HOW is it almost summer?! The fact that Memorial Day weekend is next weekend is genuinely outrageous to me.

The weather is supposed to be beautiful this weekend too, so I wanted to get these recipes to you early because you deserve all the time in the world to plan and prepare for your summer cookout.

These are my top dishes to kick off the season right. Save this post and come back to it all summer long! OR you can go to my recipes tab and put the season “summer” in. 🙂

Anddd if you love the idea of having everything in one place — full menus with 5 unique recipes, grocery lists, and wine pairings — that’s exactly what I do over in my recipe club on Substack. My Char & Chill, Taste of Summer and Golden Hour menus were basically made for this moment. But any of them will work!

Ok, without further ado, here are the recipes that I think are perfect for our summer kickoff!

The Showstoppers

Smashed Lobster Rolls (My Family’s Lobster Shack Recipe)

This is a Bouchard family classic — my great grandfather’s recipe from his lobster shack in Lewiston, Maine. A cool, herb-y mayo filling with tarragon and chives, pressed and smashed on a buttery potato bun until the outside is golden and crispy. Cool in the middle, warm on the outside. If you’re feeding a crowd, this is the move.

Smashed Buttery Shrimp Rolls

The budget version of those lobster rolls and not gonna lie, they give the lobster roll a run for their money !!!

New England Style Lobster Rolls with Potato Chips & Caviar

Let’s start off bouuuugie !!! This is the elevated version of a classic buttery, cold lobster salad in a toasted split-top bun, finished with the crunch of potato chips and a little caviar for that “yes, we’re really doing this” moment. This is the recipe for when you want Memorial Day to feel genuinely special.

Shrimp Scampi Rolls

If you love shrimp scampi AND garlic bread (hi, same), this is your summer sandwich. Buttery, garlicky shrimp sautéed in white wine and lemon, piled into toasted garlic bread hot dog buns. A more wallet-friendly shellfish roll that still feels completely celebratory — and comes together in under 30 minutes.

My Fave Smash Burgers with Special Sauce

Thin, lacy-edged, perfectly smashed patties with a secret special sauce that will ruin all other burgers for you. The kind of burger that makes everyone at the cookout ask for the recipe. Memorial Day is basically built for these. I made these for my Char & Chill menu on substack last year and they were on REPEAT all summer long.

McChicken Sandwiches with Spicy Pickle Ranch (Family Style)

My elevated take on everyone’s favorite fast food chicken sandwich, made family-style for a crowd. Crispy chicken with a spicy pickle ranch that makes it completely addictive. A guaranteed hit with kids and adults alike.

Skirt Steak with Peach Chimichurri

Juicy skirt steak (grill or oven, whatever you want!) served family-style with a bright, herb-packed peach chimichurri made with parsley, cilantro, mint, and fresh stone fruit. Ready in 30 minutes and feels like something you’d order at a restaurant. My toddler approved it. Highest honor.

Balsamic Strip Steak with Pink Peppercorns

This is so simple, yet SO PERFECT. The pink peppercorns add a floral and peppery element that just pops with the balsamic. I love making this for a crowd when I’m grilling, which I plan to do all weekend long. 10/10.

Grilled BBQ Chicken with Peach Basil Salsa

I feel like we usually reserve whole chickens for the cold months and that’s just simply not the way to live. Try this grilled whole chicken with peach bbq salsa to feed a small group and you will be in LOVE. If you are feeding more than 4-6, try this salsa with some BBQ chicken thighs. 🙂

Elote Shrimp Chipotle Tacos with Lime Crema

The tacos that make people stop mid-bite and only take 30 minutes (!??!?!?!) Finely chopped shrimp marinated in smoky chipotle and cumin, cooked together with deeply charred sweet corn, then loaded into warm tortillas with a cilantro-lime crema, red onion, and a blizzard of cotija. Smoky, sweet, creamy, and bright all at once. Ready in 25 minutes.

Salads & Sides

Roasted Potato Salad with Corn, Bacon & Herbs

My most popular potato salad for good reason. No sad boiled potatoes — these are roasted until golden and caramelized, tossed with sweet corn, crispy bacon, cherry tomatoes, and fresh herbs in a tangy whole-grain mustard dressing. It travels beautifully and tastes even better the next day.

Boursin & Bacon Smashed Potato Salad

This one went viral for a reason. Crispy smashed potatoes meet creamy Boursin and salty bacon in a combination that is dangerously good. Rich, indulgent, and absolutely irresistible alongside anything off the grill.

Mexican Street Corn Salad

All the flavors of elote in a scoopable salad. Sweet corn with cotija, chili, lime, and crema — the side dish that disappears first at every single cookout.

Halloumi Strawberry Jalapeño Salad

This one has everything: salty golden-seared halloumi, sweet peak-season strawberries, and a jalapeño kick that ties it all together. Fresh, bold, and visually stunning on a table. The kind of salad that makes people forget they’re eating a salad.

Peach Panzanella with Mozzarella & Pine Nuts

Juicy summer peaches, torn crusty bread, fresh mozzarella, and toasted pine nuts in a light vinaigrette. Panzanella is one of those dishes that only works when produce is actually good — and right now, it’s going to be spectacular. Peak summer on a plate.

Honey Lime Chipotle Sweet Potato Salad

Smoky, sweet, tangy, and a little unexpected. Roasted sweet potatoes in a honey-lime chipotle dressing that hits every note. A great make-ahead side that travels well and holds up beautifully at room temp — exactly what you need for a long holiday weekend.

Old Bay Honey Butter Corn

Sweet corn slathered in honey butter and Old Bay. Simple, iconic, completely addictive. Peak summer side dish energy.

Puttanesca Pasta Salad

Briny olives, capers, sun-dried tomatoes, and bold Italian flavors in pasta salad form. Punchy, satisfying, and a total departure from the usual — perfect for people who want something with a little attitude.

Marry Me Tortellini Salad

The viral “marry me” flavor profile — sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan, fresh basil, creamy dressing — in pasta salad form. Cheesy, savory, and irresistible. Make a double batch.

Honey Mustard Dill Pickle Chicken Salad

Tangy, herby, and packed with that addictive dill pickle flavor. Perfect stuffed in a roll, served on crackers, or eaten straight out of the bowl.

Chili Lime Watermelon Salad

Sweet, spicy, bright, and so refreshing. The palate cleanser your cookout spread needs — the kind of thing people go back to between bites of everything else. Ready in minutes.

Shareables / Starters

Baked Brie with Balsamic Peaches & Thyme

Gooey melted brie topped with grilled balsamic peaches, honey, and fresh thyme — served straight out of the cast iron with a toasted baguette for scooping. The ultimate “wow” appetizer that comes together almost entirely on the grill.

Halloumi & Apricot Skewers with Hot Honey

Golden-seared halloumi and caramelized apricot on skewers, finished with a drizzle of hot honey. Sweet, salty, a little spicy, and completely addictive. The kind of appetizer that disappears in two minutes and everyone wants the recipe for.

Sweets

Strawberry Rhubarb Custard Pie

The most classic summer combination — tart rhubarb and sweet strawberries — set in a silky custard filling that makes this feel more like a tart than a standard pie. Beautiful to look at, even better to eat, and the kind of dessert that will have people asking if you went to culinary school. (You did. Just saying.)

Blueberry Sugar Cookie Bars à la Mode

Chewy, buttery sugar cookie bars loaded with fresh blueberries, served warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. Summer dessert doesn’t get more joyful than this. Incredibly easy, completely crowd-pleasing, and just the right amount of extra.

Cornmeal Olive Oil Cake with Whipped Cream & Berries

My favorite kind of summer dessert: the one that looks effortless and tastes extraordinary. Moist, slightly nutty from the cornmeal, and rich from the olive oil — topped with clouds of fresh whipped cream and whatever berries look best at the market. Elegant without being fussy.

Whatever you’re making this weekend, whether it’s the full spread or just one or two of these, I hope your table is full and your summer is off to the most delicious start. 🙂