also print out patriotic trivia sheets and post a Summer Bucket List board where guests pin their warm-weather goals.
How can you decorate for a Memorial Day party on a budget?
Buy inexpensive red, white, and blue cotton bandannas from a craft store to use as cloth napkins or string together as pennant bunting. Line garden pathways with small stick-mounted American flags, and place white daisies or carnations into glass mason jars for centerpieces. Solid red and navy paper plates keep costs down while maintaining the theme.
How do you throw a last-minute Memorial Day party with little prep time?
Turn the cookout into a cooperative potluck by supplying pre-shaped burger patties, hot dogs, and buns, then asking guests to bring sides, drinks, or ice. Purchase pre-sliced watermelon and bakery-made patriotic cupcakes to skip kitchen prep entirely. Queue an upbeat backyard playlist on a portable outdoor speaker to establish the party mood immediately.