5 Yummy Things to Serve at Your Memorial Day Cookout

It’s almost Memorial Day and that can only mean one thing – it’s time to fire up that grill! For many, Memorial Day weekend marks the official start of cookout season. Are you sick of serving the same old things when you host a cookout? Consider trying some of these yummy things to serve at your Memorial Day cookout!

Bratwurst

Do you normally serve hamburgers and hotdogs at your cookouts? If so, it’s fun to mix things up a bit! Bratwurst, a traditional German food, is a flavorful alternative to the American hotdog. If you’re feeling really creative, you can make your own. The Germans actually boil their bratwurst in beer for a few minutes before throwing it on the grill. Even though this isn’t necessary, it does make the sausage extra flavorful.

Potato Salad

No cookout is complete without potato salad! Everyone makes it differently, too. Do your guests like mayonnaise based potato salads or do they prefer potato salads made from vinaigrette? There are so many variations that it can be hard to decide which to serve! If you decide to serve Bratwurst, consider making this authentic German potato salad to go with it! Even though German-style potato salad in the United States typically is mayonnaise based, the true German version actually uses oil and vinegar, not mayonnaise.

Baked Beans

Traditional baked bean recipes are so time consuming that it’s no wonder the canned versions are so popular! However, this recipe is easy to make and filled with tons of flavor. You’ll never have to slave in your kitchen for hours making them from scratch again! Feel free to omit the jalapeno peppers if you don’t want your beans to be hot.

Beer Margaritas

Every good cookout needs a signature drink. If you normally serve beer and margaritas, you can do something different this year and combine them! This drink is light and refreshing and the perfect addition to any cookout. Fill a large pitcher about a third of the way with ice. Add 6 ounces of frozen lime concentrate, two 12 ounce bottles of beer, and ½ cup tequila. Mix with a wooden spoon, pour into glasses over ice, and garnish with a lime wedge. To make a strawberry beer margarita, use 6 ounces of frozen strawberry concentrate and the juice of one lime instead of the lime concentrate.

Granita

This traditional Italian treat is so delicious, no one will ever guess how easy it is to make. It’s especially delightful on a hot day! This recipe only has three ingredients – water, lemon, and sugar. You can also make it with other citrus fruits such as grapefruit, lime, and oranges. If you want to use another type of juice in the recipe, such as grape juice, you may need to adjust the amount of sugar used. The method, however, is always the same.

Hostess Gifts

If you’ve been invited to a Memorial Day cookout, consider bringing a host or hostess gift. Bring something that is easy for them to put out with little effort or lend a hand and prep the gift ahead of time so they can put the gift out for guests without any additional effort. A few incredible gifts for Memorial Day barbecues are a beer bucket, spiked hard seltzer bucket, or snack gift basket.