Memorial Day weekend is the Super Bowl of grilling. The smoker comes on Friday night, the crowd shows up Saturday, and someone always asks who made the food. These 19 recipes will make sure that someone is you.
From competition-worthy smoked brisket to a cowboy steak the size of your forearm, this is the full Memorial Day menu. Big proteins, crowd-pleasing sides and a dessert that finishes the weekend strong. Every single one is made on the grill or smoker.
The Big Guns
These are the showstoppers. The recipes people drive across town for. Start your smoke early and let these carry the whole cookout.
Smoked Brisket
The most comprehensive guide to making no-fail smoked brisket from a champion pitmaster. Includes steps for every type of grill.
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Smoked Baby Back Ribs
Smoking a great rack of baby back ribs comes down mastering this basic method and learning pitmaster tricks to cooking with your senses.
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Smoked Pulled Pork Butt (Smoked Pork Shoulder)
Shave hours off of your cook time with this smoked pulled pork butt recipe from the champion pitmaster at Girls Can Grill.
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Smoked Dino Bones (Beef Plate Ribs)
Dino ribs or beef plate ribs are the meatiest, beefiest ribs you can get. They're like brisket on a stick.
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Guinness Smoked Beer Can Chicken
Smoked beer can chicken is even better when stuffed with fresh herbs to flavor the bird from the inside out.
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Steaks and Chops
Every great cookout needs a steak moment. These three cuts deliver.
Reverse Seared Cowboy Ribeye
Learn the grilling technique pros use to deliver a perfectly cooked thick and juicy cowboy ribeye steak.
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Santa Maria Tri Tip Steak
This Santa Maria style tri tip steak recipe explains the authentic way to prepare the dish with adjustments for different grills and the oven
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Perfectly Juicy Grilled Pork Chops
For grilled pork chops that are guaranteed to be juicy, use this easy marinade and cook them to the perfect temperature.
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Burgers, Dogs + Handhelds
The backbone of every Memorial Day cookout. Get these right and nobody goes home hungry.
The Best Burger Recipe – Mustard Crusted Cheeseburgers
There are thousands of burger recipes out there, but top grilling influencers agree that Chef Jean Paul Bourgeois' mustard-crusted burger is the best.
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Bacon-wrapped hot dogs on the Ninja Grill
Discover the ultimate way to elevate hot dogs into a gourmet delight. Air fried bacon-wrapped hot dogs will redefine your taste buds.
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Stuffed Blue Cheese Burgers with Balsamic Fig Marmalade
Blue cheese goes fabulously with figs, pancetta and balsamic vinegar. It’s even better stuffed inside these blue cheese burgers with balsamic fig marmalade.
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Homemade Bratwurst Recipe
Make beer brats from scratch with this homemade bratwurst recipe and how-to video.
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Ancho Glazed Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
I'm finally revealing my secret recipe for award-winning ancho glazed bacon wrapped shrimp. It's so good BBQ judges gave it a perfect score!
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Smoked Fireball Whisky Meatballs
These are memorable meatballs. Smoked Fireball Whisky Meatballs are made with beef, pork and bacon and smothered in Fireball Whisky BBQ Sauce.
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Sides + Dessert
The sides and summer dessert that make people forget there was even a main course.
Baked Beans
People always tell me these are the best baked beans they’ve ever had. They’re sweet, savory and meaty and so easy to make.
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Smoked Mac and Cheese
Groark Boys BBQ makes a smoked mac and cheese that's so good, it went viral. It's so creamy and cheesy and impossible to mess up.
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Grilled Corn
Bring out the natural sweetness of corn by following this one simple step before you cook grilled corn on the cob.
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Classic Potato Salad
This is the last classic potato salad recipe you'll ever need. It's easy, made with potatoes you don't have to peel, and is super creamy.
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Peach Cobbler with Frozen Peaches
One bite of this peach cobbler made with frozen peaches and you’ll want to know what’s behind that crispy finish.
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Not sure where to start? Here’s how to think about it:
Feeding 10 or fewer: Pick one big gun (brisket or ribs), one burger or dog, two sides and dessert. That’s your whole weekend.
Feeding 10–20: Go brisket + pulled pork, all four sides, the shrimp as an appetizer, and peach cobbler to close.
Feeding a crowd: Pick two big guns, a couple handhelds, all the sides and the cobbler.
