Lifestyle Food All-Star Recipes to Rule Your Memorial Day Cookout Kick off summer with these mouthwatering dishes and desserts from Tyler Florence, Anne Burrell and more celebrity chefs By People Staff Updated on May 16, 2024 03:59PM EDT Photo: Jen Causey If you can believe it, Memorial Day weekend is almost here. The holiday — which honors all those who have died serving in the military — is the kickoff to summer for a lot of Americans. Loved ones will gather, grills will come on and cookouts will be had. In case your crew prefers barbecue classics, like loaded cheeseburgers, or a vegetable-forward sides, like this flavorful twist on corn on the cob, we rounded up our favorite recipes from Food Network stars and celebrity chefs. Here are the best barbecue recipes to satisfy every craving. Celebrity Chefs Share Their Best Summer Cooking Tips 01 of 31 Tyler Florence's Grilled Fish Tacos with Chile Mayo Tyler Florence's Grilled Fish Tacos. Jen Causey The Food Network star uses halibut for this "shareable party dish" but says "any firm white fish would be great." "I like to serve it family-style so people can assemble their own tacos, which means lots of different combinations," he adds. Get the recipe HERE. 02 of 31 Sat Bains' Barbecue Potato Salad with Goat Cheese and Pine Nuts Sat Bains' Barbecue Potato Salad. Jen Causey Bains serves his potato salad grilled instead of chilled and swaps mayonnaise for goat cheese in his Memorial Day side. "The final dish has lovely charred and smoked flavors," says the chef, who also adds pine nuts. "The cheese adds a creamy texture, and the dressing comes alive with the heat of the potatoes." Get the recipe HERE. 03 of 31 Phoebe Lapine's Crunchy Peanut, Cashew and Lime Slaw Phoebe Lapine's Peanut and Lime Slaw. Jen Causey "I have always been a huge lover of Thai papaya salad because of the bright punchy lime juice, salty fish sauce and crunchy roasted peanuts," says Lapine, author of the Carbivore cookbook. Instead of green papaya, Lapine opts for shredded cabbage, which she says is "one of the best affordable pantry ingredients and, unlike a green leafy salad, can stand up to being pre-dressed." Get the recipe HERE. 04 of 31 Aaron Franklin's Herb & Buttermilk Potato Salad Jennifer Causey "I've been making this rich, creamy potato salad for years, as it goes great with just about anything," says the chef-owner of Franklin Barbecue in Austin. "It's the perfect summertime side dish." The James Beard Award winner describes the salad, which is featured in his new Franklin Smoke cookbook, as "light, acidic and fresh." Get the recipe HERE. 05 of 31 Anne Burrell's Cheese-Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs Jennifer Causey "I love hot dogs, I love bacon, and I love cheese – put them all together in a bun and it's amazing," says the host of Food Network's Worst Cooks in America of this creative recipe. A little work goes a long way, according to the chef. "It's a souped-up, fancy hot dog that takes a teeny bit more effort, but the results are very much worth it." Get the recipe HERE. 06 of 31 Andrea Nguyen's Spicy Cabbage, Peanut & Mushroom Slaw Jennifer Causey The James Beard Award winner took inspiration from Vietnamese chicken salad to create her "fabulously bold" vegetarian option. "I love Vietnamese chicken salad, which is spicy and slaw-ish with cabbage, herbs, peanuts and fried shallots, all tossed in a tangy dressing," says Nguyen, author of new cookbook Ever-Green Vietnamese. "I wondered what it would be like to replace the chicken with king trumpet mushroom which, when sliced and seared, turn slithery rich to mimic poultry." The result "is full of bright, zippy flavors and textural pops," says the chef. "The vegetables are really the star, [and] it tastes fabulously bold." Get the recipe HERE. 07 of 31 Dale Talde's Cheeseburger With Bacon and Worcestershire Onions Jen Causey "Growing up in Chicago with Filipino parents, I had such a strong love for American food, especially burgers," says the chef and host of Tastemade's All Up in My Grill. His version is a "complete savor bomb" thanks to marinated grilled onions and crispy bacon. "It's simple, but nothing beats a classic cheeseburger—nothing." Get the recipe HERE. 08 of 31 Madeline Sperling's Fattoush Salad With Apricots & Pecans Jen Causey "This will convert anyone who thinks salads are boring," says the executive chef at Zou Zou's restaurant in New York City. The tangy dressing and creamy labneh complement crunchy elements like homemade pita chips, crisp cabbage and apples. "It works great as a side dish, but it is also hearty enough to be a meal on its own with the addition of grilled chicken or shrimp," she adds. Get the recipe HERE. 09 of 31 Marcela Valladolid's Mexican Grilled Corn With Scallions & Cotija Cheese Jen Causey "Corn salads, known as esquites, are one of the most delicious finds across Mexico," says the celebrity chef and author of Cocinando on Cook Street, a children's cookbook written in Spanish and English. "It's salty, sweet, crisp and creamy perfection in a bowl!" Get the recipe HERE. 10 of 31 Tom Colicchio's Burgers with Caramelized Balsamic Onions Victor Protasio The Top Chef judge serves his burgers with melty truffle pecorino cheese, bread and butter pickles, and thinly sliced onions that are cooked down in balsamic vinegar to create a marmalade consistency. If you want to take things to the next level, Colicchio suggests swapping traditional beef patties with Wagyu beef for "melt-in-your-mouth burgers that are worth the splurge," he says. Get the recipe HERE. 11 of 31 Melba Wilson's Grilled Vegetable and Couscous Salad Victor Protasio Fire up the grill for the "ultimate summer side dish" packed with herbs, corn, peppers and zucchini. "If you're out of couscous, use orzo, quinoa or any small pasta shape," says the chef and restaurateur. Get the recipe HERE. 12 of 31 Joy Bauer's Sweet Potato Fries with Creamy Paprika Dipping Sauce Tara Donne "They are deliciously crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside," says the author of Joy Bauer's Super Food! For extra flavor throw the cooked fries on the grill for a few minutes to add smoky char. Get the recipe HERE. 13 of 31 Gaby Dalkin's Grilled Smashed Burgers Tara Donne "This is the classic cookout favorite but elevated just a touch," says the food blogger and author of the new Eat What You Want cookbook. Dalkin suggests a variety of topping combinations so everyone can make their burger their own. Get the recipe HERE. 14 of 31 Melissa Clark's Spinach & Grape Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing Tara Donne "This salad has everything going for it," says the author of the Dinner in French cookbook. "It's juicy from the grapes, meaty from the pancetta or bacon, and salty-savory from the blue cheese." Get the recipe HERE. 15 of 31 Bruce & Eric Bromberg's Bacon Cheeseburgers with Red-Onion Relish Victor Protasio The first weekend of summer calls for a stacked burger. This version from The Ribbon Midtown in New York City gets a tangy twist thanks to a sauce made with two types of vinegar, cornichons and ketchup. Get the recipe HERE. 16 of 31 Karen Akunowicz's Peach & Tomato Panzanella Salad Victor Protasio "There is no better time to serve this dish than when the sun is shining," says the chef-owner of Fox & the Knife in Boston. "White peaches are best when still slightly hard, though yellow peaches or nectarines are an equally delicious substitution." Get the recipe HERE. 17 of 31 Erin Zircher's Grilled Corn with Chile-Herb Butter Victor Protasio Make this compound butter — packed with shallots, chives and more herbs — from the CRU Oyster Bar Nantucket Cookbook to turn up the flavor on the cookout favorite. Get the recipe HERE. 18 of 31 Craig Koketsu's Avocado and Crab Rolls Greg DuPree The chef of Quality Eats restaurants in N.YC. gives his sandwich a spicy-sweet kick with a homemade raspberry hot sauce that's good on just about anything. Get the recipe HERE. 19 of 31 Nicholas Elmi's Watermelon, Tomato & Goat Cheese Salad Greg DuPree "You taste different flavors with each bite," the chef-owner of Royal Boucherie in Philadelphia says of his quick side dish, which comes together in just 20 minutes. Get the recipe HERE. 20 of 31 Virginia Willis' Buttermilk Pound Cake with Roasted Strawberries "Nothing beats this cake's rich, buttery flavor," says the author of Secrets of the Southern Table. Roasting the strawberries in the oven makes them juicy and soft, bringing the dessert to the next level. Get the recipe HERE. 21 of 31 Dale Talde's Cucumber Potato Salad Talde adds a burst of flavor to his side with lemon juice and soy sauce, plus a delightful crunch from the English cucumbers. Get the recipe HERE. 22 of 31 Giada De Laurentiis' Italian Antipasto Salad Greg DuPree; Inset: Rob Kim/Getty This dish is a party for the taste buds. The chef shared the recipe along with an easy meal prep tip: "The basil dressing is really versatile. Make an extra batch and use it on grilled fish or chicken." Get the recipe HERE. 23 of 31 Sharone Hakman's Mustard Barbecue Ribs Greg DuPree; Inset: Greg Gayne/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty It's a dream come true for meat lovers! These may take a little while to cook, but the smoky, tangy flavor is so worth the wait. Get the recipe HERE. 24 of 31 Holly Peterson's Cherry and Chocolate S'mores Greg DuPree; Inset: Eric Striffler A decadent twist on a childhood favorite. The cherry-topped dessert is best eaten on a plate and is certainly bound to give a mean sugar rush, but who's complaining? Get the recipe HERE. 25 of 31 Amanda Cohen's Crunchy Broccoli Slaw Hector Sanchez; Inset: Amanda Cohen "Broccoli stalks have a delicious, nutty flavor — and the crunch makes it great for a slaw," says Cohen. The festive colors and quick prep time make this crunchy slaw the perfect no-cook side for your party food line-up. Get the recipe HERE. 26 of 31 Bryan Voltaggio's Bacon-Wrapped Corn on the Cob Hector Sanchez; Inset: Joshua Yospyn/The Washington Post/Getty This is how you bring home the bacon-wrapped and expertly grilled around corn on the cob. "It's so good, it's practically a meal all by itself," says the chef and author of the cookbook, Home. Get the recipe HERE. 27 of 31 Clinton Kelly's Grasshopper Ice Cream Sandwiches Hector Sanchez; Inset: Jill Billante These minty mini-sandwiches are a cool choice for your summer dessert. The bite-sized treats are designed "so you can hold a sandwich in one hand and a cocktail in the other," says Kelly. Get the recipe HERE. 28 of 31 Florida Georgia Line's Spicy Pepper Burger Ashley Hylbert The country duo's songwriter friend Craig Wiseman developed the recipe for this juicy burger – topped with serrano peppers and pepper Jack cheese – after trying a similar version in Austin. It may (almost) be hotter than the band! Get the recipe HERE. 29 of 31 Haylie Duff's Fire-Roasted Banana Boats "I probably cook for my sister more than anybody," Duff tells PEOPLE of younger sis Hilary, who calls this chocolatey dessert "so creative." The only equipment you need: Foil and fire. Once the chocolate chips melt into the banana, eat it straight out of the peel with a spoon. Get the recipe HERE. 30 of 31 Questlove's Ice Cream Sundae in a Bun Austin Bush The Roots drummer and joint frontman was spotted digging into this Thai-style ice cream sandwich from New York restaurant Pok Pok. You'll already have the hot dog buns at your barbecue, and using them to house frosty scoops is surprisingly genius – the bun creates a pouch that can hold chocolate syrup, crushed peanuts and more. Get the recipe HERE. 31 of 31 Paul Wahlberg's Patty Melt Joseph De Leo Boston boy Paul Wahlberg (brother of Mark) presents a juicy burger flanked by gooey slices of cheese. It's "wicked good" thanks to its "flavor combo," says the chef-owner of Boston eatery Wahlburgers. Get the recipe HERE.