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As we gather together on Memorial Day weekend to honor the extraordinary sacrifice of our nation’s fallen heroes, many of us go full carpe diem with our hard-earned freedom by celebrating with our favorite people and a proper meal. But whether you’re the backyard barbecue, pool party, or picnic in the park type, you can’t go full-send without a crowd-pleasing side.
Save the pool noodles for someone else’s watery coleslaw. This weekend, we’re riffing on five home-run favorites to tickle your taste buds and serve up a good ol’ plate of U.S.A. And, since they’re easy to prep and simple to transport, you can focus on more important things — like doing a surprise cannonball into the pool next to grandma who already told you several times she doesn’t want to get her hair wet. Welcome to the unofficial start of summer. But first, food.
Fritos Corn Salad
Don’t even pretend it’s not Fritos Summer. America’s greatest curly little deep-fried corn chip breaks free of its foil-pouch prison to turn creamy corn salad into your new signature dip.
A spin on the trendy Mexican roasted street corn “elote” you’re seeing everywhere, this salad takes the corn off the cob and gives it the crunchy topping it deserves via crumbled Fritos folded into the mix. Use fresh summer corn, or throw everything together last-minute with the canned stuff, and add a few jalapeño slices for kick. Serve with more Fritos, top burgers and tacos, or eat it as-is with a spoon. Just make a big bowl because this one’s gonna fly off the table.
Make it: Creamy Fritos Corn Salad
Garden Fresh Avocado Salad
Harness the five-second window when avocados are perfectly ripe with a fresh salad that puts that creamy, buttery glory front and center. It’s similar to guacamole, but it’s so fresh and tangy you’ll be craving it all summer.
Cilantro, red onions, and jalapeños keep things feeling just-picked, while cucumber and cherry tomatoes add playful texture. Just chop your avocado when it’s ripe but not mushy if you want a salad that’s camera-ready. Even better, that zingy seasoned lime-and-honey vinaigrette keeps everything from getting brown, so you can fix it and forget it until everyone’s ready to eat.
Make it: Garden Fresh Avocado Salad
Saucy Smoky Baked Beans
No one’s trying to step on Aunt Beatrice’s toes with a competing dish of baked beans. But once you try this saucy and smoky baked beans recipe, you might never go back to other baked beans again.
Whoever invented sweet and savory vegetables deserves an award. Here, Bush’s Grillin’ Beans, sweet onions, and bacon get a gourmet makeover thanks to Dijon, barbecue sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Like a little smoke? Check out that seasoning with its smoked paprika and chipotle chili powder. Assemble this recipe ahead of time, and cook it on the day. And always feel free to bake your beans with extra bacon on top. America.
Make it: Saucy Smoky Baked Beans
Panko Parmesan Mac and Cheese
Plenty of elite mac and cheese recipes boast fancy ingredients and cooking methods, but in real life, the secret to the best mac and cheese is the contrast between rich, cheesy, flavor-packed al dente noodles and a crunchy, seasoned topping. This version checks both boxes without even blinking.
Another secret is a homemade roux. Once you’ve mixed butter and flour with warm milk until smooth, sharp cheddar and Gruyère pull cheese duty with chewy elbow noodles. But the Japanese panko, butter, and parmesan combo that gets sprinkled on top and baked until golden brown? Chef’s kiss. You can go ahead and add this little number to your regular rotation.
Make it: Panko Parmesan Mac and Cheese
Tangy Deviled Egg Potato Salad
If you’re unde-side-ed on whether to do deviled eggs or potato salad for Memorial Day, allow me to introduce you to the ultimate mashup: deviled egg potato salad. Start a new tradition by putting your two favorite things in one big, delicious bowl.
The iconic flavors of each dish come together in harmony for a tangy salad you can customize to be as spicy hot as you like. Creamy mayo holds everything together while fresh parsley and celery add a grassy texture. And don’t forget the dill pickle relish, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, and paprika.
For anyone determined to peel perfect shells for legit deviled eggs, bless your heart. But on a long weekend, I’d rather not stress over shells that won’t budge and whites that fall apart. Here, hard-boiled eggs get chopped and tossed into the mix (you can even use the pre-peeled kind from the store). The most effort you’ll have to give is boiling baby new potatoes and then moving the fork from the salad to your mouth. Sprinkled with paprika or bedazzled with bacon, deviled egg potato salad is simply delicious.
Make it: Tangy Deviled Egg Potato Salad
