Sarra Ina Garten Memorial Day recipes kick off summer with her best grilled chicken, salmon, swordfish, turkey burgers, creamy potato salads, fresh corn sides, and easy desserts that make your backyard spread feel effortless. These 20 picks cover everything from the grill to the dessert table so you can spend more time outside and less time in the kitchen.
1. Grilled Lemon Chicken
Lemon-marinated chicken breasts soaked in lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, fresh thyme, and rosemary, then grilled for about 10 minutes until charred on the outside and juicy inside. The citrus-herb marinade keeps the meat moist and adds a bright, fragrant flavor straight off the grill. Ready in just 20 minutes total for the fastest protein at the cookout.
2. Asian Grilled Salmon
Salmon fillets glazed with a mixture of soy sauce, Dijon mustard, honey, fresh ginger, and garlic, then grilled until the glaze turns sticky, caramelized, and golden on the outside while the fish stays flaky inside. The sweet-savory crust that forms on the grill is irresistible. Done in just 20 minutes for a lighter main alongside the burgers.
3. Grilled Swordfish
Swordfish steaks marinated in lemon juice, orange juice, olive oil, parsley, rosemary, and garlic, then grilled for just 8 minutes until firm on the outside with a tender, flaky center. The double-citrus marinade gives the fish a bright, herby flavor that pairs well with any summer side. Ready in about 18 minutes for an impressive grilled option.
4. Turkey Burgers
Juicy turkey burgers made with ground turkey, Worcestershire sauce, grated onion, parsley, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper, cooked until golden on the outside and moist inside. The grated onion and Worcestershire keep the lean meat flavorful and prevent it from drying out. About 27 minutes for a lighter burger option that holds its own next to the beef.
5. Sliders
Mini beef patties made from 80/20 ground beef seasoned with Worcestershire, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, cooked and served on small buns with cheddar, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and condiments. The high-fat beef keeps each slider tender and savory even at a small size. Done in about 20 minutes for a Memorial Day snack that disappears fast.
6. Kielbasa With Mustard Dip
Pan-seared kielbasa sliced into rounds and served with a tangy dipping sauce made from Dijon mustard, whole-grain mustard, mayonnaise, honey, and optional lemon juice. The kielbasa gets slightly crispy on the cut sides while staying smoky and juicy inside. About 25 minutes for a no-fuss appetizer you can set out on a platter and walk away.
7. Deviled Eggs
Hard-boiled eggs filled with a smooth, creamy mixture of mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, salt, and pepper, then dusted with paprika and optional fresh chives or dill. The filling is tangy and bright without being too heavy. Ready in about 25 minutes for a classic cookout appetizer that always gets picked up first.
8. Pan Fried Onion Dip
Caramelized yellow onions cooked low and slow in butter and oil until deeply golden and sweet, then folded into softened cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise for a rich, savory dip with real onion flavor in every bite. Nothing like the powdered mix version from the store. About 40 minutes for a dip that makes you want to keep the chips coming.
9. French Potato Salad
Baby potatoes boiled until tender, then tossed while still warm with a vinaigrette of white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, olive oil, fresh dill, parsley, and optional capers for a tangy, lighter potato salad with no mayonnaise at all. The warm potatoes absorb the vinaigrette and become incredibly flavorful. Done in about 30 minutes and great at room temperature.
10. Blue Cheese Coleslaw
Shredded green and red cabbage with grated carrots tossed in a dressing of mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and celery seed, loaded with crumbled blue cheese and fresh parsley. The sharp, salty blue cheese gives this slaw a bold, tangy punch that pairs perfectly with grilled meats. No cooking and ready in about 15 minutes.
11. Fiesta Corn and Avocado Salad
Fresh corn kernels tossed with diced avocado, red and yellow bell peppers, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, and olive oil for a bright, creamy salad with chunks of avocado in every bite. Optional jalapeño adds a kick for those who like heat. No cooking required and ready in about 15 minutes for the easiest summer side on this list.
12. Orzo Salad With Feta
Orzo pasta tossed with diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, crumbled feta, parsley, dill, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and Dijon mustard for a bright, herby grain salad that holds up well sitting out at a party. The feta adds a salty, creamy bite throughout. Done in about 25 minutes and tastes even better after it sits.
13. Tomatoes Burrata
Thick-sliced heirloom tomatoes arranged with creamy burrata cheese and fresh basil, drizzled with a vinaigrette of champagne vinegar, Dijon mustard, olive oil, and garlic. The burrata splits open into a rich, milky center that mixes with the tomato juices and vinaigrette on the plate. No cooking and ready in about 15 minutes for the simplest, most stunning summer starter.
14. Snap Pea Salad
Crisp sugar snap peas blanched for just 2 minutes, then tossed with lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, fresh dill, and fresh mint for a bright, crunchy salad that tastes like spring on a plate. The peas stay snappy and the dill-mint combination is unexpectedly refreshing. Done in about 12 minutes for the crunchiest side at the table.
15. Baked Beans
Smoky navy beans baked with diced bacon, onion, garlic, ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire until thick, sticky, and sweet with a deep savory backbone from the bacon. The long bake time lets all the flavors meld together into something rich and smoky. About an hour and forty-five minutes, mostly hands-off, for a cookout essential.
16. Strawberry Shortcakes Deconstructed
Buttery homemade biscuits made with flour, baking powder, cold butter, and heavy cream, split open and piled with macerated strawberries and freshly whipped cream. The biscuits are golden and crumbly while the berries release their sweet juices into every layer. About 40 minutes for a Memorial Day dessert that says summer is officially here.
17. Lemon Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
Tangy lemon cake made with butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla, topped with a thick cream cheese frosting of cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest. The crumb is moist and bright with citrus while the frosting is creamy and slightly tangy. About 45 minutes for a crowd-sized cake that travels easily to any Memorial Day party.
18. Chocolate Chunk Blondies
Chewy blondies made with softened butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla, chocolate chunks, and optional walnuts, baked until golden on top and dense and fudgy inside. The brown sugar base gives them a buttery, caramel-like flavor that pairs perfectly with the melted chocolate chunks throughout. About 35 minutes for an easy bar dessert you can slice and set out.
19. Limoncello Fruit Salad
Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, pineapple, and green grapes tossed with Limoncello, honey, lemon juice, lemon zest, and fresh mint for a bright, boozy fruit salad that is refreshing and just sweet enough. The Limoncello adds a subtle citrus depth that makes plain fruit salad taste extraordinary. About 15 minutes of prep with no cooking for the lightest dessert on the table.
20. Texas Sheet Cake
Rich chocolate sheet cake made with butter, water, cocoa powder, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, and baking soda, baked in a sheet pan and topped with a warm, pourable chocolate frosting of butter, cocoa, milk, and vanilla while still hot so it soaks into the top. The cake is dense, fudgy, and deeply chocolatey. About 40 minutes for a big-batch dessert that feeds the whole Memorial Day crowd.
