Memorial Day is more than just a day off; it’s the unofficial start of summer, pool season, and most importantly for food lovers, BBQ season! As the days get longer and the weather warms up, there’s no better way to celebrate than with a fantastic BBQ party surrounded by friends and family.
This year, ditch the same old burgers and hot dogs and take your Memorial Day celebration to the next level. We’re diving into a non-traditional Memorial Day party food lineup that’s sure to impress your guests and ignite their taste buds. There’s plenty of time throughout the summer for the classic cookout staples; let’s make this Memorial Day BBQ something truly special and memorable.
BBQ is often thought of as a universal cuisine, but the truth is, regional BBQ styles vary dramatically across the United States. From the sauces to the cooking methods and signature recipes, each region boasts its own unique BBQ identity. This Memorial Day, we’re taking a culinary road trip across America without leaving your backyard, celebrating the diverse and delicious world of regional BBQ.
To make this regional BBQ tour easy and authentic, we’re using the Heinz Pitmaster Collection BBQ Sampler Pack. Heinz has partnered with renowned BBQ masters from different regions to create a collection of sauces that truly capture the essence of each style. These sauces are crafted with 100% natural ingredients, ensuring an authentic and flavorful experience. Get ready to explore the tastes of Carolina, Kansas City, Memphis, and Texas right at your Memorial Day party!
A Regional BBQ Tour: Memorial Day Party Menu
Carolina Style Grilled BBQ Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Carolina BBQ sauce is famous for its perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess, often featuring a vinegar base with hints of spice. The Heinz Carolina Vinegar Style Tangy sauce, developed in collaboration with Sam Jones of Skylight Inn BBQ, perfectly embodies these characteristics. This sauce is an exceptional complement to the smoky bacon wrapped around succulent grilled shrimp, creating an irresistible appetizer that captures the essence of Carolina BBQ.
Kansas City Smoked BBQ Chicken Salad
Kansas City BBQ is known for its thick, rich, and sweet and smoky sauces. Joe and Mike Pearce of Slap’s BBQ collaborated with Heinz to create the Kansas City Sweet & Smoky flavor, a sauce that truly embodies the region’s signature taste. This robust sauce clings beautifully to smoked chicken, making it the star ingredient in this creamy and flavorful BBQ chicken salad. Each bite is a harmonious blend of smoky chicken and sweet BBQ goodness, perfect for a Memorial Day side dish or light lunch option.
Memphis BBQ Slow Cooked Pulled Pork Nachos
Memphis BBQ is all about the balance of sweet and spicy, often with a tomato and vinegar base. Dan Brown from Memphis’ Leonard’s PIT Barbecue brought his expertise to the Heinz Memphis BBQ sauce, creating a flavor profile that perfectly coats every tender shred of pulled pork. These Memphis BBQ Slow Cooked Pulled Pork Nachos are the ultimate crowd-pleaser, layering smoky pulled pork, tangy Memphis BBQ sauce, and all your favorite nacho toppings for a fun and flavorful dish.
Texas Style Oven Roasted BBQ Beef Brisket Tacos
Texas BBQ is famous for its bold, spicy, and beef-centric flavors. Robert Sierra from S + S Pit Crew partnered with Heinz to develop the Texas Bold & Spicy BBQ Sauce, a sauce that doesn’t hold back on flavor. This robust sauce is the perfect complement to oven-roasted beef brisket, transforming it into incredibly flavorful and tender taco filling. Texas Style Oven Roasted BBQ Beef Brisket Tacos bring a big, bold Texan punch to your Memorial Day menu.
Sweet Endings and Refreshing Drinks: Memorial Day Party Desserts & Hydration
No Memorial Day BBQ is complete without some refreshing desserts and drinks to balance out the savory BBQ flavors. Keep the patriotic theme going with red, white, and blue desserts and hydrating infused waters.
Red, White & Blue Fruit Kebab Flag
These festive fruit kebabs are as beautiful as they are delicious. Thread strawberries, blueberries, and marshmallows or white melon onto skewers to create edible American flags. They are a light, refreshing, and patriotic dessert option that’s perfect for a summer BBQ.
Blueberry Strawberry Cheesecake Bites
Individual blueberry strawberry cheesecake bites are a decadent yet manageable dessert. These red, white, and blue treats combine creamy cheesecake filling with fresh berries for a burst of summer flavor in every bite. They are easy to make ahead of time and are always a crowd-pleaser.
Berry Infused Waters
Stay hydrated in style with berry-infused waters. Add sliced strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries to pitchers of water for a refreshing and flavorful drink that’s perfect for a hot Memorial Day. You can also add mint or cucumber for extra flavor dimensions.
BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos: Your Signature Memorial Day Dish
Looking for a signature BBQ recipe to wow your guests? Look no further than Memphis BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos! They are incredibly easy to make and always a hit. Here’s how to make them:
BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos Recipe
The key to perfect pulled pork nachos is starting with a great base. Round tortilla chips are ideal because they are sturdy and scoop up the pulled pork and toppings perfectly, ensuring every chip is loaded with flavor.
Start by slow cooking your pork roast or shoulder until it’s fall-apart tender. Once cooked, shred the pork and generously spread it over a bed of tortilla chips. Don’t skimp on the pork! And if you make extra pulled pork, you can easily use it for sandwiches later in the week.
Next, add thinly sliced red onion for a bit of bite and shredded cheddar cheese for melty goodness. Bake until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
Once out of the oven, drizzle with a bit more Memphis BBQ sauce and sprinkle with fresh green onions for a final touch of flavor and freshness. Serve immediately and watch them disappear!
Memphis BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos Recipe
Published by: Lydia
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Ingredients
- 4 pounds pork roast or 6 – 8 pound bone-in pork shoulder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 bottle of Heinz Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce
- 1 bag tortilla chips
- 8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup red onion thinly sliced
- ½ cup green onion thinly sliced
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in large skillet over high heat.
- Sear all sides of pork roast until browned (1 – 2 minutes per side).
- Pour enough BBQ sauce into bottom of slow cooker to just cover the surface.
- Add pork and top with BBQ sauce (reserve 1 – 2 tablespoons for topping at the end).
- Cook on low for 6 – 7 hours or 3 – 4 hours on high, or until fork tender.
- Shred pork.
- Heat oven to 400ºF (200°C).
- Lay tortilla chips on a large cooking sheet, cover with pulled pork.
- Top with red onion and cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 8 – 10 minutes, until cheese is melted and chips are golden brown.
- Drizzle with remaining BBQ sauce and top with green onion.
Tried this recipe? Mention @lydioutloud or tag #lydioutloud!
Patriotic Touches: Regional BBQ Tour Memorial Day Party Decor
Decorations bring any party to life, and for Memorial Day, patriotic decorations are both fun and easy to incorporate.
I love adding themed placemats to my food tables to enhance the party atmosphere. For this regional BBQ tour, I created star-shaped placemats out of scrapbook paper to place under each dish. This simple touch adds a festive and thematic element to the food display.
To highlight the unique regional aspect of the BBQ sauces, I created signs for each dish that not only identified the food but also shared interesting facts about the specific regional BBQ style.
I started by printing the names of each BBQ dish on red 8 x 10″ card stock. Then, using an electric cutting machine, I cut out the shape of the state associated with each BBQ style. For example, a Texas shape for the brisket tacos and a Carolina shape for the shrimp. I then printed a short description of each region’s BBQ characteristics on white 8″ x 10″ card stock.
I trimmed the white paper so the BBQ description fit neatly within the state shape and glued it to the back of the red card stock. This created a layered and visually appealing sign that was both informative and decorative.
Finally, I placed each sign in a clear 8″ x 10″ frame and positioned them behind their corresponding dish on the food table. These framed signs added a polished and informative touch to the party decor.
For silverware caddies, I used mason jars adorned with red and blue bandanas. I tied flag-themed ribbon around the rims of the jars for an extra patriotic touch. This is a simple and charming way to keep silverware organized and on theme.
Blueberries and strawberries are not only delicious and in season for Memorial Day, but they also make perfect patriotic embellishments. I love adding them to water for a refreshing infused drink that also adds a pop of color to the party decor.
This Memorial Day, celebrate with a BBQ that’s both delicious and educational, taking your guests on a flavorful tour of regional American BBQ styles. What are your favorite Memorial Day traditions?
