Memorial Day Menu: Three Options
Instead of one Memorial Day menu this year, I’m offering three full recipe roundups to choose from.
Burgers, fried chicken, or grilled quail? French fries, potato salad, or apple-mustard coleslaw? Any one of these menus will add deliciousness and comfort to your Memorial Day celebration. Feel free to mix and match!
I confess I’m having a hard time choosing this year, but I’m leaning toward Memorial Day Menu #1. I’ll give you two good reasons: smash burgers and fried green tomatoes!
I’ve been crazy addicted to smash burgers lately, as have a few of my kids. This recipe is the ultimate Memorial Day, backyard-grilling comfort food. You’ll be needing a cast-iron skillet even if you are cooking these burgers on the grill. The patties are thin, cook fast, and are incredibly flavorful. Learn How to Make the Perfect Smash Burger.
I’m also excited to taste my first fried green tomato of the year. Yay! I’ve updated my fried green tomato recipe post with more info and tips. One key is to use real butter. This recipe is so simple and good.
Memorial Day Traditions: What do we celebrate and commemorate?
Memorial Day honors all the courageous American soldiers that went to battle and died for our freedoms. I’m always heartbroken that these men and women had to die to keep us free, but I am equally grateful. We both commemorate and celebrate our fallen soldiers on this special holiday.
Memorial Day started after the Civil War as a day of remembrance for the fallen. In 1950, after two World Wars, Congress proclaimed a day for Americans to pray for peace. Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971.
Along with honoring our fallen soldiers and praying for peaceful times, what better way to celebrate that to cook for our loved ones and share our feasts with family and friends?
Here are the three Memorial Day menus with links to all the recipes.
Stacy Lyn’s 2023 Memorial Day Menus
Memorial Day Menu #1
Smash Burgers are wonderful with Fried Green Tomatoes, Sweet Potato Fries, and Potato Salad! My mouth is watering just writing about it. I may have to stop and make all of this right now instead of waiting for Monday. But first, I must say that to top off this comforting plate of food, I can’t think of any better, simpler, or more decadent Memorial Day desserts than Ooey Gooey Butter Cake or Banana Pudding in a Mason Jar. Or why not BOTH?
Memorial Day Menu #2
Memorial Day and burgers are forever connected in my memories. So Memorial Day Menu #2 features another incredible burger. This burger is an all-American comfort food if any burger ever has been. It’s a Venison Burger with Bacon and Pimiento Cheese.
Or you could go with my other favorite burger, which should definitely be topped with a few fried green tomatoes: my Grandaddy’s Black Pepper Burger. I make this with black pepper and three kinds of meats, but feel free to use only one or two kinds.
With these burgers, I’d definitely want homemade Dill Refrigerator Pickles, Apple Mustard Coleslaw, and either Double-Fried French Fries or Crispy Fried Onions. You’ll see these onions on hamburger steak in the post, but they also are fabulous as a side!
I see finishing this off with a Key Lime Cake with Cream Cheese Lime Icing or Cowboy Cookies. Or again, you can’t go wrong with TWO desserts in your Memorial Day menu!
Memorial Day Menu #3
Okay! Last but not least, Grilled Quail with Caramelized Peaches and Figs or Gray’s Fried Chicken. Gray was my Granny, and she was an amazing cook. She got it right every time! I’d serve these dishes with Wild Rice and Butternut Squash Salad, and a Chopped Salad with Oranges and Candied Pecans.
I’d finish this succulent lunch off with my light Pineapple Pie or this no fail Coconut Cream Pie. You can’t go wrong either way. Oh. So delicious.
I’m pretty sure your family and friends are going to love these menus! Please let me know if you choose one, which recipes you go with, and how the feast goes. I can’t wait to read about your Memorial Day menus in the comments.
Happy Memorial Day!
