2026 Memorial Day Cookout Recipes: BBQ Mains, Sides & Desserts

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer, and you already know what that means: it’s time to fire up the grill, pull out the smoker, gather the family, and build a plate full of bold flavor.

For 2026, Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 25, making it the perfect long weekend for a backyard cookout. Whether you’re hosting the whole family, taking a dish to a potluck, or keeping things simple at home, this Memorial Day recipe roundup has everything you need to put together a spread that feels like summer.

From crispy wings and juicy burgers to smoky ribs, pulled pork, creamy sides, and Southern desserts, these Smokin’ and Grillin’ with AB recipes are made for cookouts, BBQs, and good times around the table.

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Start with Wings and Appetizers

Every cookout needs something for folks to snack on while the grill is heating up. Wings are always a crowd favorite because they’re easy to serve, easy to grab, and packed with flavor.

Crispy Fried Chicken Wings

These Crispy Fried Chicken Wings bring golden-brown crunch, juicy chicken, and AB-approved flavor. They’re made with whole chicken wings, buttermilk, flour, seasoning, and a hot fryer that turns them into the kind of crispy wings everybody reaches for first. The recipe serves 4 and comes together in about 40 minutes, making it a great appetizer for a Memorial Day menu.

Lemon Pepper Wings

If you want something bright, zesty, and full of flavor, add Lemon Pepper Wings to the table. That lemon pepper flavor is perfect for warm-weather cookouts because it gives you a bold bite without feeling too heavy.

Hot Honey Peach Wings

For a sweet-and-spicy option, these Hot Honey Peach Wings are the one. The combination of hot honey and peach gives the wings that sticky, flavorful finish that feels right at home at a summer BBQ.

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Memorial Day Main Dishes

Once the appetizers are out, it’s time for the main event. These recipes bring the kind of backyard cookout flavor people expect on Memorial Day: burgers, grilled chicken, pulled pork, and ribs.

Juicy Smashburgers

You can’t have a cookout without burgers, and these Juicy Smashburgers are a must. Smashburgers are all about crispy edges, a juicy center, and that classic griddle-style flavor. Set out buns, cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and sauce so everybody can build their burger just the way they like it.

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

These BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches are perfect when you need something hearty and crowd-friendly. Tender pulled pork, BBQ sauce, and soft buns make this one of those dishes that works for both big family gatherings and casual backyard plates.

Mouthwatering Grilled Chicken

For a classic grill option, Mouthwatering Grilled Chicken is always a good choice. It pairs well with just about every side on the table, from baked beans and coleslaw to mac and cheese and potato salad.

Huli Huli Chicken

If you want to bring something sweet, savory, and a little different to your Memorial Day spread, Huli Huli Chicken is a great pick. Serve it as a main dish or turn it into sliders with Hawaiian rolls and coleslaw.

Smoked Ribs: All-Wood Offset Smoker Method

Nothing says Memorial Day BBQ like a rack of smoked ribs. These Smoked Ribs bring that real backyard barbecue flavor with a low-and-slow cooking style that gives you tender meat and smoky flavor.

The Ultimate Recipe for Perfect Smoked Beef Ribs

If you want a showstopper on the table, go with Smoked Beef Ribs. They’re big, bold, smoky, and perfect for guests who love serious BBQ.

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Cookout Sides That Belong on Every Plate

A great Memorial Day cookout is not just about the meat. The sides bring everything together. These Southern-style sides are creamy, smoky, hearty, and perfect for building a full plate.

Southern Coleslaw

A BBQ plate needs something cool and crunchy, and Southern Coleslaw gets the job done. Serve it on the side or pile it right on top of a pulled pork sandwich for that classic cookout bite.

Smokey BBQ Baked Beans

These Smokey BBQ Baked Beans bring sweet, smoky, and savory flavor to the cookout table. They are a natural fit next to ribs, burgers, chicken, and pulled pork. The recipe is built around that smoky BBQ flavor that makes baked beans a must-have side for grilling season.

My Signature Smoked BBQ Baked Beans

For even more smoky flavor, My Signature Smoked BBQ Baked Beans are another great option. Make a big pan because baked beans are one of those sides people always come back for.

Deviled Egg Potato Salad

This Deviled Egg Potato Salad takes two cookout classics and brings them together in one creamy side dish. It has the richness of deviled eggs with the comfort of potato salad, making it perfect for BBQs, potlucks, picnics, and Memorial Day plates.

Steakhouse Potato Salad

If you want a loaded potato salad with a little extra richness, Steakhouse Potato Salad is a strong choice. It pairs especially well with burgers, grilled chicken, and smoked meats.

Creamy Smoked Mac and Cheese with Three Cheeses

Mac and cheese belongs at every cookout. This Creamy Smoked Mac and Cheese brings that rich, cheesy comfort with an added smoky flavor that works perfectly with BBQ.

Southern Baked Mac and Cheese

For a classic Southern-style side, Southern Baked Mac and Cheese is always a winner. It’s creamy, cheesy, comforting, and made for feeding family and friends.

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Sweet Memorial Day Desserts

After the ribs, burgers, wings, and sides, you need something sweet to finish the meal. These desserts bring that Southern comfort everyone loves.

Southern Banana Pudding

Cool, creamy, and always a favorite, Southern Banana Pudding is the perfect dessert for a warm-weather cookout. This recipe brings together banana pudding, bananas, and wafers for a classic Southern dessert that works great after a BBQ plate.

Best Peach Cobbler Ever

Peach cobbler is made for summer gatherings. Serve Best Peach Cobbler Ever warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you’ve got the perfect ending to a Memorial Day meal.

Bourbon Peach Cobbler

For a little twist on the classic, Bourbon Peach Cobbler brings that sweet peach flavor with a rich Southern-style finish. It’s a great dessert when you want something familiar but a little more special.

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Easy 2026 Memorial Day Cookout Menu

Need help putting everything together? Here’s a simple menu that covers all the bases.

Start with Crispy Fried Chicken Wings, Lemon Pepper Wings, or Hot Honey Peach Wings while everyone is hanging out.

For the main dish, serve Juicy Smashburgers, BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Mouthwatering Grilled Chicken, or Smoked Ribs.

For sides, add Southern Coleslaw, Smokey BBQ Baked Beans, Deviled Egg Potato Salad, and Smoked Mac and Cheese.

Then finish the meal with Southern Banana Pudding, Best Peach Cobbler Ever, or Bourbon Peach Cobbler.

That gives you a full Memorial Day spread with crispy, smoky, creamy, sweet, and savory flavors all on one table.

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Tips for Hosting a Memorial Day Cookout

A great cookout does not have to be complicated. The key is choosing a menu that gives your guests variety without keeping you stuck in the kitchen all day.

Pick one or two main dishes, two or three sides, and at least one dessert. Cold sides like coleslaw, potato salad, and banana pudding can be made ahead of time, which gives you more room to focus on the grill or smoker when guests arrive.

If you’re smoking ribs or pulled pork, start early and give yourself extra time. If you’re making burgers, wings, or grilled chicken, prep your toppings, sauces, and sides before the cooking starts so everything comes together smoothly.

Set out plenty of plates, napkins, serving spoons, drinks, sauces, and foil pans. The easier the setup, the easier it is for everybody to relax, build a plate, and enjoy the day.