Memorial Day Weekend is the perfect time to get outdoors and enjoy a delicious BBQ or Picnic with family and friends!
Memorial Day Weekend is a day to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military; while enjoying backyard gatherings, and celebrating the unofficial start of summer. While traditional Memorial Day recipes are delicious, they’re often heavy, indulgent, and leave you feeling sluggish by the end of the day. The good news? You don’t have to give up flavor to enjoy a lighter, healthier Memorial Day menu.
These lightened-up Memorial Day Weekend recipes are fresh, satisfying, and perfect for sharing with friends and family—without the post-BBQ food coma. Whether you’re hosting or bringing a dish to a cookout, these healthier twists on classic favorites will be the stars of the table.
Why Lighten Up Your Memorial Day Recipes?
Traditional Memorial Day food tends to be loaded with high calorie dishes. By making a few simple swaps—like using Greek yogurt instead of mayo, grilling instead of frying, and adding more seasonal produce—you can:
- Enjoy bold, summery flavors
- Feel energized instead of overstuffed
- Accommodate more dietary preferences
- Still keep the nostalgic vibe of classic cookout food
Lightened-up recipes don’t mean boring recipes—they mean smarter ingredients and brighter flavors. Here are some of the BEST lightened up Memorial Day Recipes to make this weekend!
Zero Point BBQ Slow Cooker Chicken
This BBQ Slow Cooker Chicken is one those recipes that should be on everyone’s dinner rotation!
This Easy Skinny Coleslaw is a perfect side dish to any meal! It’s low in points and is great for potlucks, family gatherings, or your next family meal.
These are hands down the Best Low Point Greek Turkey Burgers-made with lean ground turkey, bread crumbs, an egg, scallions, feta cheese and topped with a homemade Zero Point Tzatziki Sauce!
This Lightened Up Eclair Cake is lightened up version of an old fashioned icebox cake with layers of graham crackers, sugar free vanilla pudding, and sugar free chocolate glaze. This is an easy no bake dessert recipe-perfect for any holiday or family gathering!
This Skinny Creamy Broccoli Salad is packed with broccoli, bacon, red onions, sunflower seeds and tossed together with a creamy ranch dressing!! The combination of all the flavors makes this Broccoli Salad irresistible!
Lightened Up Coleslaw Macaroni Salad
This Lightened Up Coleslaw Macaroni Salad is an easy summer side dish that combines two favorite summer salads: coleslaw and macaroni salad-packed with pasta, coleslaw, celery, diced apples-this is an easy and delicious dish to take to a potluck or your next BBQ!
Honey, Cilantro, Lime, Chicken Tenders
These Honey Cilantro Lime Chicken Tenders are outrageously delicious and would be worth getting your grill out for.
This Watermelon Feta Salad made with watermelon, feta cheese, and fresh mint is simply irresistible! Perfect for summer. It’s the combination of the saltiness of the feta combined with the sweetness of the watermelon that makes this salad mouth watering delicious!
Skinny Cherry Dr. Pepper Chocolate Cake
This Skinny Cherry Dr Pepper Chocolate Cake is one of those cakes that will be the hit at any party!! Perfect for gatherings, birthdays, or even a weeknight dessert!
This Skinny Potato Salad is a skinny version to the classic potato salad- made with red potatoes, crunchy diced celery, diced red onion, crisp dill pickles, and covered in a creamy Italian dressing.
Lightened Up Banana Cream Cake
This Lightened Up Banana Cream Cake is a lighter version of a banana cream cake- made with a cake mix, bananas, banana pudding and topped with banana slices and vanilla wafer cookies!
Chili’s Copycat Monterey Chicken
This Monterey Chicken is made with tender, juicy chicken breasts topped with a tangy sugar free barbecue sauce, crispy bacon, melted cheese, fresh tomatoes, and green onions. Truly scrumptious!! It’s packed with 33 grams of protein, low in carbs, and will keep you full for hours!
This Easy Skinny Cowboy Caviar is flavorful, colorful, and incredibly delicious! It makes a great dip, salad, side dish, or even as a topping for fish or meat. Take to a family gathering, potluck, or BBQ!
Easy White Chocolate Fruit Dip
This Easy White Chocolate Fruit Dip is one of the easiest fruit dip recipes out there! This Easy White Chocolate Fruit Dip is perfect for a potluck, family party, or Memorial Day BBQ!
This Easy Chickpea Salad is packed with chickpeas, fresh vegetables and drizzled with a simple homemade vinaigrette dressing. It’s a great side dish to any meal! This Easy Chickpea Salad is naturally gluten-free, healthy, and vegan!
Lightened Up Pesto Chicken Bake
This Lightened Up Pesto Chicken Bake is a protein packed, low in carbs, and gluten free! Thinly sliced chicken breast, topped with pesto sauce, tomatoes, and mozzarella, then baked in the oven until the cheese is melted to perfection! It’s easy to make and requires only one baking dish!
Raspberry Cheesecake Fluff Salad
This Raspberry Cheesecake Fluff Salad is so easy to make and makes the perfect side dish- it’s sure to be a hit at your next potluck!
This Easy Seven Layer Salad is a classic layered salad with seven colorful layers and a homemade lightened up creamy dressing. This is an easy make ahead salad that looks and tastes amazing!
These lightened-up Memorial Day Weekend recipes prove you can celebrate the holiday with delicious food that makes you feel good, too. With fresh ingredients, simple substitutions, and bold flavors, you’ll create a menu that everyone—from health-conscious guests to traditionalists—will love.
Here’s to a Memorial Day filled with great food, good company, and the start of an amazing summer.
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