Easy Memorial Day Recipes for Your Summer Cookout

It's hard to believe that summer is right around the corner! With the unofficial kickoff coming soon, we've put together a list of four Memorial Day recipes that are perfect for a cookout under the sun. Gather your family, fire up the grill, and get ready for a wonderful holiday. Happy Memorial Day!

Refreshing Summer Drinks

1. Old-Fashioned Lemonade

Start your cookout on a high note with this classic lemonade. Just two ingredients are needed for this timeless summer drink. Serve with fresh berries or mint, and for a fruity twist, consider adding strawberry or mango juice.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 ½ cups fresh lemon juice (about 10 lemons), plus two lemons, sliced

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 1 ½ cups water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the sugar dissolves (3-4 minutes). Cool completely.
2. In a large pitcher, combine lemon juice, sugar syrup, and 4 cups cold water. Adjust sweetness with remaining syrup, if desired. Refrigerate until chilled.

Flavorful Main Dishes

2. Bourbon BBQ Glazed Pork Chops

Elevate your cookout with homemade Bourbon BBQ sauce. This recipe for grilled pork chops will have your guests coming back for seconds!

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 cup ketchup
• ¾ cup bourbon whiskey
• ¼ cup molasses
• ¼ cup cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 8 bone-in pork chops (about 3 pounds total)

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a medium saucepan. Add garlic and sauté for about 1 minute. Add chili powder and cayenne, stirring for another minute.
2. Mix in ketchup, bourbon, molasses, vinegar, sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer until thickened (12-15 minutes).
3. Preheat the grill to medium-high. Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Grill, turning once, until the thermometer reads 135°F (about 10-14 minutes). Baste with glaze during the last four minutes.

3. Grilled Chicken Breast

Juicy and smoky, this grilled chicken breast recipe features a quick marinade that amps up the flavor for your Memorial Day feast.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 4 chicken breasts

Directions:

1. Whisk together balsamic vinegar, olive oil, brown sugar, garlic, and herbs. Reserve ¼ cup for basting.
2. Toss chicken in marinade and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes (up to overnight).
3. Grill chicken over medium-high heat, basting with reserved marinade, until cooked through (about 6 minutes per side).

Delicious Side Dishes

4. Layered Grilled Corn Salad

This grilled corn salad is fresh, colorful, and bursting with summer goodness. Perfect as a side dish for your cookout!

Ingredients:

• 10 medium ears sweet corn, husks removed (or frozen corn)
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¾ teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
• ¾ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 large tomatoes, finely chopped
• 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
• Fresh basil, chopped (about 12 leaves)
• 1 cup zesty Italian salad dressing

Directions:

1. Brush corn with olive oil and grill for 10-12 minutes until lightly browned. Cool slightly.
2. Cut corn from cobs and mix with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
3. In a glass bowl, layer corn, tomatoes, onion, and basil. Repeat layers twice. Pour dressing over top and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed these Memorial Day recipes for your outdoor cookout. Do you have a favorite recipe of your own? Share this post on social media, tag Sun Outdoors, and let us know what it is!

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