Fire Up the Grill This Memorial Day With These Irish-Inspired Sauces, Salads, and Sides

Growing up in Ireland, our version of a summer cookout usually involved huddling under an umbrella while sausages sizzled on a disposable grill!

So when I arrived in America and experienced my first proper Memorial Day barbecue, the sprawling patio, the sizzling grates, the mountains of food, I was completely smitten.

Over the years I've made this holiday my own, weaving a little Irish magic into the great American cookout tradition. Whether you're firing up the grill for a crowd or keeping things simple for the family, I've gathered my favorite recipes for the occasion.

You'll find sticky Guinness glazed chicken, flavor-packed marinated steaks, my dad's beloved foil-packet potatoes, and a gorgeous collection of salads and sides.

Some are pure Irish classics, some are modern Irish-inspired creations, and a few are simply summer favorites I reach for every single year. I hope this collection makes your Memorial Day table one to remember. Happy grilling, friends!

Table of Contents

1. Guinness Glazed Chicken Tenders

I always say that wonderful things happen when Guinness meets the grill. I use this robust stout to create a sticky, finger-licking good marinade that doubles as a pouring sauce for chicken or pork.

It adds a deep, malty flavor with hints of coffee and chocolate that will make your Memorial Day barbecue truly unforgettable.

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2. Flavor Loaded Guinness Marinated Steaks

If you want to bring the taste of an Irish restaurant steak dinner to your own backyard, this is the recipe for you. I soak these steaks in a rich Guinness marinade that tenderizes the meat beautifully before it hits the hot grates.

It's a fantastic way to pay homage to the best of Irish cooking while celebrating the American grilling season.

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3. Grilled Foil Packet Garlic Herb Potatoes

No amount of delicious salad choices will ever lure my Irish dad away from his beloved spuds, even at a barbecue! To avoid boiling potatoes indoors while everyone else is outside, I toss sliced Yukon golds with oil and herbs, wrap them in foil, and cook them right on the grill.

They turn out wonderfully crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

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4. Irish Style Coleslaw

You simply can't have a cookout without coleslaw, but I like to make mine the way we do back home. My Irish-style coleslaw is wonderfully creamy and relies on simple, fresh ingredients without being overly sweet.

It's the perfect crunchy side dish to serve alongside your grilled burgers and hot dogs.

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5. Potato and Chive Salad

A good potato salad is a Memorial Day essential, and this one is a true taste of my childhood. I keep it simple and savory with fresh chives and a creamy dressing that coats every single bite.

It's a hearty, comforting side that pairs beautifully with any meat you pull off the barbecue.

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6. Potato Salad With Apple And Celery

This Potato Salad With Apple And Celery is one of those recipes that always catches people off guard at the barbecue, in the best possible way! The combination of creamy potatoes with crisp celery and apple is hugely popular across Ireland and the British Isles, and once you taste that satisfying crunch alongside the creamy dressing, you'll understand exactly why.

It's a refreshing twist on a classic cookout staple that just might earn a permanent spot in your recipe collection.

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7. Beetroot and Goat Cheese Salad

Beetroot is a very popular vegetable in Ireland, and my granny always said 'fresh air is the best sauce' for enjoying it. I love serving these sweet pickled beets over a bed of peppery arugula with tangy goat cheese crumbles and an orange balsamic vinaigrette.

It's an easy, no-cook side that looks absolutely stunning on a patio table.

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8. Easy Healthy Red Cabbage Slaw Recipe

This Easy Healthy Red Cabbage Slaw Recipe is my go-to for adding a pop of color and freshness to the Memorial Day spread, those vibrant purples and reds are almost too pretty to eat!

The tangy vinaigrette dressing is what really makes it sing alongside all that smoky grilled meat, and I can promise you guests will be going back for seconds. Simple ingredients, no fuss, and every single bite screams summer.

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9. Cucumber Salad A Delicious And Healthy Picnic Recipe

Here is a blurb for the Cucumber Salad post: No Memorial Day spread is complete without a cool, refreshing salad to balance all that smoky grilled goodness, and this Cucumber Salad is exactly what the table needs. Back in Ireland, sliced cucumbers were a staple of our classic summer salads, so this pickled version, with its sweet and tangy flavor, feels like a little taste of home with a delicious twist.

Best of all, you can make it ahead of time, so you can stay outside soaking up the sunshine instead of fussing in the kitchen!

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10. Apple Blue Cheese And Spinach Salad

This Apple Blue Cheese and Spinach Salad is one of those dishes I turn to again and again because it looks stunning on a table but couldn't be simpler to pull together. The combination of crisp red-skinned apples, tangy blue cheese, chopped walnuts, and toasted sunflower seeds is exactly the kind of fresh, flavor-packed side that holds its own alongside grilled chicken, steak, or salmon.

It's a salad you'll find gracing the menus of Irish restaurants, and now you can bring that same elegance straight to your Memorial Day spread!

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11. The Best Homemade Guinness Barbecue Sauce

This Best Homemade Guinness Barbecue Sauce is one of those recipes that earns a permanent spot in your grilling rotation. I use Ireland's most beloved stout to create a rich, deeply flavored sauce that works beautifully as a marinade, a basting sauce, or simply poured on the side for dipping.

Once you taste that malty Guinness magic in a homemade BBQ sauce, you'll never reach for a store-bought bottle again.

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12. Tabbouleh Salad With Bulgur Wheat And Parsley

This Tabbouleh Salad With Bulgur Wheat And Parsley is one of those fresh, vibrant sides that earns its place on any summer table. While it's not a traditional Irish recipe, tabbouleh has become a beloved staple across Ireland. You'll find it gracing the menus of some of the country's most popular cafés and restaurants, including my favorite, Avoca.

Packed with bulgur wheat, parsley, mint, tomatoes, and a bright lemony dressing, it's the kind of light, filling salad that balances out all those gorgeous grilled meats beautifully.

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Savor the Flavors of Summer

Memorial Day is the perfect time to gather outdoors, fire up the grill, and enjoy great food with the people you love. Whether you're serving up smoky meats, fresh seasonal salads, or comforting Irish-inspired sides, these recipes are designed to make your cookout both delicious and memorable.

I hope this collection brings a little extra flavor and inspiration to your holiday table, helping you kick off the summer season in the very best way.