Easy Recipe Ideas for Your Memorial Day Barbecue

Lifestyle

Every May, Americans celebrate Memorial Day to honor the war heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. It’s often a day that brings friends and families together to enjoy the unofficial first day of summer, prepare delicious food, and remember our many blessings.

If you’re hosting a Memorial Day celebration, there are many ways to simplify food preparations to give you more time with guests. Here are a few tips and crowd-pleasing recipe ideas that make hosting a breeze.

Main Course

Barbecue foil packets are a great way to grill a delicious entrée with minimal prep and clean-up. As a bonus, your protein and veggies can all go into the same packet, which takes the mental work out of coordinating the timing of all your dishes. This super simple Grilled Shrimp Boil Recipe from Diethood is a perfect combination of flavors to enjoy by the water.

Ingredients

Baby Potatoes
Corn on the Cob
Shrimp
Smoked Sausage
Yellow Onion
Garlic
Melted Butter
Salt
Fresh Ground Black Pepper
Old Bay Seasoning
Lemon Slices, for garnish
Chopped Parsley, for garnish

Directions

Preheat Grill: Set your grill to 400 degrees F.
Prepare Foil: Tear out large (measuring 12×12) heavy duty foil sheets. Set aside.
Boil water: Add water to a large pot and set over high heat; bring to a boil.
Cook Corn & Potatoes: Add potatoes and corn to boiling water; reduce heat to a steady simmer and continue to cook for 10 minutes. Drain.
Combine Other Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine shrimp, sausages, onion, garlic, potatoes, and corn.
Add Butter: Add melted butter to the shrimp mixture.
Season: Season with salt, pepper and old bay seasoning; stir until thoroughly combined.
Portion Ingredients in Foil: Divide the shrimp mixture ingredients between the aluminum foil sheets. Wrap foils tightly around the ingredients and seal it all together.
Grill: Place the packets directly on the grill and cook for 15 minutes, flipping once halfway through cooking.
Garnish & Serve: Carefully open up the packets, away from your face, and garnish with lemon slices and parsley.

Side Salad

With such a filling entrée, a light cucumber salad is so refreshing and tastes like summer. You can save time on the day of the party by putting this salad together the night before. The cucumbers will stay crisp, and have plenty of time to soak up the tangy marinade.

Ingredients

5 cucumbers
1 red onion
1 cup apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar, red wine vinegar, rice vinegar)
½ cup sugar (or more to taste)
½ cup water
1 teaspoon salt

Directions

Peel and slice cucumbers into thin slices.
Cut onion in half and cut into very thin slices.
Combine onions and cucumbers in a large bowl.
In a separate, medium-sized bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Stir until sugar dissolves.
Pour vinegar mixture over cucumbers and onions. Stir until the cucumbers are evenly coated in the dressing.
Refrigerate at least 20 minutes or up to three days. Before serving, drain liquid and place in a serving bowl to serve.
Season: Season with salt, pepper and old bay seasoning; stir until thoroughly combined.
Portion Ingredients in Foil: Divide the shrimp mixture ingredients between the aluminum foil sheets. Wrap foils tightly around the ingredients and seal it all together.
Grill: Place the packets directly on the grill and cook for 15 minutes, flipping once halfway through cooking.
Garnish & Serve: Carefully open up the packets, away from your face, and garnish with lemon slices and parsley.

Signature Cocktails

Continue the cucumber theme with this Cool Cuke cocktail. Balancing cucumber vodka with fresh citrus juices, it’s a perfect balance of sweet, tart and totally refreshing. Find a cool spot in a Tuuci Air Lounge hammock, relax and enjoy!

Ingredients

2 oz Stoli Cucumber Vodka
½ oz Cointreau liqueur
Fresh Mint Sprig
2 oz Fresh Lemonade
½ Lime, juiced
½ Lemon, juiced
Cucumber Slices, for garnish

Directions

Muddle vodka, cointreau and mint in a shaker.
Add lemonade, lemon and lime juices, and ice to shaker and shake vigorously.
Strain into a highball glass with lots of ice.
Garnish with cucumber slice and mint sprig.

This beautiful sangria is festive color and makes a beautiful centerpiece. Plus, it couldn’t be any easier to make. Just combine all ingredients into a pitcher, and serve over ice. You can pre-portion ingredients in the fridge for round two, so you can quickly combine them and return to the party. It’s a perfect beverage to sip beneath a Tuuci parasol. Cheers!

Ingredients

6 oz Blueberries
2 Oranges, 1 thinly sliced into rounds, 1 juiced
6 oz Raspberries
8 oz Strawberries, hulled and halved
Baking & Spices
1/3 cup Sugar
1½ cups Club soda, chilled
½ cup Orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier
1 bottle Rose wine
Ice cubes, reserved

Directions

In a large pitcher, gently stir all ingredients except for the ice. Pour sangria and fruit into ice-filled glasses.

Photo by Taste of Home

Don’t Forget Dessert!

There are so many festive red, white and blue desserts that make a delicious way to mark the occasion. From parfait cups to fruit pizzas, Memorial Day dessert recipes take advantage of the season’s berries and create a beautiful presentation. This patriotic dessert from Taste of Home takes just 20 minutes of prep time, and will be an instant crowd favorite.

Ingredients

2 qt Blueberries
2 qt Strawberries
1/2 tsp Almond extract
1/2 cup Sugar
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese
2 cups Heavy whipping cream, whipped

Directions

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and extracts until fluffy. Fold in whipped cream. Place a third of the mixture in a 4-qt. bowl. Reserve 20 strawberry halves and 1/2 cup blueberries for garnish.
Layer half of the remaining strawberries and blueberries over cream mixture. Top with another third of the cream mixture and the remaining berries. Spread the remaining cream mixture on top. Use the reserved strawberries and blueberries to make a “flag” on top.

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