Memorial Day Weekend Menu: Everything I’m Making at the Beach
Heading to the beach for Memorial Day weekend? Here’s my full Memorial Day menu with easy breakfast ideas, burger and hot dog bars, beachside sandwiches, summer appetizers, grilled dinners, and simple desserts perfect for entertaining.
Creator: Leslie Stokes
There’s just something about Memorial Day weekend that feels like the official kickoff to summer. The beach days, late dinners outside, the kids running around barefoot, sandy towels everywhere, and honestly… just slowing down a little. We are heading to the beach for a few days this Memorial Day, and if there is one thing about me, it’s that I love to host.
Even when we’re away, I still love planning fun meals that feel special without spending the entire trip in the kitchen. I want food that feels elevated, fun, and summery—but still realistic. Nothing overly complicated, nothing keeping me stuck inside while everyone else is enjoying the sunshine.
So this year, I planned out our full Memorial Day weekend menu from breakfast to dessert, and honestly… it might be one of my favorite menus yet. We’re keeping things easy, family-friendly, super fresh, and perfect for feeding a crowd. Think easy breakfasts, fun lunch spreads, beautiful appetizers, grilled dinners, and nostalgic desserts.
If you’re hosting this Memorial Day or just need ideas for a long weekend with family and friends, here’s exactly what I’m making.
Breakfast Menu
Morning 1: Bagel Charcuterie Board
If you’re feeding a group, a breakfast board is always the move.
Not only does it look cute laid out on the counter, but everyone can grab what they want when they wake up—which feels especially helpful at the beach when everyone is on a different schedule.
For our first morning, I’m keeping it super simple with a bagel charcuterie board loaded with:
- Assorted bagels (everything, plain, cinnamon raisin, asiago)
- Whipped cream cheese flavors
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Fresh fruit
- Butter
- Peanut butter
- Jam
- Honey
I also love adding sliced tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, and smoked salmon if you want to make it feel a little more elevated.
Hosting tip: Pre-slice the bagels before leaving for the beach house to make mornings easy.
Morning 2: Yogurt Parfait Bar
Breakfast on vacation should feel easy.
For the adults, we’re doing simple Greek yogurt parfaits layered with:
- Vanilla Greek yogurt
- Fresh berries
- Granola
- Honey drizzle
But for the kids? We’re making it fun.
I’ll be layering theirs into waffle cone bowls because somehow putting anything into a cone instantly makes breakfast more exciting.
Kid toppings:
- Mini chocolate chips
- Sprinkles
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Granola
Honestly… it feels like ice cream for breakfast without actually being ice cream.
Lunch Menu
Burger + Hot Dog Bar
Nothing says Memorial Day weekend quite like burgers and hot dogs on the grill.
Instead of just putting ketchup and mustard out and calling it a day, I love creating a full toppings bar so everyone can customize their own.
Classic Hot Dog + Burger Toppings
- Ketchup
- Yellow mustard
- Spicy brown mustard
- Sweet relish
- Dill relish
- Diced onions
- Pickles
- Sliced tomatoes
- Lettuce
- Sauerkraut
- Chili
- Jalapeños
- Bacon
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Pepper jack cheese
- Grilled onions
Fun + Creative Toppings
BBQ Bacon Ranch
- BBQ sauce
- Bacon
- Crispy fried onions
- Ranch drizzle
- Sharp cheddar
Street Corn Dog
- Cotija cheese
- Corn mixture
- Chipotle aioli
- Tajín
- Cilantro
Pickle Lover Dog
- Pickle spears
- Cream cheese
- Fresh dill
- Hot honey drizzle
Peach Jalapeño Dog
- Peach jam
- Pickled jalapeños
- Pepper jack cheese
- Crispy onions
This setup is so fun for hosting because everyone gets to build exactly what they want.
Beachside Burrata Sandwiches
This sandwich feels fancy but takes almost no effort—which is exactly my kind of vacation food.
Ingredients:
- Ciabatta or crusty sourdough
- Burrata cheese
- Arugula
- Pesto
- Sliced tomatoes
- Prosciutto
- Apricot jam
- Salt + pepper
- Truffle kettle chips
How to Make:
Spread pesto onto toasted bread, layer burrata, tomatoes, arugula, prosciutto, and just a little apricot jam (trust me here—it balances the saltiness perfectly). Finish with salt and pepper.
Serve with truffle kettle chips and call it lunch.
Appetizers
Heirloom Tomato Plate
This is one of those appetizers that looks so impressive but is secretly ridiculously easy.
Layer sliced heirloom tomatoes onto a platter and drizzle with:
Dressing:
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp sherry vinegar
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh oregano
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt + pepper
Finish with flaky salt and fresh herbs.
Fresh, beautiful, summery… exactly what I want for Memorial Day.
Watermelon + Feta Summer Plate
I saw an idea similar to this and immediately knew I wanted to recreate it for the beach.
Ingredients:
- Seedless watermelon, sliced into rectangles
- Sliced feta
- Baby arugula
- Balsamic glaze
- Olive oil
- Flaky salt
- Fresh basil or mint
How to Assemble:
Layer watermelon and feta onto a platter, top with arugula, drizzle with balsamic glaze and olive oil, then finish with flaky salt.
It’s salty, sweet, refreshing, and basically summer on a plate.
Dinner Menu
Family Style Orange Chili Lime Chicken with Summer Corn Salad
One thing about me? I’m always making grilled chicken in the summer.
This Orange Chili Lime Chicken is one of my favorite recipes because it feels fresh, flavorful, and perfect for feeding a crowd.
We’ll be serving it family style with my summer grilled corn salad loaded with fresh flavors.
(Insert your linked recipe here.)
Grilled Steak Over Arugula with Crispy Parmesan Truffle Fries
This meal feels a little elevated for vacation but still super easy.
For the Steak:
Season flank or tri-tip steak with:
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Pepper
- Smoked paprika
- Olive oil
Grill until medium rare, let rest, then slice thinly.
Serve over peppery arugula with a little flaky salt.
Parmesan Truffle Fries:
We’re keeping this easy with Jesse & Ben’s Shoestring Fries.
Bake until crispy, then top with:
- Trader Joe’s Truffle Aioli drizzle
- Shaved parmesan
- Fresh parsley
- Black pepper
This dinner feels restaurant-worthy but takes almost no effort.
Desserts
Easy Berry Cobbler
The easiest dessert ever—and perfect with vanilla ice cream.
Filling:
- 1 bag frozen mixed berries
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- Splash vanilla
Crumble:
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup oats
- ½ cup butter
- Cinnamon pinch
Bake at 375°F for 35–40 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Patriotic S’mores Caddy
This is always a hit.
Fill a tray with:
- Graham crackers
- Hershey bars
- Reese’s
- Peanut butter cups
- Marshmallows
- Red, white, and blue candies
Ice Cream Sundae Bar
Let everyone build their own:
- Vanilla + chocolate ice cream
- Hot fudge
- Caramel
- Sprinkles
- Crushed cookies
- Chopped candy
- Strawberries
- Whipped cream
- Cherries
My Final Thoughts
Memorial Day weekend doesn’t have to mean complicated meals or spending your entire vacation cooking.
For me, it’s about food that feels fun, fresh, and brings everyone together. A little elevated, but still realistic. Easy enough that I’m not stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is outside enjoying the beach.
I hope this helps you! Don’t forget to follow along on social media for more Meal Prep + healthy recipes!
Meal Prep in 1 Hour
You can use any two of the meals in this series to get your meal prep done in just about and hour, give or take!
Having your breakfast and lunch ready for the week helps you stay on track with your nutriton, saves you time and money! I truly beleive that meal prep does not need to be over complicated, take too much time or be boring!
I always get asked- “do you ever get tired of eating the same thing all week?” and the answer is, no! Not when the food taste good! I give plenty of variety in these preps and keep it simple!
As always, thanks for being here and remember, don’t over complicate the process! Take a deep breath, you got this!
