We’ve almost made it to the weekend! Here are 50+ fresh, healthy and delicious recipes to commemorate Memorial Day. I’ve organized them by breakfast and brunch, appetizers and dips, salads and sides, main dishes, desserts and sweet treats, and cold drinks. I pulled all of these recipes from the “Independence Day” category, so check there for even more options. In actuality, these recipes are perfectly suited for summer parties from now through Labor Day. This is our first Memorial Day with Grace, and my parents are coming up to see her. We’re looking forward to some low-key family time and the farmers’ market. Cheers to the long weekend!
Breakfast & Brunch
Set yourself up for a great day with a balanced breakfast. I love these wholesome blueberry muffins with a swipe of peanut butter or almond butter. For a savory option, you can’t go wrong with my go-to frittata formula.
Almond Flour PancakesCrêpesBanana Coconut MuffinsWhole Wheat Banana PancakesCold Brew Coffee (Recipe & Tips!)Strawberry Oat MuffinsHomemade Bloody MarysHow to Make Frittatas (Stovetop or Baked)
Appetizers & Dips
Dips, dips and more dips! I always seem to fill up on appetizers, so I love to set out some lighter options to balance the more indulgent dips. If you find perfectly ripe avocados, you’re going to love this chunky avocado salsa (shown above), or this easy avocado dip, or of course, guacamole. You could serve homemade tzatziki as a healthy veggie dip. I swear by this quick salsa recipe and this ultra-creamy hummus.
7-Layer DipKalamata White Bean DipGreen Goddess Tahini DipChipotle SalsaCowboy CaviarEasy Blue Cheese DipBaked Feta Dip with Cherry TomatoesEsquites (Mexican Street Corn Salad)
Salads & Sides
Freshen things up with a crisp salad made with greens or more sturdy veggies. For green salads, wait to drizzle in the dressing until you’re ready to serve. A few of my top picks would be the outrageously colorful and bold strawberry arugula salad shown above (or this berry spinach salad for a more simple option), Jessica’s marinated chickpeas, and this crunchy Thai-inspired quinoa salad.
Sesame DressingChimichurri ChickpeasPesto Pasta SaladGreen Goddess Tortellini SaladCowboy CaviarItalian DressingFavorite Chickpea SaladCucumber Tomato Salad with Greek Dressing
A Few Simple Homemade Salad Dressings
Basic Vinaigrette Creamy Tahini Dressing Fresh Mint Salad Dressing Green Goddess Dressing Sunshine Salad Dressing
Main Dishes
My pizza dough works great on a grill, as do my favorite veggie burgers. If you have my cookbook, follow the burger recipe on page 177, or check out the recipe on the blog. You’ll find more fun handheld options below!
Desserts & Sweet Treats
This no-bake berry yogurt tart looks impressive, but it’s easy to make. Add some blueberries to round out the theme. Another beautiful patriotic option is this gluten-free almond cake with berries on top. Or, monster cookies with red, white and blue chocolate candies would be very cute.
Thumbprint CookiesCrêpesFoolproof Basque CheesecakeSimple Blueberry CakeMixed Berry Crisp (Gluten Free)Easy Pineapple Mint PopsiclesChocolate Peanut Butter Crispy BarsPeanut Butter Oat Cookies
Cold Drinks
Here’s an idea: Start with mimosas and transition to Aperol spritzes as the day goes on. They’re both bubbly, festive and refreshing. For non-alcoholic options, try cold brew iced tea, frozen mint lemonade or Starbucks-inspired “pink drink” (it’s made with hibiscus tea, coconut milk and strawberries).
Americano CocktailPaloma CocktailRanch Water CocktailClassic MojitoTom Collins CocktailRefreshing Hibiscus MocktailKir Royale CocktailFresh Bellini Cocktail
More resources you might appreciate: 23 healthy make-ahead breakfast recipes, 45 recipes that pack well for lunch and 20 simple weeknight dinners. You might also like my monthly seasonal produce guides and healthy kitchen essentials. View all roundups and resource posts here.
