From fruit tart and cherry pie and black bean burgers, get inspired with these 20+ homemade recipes to try when observing Memorial Day weekend. Each are perfect for the unofficial start to the summer cookout season.
By “real food recipes,” I mean simple from-scratch dessert, snack, and drink recipes without an onslaught of artificial ingredients. Think: 3 ingredient whipped cream, fresh fruit pies and tarts, focaccia with an easy homemade dough, strawberry lemonade made with real fruit, make-ahead salads, and so much more.
My team and I collected some of the most popular summertime staple recipes on the website. Which have you tried so far?
Memorial Day Weekend Recipes
If you’re gathering with loved ones to honor the country’s fallen soldiers, the following Memorial Day recipes highlight summer’s beautifully fresh flavors.
1. Blueberry Crumble Pie
This blueberry crumble pie recipe combines blueberry pie and blueberry crisp in one… basically the two best summer desserts on the planet in one pie dish.
2. Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Have your cake and eat your veggies, too. I crammed THREE cups of zucchini into this chocolate zucchini cake and you’d never even know it!
3. Lemon Cupcakes
Enjoy tasty lemon cupcakes with strawberry frosting. They’re ultra flavorful and always the first to disappear from a dessert tray!
4. Fresh Berry Quinoa Salad
Fresh berry quinoa salad is a texture lover’s DREAM. There’s minimum lettuce and maximum flavor!
5. Garlic Rosemary Herb Focaccia
This simple homemade focaccia comes together with a 6 ingredient dough and you can add any of your favorite toppings like garlic, herbs, tomatoes, olives, and more. It’s what you bring to a summer gathering when you don’t know what to bring. No rolling pin or complicated shaping required!
6. Blueberries & Cream Cupcakes
Blueberries & cream cupcakes burst with vanilla, juicy blueberries, and a hint of lemon. Topped with lush cream cheese frosting, they’re always a summertime favorite.
7. Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie
All you need to know is that when I first tasted this summery strawberry cream cheese pie, I said out loud to an empty kitchen: “Well this is the best pie I’ve ever had.” And, well, I’ve made many pies before.
8. Southwestern Chopped Chicken Salad
Southwestern chopped chicken salad has everything from fresh corn and avocado to grilled chicken and zesty taco seasoning (and tortilla chips!). Something to please everyone at the party.
9. Lemon Blueberry Tart
Cool, creamy, and refreshing lemon blueberry tart comes together with 10 ingredients. The simple lemon filling sits in a flaky shortbread crust and is swirled with homemade blueberry sauce.
10. No Bake Cheesecake
By following this no-bake cheesecake recipe, you’ll be gifted with a smooth, chilled, and creamy dessert that sets up beautifully in the refrigerator. Unlike regular cheesecake, no-bake cheesecake isn’t overly heavy. It’s lightly sweet and perfectly refreshing!
11. Fresh Fruit Tart
Summer holidays and fruit tarts go hand-in-hand, so I hope you try this fresh fruit tart. I garnished it with strawberries, blueberries, and homemade whipped cream. For something a little easier, try this sugar cookie fruit pizza.
12. Black Bean Burgers
With great reviews from taste testers around the world, I’m confident you’ll be satisfied with these black bean burgers! Grill or bake the black bean burgers and enjoy on a bun, plain, or on a salad. They’re big, thick, and hearty and even meat eaters LOVE these.
13. Strawberry Feta Pasta Salad
This creamy strawberry feta pasta salad is bright and flavorful and, conveniently enough, tastes best made ahead of time!
14. Homemade Cherry Pie
You won’t find canned filling or store-bought crust here. My recipe for homemade cherry pie is a 100% homemade from scratch summertime delight. Or if you prefer blueberries, this thick-filling blueberry pie is another classic!
15. S’mores Cookie Bars
Soft and chewy s’mores cookie bars! Graham cracker and brown sugar cookie dough sandwiches a thick layer of marshmallow creme and plenty of chocolate chips in these undeniably delicious dessert bars.
16. Bacon Wrapped Jalapeños
Bacon-wrapped cheesy stuffed jalapeños are the hit of every party. People MIGRATE to these things whenever I bring them. It’s like I brought gold.
17. Berries ‘n’ Cream Icebox Cake
This berries ‘n’ cream icebox cake is the essential end to your BBQ. And it feeds a crowd! Homemade whipped cream instead of cool whip. You can really taste the difference!
18. Zucchini Herbed Ricotta Flatbread
Easy zucchini flatbread pizza topped with summery zucchini, herbed ricotta, roasted tomatoes, and fresh basil. So much flavor in this one!
19. Fruit Pizza
Homemade fruit pizza is a summer classic and starts with a from-scratch sugar cookie crust. Gluten free? I also have this Greek yogurt fruit tart, too!
20. Strawberry Shortcake
Easy strawberry shortcake is pure homemade goodness that celebrates the season’s fresh flavors. Skip the store-bought biscuits loaded with who-the-heck-knows-what and have fun making it at home.
21. Blueberry Yogurt Swirl Popsicles
Only 3 ingredients in these blueberry yogurt swirl popsicles! Fun and festive, especially for kids.
22. Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chewy chocolate chip cookies are obviously welcome at any sort of gathering, winter or summer, rain or shine!
23. Maryland Crab Cakes
These Maryland crab cakes get the stamp of approval from locals and out-of-towners alike. This classic lump crab cake recipe combines the flavors of lemon, parsley, and Old Bay Seasoning but the most flavor is from the crab meat itself.
24. Lemon Blueberry Layer Cake
Lemon blueberry cake is a tried and true reader favorite year after year. Made with real ingredients, you’ll taste the bursts of bright flavors!
See all spring recipes and summer recipes.
Yahoo!!! You made my weekend so much more fun with all of these scrumptious ideas! We’re trying the zucchini flatbread, stuffed jalapeños, chicken (fruit) salad, and the flag pie for starters! You have no idea how you’ve blessed our household (and neighborhood and church) plus my daughter is making your goodies now too.
Thank you for all your hard work and dedication!
Xoxoxo,
Karen
I’m glad you reminded me of the berry quinoa salad you posted from last year…I’ve been wanting to try that and now I will! Looks amazing.
Every one of these recipes look absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to try each one of them! Thank you,