18 Easy Memorial Day Appetizers (No Grill Required)

At a Memorial Day cookout, the grill is usually busy with burgers, hot dogs, chicken and the rest of the main food. Appetizers need to come from somewhere else. That can mean cold dips from the fridge, chilled bites you can prep ahead, a fruit platter and a few warm things from the oven, air fryer or skillet. Nothing in this list needs the grill, which keeps it free for the food that does.

Four Memorial Day appetizers in a collage: peach salsa with tortilla chips, mini cheeseburgers, a red white and blue fruit platter and prosciutto wrapped melon bites.

How to plan the timing

Start with the dips and anything that needs chilling. Chip dip, dill pickle dip, pinwheels, roll-ups and the charcuterie board can be handled before the warm food needs attention.

Leave the juicy or crisp things for closer to eating. Caprese bites, melon with prosciutto and anything with tomato, cucumber or fresh fruit hold better when they haven't been sitting too long.

Save the warm appetizers for later. Bake or air-fry the wings close to eating, and cook the zucchini fritters near the end so they stay crisp. If you are serving food outside, put out smaller amounts at a time and refill from the fridge when needed.

Dips and spreads

Dips are easy to handle first because most of the work happens before anyone arrives. A few taste better after chilling, and the slow cooker dip gives you something warm without taking over the oven.

Homemade Chip Dip

Make this one ahead if you can. The flavor gets better after a few hours in the fridge, and you'll have one less thing to mix when the rest of the food needs attention. Sturdy chips, pretzels, or cut vegetables are all good for scooping.

Peach Salsa

Chopped peaches, jalapeno, onion, bell pepper, cilantro and lime make this fresh without needing any cooking. Make it the same day if you can, since the fruit softens the longer it sits. Thicker tortilla chips hold the salsa better than thin ones, since the peaches add weight.

Guacamole

Mash the avocados close to eating rather than the night before. If the guacamole needs to wait in the fridge for a little while, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to help slow down browning. Tortilla chips are the obvious choice, but they also pair well with salsa, burgers and the rest of the cookout food.

Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip

Warm dips usually mean oven space, but the slow cooker handles this one on its own. The dip stays creamy and hot while you work on the rest of the appetizers. Add bread cubes, pita chips, crackers or vegetables for dipping.

Dill Pickle Dip

Chop the pickles finely so the dip stays easy to scoop, then chill it before serving. The pickle juice and dill give it that salty, briny bite without needing much else. Thick chips or pretzels are better here than very thin chips.

Cold and no-cook bites

Nothing in this section needs the grill. Some can be assembled ahead, while others are better finished closer to eating so the bread, tomatoes and fruit stay fresh.

Caprese Salad Bites

Tomato, mozzarella and basil give you a fresh bite that still feels like summer cookout food. Small picks make them easy to grab without a fork. A little olive oil, salt and pepper is enough if the tomatoes are good.

Prosciutto and Melon Appetizer

Chilled melon and salty prosciutto are a good break from heavier dips and wings. Cut the melon ahead if you want to save time, then assemble the bites closer to serving. Add balsamic glaze or black pepper right before they go out.

Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

Make the filling ahead and keep it chilled, then fill the tomatoes closer to eating. If the tomatoes are very juicy, let them rest cut-side down on paper towels for a bit before filling.

Ham and Pickle Roll Ups

Cream cheese, ham and pickles give you a salty cold bite that belongs next to chips and dips. Pat the pickles dry before rolling so the filling and tortilla do not get too wet. Chilling the rolls before cutting helps you get cleaner slices.

Turkey Pinwheels

Turkey pinwheels are sturdy enough for a platter and more filling than the lighter cucumber and tomato bites. The cream cheese helps hold everything together, so they slice cleanly after chilling. Cut them closer to serving if you want the neatest pieces.

Cucumber Sandwiches

Salt the cucumber slices first and pat them dry, or the bread softens too quickly. I would make these the same day and keep them covered in the fridge until needed. The cream cheese filling holds the cucumber in place and adds some fat against the dips and chips.

4th of July Fruit Platter

A red, white and blue fruit platter works for Memorial Day too, especially if you want something lighter next to dips, wings and burgers. Keep the fruit chilled and add any softer or more delicate pieces closer to eating. It adds patriotic color without making the whole appetizer list themed.

Fourth of July fruit platter with red, white and blue colors.

Simple Charcuterie Board

Set out a charcuterie board while the main food is still cooking. Use the recipe as a guide and lean into lighter summer pieces like grapes, berries, olives, pickles, crackers and a few cheeses. If the food will be outside, keep the board in the shade and refill smaller amounts as needed.

A beautifully arranged charcuterie board with variety of cheeses, cured meats and fruits.

Warm appetizers without the grill

These are the appetizers I would save for later. They do not need the grill, but they are better when they are warm, crisp or freshly cooked.

Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings

Buffalo wings still belong at a cookout, even when they are baked instead of grilled. Bake them close to eating so the coating keeps its texture, then toss with sauce at the end. Add ranch or blue cheese dip on the side if you want something cooling with the heat.

Mini Cheeseburgers

Prep the toppings and sauce ahead so assembly is faster once the patties are cooked. You still get burger flavor in a few bites without using grill space. They are best warm, so keep them for the point in the day when people are ready for something more filling.

Bacon Wrapped Dates

Wrap the dates, secure them with toothpicks, and bake until the bacon crisps. Make them close to eating, or shortly before guests arrive if you need a little buffer. Keep an eye on them near the end so the bacon browns without the dates getting too dark.

Air Fryer Sticky Chicken Wings

The air fryer keeps the oven free, which helps if you have other warm appetizers going at the same time. These wings are better made close to eating, while the skin is still crisp and the glaze is sticky. Cook them in batches if needed so the wings have enough room.

Zucchini Fritters

Squeeze as much liquid as you can from the zucchini before cooking so the fritters brown better in the skillet. They are best soon after frying, with sour cream or a simple dip on the side. If they need to wait, keep them on a rack rather than stacking them.

How to plan the timing

Dips and spreads

Cold and no-cook bites

Warm appetizers without the grill

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