Four Memorial Day Backyard Bash Recipes

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Memorial Day is around the corner – this year, it’s on Monday, May 31 – and since it’s typically warm outside for the occasion, you might want to celebrate the holiday outdoors. One fun way to celebrate Memorial Day is either hosting or going to a Memorial Day backyard bash. 

If you’re going to enjoy the beginning of summer with a big party, you’ll need some food. Aside from getting a good deal on snacks, you’ll probably want to celebrate with some tasty meals that leave a lasting impression on your friends. If you’re planning on hosting or attending a backyard party for Memorial Day, here are four Memorial Day recipe ideas.

1. Antipasto Salad

To make a delicious antipasto salad for a Memorial Day backyard bash, follow this recipe. First, in a blender, make a vinaigrette by adding vinegar, basil, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper. Blend the mixture until smooth, then drizzle in a dash of olive oil if you need to make the vinaigrette less gritty.

Next, boil salted water over high heat in a large pot. Add some pasta, cook it until al dente, and then drain the pasta. In a large bowl, toss together the cooked pasta with salami strips, smoked turkey strips, provolone cheese strips, and roasted red peppers. Top your pasta with your vinaigrette and serve.

2. Spicy Grilled Shrimp

If you like seafood, you can have an amazing spicy grilled shrimp on a Memorial Day skewer. In a mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, sesame oil, hot sauce, ketchup, chile sauce, lemon juice, minced garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Set aside about one-third of this marinade to use while you’re grilling. Place your shrimp in a large, resealable plastic bag, add the remaining marinade, and seal the bag. Refrigerate for two hours.

Preheat an outdoor grill on high heat. Lightly oil the grill grate. Put the shrimp on skewers, then cook the shrimp for two minutes per side until the shrimp is opaque. As you cook the shrimp, bast them frequently with the marinade that you set aside.

3. Grilled Brussels Sprouts

If you or someone you know is vegetarian, serve this grilled Brussels sprouts recipe. Heat your grill to high, then in a large bowl, combine Brussels sprouts, olive oil, honey, vinegar, mustard, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt.

Put your sprouts onto metal skewers and grill until the sprouts are tender and cooked for about 10 minutes. Garnish your Brussels sprouts with Parmesan cheese (or leave it off for the vegans at the backyard bash) and enjoy. 

4. Spicy Kielbasa Dog

Lots of people think of hot dogs for Memorial Day, but instead of making hot dogs, you can add more spice to your menu by making kielbasa dogs instead! In a medium saucepan, heat a little butter over medium heat until it’s melted. Add a splash of beer, add a handful of cut onions, and cook. Stir them often and reduce the heat to low when the onions start to caramelize and the liquids have reduced. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

In a large saute pan, heat a dash of canola oil over medium heat. Cut the kielbasa links through the center to open them up so they lay flat. Sear the links on the cut side until brown for about 5 minutes and remove them from the pan. In the same pan, toast the buns again until they’re a little brown.

Add mustard onto the cooked buns and add the kielbasa links. Place pickled peppers and caramelized onions on top of the kielbasa. Top them off with a small handful of watercress and dig in!

What are your favorite Memorial Day recipes? Sound off in the comments!

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