Memorial Day cookouts get messy fast when the grill is busy, and everyone wants something different. These 15 recipes cover the main-dish range, from sliders, burgers, ribs, wings, hot dogs, lobster, and shrimp to a few plate-builders that help round out the spread. The collection leans on food that can be served by hand, carried outside, or paired with the sides already waiting on the table. It gives the cookout enough variety without turning the menu into a second job.
BBQ Chicken Sliders with Homemade Slaw
Built in a 9×13-inch baking dish, BBQ Chicken Sliders with Homemade Slaw make six servings in 30 minutes. The filling uses shredded cooked chicken, BBQ sauce, slider rolls, green and purple cabbage, carrots, sour cream, lemon juice, and mayonnaise. That mix gives the cookout a handheld main that does not need plates or knives. Serve warm from the baking dish when the grill is packed or when guests are eating in shifts.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Chicken Sliders with Homemade Slaw
BBQ Chicken Stuffed Potatoes
For a cookout main that skips the bun, BBQ Chicken Stuffed Potatoes load four russet potatoes with shredded chicken, BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, sour cream, and cilantro. The recipe takes 1 hour and 5 minutes, with most of that time spent baking the potatoes. It works when the table needs something hearty next to grilled meat without adding another grill item. Set out extra sauce and toppings so each potato can be finished to order.
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Asian Chicken Thighs
Marinated for 30 minutes before a fast skillet cook, Asian Chicken Thighs bring a soy, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and rice vinegar glaze to the cookout table. The recipe makes four servings in 40 minutes and uses boneless, skinless chicken thighs. It is a useful break from the usual BBQ sauce lineup while still holding up as a main. Serve over jasmine rice or slice the thighs for a platter beside grilled vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Asian Chicken Thighs
BBQ Wings
Baked instead of fried, BBQ Wings use 2.5 pounds of chicken wings, flour, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, and barbecue sauce. The recipe makes four servings in 55 minutes, including a final oven bake that turns the sauce sticky and caramelized. Wings fit the Memorial Day table because people can grab a few without committing to a full plate. Add ranch, blue cheese, celery, and carrots for the classic wing setup.
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Charred Grilled Asparagus
Ready in 10 minutes, Charred Grilled Asparagus gives the cookout a quick grill-side vegetable that still earns space near the mains. The recipe serves four and uses thick asparagus spears, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and lemon juice or wedges. Since the spears cook directly on the grill for 6 to 10 minutes, they can go on while the meat rests. Serve warm on a platter with extra lemon so the plate has something fresh beside heavier BBQ.
Get the Recipe: Charred Grilled Asparagus
Juicy Grilled Hot Dogs
When the cookout needs a fast main for a mixed crowd, Juicy Grilled Hot Dogs make six servings in 16 minutes. The recipe uses hot dogs, buns, and toppings like ketchup, mustard, and fried onions, with the dogs grilled for 5 to 7 minutes. They are practical for Memorial Day because the timing is short and the topping setup is easy to scale. Toast the buns near the end and let guests build their own.
Get the Recipe: Juicy Grilled Hot Dogs
Grilled Lobster Tail
For a smaller cookout plate that feels more special, Grilled Lobster Tail makes two servings in 20 minutes. The recipe uses two lobster tails, lemon wedges, melted butter, garlic, smoked paprika, parsley, basil, salt, and pepper. The tails grill flesh-side down first, then finish shell-side down until the meat turns opaque. Serve them with corn, potatoes, or a salad when the Memorial Day menu needs a seafood main that cooks quickly.
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Pulled Pork Sliders
Slow cooker prep keeps the grill open while Pulled Pork Sliders handle the bigger appetite side of the cookout. The recipe makes 16 servings in 6 hours and 15 minutes using pork shoulder, barbecue sauce, beer, ketchup, brown sugar, coleslaw, cilantro, and slider buns. Since the pork cooks ahead, guests can assemble sliders when they are ready to eat. Pack the sauce, slaw, and buns separately if the meal is traveling.
Get the Recipe: Pulled Pork Sliders
Slow Cooker Ribs
Finished in the oven after slow cooking, Slow Cooker Ribs give the Memorial Day table a saucy rib option without tying up the grill for hours. The recipe serves four and takes 4 hours and 20 minutes with pork baby back ribs, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and barbecue sauce. The slow cooker handles the tender phase, then the oven adds caramelized edges. Serve with coleslaw, baked beans, or corn.
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Aloo Tikki Burger
A potato patty makes Aloo Tikki Burger a useful handheld main for guests who want something different from beef or chicken. The recipe makes four burgers in 1 hour with waxy potatoes, ginger, green chili, garam masala, chaat masala, cilantro, mint, breadcrumbs, burger buns, tandoori mayonnaise, tomato, onion, and lettuce. The patties are shallow-fried before assembly. Serve with fries, onion rings, or a yogurt-based side for an Indian-style cookout plate.
Get the Recipe: Aloo Tikki Burger
BBQ Drumsticks
Oven-baked before a final broil, BBQ Drumsticks make four servings in 55 minutes using 10 to 12 chicken drumsticks, olive oil, barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, and parsley. The sauce goes on partway through cooking so it can glaze without burning too early. Drumsticks work well for Memorial Day because they are easy to portion and easier to hold than larger chicken pieces. Serve warm with potato salad, corn, or baked beans.
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Easy BBQ Sauce Recipe
Cooked on the stovetop, Easy BBQ Sauce Recipe gives the cookout a homemade sauce option in 35 minutes. The recipe makes 20 servings with tomato ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, liquid smoke, yellow mustard, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, and water. It is not a main on its own, but it supports burgers, sliders, ribs, wings, and grilled vegetables across the table. Make it ahead and keep extra for brushing or dipping.
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Beetroot and Halloumi Salad
Built as a two-serving main salad or four-serving side, Beetroot and Halloumi Salad adds grilled cheese, chickpeas, and vegetables to the Memorial Day spread. The recipe takes 10 minutes and uses beetroot, mixed greens, cucumber, red onion, halloumi, olive oil, chickpeas, pine nuts, and sunflower seeds. The halloumi cooks quickly in a grill pan or skillet, then goes over the salad. Serve it beside burgers when someone wants a lighter plate with protein.
Get the Recipe: Beetroot and Halloumi Salad
Cheeseburger
A classic grill-table anchor, Cheeseburger makes two servings in 20 minutes with ground beef, buns, cheddar cheese, romaine lettuce, pickles, tomato, red onion, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce. The patties cook quickly in a hot skillet after the buns are toasted. It fits Memorial Day because the toppings can be set out once and used across other sandwiches, too. Serve with fries, chips, or a crisp salad for an easy main plate.
Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger
Grilled Shrimp
Threaded onto soaked wooden skewers, Grilled Shrimp make four servings in 20 minutes. The recipe uses peeled and deveined shrimp, olive oil, butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, fresh herbs, salt, and pepper. Shrimp grill fast, about 4 to 5 minutes per side, so this is the seafood main to make after slower meats are done. Serve with grilled vegetables, rice, salad, or tuck the shrimp into tacos.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp
