Memorial Day BBQ Ideas: 10 Fresh Recipes to Bring to a Cookout

Memorial Day weekend always feels like the start of summer — long evenings, cold drinks, and food meant to be shared outside.

If you’re wondering what to bring to a BBQ, these make-ahead recipes are easy to transport, simple to serve, and perfect for Memorial Day weekend and summer gatherings.

The best dishes to bring to a barbecue share a few important qualities:

• They can be made ahead.
• They travel well.
• They showcase fresh ingredients.
• They look inviting on the table.
• They feel just a little more special than the usual options

1. Mexican Shrimp Cocktail is colorful, refreshing, and a perfect summer appetizer. It checks every box for a great barbecue dish. It can be made entirely in advance, travels beautifully, and brings a welcome brightness to a table often filled with heavier fare. A show stopper.

Mexican Shrimp Cocktail Recipe

Unlike traditional shrimp cocktail, Mexican Shrimp Cocktail combines tender shrimp with tomato juice, cucumber, avocado, lime, and a touch of heat for a refreshing appetizer that’s packed with flavor and texture. Served in individual glasses or small bowls, it looks beautiful on the table and can be prepared entirely in advance.

Get the Recipe

2. Summer Corn Salad Cocktail celebrates fresh summer produce with a bright and colorful presentation. It’s easy to make ahead and pairs with almost any grilled entrée from simple chicken to heart burgers.

Summer Corn Salad

Nothing captures summer quite like fresh sweet corn. This colorful salad combines seasonal ingredients in a dish that’s light, vibrant, and versatile enough to pair with burgers, grilled chicken, seafood, or steak. It travels beautifully and tastes just as good after sitting for a bit, making it ideal for potlucks and outdoor gatherings.

Get the Recipe

3. Roasted Tomato & Mozzarella Caprese is a perfect dish to bring to a Memorial Day BBQ. It highlights seasonal ingredients, makes a beautiful platter presentation, can be served room-temperature and is easy to transport. Roasting the tomatoes is what makes this extra special.

Roasted Tomato & Mozzarella Caprese

A simple platter of roasted tomatoes and mozzarella that elevates the classic in a stunning way. Roasting concentrates the tomatoes’ sweetness while mozzarella adds creamy richness. Arranged on a serving platter, it’s impressive without requiring much effort.

Get the Recipe

4. Guacamole Salad is perfect to bring to a bbq because it’s easy to serve a crowd, fresh and colorful, naturally gluten-free and travels well! It’s something they won’t be expecting and will add color and flavor to the table.

Guacamole Salad

This Mexican-inspired Guacamole Salad is heart-healthy, gluten-free and vegetarian. It’s both colorful and delicious!

Get the Recipe

5. Italian Pasta Salad is a summer classic for good reason, Italian Pasta Salad can be made entirely ahead of time, travels well, and delivers fresh flavor in a crowd-friendly dish that’s always welcome at barbecues, potlucks, and Memorial Day gatherings.

Italian Pasta Salad

This is the perfect Italian pasta salad inspired by antipasti favorites like sweet sun-dried tomatoes, salty olives, spicy pepperoncini peppers, salami and fresh mozzarella tossed together with peppery arugula and savory basil!

Get the Recipe

6. Classic Guacamole is fresh, flavorful, and ready in minutes. It’s an easy make-ahead appetizer that pairs perfectly with summer gatherings and is always one of the first bowls emptied at the table.

Simple, Classic Guacamole Recipe

This classic tomato-free guacamole is all about the purity of avocados, fresh lime, and just enough onion and heat. Simple, fresh, and perfect for game day dipping.

Get the Recipe

7. Homemade Hummus is a simple, inexpensive make-ahead appetizer that travels beautifully and adds a fresh, healthy element to any snack table, making it an ideal choice for cookouts, picnics, and summer entertaining. Top it with fresh ingredients and seasoning and it becomes an unexpected, elevated dish.

How to Make Homemade Hummus

Learn how to make homemade hummus from scratch with this easy, creamy hummus recipe — perfect for snacks, dips or spreads. Add toppings for an elevated appetizer that is sure to impress!

Get the Recipe

8. Homemade Salsa is Bright, fresh, and packed with flavor. Skip the jarred stuff and prepare this in advance to brings vibrant color and seasonal ingredients to the table. Serve with simple tortilla chips and there won’t be a lick left.

Homemade Salsa Recipe

Sure, it’s easy to buy a jar from the market, but there is nothing quite like making fresh salsa, especially in summer when tomatoes & cilantro are at their peak

Get the Recipe

9. Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus Elegant yet surprisingly simple, prosciutto wrapped asparagus is a make-ahead appetizer that looks beautiful on a platter, travels easily, and feels just a little more special than traditional party fare.

Two Ingredient Appetizer: Prosciutto wrapped Asparagus

Bite sized pieces of asparagus wrapped in prosciutto are an elegant and easy addition to any cocktail hour or dinner party for friends!

Get the Recipe

10. Classic Shrimp Cocktail is perfect to bring to a bbq because it’s easy to serve a crowd, fresh and colorful, naturally gluten-free and travels well! It’s something they won’t be expecting and will add color and flavor to the table.

Classic Shrimp Cocktail

Shrimp cocktail is an elegant yet simple appetizer that’s always a crowd-pleaser. It’s easy to make in advance and perfect for entertaining.

Get the Recipe