Kick Off Summer with Sporked’s Guide to Memorial Day Foods

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, and for many of you that means embracing your inner Grill Dad and hosting the first backyard BBQ of the season. But what separates Memorial Day BBQ ideas from your regular old cookout lineup? From classic mains and comforting sides to patriotic Memorial Day desserts, we’ve assembled the ultimate grocery list to help you celebrate the long weekend with smoke, flavor, and all-American flair.

Best Hot Dogs

You can’t have a Memorial Day cookout menu that doesn’t include hot dogs. Lucky for you, our taste-testing team just updated this list of the best hot dogs in time for cookout season—that means you’re getting the top dogs here, okay? And please, it’s Memorial Day, a day of remembrance. So remember to buy the best hot dog buns, too. (And if there are any vegans on your guest list who would like to feel involved, here are the best vegan hot dogs.)

Best Frozen Burgers

If the question at the Memorial Day BBQ is “hamburger or hot dog?” the correct answer is always “both.” And the good news is that making burgers doesn’t have to involve handling a bunch of raw meat, because we’re ranked the best frozen burgers.

Best Burger Buns

Soft sesame buns? Sweet Hawaiian rolls? Pretzel buns? We’ve got ’em all on our list of the best hamburger buns.

Best Frozen Chicken Wings

When you’ve got two dozen burgers to throw on the grill, keeping an endless supply of chicken wings on the table can be the difference between a happy crowd and neighborhood mutiny. Make sure you buy the best chicken wings for your cookout. They’re obviously good out of the oven or air fryer, but cooking these on the grill really kicks ’em up a notch.

Best Macaroni Salad

Is there anything better, anything more American, than a juicy burger on a sesame bun with a side of sweet, tangy macaroni salad? When I picture Memorial Day food ideas, that’s the first classic BBQ combo that comes to mind. And hey, along with mac salad, we also have the best deli coleslaw, the best deli potato salad, and even the best seasonings for your deviled eggs to ensure you’re hitting all of the Memorial Day cookout sides. 

Best Frozen Chicken Wings

When you’ve got two dozen burgers to throw on the grill, keeping an endless supply of chicken wings on the table can be the difference between a happy crowd and neighborhood mutiny. Make sure you buy the best chicken wings for your cookout.

Best Canned Baked Beans

When it comes to foolproof Memorial Day side dishes, few things hit the spot quite like a savory, stick-to-your-ribs pot of baked beans. Dress them up with some crispy bacon bits or diced onions if you’re feeling ambitious. Either way, a batch of beans isthe perfect protein-packed addition to your spread of Memorial Day side dishes. 

Deli Snack Platters

During football season, we compared and contrasted grocery store snack platters to serve on game day—but these make great Memorial Day appetizers, too. Check them out!

Best Potato Chips

Potato chips are a no brainer here. A requirement. This list contains the best options for just about every flavor of potato chip imaginable. If you’re a potato chip purist, we’ve ranked the best plain potato chips, too.  

Best BBQ Sauce

There’s no point in stocking up on the best Memorial Day foods if you aren’t also stocking up on the best sauces. If you need a top-notch BBQ sauce, we have you covered: Best for chicken wings? Check. Best for pork? Check. Best of the best? Check.

Best Ranch Dip

Veggies, chips, wings—all things you will inevitably have on the table at your Memorial Day bash, and all things that can be dipped in ranch. Pro tip: If it can be dipped in ranch, it should be dipped in ranch, but only the best, which are ranked here. Note that these are ranch dips, not ranch dressings. There’s a big difference, and again, sauces and dips are what will take the cookout to the next level. Stay focused. 

Best Lemonade

Cool off your cookout crew with a classic Memorial Day beverage for the kids: fresh lemonade. (Fresh-tasting, not freshly squeezed, because, yes, these are store bought…but you get the gist.) 

Best Summer Beer

While lemonade will certainly satisfy the kids at the cookout, you might need to bring in some reinforcements to satisfy the adults. What’s better for the party that kicks off summer than some summer beers. The beers on this list are tropical, lime-y, and fruity, perfect for the beginning of the sunshine season. 

Best Cutwater Flavors

Maybe, just maybe, you want to take it up a notch and have some cocktails in addition to your expected cans of beer and soda. We’re here to support that dream. We’re also here to stop you from getting carried away. Unless you’re hiring a bartender for your Memorial Day party, which would be cool but expensive, no one’s going to have time to make cocktails. May I suggest: Cutwaters. Their canned cocktails of many, many varieties do not disappoint and they pack a punch. Problem solved, party elevated. 

Best Popsicles

It’s not a summer cookout until you have melted popsicle juice running down your hands and making them uncomfortably sticky for the rest of the day. Pro tip: If you really want your popsicles to be on theme for Memorial Day desserts, don’t skip the Firecrackers. 

Best Cheesecakes

Patriotic Memorial Day desserts aren’t limited to red, white, and blue cupcakes (though I’m sure those wouldn’t be too hard to find). While traditional cheesecake dates all the way back to Ancient Greece, the modern cheesecake—you know, the types with uncooked cream cheese on a graham cracker cookie—that’s all U.S. of A., baby.