subscribe to receive my posts, special offers, recipes, and workouts.
≡ Menu
7 Memorial Day Recipes for Parties, Picnics and Cookouts

Happy Thursday! Memorial Day is just around the corner and I know many of you have fun festivities planned for the long weekend. If you’re attending a party, picnic or cookout, here are seven of my favorite Memorial Day recipes that are sure to be a hit!

Watermelon, Feta and Arugula Salad with Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette

Watermelon, Feta and Arugula Salad with Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette

I don’t know about you guys but I just can’t get enough watermelon between Memorial Day and Labor Day. It’s so refreshing. In this salad, I paired the sweet watermelon with salty feta and a pepper jelly vinaigrette for a slightly spicy kick. I can’t wait to make this salad again this season! Get the recipe here.

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Chili Garlic Vinaigrette

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Chili Garlic Vinaigrette

If you’re looking for a unique and healthier spin on traditional potato salad, try this roasted sweet potato salad! It’s a great choice for those of you looking for paleo/gluten free/dairy free recipe options. The sweet potatoes in this salad are roasted with red onions and then tossed with a tasty lime/garlic/jalapeno vinaigrette. A hefty dose of cilantro finishes it all off. Get the recipe here.

Shrimp, Asparagus and Avocado Salad

Shrimp, Asparagus and Avocado Salad

This shrimp, asparagus and avocado salad is a great thing to bring to a cookout or party if burgers and hot dogs aren’t your thing. It’s a refreshing and light summer salad that can be enjoyed as a light main dish or as a side to share. It’s packed with fresh veggies and basil. Bonus, there is avocado! Need I say more!? Get the recipe here.

Lemon Feta Potato Salad

Lemon Feta Potato Salad

This is one of my favorite recipes on my blog. This potato salad features a short ingredient list but a huge burst of flavor thanks to a lemon dijon vinaigrette and crumbled feta. You can serve it warm or chilled. Get the recipe here.

Mixed Berry Salad with Basil, Balsamic and Mint

Mixed Berry Salad with Balsamic, Basil and Mint

Berry season is short so now is the perfect time to take advantage of those sweet berries that are bursting with flavor. In this fruit salad, fresh strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries are tossed with balsamic, orange zest, mint and basil. If you’ve never tried pairing berries and balsamic, it’s a must! Get the recipe here.

Salted Fudge Brownies, AKA The BEST Brownies Ever!

Salted Fudge Brownies, AKA The BEST Brownies Ever!

Oh my gosh, these brownies. I’ve made them so many times that I have the recipe memorized and my friends are always disappointed if I don’t bring them to parties! They are fudgy, chewy and so yummy. The sea salt on top is the icing on the cake. Bonus, you only need one pan to make them and you can have them in the oven in under 10 minutes! Get the recipe here.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars

Back in the early days of my blog, these peanut butter chocolate chip bars were my calling card. So many of you tried and loved the recipe and I used to even bake them and send them off to readers! I feel like bars and brownies are perfect for Memorial Day cookouts and long beach/lake days. They’re sturdy and hold up well to transport and sitting out for a bit. If you love peanut butter as much as I do, these are a must bake. Get the recipe here.

I hope you found this collection of Memorial Day recipes to be helpful! Happy cooking and baking.

What are your Memorial Day Weekend plans? Are you attending any parties or cookouts? If so, what are you bringing!?

{ 9 comments }

Recent Posts…

Big Bear Peaks + Pines Race Recap (3-Day Stage Race, My First 50k)

Big Bear Peaks + Pines Race Recap (3-Day Stage Race, My First 50k)

I recently traveled to Big Bear Lake, California for the inaugural Big Bear Peaks + Pines three-day stage race hosted by TransRockies Running. This was my third TransRockies event in 12 months (see also Colorado + Moab) and I’m here to tell you that they can do no wrong when it comes to race organization [...]

{ 3 comments }
Reading, Watching, Listening (Spring 2026 Edition)

Reading, Watching, Listening (Spring 2026 Edition)

Happy weekend! Another week in the books! I got three runs in (6.5 miles, 5.5 miles, 5.5 miles) and I have a trail run planned for tomorrow. Total weekly mileage will end up around 30-35 miles depending on if I go for 13 or 17 tomorrow! I’m 16 weeks out from the Golden Ultra so [...]

{ 7 comments }
Life Lately: 8 Years Old, A New Piercing, Trail Training and More

Life Lately: 8 Years Old, A New Piercing, Trail Training and More

Happy Memorial Day Weekend. It’s a very rainy one here in Charlotte and while I am a little bummed not to be spending the weekend in Florida with the fam or by the pool at our swim club (just opened for the season!), I’m also welcoming a slower pace and time at home. It’s been [...]

{ 2 comments }
24 Things I’ve Made for Lunch Recently

24 Things I’ve Made for Lunch Recently

Hi and happy May! As we roll into the first full week of a new month, I have almost a month’s worth of lunch ideas for you. It’s a great mix of sandwiches, bowls, salads and wraps. I hope you enjoy and find some inspiration for your midday meal! Open-faced chickpea salad sandwich on toasted [...]

{ 4 comments }
Charlotte Racefest Half Marathon (Race Recap + First Time Pacing + Update On My Hip)

Charlotte Racefest Half Marathon (Race Recap + First Time Pacing + Update On My Hip)

I ran the Charlotte Racefest Half Marathon on April 18 to pace a longtime client and friend in her first half marathon and had the best day out there! 2026 CHARLOTTE RACEFEST HALF MARATHON This was half marathon number 12 for me and a really fun, enjoyable and rewarding one! I started training my friend [...]

{ 1 comment }
15 Things I’ve Eaten for Dinner Recently

15 Things I’ve Eaten for Dinner Recently

YOU GUYS! It’s been SIX MONTHS since I wrote a recent eats post! (insert face screaming emoji here) These have been a mainstay on my blog for years. It’s probably my longest-running content series of all time. I have received countless comments and messages from people over the yeas about how useful they find them [...]

{ 4 comments }
Life Lately: Spring Edition

Life Lately: Spring Edition

Hello my friends! I hope this finds you enjoying all of the beauty and fresh starts that spring has to offer (and not too much of the sneezing and wheezing). Life has been good over here. I’m very much enjoying the longer days, cool mornings and warm afternoons and gorgeous blooms. Spring is so lovely [...]

{ 2 comments }