Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and brings friends and family together around the grill and picnic table.
While honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, many Americans celebrate with food that showcases red, white, and blue. Ready to refresh your holiday menu? Let’s explore some standout dishes worth serving and tired classics that deserve a year off.
1. Star-Spangled Berry Trifle
Layers of fluffy angel food cake, whipped cream, and vibrant berries create a dessert that’s both eye-catching and refreshing! Strawberries and blueberries naturally bring patriotic colors to the table. Assemble this beauty in a clear glass bowl to showcase those gorgeous layers.
Your guests will be snapping pics before digging in with delight!
2. Flag Sheet Cake
Though once the star of every Memorial Day gathering, these artificially colored cakes have lost their wow factor.
Nobody really wants another slice of dry cake smothered in sickeningly sweet frosting dyed with food coloring. Why not try something fresher and more natural this year? Your guests’ taste buds (and stomachs) will thank you for skipping this sugary cliché!
3. Grilled Watermelon & Feta Skewers
Have you ever tasted grilled watermelon? The heat caramelizes the sugars, creating a flavor explosion when paired with salty feta and fresh mint! Thread cubes of watermelon, feta, and blueberries onto skewers for a red, white, and blue appetizer that’s unexpectedly sophisticated.
Drizzle with balsamic glaze for an extra flavor punch that’ll have everyone asking for your recipe.
4. Jello Flag Mold
Jiggly, artificially-flavored gelatin studded with canned fruit? Hard pass! These wobbly desserts might spark nostalgia, but they’re relics of a bygone culinary era. Moreover, they’re time-consuming to make with minimal payoff.
The layers often bleed together, creating a murky purple mess rather than crisp patriotic stripes. Let’s leave this vintage recipe in grandma’s cookbook where it belongs!
5. Smoky BBQ Brisket Sliders
Nothing says “American celebration” quite like slow-smoked brisket! These mini sandwiches pair tender, smoky meat with tangy coleslaw on buttery slider buns. What makes them special? The secret’s in the 12-hour smoke and the coffee-infused dry rub that creates an incredible bark.
Serve with mini American flags as toothpicks and watch these disappear faster than fireworks light up the night sky!
6. Store-Bought Potato Salad
Blasphemy! That gloopy, overly-mayonnaised concoction from the deli counter deserves no place at your Memorial Day spread. It typically sits in the danger zone temperature-wise far too long.
Furthermore, it lacks any personality or pizzazz that homemade versions offer. Your guests deserve better than this uninspired side dish that screams “I didn’t try.” Share something with actual flavor instead!
7. Red, White & Blueberry Sangria
Zesty, refreshing, and gloriously patriotic! This crowd-pleasing sangria combines white wine with fresh strawberries, blueberries, and apple slices for a drink that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. Splash in some berry-flavored vodka and a hint of elderflower liqueur for an elevated twist.
Serve in a clear glass pitcher to showcase those gorgeous colors, and don’t forget to make a non-alcoholic version for the kids!
8. Artificial Blue Punch
Electric blue punch might seem festive, but let’s be honest – it’s just sugar water with artificial coloring that stains everyone’s mouths! Children may love the novelty, but adults will quietly avoid this chemical concoction.
Besides turning tongues blue, these drinks often leave sticky residue everywhere. Why not offer something that actually tastes good and won’t have guests looking like they ate a Smurf?
9. Grilled Corn With Smoky Blue Cheese Butter
Sweet summer corn transforms into something extraordinary when kissed by flames and slathered with blue cheese compound butter! The char from the grill perfectly complements the creamy, tangy butter that melts into every kernel.
Sprinkle with paprika for a pop of red, and suddenly your side dish is sporting patriotic colors too! Consider setting up a toppings bar so guests can customize their cobs with herbs, spices, and cheeses.
10. Canned Baked Beans
Yawn! Those syrupy, one-dimensional beans from a can scream “I couldn’t be bothered.” Despite being a cookout staple, they lack personality and nutritional value compared to homemade versions.
Moreover, they’re loaded with high-fructose corn syrup and sodium. Instead, why not whip up a quick bean dish with fresh ingredients that will actually impress your guests? Your cookout deserves better than this lazy shortcut!
11. Loaded Star-Shaped Nachos
Arranged in a spectacular star pattern, these nachos aren’t just delicious – they’re conversation starters! Layer blue corn and white corn tortilla chips with pulled chicken, fresh pico de gallo, and creamy queso. Garnish with red peppers, white sour cream, and blue corn chips for patriotic flair.
The beauty? Everyone can grab from their section without disturbing the entire display! Consider adding jalapeños for guests who appreciate some heat.
12. Plain Hot Dogs
Sure, hot dogs scream “American cookout,” but serving plain wieners on white buns with nothing but ketchup and mustard? Snooze fest! These processed meat tubes deserve more creativity after all these years of loyal service.
Instead of relegating them to kids-only status, why not create a gourmet hot dog bar? Your guests will appreciate the chance to craft something more exciting than the same old boring dogs they’ve had at every cookout since childhood.
13. Patriotic Pavlova Wreath
Light as clouds yet dramatically impressive, this meringue-based dessert crowned with fresh berries steals the spotlight at any gathering! The crisp exterior gives way to a marshmallow-soft center that melts in your mouth.
Shaped into a wreath and decorated with strawberries, blueberries, and white chocolate shavings, it’s both patriotic and elegant. Though it looks complex, the recipe is surprisingly forgiving – even novice bakers can master this show-stopper!
14. American Flag Fruit Pizza
Once Instagram-worthy, this sugary monstrosity has saturated social media feeds for years. The cookie crust gets soggy, the cream cheese frosting becomes runny in the heat, and the fruit starts weeping after 20 minutes.
Additionally, cutting and serving this geometric creation inevitably destroys the design you spent an hour creating! Save yourself the frustration and countless wasted strawberries. Try something that tastes as good as it looks instead!