Holidays & Occasions Memorial Day 50 Memorial Day Recipes You Can Make In Your 13x9 Whether you're hosting or bringing a dish, these recipes are made for sharing By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 21, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Hector Sanchez When the weather starts heating up and the kids finish up another school year, we know it's time for a backyard barbecue. Memorial Day serves as the perfect opportunity to kick off the summer season right—by celebrating the long weekend with fun in the sun and an outdoor bash to boot. It's not about fancy table settings, strict time schedules, or fussy menus. It's about inviting the whole neighborhood, firing up the grill, and getting the good times going. But first, you need to get your Memorial Day food squared away. This year, pair your barbecue, hamburgers, and hot dogs with a fresh spread of summer casseroles that you can make in your trusty 13x9 baking dish. Every cookout starts simple enough, but Southerners are a social bunch. More are bound to come out of the woodwork for a heaping plate of baked beans, macaroni and cheese, and sheet cake. These Memorial Day recipes will have you prepared for every summer cookout this season, starting with a big send-off. 01 of 50 Texas-Style Baked Beans Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Loren Wood; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Beer, bacon, jalapeño chiles, and chili powder give baked beans a spicy, smoky kick worthy of the Lone Star State. Get The Recipe 02 of 50 Easy Squash Casserole Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox If you're new to making squash casserole, this is a good place to start. Our simplified recipe is practically foolproof and has earned rave reviews. Get The Recipe 03 of 50 Blackberry-Peach Cobbler Bars Recipe Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Two of our favorite summer fruits come together in these gooey, jammy cobbler bars. They're great for a cookout because all you have to do is slice and serve; no heating required. Get The Recipe 04 of 50 Banana Pudding Brownies Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Banana pudding is a popular summer dessert, but these bar cookies are much easier to make and transport, and they have a creamy layer of pudding running right through the center. Get The Recipe 05 of 50 Roasted Tomato Macaroni And Cheese Victor Protasio Ripe tomatoes in the summer yield some of the most beautiful dishes. This is no exception. Your macaroni and cheese deserves that ripe tomato summery touch, too. This will be a seasonal favorite after only one go in the oven. Get The Recipe 06 of 50 Key Lime Cheesecake Bars PHOTO: MORGAN HUNT GLAZE; FOOD STYLIST: CHELSEA ZIMMER; PROP STYLIST: CHRISTINE KEELY Cool and creamy Key lime bars will be a welcome addition to any Memorial Day gathering. Better yet, they take 25 minutes to assemble, and you can make them ahead of time. Get The Recipe 07 of 50 Triple Berry Sonker With Dip A sonker is a dessert that hails from the Blue Ridge Mountains, but no matter where you're from, you'll agree this cobbler-like treat is a winner. Get The Recipe 08 of 50 Okra And Rice Casserole Hector Sanchez Because making enough fried okra for a cookout full of Southerners just isn't going to happen. This dish is simple and delicious, featuring a mix of tender sautéed okra, and sweet corn. Cajun spices, and buttery garlic breadcrumbs pull it all together. Get The Recipe 09 of 50 Baked Ziti With Summer Vegetables Alison Miksch We lightened up the usual baked pasta with loads of seasonal squash and tomatoes. This is an exemplary way to use your farmers' market haul. Get The Recipe 10 of 50 Baked BLT Dip Take all the ingredients of the best summertime sandwich, a classic BLT, and toss them into a 9x13 dish with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, sour cream, and garlic. When it comes out of the oven all hot and bubbly, top it with lettuce, extra tomatoes, and more bacon, then serve it with crostinis for a dip that no one will be able to walk away from. Get The Recipe 11 of 50 Baked Beans Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman You can't beat this classic side at any backyard barbecue, cookout, or picnic. Baked beans have been a side for an open flame meal since the time of the cowboy, and before that, our Britsh ancestors. There are many versions that embody regional flavors from Boston to the South. This version covers all those bases. Get The Recipe 12 of 50 Red, White, And Blue Cheesecake Bars Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Be a star at the Memorial Day cookout with these patriotic bars. And you certainly don't need to hide this beautiful presentation just for red, white and blue holidays. These are tasty and beautiful enough to be a hit any time of year. Get The Recipe 13 of 50 Macaroni Corn Casserole Will Dickey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Can't decide between baked macaroni and cheese or corn casserole? Combine both in one easy dish. This 9x13 side studded with crumbled bacon and corn is melty and cheesy thanks to a mix of cheddar and gruyere. The panko topping gives it a crunch on top, sure to make you come back for more. Get The Recipe 14 of 50 Plum-Berry Cornmeal Sheet Cake Alison Miksch This not-too-sweet cornmeal cake is a gorgeous way to celebrate the season. The vanilla enhanced batter gives the perfect base for fresh fruit, and some freshly whipped cream finishes it off. Which guest will be lucky enough to be celebrating a birthday when this is served? Light it up and watch it disappear. Get The Recipe 15 of 50 Hot Chicken Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This hot chicken salad adds a dose of texture and crunch thanks to the additions of water chestnuts, slivered almonds, and crisp potato chips. Just, yum. This recipe also brings to the table the classic chicken salad creamy texture we've come to crave—that's thanks to the cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, and sour cream, plus fresh lemon juice for a tart touch. Get The Recipe 16 of 50 Cakey Strawberry Cobbler Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley With only 10 minutes of prep time, this cakey strawberry cobbler will leave you plenty of time to prepare for the celebratory weekend. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or dollop of whipped cream and watch it disappear within minutes. Get The Recipe 17 of 50 Old-School Squash Casserole Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman We just can't get enough of yellow squash in the summer and our old-school squash casserole is no exception. From meat-and-three diners across the South to just about any summertime backyard cook out or potluck, you're bound to find this classic. Get The Recipe 18 of 50 Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake This classic should be in every Southern cook's recipe repertoire. A moist, delicious Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake pleases crowds of all ages, and is the perfect dessert to bring to a neighbor, to a potluck, or to a summer party. Mayonnaise may sound like a strange ingredient to add into a cake, but this iconic Southern staple yields an ultra-moist texture and mellows out the sweet flavor. Get The Recipe 19 of 50 Macaroni And Cheese With Ham Beth Dreiling Hontzas This deliciously smoky recipe is packed full of a creamy smoked Gouda and Cheddar sauce, corkscrew pasta, and chopped smoked ham. Need we say more? You will be able to throw this together in a jiffy, and it will be one of the first dishes cleared. Get The Recipe 20 of 50 Sweet Tea-and-Lemonade Cake Hector Manuel Sanchez Sweet tea and lemonade are summer beverage staples on their own and this Arnold-Palmer inspired cake perfectly showcases their refreshing flavors. Substitute the lemon juice for vodka or bourbon in the frosting for a fun and boozy spin. Get The Recipe 21 of 50 Raspberry Crumble Bars Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Win over the fruit lovers at the cookout with these gooey crumble bars. These are portable, irresistible, and will disappear from the dessert table in a snap. Be ready to share the recipe with anyone who might be trying to solve a summer of day camp lunches. Get The Recipe 22 of 50 Hot Potato Salad Helen Norman Think of this recipe as the perfect middle ground between potato salad and cheesy potato gratin. Feeding a crowd is made easy with these flavors, which are always a hit. Serving this warm will pair well with your main protein dish. Get The Recipe 23 of 50 Cherry Pie Bars Greg Dupree Classic cherry pie practically screams summertime, and these bars capture all the fruity flavor in a big-batch, portable recipe. The sugar-coated pecan mixture on top adds a light crunch to balance the gooey cherry filling. Get The Recipe 24 of 50 Zucchini, Squash, And Corn Casserole Hector Sanchez The reviews on this recipe are nothing but positive, and we can see why. This casserole doesn't stop at one fresh summer vegetable—it's a triple threat. Yellow squash, zucchini and corn all work in concert to deliver fresh seasonal flavors. This will be a big hit for everyone at the table. Get The Recipe 25 of 50 Zucchini Lasagna Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Tina Stamos Freshen up a family favorite for spring and summer. Thin, woven slices of zucchini make it festive enough for any potluck. Use a mandoline slicer, not a vegetable peeler, to cut the thinnest zucchini strips. Once you've sliced the squash, the lasagna is a snap to put together—just layer the ingredients and bake. Get The Recipe 26 of 50 Savannah Red Rice Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox You'd be hard pressed to find a rice dish with as much flavor as red rice, and this one is made with bacon, tomatoes, cayenne pepper, and hot pepper sauce. Get The Recipe 27 of 50 Patchwork Cobbler Hector Sanchez Topped with squares of sugar-crusted pastry, this cobbler will show off those fresh summer peaches, plums, and blueberries. Your barbecue companions won't be able to resist this presentation, or the combination of these rich summer flavors. A dollop of vanilla ice cream atop this sweetness will take it to another level. Get The Recipe 28 of 50 Rum Baked Beans Hector Sanchez These aren't your average baked beans. These are combined with bacon, rum, and onions to create an exceptional flavor combination that'll pair with anything off the grill. Make the holiday weekend stress-free by preparing the dish up to two days in advance. Get The Recipe 29 of 50 Banana Pudding Poke Cake Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Topped with banana pudding, this fun dessert will keep them coming back for more. This is definitely one of those sentimental flavor journeys we always crave, and the look of this cake is a pillowy dream. Bring it to a party, and you've just won the dessert portion of the potluck. Get The Recipe 30 of 50 Blueberry Bread Pudding Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Loren Wood; Prop Styling: Christine Keely With crisp bread bits and sweet, in-season blueberries, this custardy dessert will easily move to the top of your summer dessert list. We recommend breaking out the vanilla ice cream when it comes time to enjoy. Get The Recipe 31 of 50 Ham And Noodle Casserole Jen Causey Made with egg noodles, chopped ham, and a mix of springy vegetables, this casserole feeds a crowd in a pinch. This is also one of those perfect make-ahead dishes that will save you on a busy weeknight. Be sure to fully defrost if you choose to freeze and then reheat. Get The Recipe 32 of 50 Cream Cheese Brownies Micah A. Leal A rich and tangy layer of swirled cream cheese mixture takes regular brownies to delicious new heights. Not only will they be eaten quickly, but they'll also be admired for presentation. This is one of those stackable piles of delight that deserves a fancy cake stand. Get The Recipe 33 of 50 Pecan-Peach Cobbler Beth Dreiling Hontzas No Southern summer cookout is complete without peach cobbler. While we love the classic dish, this version gets a slight nuttiness from pecans that add texture to the dessert and cut the sweetness. Get The Recipe 34 of 50 Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip Monica Farber There's hardly an occasion when buffalo chicken dip isn't welcome on the table. Get The Recipe 35 of 50 Reunion Pea Casserole Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Line your favorite 9x13 casserole dish with a crescent roll crust, then layer in Italian sausage, cheese, squash, zucchini, and black-eyed peas for a rich and homey dish that won't disappoint. Get The Recipe 36 of 50 Luscious Lemon Bars Jennifer Davick; Styling: Kacy Carroll From luncheons and teas to shower and holidays, lemon bars are always welcome. For a relaxing weekend, make them up to a month ahead of time and store them in the freezer for an easy, bright dessert. Get The Recipe 37 of 50 Ham Delights Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn These sliders came to party. This trusty appetizer with layers of flavorful Gouda cheese and ham and a sprinkle of everything bagel seasoning is one all ages will love. Get The Recipe 38 of 50 Chocolate-Zucchini Cake Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox With seasonal zucchini abounding, why not toss it in your dessert too? No one will even guess the secret ingredient in this impressive yet easy-to-make cake topped with a salty-sweet brown butter-pistachio frosting. Get The Recipe 39 of 50 King Ranch Chicken Southern Living This Tex-Mex recipe is a crowd favorite, making it a one-stop shop for success at a Memorial Day family dinner. Though not an invention of the famed King Ranch—it's more likely the creation of a ladies' Junior League—the spicy flavors of chili powder, roasted peppers, and toasted cumin never fail to please. Get The Recipe 40 of 50 Shrimp And Grits Casserole Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Pull this classic Southern dish together in just one hour—and in a portable casserole that can be served family-style at the Memorial Day party. This Southern classic is always a hit, and this version is dependable and delicious. You'll have to linger near the buffet to see which grits dish is getting the most attention. It'll be this one. Get The Recipe 41 of 50 Deb Wise's Tamale Pie Mix-up Hector Sanchez This big-batch version of the beloved Tex-Mex pie will help feed a hungry cookout crowd, no sweat. The ingredients are approachable and easy to source, and the ease with which this comes together makes it a potluck standard. Just watch that 13x9 get wiped out in no time at all. Get The Recipe 42 of 50 Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Kentuckians—and Kentuckians at heart—rejoice! This recipe takes a classic Hot Brown sandwich and turns it into a potluck-ready casserole. The creamy, crunchy mixture of fresh tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, toasted bread, and crispy bacon make this dish high on our list of comfort food favorites. Get The Recipe 43 of 50 Sloppy Joe Casserole Southern Living We took a classic summer camp lunch and made it into a potluck-worthy casserole. This brings tasty memories back for us adults, and brings the kids to the table to enjoy the flavors they love. Trust that the lunch lady has never seen a version of Sloppy Joe this good. Get The Recipe 44 of 50 Chicken-and-Green Chile Enchiladas Southern Living Has there ever been a time when chicken enchiladas weren't a crowd-pleasing hit? The best part about this comforting dish, with its layers of chicken, green chilis, and cheese, is that's ready in just 30 minutes, making it the ideal last minute addition to the weekend's casserole lineup. Get The Recipe 45 of 50 Mini Confetti Cakes Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Use a small round cutter to wrangle these adorable mini cakes out of a simple sheet cake—then let them steal the show. These beautiful delights are perfect examples of how a dessert can be transformed with edible flowers. Couple the delicate petals with homemade whipped cream, and you've made something easy look elegant and elevated. Get The Recipe 46 of 50 Broccoli Cheese Casserole Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Fresh vegetables covered in melty cheese and crushed buttery crackers? Done and done. This casserole is simply too good to be true and may need to be doubled, depending on your crowd. Get The Recipe 47 of 50 Tater Tot Bake Jennifer Causey Because every kid will take down a hearty portion of this tater tot-laden casserole, no matter the time of day—and especially with a hot dog on the side. With just 15 minutes of active prep time, this recipe is quick and easy to whip up for a lazy weekend or Sunday brunch. Just keep in mind that no one can turn down a tot. Get The Recipe 48 of 50 Homemade Green Bean Casserole With Crispy Leeks Linda Puglies; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Thin, crispy fried leeks make a lighter topping alternative to fried onions for a warm weather cookout. This is not just a delightful taste pairing, but the texture also wins. Fresh greens beans always result in the best version of this dish. Get The Recipe 49 of 50 Chicken Enchilada Casserole Hector Sanchez Every Memorial Day cookout loves a full-fledged Tex-Mex casserole. Whip up some fresh guacamole on the side, and you're set. This is one of those crowd-pleasers that will leave you with an empty dish at the end of the party. Get The Recipe 50 of 50 Chicken Spaghetti Casserole Hector Sanchez This casserole fits under the "friendly for every occasion" category. It's a potluck savior and the perfect main dish for a Thursday when you suddenly have a couple of extra kids over for dinner. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit