Patriotic Holidays

Memorial Day and the Fourth of July call for the same kind of menu – easy, crowd-friendly food that works just as well poolside as it does at a backyard cookout. This collection covers both holidays with the salads, sips, and desserts that make a summer gathering feel festive.

For the spread, BLT Salad and Ranch Pasta Salad are the sides I bring to every cookout, and Mexican Street Corn Dip never lasts long on the table. To drink, Watermelon Sangria and Strawberry Lemonade Sangria are red-white-and-blue ready, and Angel Food Cake Berry Trifle is a fun, festive way to finish the meal.

  • Raspberry Wine Float

  • Peach Iced Tea

  • Summer Coleslaw

  • BLT Salad

  • Mexican Street Corn Dip

  • Grilled Pineapple

  • Avocado Ranch Dressing

  • Apple Pie Oatmeal Bars

  • No Bake Berry Icebox Cake

  • Blue Cheese Corn Salad

  • Air Fryer Blueberry Shortcakes

  • Lemon Lime Berry Salad

  • Cowboy Caviar

  • Easy Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

  • Cherry Hand Pies

  • Classic Macaroni Salad

  • Strawberry Dessert Nachos

  • Iced Lunch Lady Brownies

  • Apple Whiskey Sour

  • Grilled Vegetable Pasta Salad

  • Ranch Pasta Salad

  • Tequila Blackberry Hard Lemonade

  • Summer Berry Sangria

  • Crock Pot Apple Cobbler

  • Banana Pudding Pop

  • Creamy Ham & Cheese Pasta Salad

  • Cherry Cheesecake Dip

  • EASY Bacon & Avocado Pasta Salad