Memorial Day is one of our most favorite holidays. Not only is it a day to pay tribute and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, our safety, and our freedom, it is the holiday that feels like a welcome to summer.
We know, we know: Memorial Day doesn’t technically fall in summer. But doesn’t Memorial Day just feel like summer? It is one of the first big cookouts of the year, bringing together friends and family to enjoy food and fun outdoors.
With the challenging year it has been since last Memorial Day, we are particularly excited for this year’s celebration. As more and more people across the country become vaccinated, the opportunity to gather in large groups again becomes more available. While we will still be cautious and safe, we are excited to once again get together with loved ones, so we want this year’s Memorial Day cookout to be extra special.
That means bringing the best food to the table, and of course the best cookout food is made with the best beans! Whether its bean salad, baked beans, bean dips, or bean burgers, beans are a cookout staple. If you plan to make this year a special celebration, be sure to prepare some of our favorite Memorial Day cookout recipes with Randall Beans like these!
Sweet & Spicy Michigan Baked Beans
How do you like your baked beans? Do you like yours a little bit sweeter, or a little bit spicier? Well, with this recipe you don’t have to pick a side! Using some cherry pepper jelly as the secret ingredient, this simple baked bean recipe brings equal parts sweet and heat, along with a little savory and saltiness from some thick cut bacon.
If you normally aren’t one for too much spice, don’t worry too much about it. We promise the sweetness of the cherry and the creaminess of the Randall Bean great northern beans are good equalizers. We promise these summer sweet and spicy baked beans will be the star of your Memorial Day BBQ alongside your favorites like burgers, brats, ribs, and hotdogs.
Summer Garden Whipped White Bean Dip
Kick off your cookout with a great appetizer while the grill warms up, the drinks cool down, and the games get started up! How Sweet Eats has a fabulous bean dip packed with creamy great northern beans and awesome spring and summer flavors. While we of course love beans (was that ever really in doubt?), there is a lot to love about this recipe.
This dip gets loaded up with roasted corn, fresh cherry tomatoes, and lots of other spices and garnishes for even more fresh summer flavors. Make sure you make plenty and bring lots of veggies, pita chips, or crusty buns or rolls to serve it with because this is one appetizer that is sure to go fast and get people’s appetites worked up.
Grilled Zucchini White Bean Salad
With all the heavy Memorial Day cookout foods like burgers, ribs, and brats, it is always a good idea to include a lighter side dish option to mix things up. Bean salads are a perfect choice for outdoor barbecues, since they are easy to prep beforehand, easy to bring, easy to serve, and pack some extra protein.
Sticking to the theme of grilled veggies we have built up so far, why not prepare this grilled zucchini salad with corn and white beans from Our Salty Kitchen! Perfect for enjoying cold or hot, this simple bean salad packs great flavor and crunch and is also a great option for those who are vegetarian or gluten intolerant at your cookout.
These Memorial Day cookout recipes are sure to be huge crowd-pleasers.
