
If you’re hosting this year, you already know one thing—no one remembers the decorations, but they definitely remember the food.
That’s why I pulled together 70 of the best Memorial Day food ideas to help you build a spread people will actually get excited about.

We’re talking easy Memorial Day recipes, crowd-pleasing Summer BBQ food, make-ahead sides, finger foods, and desserts that disappear fast.
Whether you’re planning a backyard BBQ, a casual cookout, or a full-on Memorial Day party, this list is packed with Memorial Day meals, cookout food ideas, and BBQ menu favorites that are simple to make and perfect for feeding a crowd without the stress.
Memorial Day Food Ideas
Cranberry Walnut Coleslaw is an easy side dish recipe perfect for summer. This colourful salad is made with red cabbage and loaded with carrots, red onion, dried cranberries and walnuts.
Italian Pasta Salad is a delicious cold side dish recipe perfect for potluck parties. This creamy pasta salad is loaded with cherry tomatoes, red onions, salami, bacon, basil pesto, Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese.
Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is a quick and easy cold side dish recipe perfect for summer. This creamy pasta salad is loaded with shredded cheddar cheese, bacon, green onions and crumbled potato chips.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is a tasty side cold dish recipe loaded with chopped romaine, shredded chicken, crumbled bacon, croutons, shredded mozzarella, cheddar and Parmesan cheese all tossed in a creamy garlic Parmesan dressing.
Coleslaw Macaroni Salad is a simple cold side dish recipe perfect for summer barbecues and potlucks.
Cheddar Bacon Ranch Potato Salad is a creamy cold side dish recipe made with Yukon gold potatoes and loaded with crumbled bacon, cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, mayo and ranch dressing.
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is a creamy pasta salad recipe loaded with grated carrots, yellow onion and chopped green onion.
Loaded Baked Potato Salad is a delicious cold side dish recipe made with russet potatoes and loaded with mayo, sour cream, crumbled bacon, cheddar cheese and chopped green onions.
Frito Corn Salad is a delicious side dish recipe loaded with corn, diced bell peppers, onions, shredded cheese and corn chips all tossed in a creamy mixture of mayo, ranch dressing and taco seasoning.
Southern Potato Salad is a classic side dish recipe loaded with cubes of russet potatoes, chopped hard boiled eggs, celery, red onions and dill pickles all tossed in a mayo based dressing and seasoned with paprika.
Greek Pasta Salad is a colourful pasta salad recipe loaded with cucumbers, red bell peppers, grape tomatoes, red onions, Kalamata olives and feta cheese all tossed in a homemade dressing.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is a tasty cold side dish recipe made with rotini noodles and loaded with cheddar cheese, dill pickles and fresh dill all tossed in a mayo, sour cream and pickle juice dressing.
Carrot Apple Salad is a delicious and colourful salad loaded with sliced red and green apples, carrots, dried cranberries and mandarins all tossed in a vanilla yogurt and mayo dressing.
Oreo Fluff is an easy no bake dessert recipe made with cream cheese, instant vanilla pudding and Cool Whip and loaded with mini marshmallows and crumbled Oreo Cookies!
Hawaiian Ambrosia Salad is a sweet and creamy fruit salad recipe loaded with pineapple, mandarins, grapes, shredded coconut, mini marshmallows and Cool Whip.
Cherry Delight is an easy no bake dessert with a graham crumb base, cream cheese and Cool Whip filling and topped with canned cherry pie filling.
Taffy Apple Salad is a delicious no bake dessert recipe loaded with diced apples, peanuts, Skor bits and mini marshmallows all tossed in a Cool Whip and vanilla pudding mixture.
Strawberry Icebox Cake is a 3 ingredient no bake dessert recipe made with graham crackers, Cool Whip and fresh strawberries.
S'mores Dip is a simple and delicious dessert with a base of melted chocolate and topped with gooey toasted marshmallows perfect for scooping up with graham crackers, pretzels, cookies and fresh strawberries.
Cake Mix Lemon Bars are a sweet and tangy three ingredient dessert recipe made with boxed lemon cake mix, butter and lemon pie filling.
Black Forest Ice Cream Sandwich Cake is an easy 4 ingredient no bake dessert recipe made with chocolate ice cream sandwiches, whipped topping, cherry pie filling and chocolate sauce.
Summer Dirt Cake is an easy no bake dessert recipe perfect for parties and potlucks.
This beach themed dirt cake is made with golden Oreo and graham cracker crumbs, layered with a delicious cream cheese and vanilla pudding mixture and all topped with mini cookies and beach themed gummy candies.
Soft King’s Hawaiian rolls brushed with butter and sprinkled with everything bagel seasoning get loaded with juicy ground beef tossed in BBQ sauce, savory onions, crispy bacon, melty cheddar, and crunchy fried onions.
Soft King’s Hawaiian rolls get brushed with garlic butter, stuffed with cocktail wieners, and loaded up with pizza sauce, melty shredded mozzarella, and mini pepperoni slices before baking until perfectly toasted and golden.
This Meatball Sub Dip is everything you love about a classic meatball sub, baked into a hot, cheesy skillet dip that’s perfect for sharing.
Serve it with sliced, toasted baguette for dipping to make every bite taste just like a warm, cheesy meatball sub—perfect for game day, parties, or any casual get-together.
Cream Cheese Chili Dip is a simple and delicious hot party dip recipe perfect for serving with nacho chips, toasted baguette slices and crackers.
This quick and easy dip recipe uses sour cream, cream cheese, ranch dressing mix, canned chili, shredded nacho cheese and chopped chives.
Taco Caesar Salad is a hearty and refreshing dish that can be served as a meal or as a side dish.
This salad is loaded with seasoned ground beef taco meat, romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, onions, bell peppers, parmesan cheese, nacho blend cheese, creamy Caesar dressing and crumbled Doritos nacho chips.
Philly Cheese Steak Dip is a tasty hot dip recipe loaded with chopped roast beef, green pepper, onions, Montreal steak spice, cottage cheese, Laughing Cow cheese and shredded cheddar and mozzarella.
Crack Chicken Dip is a delicious baked dip loaded with shredded chicken, cream cheese, ranch dressing, bacon, green onions and cheddar cheese.
Baked Shrimp are tasty shrimp seasoned with garlic, lemon, paprika, soy sauce and honey.
Cracked Out Corn Dip is a delicious hot dip recipe loaded with cream cheese, corn, sour cream, ranch dressing mix, bacon, green onions, cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese.
Grilled Cheese Sliders are tasty mini sandwiches that are perfect as a party snack or even as a meal with a side of soup, fries or salad.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders are the perfect handheld sandwich loaded with shredded rotisserie chicken, crumbled bacon, ranch dressing, chives and cheddar cheese.
BLT Dip is an easy cold dip recipe loaded with mayo, ranch dressing, cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and bacon.
Cheddar Bay Sausage Balls are delicious bite sized balls made with sausage meat, shredded cheddar cheese and Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit mix.
French Onion Dip is a creamy mayo and sour cream based dip loaded with caramelized onions and seasoned with garlic, salt and pepper.
Cowboy Caviar is a delicious cold dip recipe loaded with a variety of beans, avocado, tomatoes, corn, peppers, onions and fresh cilantro.
Spinach Artichoke Dip is a creamy baked dip recipe loaded with chopped artichoke hearts, spinach, cream cheese, parmesan and mozzarella.
Pepperoni Dip is a delicious hot dip recipe made with cream cheese, ranch dressing, Italian seasoning, pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese and chopped pepperoni.
Cannoli Dip is an easy no bake dessert recipe made with ricotta cheese, cream cheese, confectioner's sugar and loaded with mini semi sweet chocolate chips.
Taco Pasta Salad is the perfect party side dish loaded with tri-colour rotini pasta, taco seasoned ground beef, iceberg lettuce, onions, tomatoes, green peppers, shredded cheese, salsa, ranch dressing and crumbled Doritos nacho chips.
Roast Beef Sliders are an easy dinner or party snack made with dinner rolls and loaded with deli shaved roast beef, mayo, horseradish, mozzarella, cheddar and crispy fried onions.
Mexican Street Corn Dip is a tasty hot party dip recipe loaded with corn, cream cheese, sour cream, chili powder, crumbled feta, red onions and shredded cheese.
Rotel Dip is a cheesy dip made with Velveeta and loaded with ground sausage, Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, taco seasoning and chopped green onions.
Bruschetta Orzo Pasta Salad is a tasty side dish recipe loaded with fresh diced tomatoes, red onions, fresh basil, garlic and feta cheese.
5 Layer Dip is a delicious cold dip recipe made with refried beans, cream cheese, taco seasoning, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, shredded cheese and chopped green onions.
Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball is a tasty dessert dip recipe perfect for parties loaded with cream cheese, mini chocolate chips, toffee bits and chopped pecans.
Corn Dip with Cream Cheese is a tasty cold dip recipe made with canned corn, cream cheese, sour cream, Rotel, shredded cheese and chopped green onions.
Pigs in a Blanket are a delicious bite sized party food or kid friendly dinner recipe using wieners and Pillsbury crescent roll dough topped with poppy seeds, sesame seeds and dehydrated minced onions.
Million Dollar Dip is a delicious cold party dip recipe loaded with crumbled bacon, slivered almonds, chopped green onions, mayo, parmesan, mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
Oreo Dip is an easy no bake dessert recipe made with cream cheese, Cool Whip, powdered sugar and loaded with crumbled Oreo cookies.
Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip is a delicious hot party dip recipe loaded with shredded chicken, cream cheese, ranch dressing, shredded cheese and Buffalo sauce.
Funfetti Cookies are delicious soft and chewy cookies loaded with white chocolate chips and tons of colourful sprinkles.
Crock Pot Spinach Artichoke Dip is a delicious hot party dip recipe loaded with baby spinach, chopped artichoke hearts, cream cheese, sour cream, mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
Doritos Taco Salad is a delicious salad loaded with iceberg lettuce, red onions, green peppers, tomatoes, shredded cheese, ground beef and crumbled Doritos all tossed in salsa and ranch dressing.
Instant Pot Cranberry Mustard Turkey Meatballs are a delicious party food recipe made with frozen turkey meatballs, jellied cranberry sauce, yellow mustard and liquid honey.
M&M Brownies are delicious fudgy brownies loaded with semi sweet chocolate chips and M&M's candies.
Bacon Apple Cheddar Dip is an easy cold party dip recipe loaded with diced apples, crumbled bacon, chopped walnuts, green onions and shredded cheddar cheese.
BBQ Chicken Dip is a delicious cold party dip recipe perfect for serving with Ritz Crackers. This flavourful dip is loaded with shredded chicken, crumbled bacon, cheese and BBQ sauce.
Sloppy Joe Cups are an easy recipe perfect for a fun weeknight dinner or to serve at a party. These hamburger bun cups are filled with ground beef tossed in homemade sloppy joe sauce.
Instant Pot Grape Jelly Meatballs are the perfect party food. These tasty meatballs are coated in Welsh's Grape Jelly and Sweet Baby Ray's Hickory and Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce.
Sloppy Joe Dip is a delicious party dip recipe loaded with ground beef and dripping with melted cheese. This dip, with all the flavours of the classic sloppy joe, is perfect for dipping chips and crackers.
Bacon Cranberry Walnut Dip is an easy cold dip recipe perfect for serving with crackers. This cold party dip is loaded with bacon, Swiss cheese, dried cranberries and chopped walnuts.
Peanut Butter Toffee Cheesecake Dip is an easy no bake dessert recipe perfect for summer. This sweet cream cheese dip loaded with Skor bits, is perfect to serve with fruit or cookies.
Bacon Bruschetta Party Dip is an easy appetizer recipe loaded with tomatoes, bacon, cheese, basil pesto and mayo. This cold dip can be served with sliced baguette or crackers.
Cream Cheese Bacon Chicken Tacos are an easy dinner recipe. Stand and Stuff Taco Shells are loaded with shredded chicken, cream cheese, real bacon bits onions and cheddar cheese. These chicken tacos would also be a great party food.
Smash Burger Tacos are a delightful fusion of two classic foods made with flour tortillas topped with ground beef patties, cheese, onions, pickles, shredded lettuce and homemade copycat Big Mac sauce.
Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing is a hearty salad recipe loaded with taco seasoned ground beef, romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cheddar cheese, crushed tortilla chips, corn, black bean and diced avocados all tossed in a sour cream and Catalina based dressing.
Dunkaroo Dip is a simple and delicious funfetti cake batter dip recipe that will remind you of the childhood treat.

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