Grilling is an essential part of Memorial Day Weekend that you don’t want to miss out on. We all love eating fresh food straight from the grill. Still, finding recipes that your whole family will enjoy can be a real challenge. Kids might get picky when it comes to grilled food, especially if this is their first time having BBQ and other grilled dishes.
Luckily, I’ve come up with some simple but tasty grilled recipes that kids will love on Memorial Day! I have added some great recipes and other classic Memorial Day food. This way you have plenty of options to feed your hungry kids with.
Best Grilling Recipes For Kids on Memorial Day 2023:
1. Pineapple and Chicken Skewers
Skewers are a great Memorial Day food. You can do a lot of creative things with skewer recipes. If you are cooking for your entire family, some skewers might not go over well with your kids. Thankfully, I have a sweet but healthy skewer option that kids are sure to love. Pineapple and chicken might seem like an odd combo but it goes great together on the grill!
Ingredients:
Fresh pineapple
¼ cup Ketchup
¼ cup Honey
¼ cup soy sauce
8 Chicken thighs
2 garlic cloves
¼ cup of brown sugar
Olive oil
Lemon juice
Salt and pepper
Wooden skewers
Recipe Instructions:
Step 1: Turn on your stove first to make the sauce. Get a saucepan and add the soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, ketchup, garlic, and some lemon juice.
Step 2: Cook the sauce till it bubbles and is thick, then turn your grill on. After the sauce cools and forms, cut the chicken and pineapple into bite-sized pieces.
Step 3: Put olive oil on the chicken and pineapple so they grill evenly. Then put them down on the grill and cook them. You can brush some of the sauce on while it grills for a better glaze.
Step 4: Get the skewers out and put the pineapple and chicken pieces on. Alternate between chicken and pineapple. Then use the rest of the sauce you made and brush more on the skewers.
2. Grilled Corn
Grilled corn is one of the easiest Memorial Day foods to prepare on this list, and most kids will love a good grilled corn on the cob! You don’t have to get fancy with this food option. Just get your favorite condiments and toppings out and grill away!
Ingredients:
Fresh corn
Butter
Pepper and salt
Recipes Instructions:
Step 1: Remove the green husks from your corn first. You can leave them on but it will be easier for you to cook and serve without them.
Step 2: Turn on your grill and put the corn on. You can start to season your corn with pepper, salt, and even a splash of lime.
Step 3: Grill the corn until lightly browned, then serve it on a platter. Don’t forget to put out butter for your kids to slather on!
3. Honey BBQ Chicken Wings
Chicken wings can be marinated in all kinds of sauces and have a ton of variety that will suit your kid's taste. For Memorial Day though, I suggest going with my simple BBQ chicken wing recipe that kids will really enjoy.
Ingredients:
Pack of chicken wings
½ teaspoon Salt and pepper
½ teaspoon Garlic powder
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon of cayenne
1 cup of your favorite bbq sauce
½ cup of honey
2 tablespoons of your favorite hot sauce
2 tablespoons of ketchup
1 stick of butter
Recipes Instructions:
Step 1: Wash and pat dry your chicken wings. Season them with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, and other seasonings you like.
Step 2: Turn on the grill and put some olive oil on your chicken. Then put the chicken down and cook it till it’s brown on both sides.
Step 3: Make the sauce in a separate pan on your stove. Add in the honey, ketchup, hot sauce, bbq sauce, and butter. Heat the sauce till it is thick and bubbling.
Step 4: When your wings are done cooking, put them on a plate, then pour the sauce over the chicken. Let them cool down a little. Then, you should have plenty of delicious wings to feed your family!
4. Hot Dogs
Hot dogs are one of my favorite grilled foods and your kids will love this recipe too. Most kids won’t say no to a good hot dog, but if they want something a little more exciting and delicious offer some of these toppings options.
Ingredients:
Baked beans
Chili
Avocado and bacon
Onions
Pickle relish
Coleslaw
Pack of hot dogs
Pack of hot dog buns
Recipe Instructions:
Step 1: Place your hot dogs out and put them on the grill. Cook them till they are slightly brown then put them in the buns.
Step 2: Put the toppings out and let your kids choose a topping that they like. They can still go for a classic mustard and ketchup hot dog. Some of these other toppings like avocado and bacon go great together and can be exciting to try on Memorial Day!
5. Grilled Peaches With Ice Cream
The final food item on this list is a dessert. Of course, most of us don’t typically think of grilling our dessert for Memorial Day, but this recipe is perfect for kids that want something sweet. This dessert is simple, tasty, and should be a big hit with your family!
Ingredients:
Fresh peaches
Ice cream
Other toppings you like
Recipes Instructions:
Step 1: Peel and cut fresh peaches. Place your peaches directly on the grill. Make sure not to burn them. Just get them warm and a little brown.
Step 2: Remove from grill and put a scoop of ice cream over the warm peach. This will make for a gooey and extra-refreshing treat.
Final Thoughts on Grilling Recipes For Kids
There are tons of different recipes you can try out with your kids this Memorial Day! Hopefully, I’ve got you started with some of these simple but delicious kid-friendly grilled foods.
Again, it can be a lot to prepare great dishes for your whole family, but finding that perfect recipe for Memorial Day is definitely worth it. Feel free to share some of your favorite Memorial Day grilling recipes below. I’d love to hear from you!