My 2026 Memorial Day Menu

If I’m hosting Memorial Day this year, this is exactly what’s going on the menu. I wanted a spread that felt nostalgic, comforting, summery, and honestly just easy to enjoy with family and friends. Nothing overly complicated, nothing too fussy, just really good food that makes people want to gather around the table and stay awhile.

For me, Memorial Day officially kicks off outdoor cooking season. The grill is going, music is playing, drinks are cold, and there’s always somebody standing around the kitchen asking when the food is ready. This year’s menu is filled with cookout classics, seafood favorites, refreshing drinks, and desserts that feel like summer in every bite.

From juicy turkey burgers and grilled shrimp skewers to buttery Alaskan king crab and homemade vanilla ice cream sandwiches, this might honestly be one of my favorite Memorial Day menus yet.

Watermelon Pineapple Fresca

Every cookout needs a signature drink, and this Watermelon Pineapple Fresca is mine this year. Fresh watermelon and pineapple are blended separately before being combined with lime juice, lemon juice, and brown sugar simple syrup for the perfect refreshing summer drink.

Served over ice with tajín around the rim, it’s sweet, citrusy, cold, and exactly what you want on a hot day standing near the grill.

Famous La Scala Chopped Salad

The Famous La Scala Chopped Salad absolutely deserves a spot on the Memorial Day table. It’s crunchy, savory, refreshing, and balances out all the grilled food perfectly.

Made with thinly sliced iceberg lettuce, salami, chickpeas, mozzarella, red onion, and pepperoncini tossed in a tangy vinaigrette, this salad somehow gets better the longer it sits.

It’s giving Beverly Hills summer lunch in the best possible way.

Juicy Turkey Burgers

Turkey burgers can easily become dry and bland, but these stay juicy, flavorful, and incredibly tender thanks to onions, peppers, egg, and my secret ingredient: a splash of milk.

They’re grilled until smoky and charred on the outside while staying juicy inside, then topped with melted cheddar cheese and served on soft brioche buns with lettuce and tomato.

Honestly, these disappear every single time I make them.

Grilled Hot Dogs

You simply cannot have a Memorial Day cookout without hot dogs on the grill. There’s just something nostalgic about them that instantly feels like summer.

I like mine lightly charred with soft buns and plenty of toppings laid out for everyone to build their own.

Simple, classic, and necessary. No there’s no recipe since it’s just one ingredient lol but I did share the video here.

Grilled Shrimp and Sausage Kebabs

These grilled shrimp and sausage kebabs might be one of the easiest things on the menu, but they always steal the show.

The combination of shrimp, smoked turkey sausage, pineapple, and red pepper gets seasoned with Old Bay, lemon pepper, and olive oil before hitting the grill.

The pineapple caramelizes beautifully while the shrimp stay juicy and smoky with just enough char.

Oven Baked Alaskan King Crab Legs

Nothing feels more luxurious at a summer cookout than giant buttery Alaskan king crab legs piled onto a platter.

The best part is they’re incredibly easy to make because the crab legs are already fully cooked before freezing. All you’re doing is gently reheating them in the oven with lemon, butter, herbs, and a little water to create steam.

Served with melted butter on the side, cold drinks, and good company, it honestly feels like the ultimate seafood feast at home.

Honey Jerk Barbecue Wings

Sweet, smoky, sticky, spicy wings are mandatory for my Memorial Day menu.

These honey jerk barbecue wings are coated in layers of flavor with barbecue sauce, jerk seasoning, and honey creating the perfect balance of smoky heat and sweetness.

Cooked until caramelized and sticky, these are the wings everyone hovers around while they’re still hot.

Roux Mac and Cheese

A good baked mac and cheese is non-negotiable at any cookout, and my roux mac and cheese is exactly the kind of side dish people go back for seconds and thirds of.

The sauce starts with a buttery roux before getting loaded with cheese for a rich, creamy texture that stays smooth and velvety instead of greasy or broken.

Baked until golden on top, this is true comfort food.

Barbecue Baked Beans

These barbecue baked beans are smoky, rich, savory, and packed with flavor from smoked turkey sausage, onions, celery, barbecue sauce, and seasonings.

Everything bakes together in the oven until thickened, caramelized, and perfectly tender.

This is one of those cookout sides that somehow tastes even better the next day.

Classic Potato Salad

Potato salad is one of those Memorial Day staples that instantly makes the table feel complete.

Mine is made with oversized russet potatoes, chopped eggs, celery, onion, mayo, mustard, and simple seasonings before being topped with smoked paprika and fresh dill.

Creamy, tangy, nostalgic, and honestly top three cookout sides for me.

Vanilla Ice Cream From Scratch

To finish everything off, homemade vanilla ice cream from scratch turned into giant cookie ice cream sandwiches.

The vanilla ice cream is made with heavy cream, whole milk, egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla bean paste for the richest flavor and smoothest texture.

Sandwiched between soft chocolate chip cookies, it’s the perfect nostalgic summer dessert.

Memorial Day Hosting Tips

The easiest way to host Memorial Day without feeling overwhelmed is to prep as much as possible ahead of time.

• Make the potato salad and baked beans the night before.
• Prep skewers ahead and refrigerate until grilling.
• Chill the fresca ingredients overnight.
• Bake desserts or churn ice cream the day before.
• Set up a self-serve drink station outside.
• Use disposable serving trays for easy cleanup.

Most importantly, don’t overcomplicate it. Some of the best cookout memories happen when everybody’s just gathered around the kitchen, grabbing food straight off the grill, and enjoying the moment.

This 2026 Memorial Day menu feels cozy, nostalgic, elevated, and still approachable enough for real life. Exactly how summer hosting should feel.