19 Easy Memorial Day BBQ Recipes

By / May 22, 2026
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Memorial Day is the perfect time to enjoy smoky grilled foods, refreshing summer sides, and delicious backyard cookout recipes with family and friends.

Whether you are hosting a big BBQ party or a small family gathering, these 19 easy Memorial Day BBQ recipes are packed with flavor and simple to prepare.

From juicy chicken and tender pork to grilled fish, shrimp skewers, burgers, and cheesy side dishes, these crowd-pleasing recipes are perfect for outdoor summer celebrations.

Easy Memorial Day BBQ Recipes

1. BBQ Bacon Cheeseburgers

Ingredients:

  • 500 g ground beef
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 4 burger buns
  • 4 cheese slices
  • 4 bacon strips
  • ¼ cup BBQ sauce

Method:

  1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, around 190°C, so the burgers cook evenly and stay juicy inside.
  2. Place the ground beef into a large bowl. Add salt and black pepper, then mix gently using clean hands until combined.
  3. Shape the beef into 4 burger patties that match the size of the burger buns.
  4. Place the patties on the hot grill and cook for about 5 minutes on each side until browned and fully cooked.
  5. Meanwhile, cook the bacon strips in a pan until crispy. Place them on paper towels to remove extra oil.
  6. Brush BBQ sauce over the burger patties during the last 2 minutes of grilling for smoky flavor.
  7. Place one cheese slice over each burger and let it melt slightly.
  8. Assemble the burgers by placing patties and crispy bacon inside the buns.
  9. Serve hot with fries, potato wedges, or coleslaw.

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2. Sticky BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

Ingredients:

  • 8 chicken drumsticks
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp salt

Method:

  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat, around 190°C, so the chicken cooks evenly and stays juicy.
  2. Wash the chicken drumsticks properly and pat them dry using paper towels.
  3. Place the drumsticks into a large bowl. Add olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, and salt.
  4. Mix well so all the chicken pieces become coated with seasoning.
  5. Place the drumsticks on the grill and cook for about 25 minutes.
  6. Turn the chicken every few minutes so all sides cook evenly and get a smoky flavor.
  7. Brush BBQ sauce over the chicken during the last 10 minutes of grilling.
  8. Cook until the chicken becomes juicy inside and slightly charred outside.
  9. Let the drumsticks rest for a few minutes before serving warm.

3. Honey BBQ Pork Chops

Ingredients:

  • 4 pork chops
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt

Method:

  1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, around 200°C.
  2. Pat the pork chops dry and place them into a large bowl.
  3. Add olive oil, garlic powder, and salt. Rub the seasoning evenly over both sides of the pork chops.
  4. In another small bowl, mix BBQ sauce and honey together.
  5. Place the pork chops on the grill and cook for about 5 to 6 minutes on each side.
  6. Brush the honey BBQ sauce over the pork during the last few minutes of grilling.
  7. Continue cooking until the pork becomes caramelized outside and tender inside.
  8. Let the pork chops rest for 5 minutes before serving warm.

4. Garlic Butter BBQ Salmon

Ingredients:

  • 4 salmon fillets
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper

Method:

  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat, around 190°C, before cooking the salmon.
  2. Pat the salmon fillets dry carefully with paper towels and place them on a tray.
  3. Melt butter in a small bowl and mix in garlic, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.
  4. Brush the garlic butter mixture generously over the salmon fillets.
  5. Place the salmon on the grill with the skin side down first.
  6. Cook the salmon for about 5 to 6 minutes on one side, then carefully flip and cook for another 4 minutes.
  7. Continue grilling until the fish becomes flaky and tender inside with light grill marks outside.
  8. Remove from the grill and allow it to rest for 2 minutes before serving warm.

5. Cajun BBQ Shrimp Skewers

Ingredients:

  • 500 g shrimp, cleaned
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

Method:

  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat, around 190°C.
  2. Wash and clean the shrimp properly. Pat them dry using paper towels.
  3. Place the shrimp into a large bowl and add olive oil, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and lemon juice.
  4. Mix gently until all the shrimp become coated evenly with the spicy seasoning.
  5. Thread the shrimp onto skewers carefully.
  6. Place the skewers on the grill and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
  7. Turn the shrimp carefully so they cook evenly and develop light smoky grill marks.
  8. Cook until the shrimp turn pink and slightly golden outside.
  9. Serve warm with rice, salad, or grilled vegetables.

6. BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Ingredients:

  • 1 kg pork shoulder
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 6 burger buns

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 160°C so the pork cooks slowly and becomes soft and tender.
  2. Pat the pork shoulder dry and place it into a baking dish.
  3. Add brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, and salt over the pork. Rub the seasoning well into the meat.
  4. Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake for about 3 hours.
  5. Cook until the pork becomes very tender and easy to shred using forks.
  6. Remove the pork from the oven and shred it into thin pieces.
  7. Place the shredded pork into a large bowl and mix it with BBQ sauce until fully coated.
  8. Toast the burger buns lightly before filling them with pulled pork.
  9. Serve warm with fries, coleslaw, or potato salad.

7. Smoky BBQ Fish Tacos

Ingredients:

  • 400 g white fish fillets
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 8 tortillas
  • 1 cup shredded cabbage

Method:

  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat, around 190°C, before cooking the fish.
  2. Pat the fish fillets dry and place them on a plate.
  3. Brush olive oil over the fish and sprinkle paprika, garlic powder, and salt evenly on both sides.
  4. Place the fish on the grill and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side.
  5. Cook until the fish becomes flaky and lightly charred outside.
  6. Remove the fish from the grill and break it into smaller pieces using a fork.
  7. Warm the tortillas slightly on the grill for about 30 seconds on each side.
  8. Fill each tortilla with grilled fish and shredded cabbage.
  9. Serve warm with lime wedges or creamy sauce.

8. Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken

Ingredients:

  • 4 chicken breasts
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp mustard
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt

Method:

  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat, around 190°C, before cooking the chicken.
  2. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and place them into a large bowl.
  3. Add honey, mustard, olive oil, garlic powder, and salt. Mix well so the chicken gets coated evenly with the marinade.
  4. Let the chicken marinate for about 15 minutes for extra flavor.
  5. Place the chicken on the grill and cook for about 6 to 7 minutes on each side.
  6. Brush extra honey mustard sauce over the chicken while grilling so it becomes sticky and flavorful.
  7. Cook until the chicken becomes golden outside and juicy inside.
  8. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving warm.

9. Grilled Steak Bites

Ingredients:

  • 500 g steak, cubed
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Method:

  1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, around 200°C, before cooking the steak bites.
  2. Place the steak cubes into a large bowl.
  3. Add olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Toss everything together until fully coated.
  4. Thread the steak cubes onto skewers carefully.
  5. Place the skewers on the grill and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
  6. Turn the skewers often so the steak cooks evenly and develops smoky grill marks.
  7. Cook until the steak becomes browned outside and juicy inside.
  8. Remove from the grill and let the meat rest for 3 minutes before serving.

10. BBQ Pineapple Burgers

Ingredients:

  • 500 g ground beef
  • 4 pineapple rings
  • 4 burger buns
  • 4 cheese slices
  • ¼ cup BBQ sauce
  • ½ tsp salt

Method:

  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat, around 190°C.
  2. Place ground beef into a bowl and season it with salt.
  3. Shape the beef into 4 burger patties.
  4. Place the patties on the grill and cook for about 5 minutes on each side until fully cooked.
  5. During the last few minutes of grilling, place pineapple rings on the grill until lightly caramelized.
  6. Brush BBQ sauce over the burger patties and top each one with cheese slices.
  7. Assemble the burgers by placing patties and grilled pineapple rings inside the buns.
  8. Serve warm with chips or grilled vegetables.

11. Smoky BBQ Chicken Wings

Ingredients:

  • 1 kg chicken wings
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt

Method:

  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat, around 190°C, before cooking the wings.
  2. Wash the chicken wings properly and pat them dry using paper towels.
  3. Place the wings in a large bowl and add olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, and salt.
  4. Mix everything together until all the wings are coated evenly with seasoning.
  5. Place the wings on the grill and cook for about 20 minutes, turning them every few minutes.
  6. Brush BBQ sauce over the wings during the last 10 minutes of grilling.
  7. Continue cooking until the wings become smoky, sticky, and slightly charred outside.
  8. Let the wings rest for a few minutes before serving hot.

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12. Garlic Herb Grilled Tilapia

Ingredients:

  • 4 tilapia fillets
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp dried herbs
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

Method:

  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat, around 190°C.
  2. Pat the tilapia fillets dry carefully with paper towels and place them on a tray.
  3. Mix olive oil, garlic, dried herbs, salt, and lemon juice in a small bowl.
  4. Brush the mixture generously over both sides of the fish fillets.
  5. Place the fish carefully on the grill and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side.
  6. Cook until the fish becomes flaky inside and lightly golden outside.
  7. Remove the fish from the grill gently so it does not break apart.
  8. Serve warm with grilled vegetables or salad.

13. BBQ Ranch Chicken Kabobs

Ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts, cubed
  • 2 tbsp ranch dressing
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • ½ tsp salt

Method:

  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat, around 190°C.
  2. Place chicken cubes into a large bowl and add ranch dressing, olive oil, and salt.
  3. Mix well so the chicken becomes coated evenly with the creamy marinade.
  4. Thread chicken, bell peppers, and onions onto skewers.
  5. Place the kabobs on the grill and cook for about 12 to 15 minutes.
  6. Turn the skewers every few minutes so all sides cook evenly and become lightly charred.
  7. Cook until the chicken becomes tender and juicy inside.
  8. Serve warm with rice, salad, or dipping sauce.

14. Maple BBQ Pork Ribs

Ingredients:

  • 1 rack pork ribs
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 160°C so the ribs become soft and tender.
  2. Place the pork ribs on a baking tray lined with foil.
  3. Sprinkle paprika, garlic powder, and salt evenly over both sides of the ribs.
  4. Cover the ribs tightly with foil and bake for about 2 hours.
  5. Mix BBQ sauce and maple syrup together in a small bowl.
  6. Remove the ribs from the oven and brush the maple BBQ sauce generously over the meat.
  7. Place the ribs on the grill over medium heat for about 10 minutes, turning once carefully.
  8. Cook until the sauce becomes sticky and caramelized outside.
  9. Allow the ribs to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

15. Lemon Garlic Grilled Shrimp Foil Packets

Ingredients:

  • 500 g shrimp, cleaned
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup sliced zucchini

Method:

  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat, around 190°C.
  2. Place the shrimp and sliced zucchini into a large bowl.
  3. Add melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, and salt. Toss everything together until evenly coated.
  4. Divide the shrimp mixture onto large foil sheets.
  5. Fold the foil tightly into packets so the juices stay inside while cooking.
  6. Place the foil packets on the grill and cook for about 10 to 12 minutes.
  7. Carefully open the packets because hot steam will come out.
  8. Serve warm with rice or grilled bread.

16. BBQ Chicken Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients:

  • 4 bell peppers
  • 2 cups shredded chicken
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 190°C so the peppers become soft and cheesy.
  2. Wash the bell peppers properly. Cut the tops off carefully and remove all the seeds from inside.
  3. Place shredded chicken into a bowl and mix it with BBQ sauce and black pepper.
  4. Fill each bell pepper with the BBQ chicken mixture.
  5. Top the peppers generously with mozzarella cheese.
  6. Arrange the peppers in a baking dish and cover lightly with foil.
  7. Bake for about 25 minutes until the peppers become soft.
  8. Remove the foil and bake for another 5 minutes so the cheese melts and turns golden.
  9. Allow the peppers to cool slightly before serving warm.

17. Sweet and Spicy BBQ Pork Skewers

Ingredients:

  • 500 g pork cubes
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp chili flakes
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ tsp salt

Method:

  1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, around 200°C.
  2. Place pork cubes into a large bowl and add BBQ sauce, honey, chili flakes, olive oil, and salt.
  3. Mix well until all the pork pieces become coated with the marinade.
  4. Thread the pork cubes onto skewers carefully.
  5. Place the skewers on the grill and cook for about 12 to 15 minutes.
  6. Turn the skewers every few minutes so the pork cooks evenly and develops smoky grill marks.
  7. Cook until the pork becomes tender inside and slightly caramelized outside.
  8. Let the skewers rest for a few minutes before serving warm.

18. Grilled Mahi Mahi with Lemon Butter

Ingredients:

  • 4 mahi mahi fillets
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper

Method:

  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat, around 190°C.
  2. Pat the mahi mahi fillets dry carefully with paper towels.
  3. Melt butter in a small bowl and mix it with lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
  4. Brush the butter mixture evenly over both sides of the fish.
  5. Place the fish carefully on the grill and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side.
  6. Cook until the fish becomes flaky, tender, and lightly charred outside.
  7. Remove from the grill gently and allow it to rest for 2 minutes before serving warm.

19. BBQ Sausage and Veggie Foil Packets

Ingredients:

  • 4 smoked sausages, sliced
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 1 zucchini, sliced
  • 2 tbsp BBQ sauce
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Method:

  1. Preheat the grill to medium heat, around 190°C.
  2. Place sausage slices and vegetables into a large bowl.
  3. Add BBQ sauce and olive oil, then mix everything together well.
  4. Divide the mixture evenly onto large foil sheets.
  5. Fold the foil tightly into packets so the juices stay inside while cooking.
  6. Place the foil packets on the grill and cook for about 15 minutes.
  7. Turn the packets once halfway through cooking for even heat.
  8. Carefully open the foil packets and serve warm as a smoky backyard BBQ meal.

Final Thoughts:

These backyard BBQ recipes for Memorial Day celebrations are perfect for bringing family and friends together during the holiday weekend.

From juicy BBQ chicken and smoky pork recipes to flavorful grilled fish, shrimp skewers, burgers, and cheesy side dishes, these easy summer cookout recipes are packed with delicious flavor and simple ingredients everyone will enjoy.

Whether you are planning a backyard grilling party, a family picnic, or a large Memorial Day cookout, these crowd-pleasing BBQ dishes will help create a fun and memorable celebration.

Mix and match your favorite grilled meats, seafood recipes, fresh salads, and BBQ sides to build the ultimate Memorial Day menu filled with smoky, savory, and refreshing summer flavors.

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