21 Vegetarian Memorial Day Recipes Worth Every Year I’ve Made Them
Vegetarian Memorial Day food gets harder when the table still needs to feel full, varied, and worth the holiday effort. These 21 recipes cover the parts of the cookout that people actually reach for every year: crisp salads, creamy sauces, corn, sliders, fruit, and berry desserts. The mix keeps the spread useful for a backyard table, picnic setup, or holiday potluck without making burgers carry the whole day.
Avocado Salad
Fresh avocado, tomatoes, red onion, and English cucumber make Avocado Salad a 15-minute vegetarian side that serves 6. The cilantro-lime dressing uses fresh cilantro, garlic, lime juice, honey, salt, coriander, and olive oil, so it works beside richer cookout food without needing a long prep window. Bring it out when the Memorial Day table needs something cold and colorful next to corn, sliders, or grilled vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Salad
Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing
Made in 5 minutes for 4 servings, Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing brings mayonnaise, sour cream, white wine vinegar, blue cheese, lemon juice, parsley, salt, and pepper into one bowl. It can stay thick for dipping or loosen with buttermilk, milk, or water for a pourable dressing. Set it beside vegetables, fries, wedges, or burgers when the cookout needs a vegetarian sauce that does more than sit there.
Get the Recipe: Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing
Macaroni Salad
Elbow macaroni, mayo or Greek yogurt, shredded cheese, bell peppers, red onion, celery, and green onions give Macaroni Salad its picnic-table base in 27 minutes. The recipe makes 4 servings and gets its dressing from dried onion, dill, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Chill it before serving so it lands cold beside corn, burgers, fruit, or anything coming off the grill.
Get the Recipe: Macaroni Salad
Veggie Sliders
Lentils, black beans, onions, garlic, breadcrumbs, oat flour, mushrooms, parsley, and vegetarian Worcestershire sauce turn Veggie Sliders into a 40-minute main that makes 16 small patties. The patties cook in a skillet for 8 to 10 minutes per side, then go into slider buns with cucumber, red onion, and sauce. They make the Memorial Day table easier for anyone who wants a burger-style plate without beef.
Get the Recipe: Veggie Sliders
Easy BBQ Sauce Recipe
Tomato ketchup, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, liquid smoke, mustard, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper make Easy BBQ Sauce Recipe a 35-minute sauce with 20 servings. The sauce simmers until thick, then stores in the fridge for later use. Brush it onto vegetables, spoon it over burgers, or use it as a dip when bottled sauce is the boring option.
Get the Recipe: Easy BBQ Sauce Recipe
Smoky Cajun Corn on the Cob
Olive oil, Cajun seasoning, corn, mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, feta or cotija, and cilantro turn Smoky Cajun Corn on the Cob into a 30-minute vegetarian side for 4 servings. The recipe gives oven, boiling, and grilling directions, which helps when grill space gets crowded. Serve it right away as the warm side that keeps the plate from looking like chips and salad only.
Get the Recipe: Smoky Cajun Corn on the Cob
Caprese Pasta Salad
Short pasta, pesto, cherry tomatoes, bocconcini, olive oil, fresh basil, balsamic vinegar, and bread make Caprese Pasta Salad a 30-minute side for 4 servings. The pesto coats the pasta while the tomatoes and cheese keep the bowl simple and cookout-friendly. It can be served right away or chilled, which helps when the table needs something that can wait while everything else catches up.
Get the Recipe: Caprese Pasta Salad
Coleslaw
Green cabbage, red cabbage, carrot, mayonnaise, sugar, apple cider vinegar, celery seed, onion powder, salt, and pepper make Coleslaw a 20-minute side with 6 servings. The recipe also includes a 2-hour chill so the dressing can settle into the vegetables. Bring it out cold with sliders, corn, sandwiches, or anything smoky because the cabbage keeps its structure better than tender greens.
Get the Recipe: Coleslaw
Plant-Based Copycat Impossible Burger
Portobello mushrooms, brown rice, tempeh, oats, beet, nutritional yeast, steak sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and liquid smoke form Plant-Based Copycat Impossible Burger in 35 minutes. The recipe makes 2 patties and cooks them in a skillet for 2 to 3 minutes per side. It gives the vegetarian cookout table a full burger option that still fits beside slaw, sauces, corn, and fruit.
Get the Recipe: Plant-Based Copycat Impossible Burger
Corn Fritters
Whole kernel corn, flour, milk, egg, baking powder, green onions, melted butter, and vegetable oil make Corn Fritters a 35-minute side with 6 servings. Spoonfuls of batter cook in a shallow fry for 2 to 3 minutes per side, giving the table something warm and easy to pass. Serve them with sour cream, salsa, or avocado when the sides need more bite than another bowl of chips.
Get the Recipe: Corn Fritters
Smashed Potatoes
Small red or yellow potatoes, olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and fresh herbs make Smashed Potatoes a 55-minute side for 4 servings. The potatoes boil until fork-tender, get flattened on a baking sheet, then bake until the edges brown. They work well when the cookout needs a potato dish that is easier to portion than a casserole and sturdier than fries.
Get the Recipe: Smashed Potatoes
Dipping Sauce for Sweet Potato Fries
Mayonnaise, garlic, lime juice, chipotle powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper make Dipping Sauce for Sweet Potato Fries in 5 minutes. The recipe makes 4 servings and stores in the fridge until the fries, wedges, or vegetables are ready. Set it near the snack table because a smoky vegetarian sauce gives people something better to do than hover over plain ketchup.
Get the Recipe: Dipping Sauce for Sweet Potato Fries
Blueberry Pie
Fresh blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, salt, and two 9-inch pie crusts make Blueberry Pie a 1-hour-25-minute dessert with 8 servings. The filling cooks on the stove before going into the crust, then the pie bakes until the top turns golden. Let it cool before slicing so the pieces hold together for a Memorial Day dessert plate after the mains are cleared.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Pie
Jalapeno Poppers
Twelve jalapenos, cream cheese, cheddar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, green onions, butter, and panko breadcrumbs make Jalapeno Poppers in 30 minutes. The recipe yields 12 servings and bakes the filled peppers at 400°F until golden. They fit the snack table before the main plates come out, especially when guests want something warm, cheesy, and easy to grab between rounds of sides.
Get the Recipe: Jalapeno Poppers
Asian Slaw
Purple cabbage, white cabbage, carrots, rice wine vinegar, honey, sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, cilantro, sesame seeds, peanuts, green onions, and chives make Asian Slaw in 10 minutes. The recipe serves 10 and can rest briefly in the fridge before serving. It adds crunch next to burgers, sliders, corn, or potatoes without relying on another mayo-heavy bowl, which helps the plate feel lighter.
Get the Recipe: Asian Slaw
Blueberry Cobbler
Fresh blueberries, butter, sugar, brown sugar, flour, lemon juice, lemon zest, milk, vanilla, baking powder, and cinnamon turn Blueberry Cobbler into a 40-minute dessert with 16 servings. The blueberry mixture goes into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish under a simple batter. Serve it warm with ice cream or whipped cream when the Memorial Day table needs one easy dessert for a bigger crowd.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Cobbler
Fresh Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies
Zucchini, red bell pepper, red onion, cherry tomatoes, black olives, cavatappi pasta, balsamic vinegar, Dijon, garlic, basil, and lemon make Fresh Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies in 40 minutes. The recipe serves 4 and uses broiled vegetables with a balsamic vinaigrette. It works as a make-ahead vegetarian side when the table needs pasta with more structure than a plain creamy salad.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies
4th July Flag Platter
Strawberries, blueberries, and white cheddar cheese turn 4th July Flag Platter into a 10-minute fruit-and-cheese tray with 12 servings. The berries form the red and blue sections while sliced cheese fills the white rows. It fits Memorial Day just as well because the platter gives the holiday table a patriotic look without baking, frosting, or turning on the oven first.
Get the Recipe: 4th July Flag Platter
Avocado Sauce
Avocado, sour cream, lemon juice, cilantro, garlic, jalapeno, salt, and pepper make Avocado Sauce in 5 minutes for 6 servings. Everything blends until smooth, then loosens with a little water if needed. Spoon it over burgers, drizzle it on salads, or set it out as a dip when the cookout needs a cooler sauce beside spicier food and warm sides.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Sauce
Strawberry Pie
A refrigerated pie crust, cornstarch, water, sugar, fresh strawberries, and optional whipped cream make Strawberry Pie a 2-hour-32-minute dessert with 8 servings. The crust bakes first, then the strawberry filling thickens on the stove and chills until set. It is a strong make-ahead pick when the Memorial Day dessert table needs fruit without another sheet cake taking over the whole spread.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Pie
Grape Salad
Cream cheese, sour cream, vanilla, sugar, red grapes, green grapes, brown sugar, and walnuts or pecans make Grape Salad in 5 minutes. The recipe serves 12 and can chill until the table is ready. It sits between side dish and dessert, which makes it useful when the cookout spread needs something cold, sweet, and simple to scoop from a bowl.
Get the Recipe: Grape Salad