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 THIS 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, 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.
Appetizers & Sides
Fresh Mango Salsa Recipe V, GF
Vegan Potato Salad with Herbed Tahini Sauce V, GF
Tony’s Ridiculously Easy Homemade Salsa V, GF
Skinny Jalapeño Watermelon Margaritas V, GF
Homemade Slow Cooker Baked Beans GF
How to Grill Delicious Vegetables (4 different ways!) V, GF
Sesame Garlic Grilled Sweet Potato Fries with Yogurt Curry Dip VT, GF
Best Healthy Coleslaw Ever (no mayo!) V, GF
Avocado Peach Salsa V, GF
Cauliflower Tots VT, GF
Fresh & Healthy 7-Layer Dip VT, GF
Cilantro Pistachio Pesto Hummus V, GF
How to Grill Fruit (2 different ways!) V, GF
The Best Guacamole You’ll Ever Eat V, GF
Easy + Cheesy Southwest Bean Dip GF
Roasted Strawberry, Basil, and Goat Cheese Crostini VT
10-Minute Smoked Salmon Pinwheels
Roasted Garlic Hummus V, GF
Spicy Maple Dijon Grilled Brussels Sprouts V, GF
Avocado Strawberry Mango Salsa V, GF
Jalapeño-Goat Cheese Grilled Stuffed Mini Peppers VT, GF
Peach, Goat Cheese & Basil Wonton Bites VT
Vegetarian Three Cheese White Bean Buffalo Dip VT, GF
Vegetarian Plantain & Black Bean Taco Cups VT
Tortilla Chip-Crusted Baked Jalapeño Poppers VT, GF
Pesto Tuna Caprese Cucumber Bites GF
Gluten Free Cornbread Muffins VT, GF
Garlic Fingerling Potatoes (roasted or grilled!) V, GF
Fresh Salads
Street Corn Pasta Salad with Cilantro Pistachio Pesto & Goat Cheese VT, GF
Damn Good BLT Pasta Salad with Creamy Jalapeño Cashew Dressing GF
California Roasted Sweet Potato Kale Salad V, GF
Summer Strawberry Spinach Salad with Avocado VT, GF
Vegan Curried Broccoli Chickpea Salad V, GF
Fiesta Mango Black Bean Quinoa Salad V, GF
Summer Glow Strawberry Kale Salad VT, GF
Vegan Caesar Pasta Salad V, 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
Italian Chopped Brussels Sprouts Salad GF
Peach Brussels Sprouts Crunch Salad with Creamy Tahini Poppy Seed Dressing V, GF
Avocado Tomato Chickpea Pasta Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette VT, GF
Vegan Caesar Salad V, GF
Honey Lime Basil Peach Fruit Salad VT, GF
Healthy Summer Broccoli Salad V, GF
Avocado Peach Tomato Salad with Dilly Tahini Dressing V, GF
Avocado Blueberry Quinoa Salad VT, GF
Cashew Crunch Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad V, GF
Spicy Ranch Chopped Chicken Cabbage Salad 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
Main Dishes
Buffalo Zucchini Chicken Burgers GF
Seriously Good Sweet Potato Cheddar BBQ Chicken Burgers GF
Vegan Pasta Primavera with Creamy Garlic Cashew Sauce V, GF
How to Grill Perfect Salmon (plus recipes!) GF
Crazy Good Street Corn Chicken Tacos GF
Moroccan-Spiced Turkey Burgers with Creamy Feta Sauce GF
Jerk Chicken with Caribbean Rice & Mango Salsa GF
How to Grill Delicious Tofu (2 different ways!) V, GF
Pesto Turkey Burger Sliders on Sweet Potato Buns GF
Vegan Turmeric Pineapple Tofu Kabobs V, GF
How to Grill Chicken Breast that’s Perfectly Juicy GF
Blackened Salmon Tacos with Forbidden Rice & Mango Guacamole GF
How to Grill Chicken Breast that’s Perfectly Juicy GF
Ultimate Vegan Black Bean Burgers with Tahini Garlic Cream Sauce V, GF
Pesto Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats GF
Sweet & Spicy BBQ Bacon Hawaiian Turkey Burgers GF
3-Ingredient Grilled Stuffed Poblano Peppers VT, GF
Gaby’s Grilled Fish Tacos with Pineapple-Mango Salsa GF
Baked or Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken (with the best honey mustard marinade!) GF
How to Grill Pizza that’s Crispy, Chewy and Ready in only 15 Minutes VT
Incredible Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Sandwiches GF
Jalapeño Curry Turkey Burgers GF
Sticky, Sweet & Spicy Grilled Ginger Chicken GF
Ultimate Chili-Stuffed Sweet Potato Skins GF
Firecracker Salmon with Peach Avocado Salsa GF
Chipotle Chicken Tostadas with Pineapple Salsa GF
Amazing Easy Turkey Tacos (with a slow cooker option!) GF
Vegan Sweet Potato Burgers V, GF
Cocktails
Rebecca’s Pomegranate Margarita
Skinny Jalapeño Watermelon Margaritas
Desserts
Lemon Blueberry Zucchini Cake with Lemon Frosting GF
Strawberry Crumble Bars V, GF
Almond Lemon Raspberry Poppy Seed Cake GF
Grain Free Tahini Brownies (The Best Brownies I’ve Ever Eaten!) GF
Almond Flour Strawberry Shortcake Cake with Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese Frosting GF
Blueberry Pie Bars with Oatmeal Crumble (vegan & gluten free) V, GF
Drunken Strawberries V, GF
Healthy Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats GF
Inside Out Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cake GF
Healthy Lemon Bars (gluten free, dairy free & paleo!) GF
The Best Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies You’ll Ever Eat GF
Spiced Zucchini Sweet Potato Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting GF
Fudgy Almond Butter Blondies GF
Chocolate Zucchini Cake (healthy + gluten free) GF
Blow Ya Mind Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies V, GF
Lightened-up Vanilla Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp (vegan, gluten free) V, GF
Salted Tahini Caramel Millionaire Bars (vegan + paleo) V, GF
Healthier Flourless Monster Cookies GF
The Best Tart Cherry Pie You’ll Ever Eat
Grain Free Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake GF
Healthy 4 Ingredient Reese’s Eggs V, GF
The Best Zucchini Brownies You’ll Ever Eat GF
Lemon Cookies with Lovely Lemon Glaze
Grain Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies GF
Healthy Peanut Butter Twix Bars (vegan & gluten free) V, GF
Lemon Blueberry Zucchini Cake with Lemon Frosting GF
No Bake Chocolate Caramel Tahini Chex Bars (allergy-friendly!) V, GF
White Chocolate Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies
Small Batch Paleo Almond Flour Brownies with Raspberries 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!