Classic Memorial Day Recipes for the Best Backyard Picnic

There’s something special about a Memorial Day picnic that hasn’t changed in decades. The folding tables draped in red-and-white cloth, the sound of lawn chairs being unfolded, the smell of charcoal grill lighting. These summer recipes taste exactly like that. Pull them out, pass them around, and let someone else bring the paper plates.

The BBQ burgers are featured in our cookbook At the Family Table. Try our red white and blue desserts, too!

Grandma’s Picnic Side Dishes

No Memorial Day spread is complete without a table full of cold salads and classic sides that have been passed down for good reason. From creamy macaroni and old-fashioned layered Jello to the creamiest coleslaw you’ve ever had, these side dishes are the staples of every great picnic. 

1

Classic Potato Salad

The classic, no-frills potato salad you grew up eating. Potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, cucumber, and a simple creamy dressing.

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2

Amish Macaroni Salad

This Amish macaroni salad is my homemade version of Walmart’s deliciously irresistible creamy pasta salad. Only 10 ingredients.

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3

3 Bean Baked Beans

Skip canned beans and make it homemade. Use maple bacon for extra sweet and salty flavor.

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4

Creamy Coleslaw

Cool, crunchy, and way better than anything from a bag. There's a secret ingredient in the homemade dressing that keeps people asking for the recipe.

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5

Tuna Macaroni Salad

A five-ingredient picnic classic that comes together in minutes. Simple, satisfying, and exactly what belongs next to a burger.

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6

Cherry Pineapple Marshmallow Salad

A layered Jello salad with a cherry base and a tangy lemon cream topping. It's the retro recipe that always gets a double-take and an empty dish.

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Memorial Day Mains

These are the real Memorial Day mains that have fed hungry families for generations. From sloppy joes that drip onto your paper plate to cola-braised burgers nobody can explain but everyone loves, this is what people wait for at a cookout.

7

Cola Burgers

This was my go-to burger recipe when we first got married. The cola glaze brushes on during grilling to caramelize the outside.

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8

BBQ Bacon Burgers with Cheese

This isn’t your standard burger patty. It’s loaded with flavors of dark brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce.

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9

Hot Dog Chili Sauce

This copycat hot dog sauce comes from a popular hot dog shop in Northeast Ohio. It’s the perfect mix of sweet and spicy.

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10

Bacon Wrapped BBQ Chicken

Prep this bacon wrapped chicken the night before (or the morning you want to make it) for a quick dinner recipe. Slice up leftovers and serve on a salad.

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11

Sweet Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Let the crockpot do the work on Memorial Day and make this pulled pork with spicy mango marinade.

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12

Homemade Sloppy Joes

Feed a crowd with this homemade sloppy joe recipe. They feature a from scratch sauce made without ketchup.

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The Sweet Ending Everyone Waits For

No one leaves a Memorial Day picnic without dessert. From beautiful triple berry trifles to vintage Million Dollar Pies that have been showing up at church potlucks for fifty years. And the banana split cake brings all the flavors of the ice cream shop! Each one of them can be made the night before.

13

Triple Berry Trifle

Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries are the stars of this patriotic dessert. Use a store-bought pound cake to speed up the process!

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14

Million Dollar PIe

This old-fashioned ice box cake recipe is sweet, creamy, and packed with fruit. The best part? The whole mixture comes together in just one bowl.

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15

Banana Split Cake

An easy layered cake made with pudding, bananas and crushed pineapple. Trust me, it'll be a hit!

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