13 Memorial Day Appetizers That Replaced the Ones We Used to Order From the Wing Place

Ordering appetizers for Memorial Day sounds easy until the bill looks bigger than the grill budget. These 13 recipes keep the wing-place feeling with baked wings, crispy onion rings, stuffed jalapeno poppers, sliders, and cold platter options that still fit the holiday table. The mix gives guests saucy, crunchy, handheld, and chilled choices without building the whole spread around one tray of takeout.

A platter of glazed chicken wings topped with chopped green onions and drizzled with white sauce, served with a small bowl of dipping sauce and a spoon. — BBQ Wings. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

With 50 minutes total time and 8 servings, Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers bring the kind of spicy, cheesy bite people usually order before the wings. The filling uses cream cheese and shredded sharp Cheddar tucked into jalapeno halves, then each pepper is wrapped with bacon and baked until crisp. They fit the Memorial Day table because they are easy to pick up, bold enough for the snack crowd, and sturdy beside dips, sliders, and wings.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

4th July Flag Platter

A tray arranged to resemble the U.S. flag with blueberries in a bowl representing the stars, and alternating rows of cheese slices and strawberries representing the stripes. — 4th July Flag Platter. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Ready in 10 minutes for 12 servings, Best Patriotic Fresh Fruit and Cheese Platter gives the appetizer table a cold option between all the fried and saucy plates. The platter uses fresh strawberries, blueberries, and white Cheddar cheese arranged in a flag-style layout. It works for Memorial Day because it adds something bright, easy to grab, and low-mess before the heavier wings and sliders start making the rounds.
Get the Recipe: 4th July Flag Platter

Wingstop Louisiana Rub Wings

Close-up of grilled chicken wings with a crispy texture, next to a red bowl of creamy dipping sauce. — Wingstop Louisiana Rub Wings. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Baked in 25 minutes for 4 servings, Wingstop Louisiana Rub Wings keep the wing-place idea right in the title without sending anyone out for pickup. The rub uses smoked paprika, oregano, cumin, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt over 16 chicken wings. They work well for Memorial Day because the dry seasoning stays easier to manage outdoors than a fully sauced tray, especially with ranch nearby.
Get the Recipe: Wingstop Louisiana Rub Wings

Crunchy Onion Rings

A close-up of crispy, golden-brown onion rings sprinkled with chopped parsley and black pepper on a white parchment-lined surface captures perfection in every bite. — Crunchy Onion Rings. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

At 30 minutes total and 8 servings, Crunchy Onion Rings fill the crispy side of the appetizer spread that usually comes in a takeout bag. Large onions get sliced, dipped in a batter of flour, baking powder, salt, paprika, egg, and milk, with optional breadcrumbs for more crunch. Serve them hot with herby mayo, BBQ sauce, or spiced ketchup when the table needs something people can grab between wings.
Get the Recipe: Crunchy Onion Rings

Lemon Pepper Wings

Close-up of seasoned baked chicken wings garnished with chopped fresh parsley on a white plate. — Lemon Pepper Wings. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Baked for 55 minutes and sized for 4 servings, Lemon Pepper Wings bring a buttery, citrus-pepper option that belongs next to a tray of sauces. The recipe uses 2 pounds of chicken wings, baking powder, salt, melted butter, lemon pepper seasoning, lemon wedges, and parsley. They help replace the wing-place order because the oven handles the crisp skin while the lemon pepper butter goes on after baking.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Pepper Wings

Lobster Roll

A close-up of a sandwich roll filled with chunks of seasoned lobster meat, garnished with chopped chives. — Lobster Roll. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

For a smaller, seafood-leaning bite, Lobster Roll takes 30 minutes and makes 2 toasted rolls loaded with warm lobster. The filling uses 1 pound of uncooked lobster meat with garlic, butter, olive oil, chives, fresh dill, lemon juice, and hot dog buns. Cut each roll in halves or thirds for a Memorial Day appetizer board when you want one item that lands a bit bigger than the usual fried basket.
Get the Recipe: Lobster Roll

Buffalo Wings

A tray of sauced chicken wings garnished with chopped green onions, served with celery and carrot sticks, and a cup of creamy dipping sauce in the center. — Buffalo Wings. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

With 1 hour and 15 minutes total time for 4 servings, Buffalo Wings cover the classic saucy order people expect from a wing place. The oven-baked wings use 2.5 pounds of chicken, baking powder, garlic powder, buffalo sauce, honey, butter, and a blue cheese dip made with sour cream and mayo. They make sense for Memorial Day because the sauce is familiar, but the homemade dip gives the platter more reason to stay on the table.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Wings

Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders

Close-up of a pulled pork sandwich with pickles and red cabbage on a bun, held in hand, with chips in the background. — Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Ready in 10 minutes and built as 12 sliders, Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders give the appetizer spread a small sandwich option instead of another basket of wings. Hawaiian rolls get layered with heated leftover pulled pork, coleslaw, breaded pickle chips, BBQ sauce, melted butter, and BBQ seasoning. They are useful for Memorial Day because guests can grab one slider at a time while moving between the grill, cooler, and snack table.
Get the Recipe: Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders

BBQ Chicken Sliders with Homemade Slaw

Three pulled pork sliders with coleslaw on a white plate, topped with a sprig of parsley. — BBQ Chicken Sliders with Homemade Slaw. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

A 30-minute batch with 6 servings, BBQ Chicken Sliders with Homemade Slaw brings saucy chicken and a crisp slaw into one handheld bite. The recipe uses rolls, shredded cooked chicken, BBQ sauce, green cabbage, purple cabbage, carrots, sour cream, lemon juice, mayo, and butter. These fit the wing-place replacement angle because they bring the same BBQ pull without needing a full plate, fork, or extra trip for takeout.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Chicken Sliders with Homemade Slaw

Veggie Sliders

Close-up of a Veggie Burger Slider with a fried patty, sliced cucumber, shredded purple cabbage, greens, and mayonnaise in a bun. In the background, a blurred portion of another slider and a dish are visible. — Veggie Sliders. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

At 40 minutes total with 16 servings, Veggie Sliders add a hearty slider tray for anyone skipping chicken, pork, or seafood. The patties are made from canned lentils, black beans, onions, garlic, breadcrumbs, oat flour, mushrooms, parsley, and vegetarian Worcestershire sauce. They work well on a Memorial Day appetizer table because the small patties can be topped with cucumber, red onion, and sauce like any other slider.
Get the Recipe: Veggie Sliders

Cajun Chicken Wings

Close-up of baked chicken wings coated in seasoning, garnished with chopped herbs, and resting on a parchment-lined baking sheet. — Cajun Chicken Wings. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Baked in 50 minutes for 4 servings, Cajun Chicken Wings bring smoky heat without needing a fryer or a delivery box. The seasoning uses Cajun spice, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, optional cayenne, melted butter, and 12 split chicken wings. They fit a Memorial Day spread because the spice level can be adjusted, and the wings pair easily with ranch, blue cheese dressing, celery sticks, or carrots.
Get the Recipe: Cajun Chicken Wings

Caprese Pasta Salad

A bowl of rotini pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. — Caprese Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Ready in 30 minutes for 4 servings, Caprese Pasta Salad gives the appetizer table a chilled break between sauced wings and sliders. Short pasta gets tossed with pesto sauce, cherry tomatoes, bocconcini, olive oil, salt, pepper, fresh basil, balsamic vinegar, and bread for serving. It fits the Memorial Day setup because it travels well in a cooler and gives guests something fork-friendly without turning into a full side dish.
Get the Recipe: Caprese Pasta Salad

BBQ Wings

A 55-minute recipe for 4 servings, BBQ Wings close the list with the sticky, smoky tray people expect from a wing-place order. The wings are coated with flour, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, sea salt, black pepper, and barbecue sauce, then baked until the glaze caramelizes. They belong on the Memorial Day table because the sauce sets after baking, making each piece easier to pick up and pass around.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Wings