20 Memorial Day Party Recipes

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Where has 2012 gone? It’s almost half over! But now is the time of year to kick off summer, throw a party and have friends over, and enjoy some great food and drinks.

These are all easy, no-fuss recipes that will please the party go-er’s and please the chef. Everything is no-bake or nearly no-bake and all are hassle-free.

Drinks

Peach Mango Pineapple White Sangria

Peach Mango Pineapple White Sangria

Coconut Water Champagne Fruit Punch (Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free, No Sugar Added)

Coconut Water Champagne Fruit Punch

Horchata (vegan, GF)

Homemade Horchata in Jars

Snacks, Sides, and Finger Food

Spinach and Artichoke Dip (no-bake, fat-free, vegan, GF)

Spinach and Artichoke Dip with crackers

Mango Basil Personal-Sized Tortilla Pizzas

Mango Basil Personal-Sized Tortilla Pizzas

Fresh Vegan Spring Rolls and 2-Minute Peanut Sauce

Fresh Vegan Spring Rolls

Fresh Vegan Spring Rolls and peanut sauce
 
 

Tempeh and Cucumbers on a Stick with Brown Sugar Balsamic Reduction Dip

Rosemary Chipotle Roasted Almonds

Rosemary Chipotle Roasted Almonds

Sweet Corn Salsa with Mango, Lime, Red Pepper

Sweet Corn Salsa with Mango, Lime, Red Pepper
Sweet Corn Salsa with Mango, Lime, Red Pepper

Mini Grilled Cheese and Tomato Sandwiches

Mini Grilled Cheese and Tomato Sandwiches

Raw Pasta Salad with Creamy Lemon & Herb Dressing (vegan, GF)

Raw Pasta Salad with Creamy Lemon & Herb Dressing

Avocado, Cream Cheese, and Salsa-Stuffed Puff Pastries

Avocado, Cream Cheese, and Salsa-Stuffed Puff Pastries

Fruit and Desserts

Watermelon dipped into Frozen Mango Banana Dip (vegan, GF) – or just eat the dip as “ice cream”

Frozen Mango Banana Dip

Half of watermelon

Fresh Pineapple  and a How to Clean a Pineapple Tutorial dipped into Raw Vegan Coconut Oil Chocolate Sauce

Pineapple slices

Strawberries and Chocolate Coconut Cashew Butter (vegan, GF)

Strawberries and Chocolate Coconut Cashew Butter

White Chocolate Vanilla Peanut Butter Puppy Chow (GF)

White Chocolate Vanilla Peanut Butter Puppy Chow

Vanilla Cake Batter and White Chocolate Chip Caramel Corn

Vanilla Cake Batter and White Chocolate Chip Caramel Corn

Strawberry Banana Bread

Strawberry Banana Bread

Buttery Toasted Cap’n Crunchies

Buttery Toasted Cap'n Crunchies

Pink Lemonade Freezer Bars

Pink Lemonade Freezer Bars

Mounds Bar Chocolate Coconut Cake Mix Cookies

Mounds Bar Chocolate Coconut Cake Mix Cookies

Do you have a favorite crowd-pleasing or party food recipe?

Link it up

Do you have Memorial Day Plans?

We don’t have any formal plans and I’m not throwing a party. We plan to stay close to home, off the roads, and enjoy the day as a family. Maybe a park, walking around our neighborhood, relaxing, and keeping it mellow.

In San Diego, there are a few holidays (Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day) you just don’t go to the beaches. Traffic is a total mess and parking is impossible. We learned that lesson that hard way the first year we lived here and thought it would be “fun” to go to the beach for the day. Along with a half million other people. Locals, Northern Californians, half the population of Arizona, Mexico, and tourists who come here for holidays.

Keep the car in the garage, walk as much as possible, and soak in nice weather are our plans. And eat some party food, minus the party.

Have a Happy and Safe Memorial Day Weekend!

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Comments

  1. Great round up, A! I would love to start off with some Peach Mango Pineapple White Sangria!!!

  2. Wow, what an impressive round up of recipes. I can’t decide which one I like best, but the rosemary chipolte almonds and pink lemonade freezer bars are making my mouth water. I love the look of the coconut water champagne punch too. Such a pretty pink.

  3. Well hooray for Pinterest for bringing me to your blog – and what a great blog it is! I’m practically drooling here, and seriously considering a quick trip to the nearest grocery store to get some cashews, that chocolate dip would go great with the fresh cherries I bought today. :)

    I love your take on food, and I love the fact that there’s both raw & healthy and, um, more sinful stuff here. I’ll definitely be coming back for more, and more, and more!

    1. So glad you found me via Pinterest! Yes, started blogging 3+ yrs ago, lots of raw/vegan, more healthy options. Present day, lots of…cookies & desserts and goodies :) Hope you stick around!

  4. My younger sister lives very close by so we will go over there for a BBQ with all their little ones and our boys. It will be nice to hang with family and lay low. We will most definitely NOT be going out on the roads. Maneuvering through gobs of people is not my idea of fun. Gag.

    Food will also be simple…as always! :-) I think I am going to make your artichoke dip. Have not made it and it looks like a yummy thing to share! Have a safe and mellow day, Averie!

  5. That raw salad rocks, I absolutely love it! Yes I do have a party food, one of it is so popular I can never make enough, it has meat though. I made a big batch when I was babysitting two teenagers, hoping that I have enough food for them for two days… Silly me, they ate it before the sunset! :) You can see it here: https://www.picnicatmarina.com/2012/05/babysitting.html ; but , again, it has meat.

  6. Wow, I can’t believe the year is almost half over … life moves waaaaaaaay too quickly!

  7. I’m surprising my sweet man with that popcorn recipe of yours this weekend – he’s been craving corn of the sweet and popped variety and it’s the perfect road trip snack! We’re (hopefully) renting a car and driving upstate for the long weekend – silence and nature sounds like bliss!

    Have a great Holiday weekend!

  8. I know time is flying by fast!! All your goodies look amazing and photographs are gorgeous!!

  9. So true on 2012, scary! Great recipe wrap up, thanks! We have no specific plans either for Memorial Day except enjoying the long weekend relaxing!

  10. I could easily make a spread from these options…I love the avo-puff pastries…they look so good! And I think I’m in the mood for a big ole plate of cookies!