Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and is a time to honor those who have served our country.
Celebrate with these patriotic-themed dishes that are sure to impress your guests while showing your American spirit.
1. Red, White, and Blue Parfaits
Visually stunning layered desserts in clear cups that showcase the colors of the American flag.
How to Make: In clear glasses or mason jars, layer strawberry pieces (red layer), whipped cream or vanilla yogurt (white layer), and blueberries (blue layer).
Repeat layers until glass is full, ending with a dollop of whipped cream and a few berries on top. Chill until ready to serve.
2. Star-Spangled Fruit Pizza
A sweet, cookie-based “pizza” topped with cream cheese frosting and fresh berries arranged in a flag pattern.
How to Make: Press sugar cookie dough onto a rectangular baking sheet and bake according to package directions. Once cooled, spread with sweetened cream cheese frosting.
Arrange strawberry slices and blueberries to create an American flag design (blueberries in upper left corner, strawberry stripes across). Refrigerate until serving time.
3. Patriotic Pinwheels
Colorful tortilla spiral wraps that reveal red, white, and blue fillings when sliced.
How to Make: Spread cream cheese on large flour tortillas. Add layers of ingredients like red peppers or red pepper spread (red), white cheese (white), and purple cabbage or blue corn chips (blue).
Roll tightly, chill for at least 1 hour, then slice into 1-inch pinwheels.
4. Stars and Stripes Nachos
A festive nacho platter using naturally colored ingredients to create a patriotic snack.
How to Make: Arrange blue corn tortilla chips on one side of a large platter. Place white corn chips on the other side. Serve with red salsa and white queso dip in separate bowls.
Guests can dip chips in their preferred sauce for a red, white, and blue snack experience.
5. American Flag Veggie Tray
Fresh vegetables arranged to resemble the American flag for a healthy appetizer option.
How to Make: On a rectangular platter, create flag stripes using rows of cherry tomatoes and cauliflower florets. In the upper left corner, place a square of blueberries to represent the star field.
Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side.
6. Red, White, and Blue Potato Salad
A colorful twist on traditional potato salad using different potato varieties.
How to Make: Boil equal amounts of red potatoes, white potatoes, and purple/blue potatoes until tender. Cool and cube them, keeping colors separate.
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Toss each type with a light dressing of mayonnaise, mustard, salt, and pepper. Arrange in stripes on a serving platter, garnishing with fresh herbs.
7. Liberty Kabobs
Simple fruit skewers that bring patriotic colors to your dessert table.
How to Make: Thread wooden skewers with strawberries, marshmallows, and blueberries in alternating order. Arrange on a platter and serve with a sweet yogurt dip if desired.
For added flair, shape the skewers in a circle to create a “fireworks” display.
8. Constitution Burgers
All-American burgers with patriotic toppings and presentation.
How to Make: Grill hamburger patties to desired doneness. Use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut cheese slices. Serve burgers on buns with star-shaped cheese, red tomato slices, and white onion rings.
Add small American flag toothpicks before serving for an extra patriotic touch.
9. Independence Day Corn Salad
A bright, flavorful salad combining sweet corn with red and blue accents.
How to Make: Mix 4 cups of cooked sweet corn kernels with 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese, and chopped red onion. Toss with olive oil, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
Garnish with fresh herbs and serve chilled.
10. Fireworks Pasta
A festive pasta salad using tri-color pasta and patriotic mix-ins.
How to Make: Cook tri-color rotini pasta according to package directions. Drain and cool. Toss with diced red bell peppers, white feta cheese crumbles, and black olives.
Dress with Italian vinaigrette and chill before serving.
11. Patriotic Popcorn
Sweet and salty popcorn drizzled with colored candy melts for a festive snack.
How to Make: Pop 12 cups of plain popcorn. Melt red and blue candy melts in separate bowls according to package directions. Spread popcorn on baking sheets and drizzle with alternating colors of melted candy.
Allow to cool and harden before breaking into clusters and serving.
12. Freedom Fries
Seasoned potato wedges served with red and blue dipping sauces.
How to Make: Cut russet potatoes into wedges, toss with olive oil, salt, and paprika.
Bake at 425°F for 25-30 minutes until crispy. Serve with ketchup (red) and blue cheese dressing (blue) for dipping.
13. Veterans’ Salute Sliders
Mini burgers perfect for parties, decorated with patriotic picks.
How to Make: Form small beef patties and grill to desired doneness. Serve on mini buns with traditional toppings.
Before serving, insert toothpick flags or red, white, and blue frilled toothpicks to hold each slider together and add patriotic flair.
14. Military Tribute Trail Mix
A sweet and crunchy snack mix combining red, white, and blue ingredients.
How to Make: In a large bowl, combine 2 cups each of pretzels, white chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and blue candy-coated chocolate pieces. Add 1 cup of honey-roasted peanuts.
Mix well and store in an airtight container or portion into individual bags for serving.
15. Stars and Stripes S’mores
A patriotic twist on the classic campfire treat.
How to Make: Place marshmallows on one half of a graham cracker. Add alternating strips of white and milk chocolate to create “stripes.” Top with star-shaped pieces of chocolate (can be cut from chocolate bars with small cookie cutters).
Microwave for 10-15 seconds or heat over a grill until marshmallow softens.
Top with another graham cracker and enjoy.
16. Hometown Hero Wings
Chicken wings with options for red sauce, white ranch, and blue cheese coatings.
How to Make: Bake or fry chicken wings until crispy. Divide into three portions. Toss one portion in buffalo sauce (red), one in ranch seasoning (white), and one in blue cheese dressing.
Arrange on a platter in the pattern of an American flag, with the blue cheese wings in the upper left corner.
17. American Dip Trio
Three colorful dips served with an assortment of chips and crackers.
How to Make: Prepare three dips: tomato salsa or red pepper hummus (red), ranch or sour cream dip (white), and blueberry salsa or blue cheese dip (blue).
Serve in separate bowls arranged in a row with a variety of dippers like tortilla chips, pita triangles, and veggie sticks.
18. Victory Cupcakes
Red velvet and vanilla cupcakes with patriotic decorations.
How to Make: Bake a batch each of red velvet cupcakes and vanilla cupcakes. Frost with blue buttercream frosting using a piping bag with a star tip.
Decorate with red, white, and blue sprinkles or small fondant stars. Arrange on a serving tray to create an American flag pattern.
