Best Memorial Day Recipes

Published May 21, 2020 Updated April 30, 2026 For the unofficial start of summer, these dishes with fresh, bold flavors give you plenty of time to spend with friends and family on Memorial Day, which falls on May 25 — and won’t leave you stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is having fun. Many of the recipes are meant to be prepared ahead and simply set out, while others are best grilled as you chat with guests. Credit... Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini. No summer event is complete without potato salad, and this one, which came from the chef Millie Peartree’s mother, Millie Bell, is especially excellent. Sweet relish and mustard add a zip against the fork-tender potatoes. Served cold, it’s the perfect counterpoint to warming days. Recipe: Classic Potato Salad Credit... Andrew Purcell for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Carrie Purcell. A melding of two Spanish tapas — head-on shrimp cooked on a plancha and camarones al ajillo (sizzled garlic shrimp) — this recipe from Steven Raichlen brings out the best in these crustaceans, searing them against hot metal so that the edges roast up sweet and crisp. Skip the flambéing if it makes you nervous. It’ll all still be delicious. Recipe: Shrimp a la Plancha Credit... Rachel Vanni for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Spencer Richards. This very easy salad from Mark Bittman is crunchy-salty-sweet heaven. Toss in diced avocado or a can of beans (or both!) if you’re feeling it. …