A Memorial Day BBQ

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Memorial Day is our first opportunity to kick back with friends and celebrate the arrival of summer. This menu of casual backyard barbecue fare fits the bill perfectly: Start off with pitchers of spicy summery cocktails like the mezcalita, paired with finger foods like deviled eggs, pickled watermelon, and one-bite fried oysters with remoulade. Warm up the grill for Alabama-style chicken sandwiches and burgers served with a colorful array of toppings, from piquant pimento cheese to homemade zucchini pickles, bibb lettuce, and crispy bacon. Tangy coleslaw, barbecued baked beans, and a salad of fresh spring greens round out the offerings. And don't forget to save room for dessert-rhubarb pie topped with homemade ice cream!

The Menu


More About This Menu

Looking for something slightly different than bacon-and-cheese deviled eggs? See 8 deviled egg recipes, from classic southern-style to deviled eggs adorned smoked trout or pickled jalapenos.

  • The pickled watermelon can be made up to two weeks in advance, but as long as you let the fruit pickle in the fridge for at least three full days, they should have a nice savory flavor.

  • For more easy appetizers to feed a crowd, check out our collection of perfect party dips »

  • Choose your favorite style of patty from our collection of hamburger recipes, and set up a table of burger accoutrements to suit a range of tastes, which you can make or slice up well ahead of time: velvety bibb lettuce, caramelized onions, zucchini pickles, jalapenos, roasted red peppers, crumbled blue cheese, crisp-fried bacon… there's no limit to tasty burger toppings »

  • Take advantage of rhubarb season and prepare a tart-sweet dessert to end your menu. If rhubarb pie isn't your thing, try rhubarb-ginger crumble or a rhubarb and berry compote. See more rhubarb recipes »



    • RECIPE: Pimento Cheeseburgers
    Pimento cheese is a popular burger topping in and around Columbia, South Carolina. The cheese gives so much flavor to the burger that you won't need ketchup.

    INGREDIENTS
    4 oz. grated sharp yellow cheddar cheese
    3 tbsp. mayonnaise
    1 tbsp. diced pimentos
    1 tbsp. grated onion
    ½ tsp. worcestershire
    Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
    1 ½ lbs. ground beef, formed into 4 medium-size patties
    4 hamburger buns, toasted
    Iceberg lettuce, for garnish
    4 slices tomato, for garnish

    INSTRUCTIONS
    1. In a bowl, combine cheese, mayonnaise, pimentos, grated onion, and worcestershire; season with salt and pepper. Set pimento cheese aside.

    2. Season patties with salt and pepper. Prepare a medium-hot charcoal fire or heat a gas grill to medium-high (or heat a tablespoon of canola oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat). Grill burgers, flipping once, until cooked to desired doneness, about 10 minutes for medium rare. Spread 2 tbsp. pimento cheese over each burger; cover and let melt. Serve burgers on buns with lettuce and tomato.

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