Memorial Day weekend is 4 days out, and Trader Joe’s has the cart-ready cookout stash to skip most of the prep. Here are 16 grill-rack standouts I’d build a backyard spread around — proteins, buns, sauces, dips, and the no-cook sides that round it all out.
1. Angus Chuck, Brisket & Sirloin Beef Patties — $7.99/16 oz
These three-cut Angus patties are my shortcut to a steakhouse-quality burger without grinding anything at home. The chuck brings the fat, the brisket brings the flavor, the sirloin keeps the bite firm — and at four patties for $7.99 they’re cheaper than dragging the family out for the weekend.
Cookout Role
Main protein. Salt heavily, grill over direct heat about 4 minutes per side for medium, and rest a few minutes before they hit the bun.
Pairing Tip
Build them on the Brioche Buns below with a spoon of Spicy Dynamite Sauce and a few Pickled Red Onions.
Verdict
BUY — four restaurant-grade patties for under eight bucks is the easiest MDW win in the freezer aisle.
2. Pollo Asado Chicken Thighs — $5.99/lb
Pre-marinated boneless thighs in a citrus-and-achiote bath — basically the work is done for you. Thighs are forgiving on the grill (you can’t dry them out the way you can a breast), and the marinade chars into that orange-edged crust that’s the best part of any cookout chicken.
Cookout Role
Second protein for folks who don’t want a burger. Grill over direct heat about 5–6 minutes per side until the internal hits 165°F.
Pairing Tip
Slice and pile onto a Pretzel Bun with the Avocado Ranch Salad Kit as a slaw underneath.
Verdict
BUY — no marinating, no measuring, and at $5.99/lb cheaper than seasoning your own.
3. Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage — $5.99/12 oz
Juicy chicken sausages in natural casing with mild Italian herbs — the lighter cousin to a pork brat that still gives you that snap when you bite in. I like having a third protein option on the grate, especially for shoppers who’d rather skip a heavy beef burger in the heat.
Cookout Role
Third protein, ready in 6–8 minutes on the grill turning a couple of times.
Pairing Tip
Serve on a Brioche Bun with a streak of Carolina Gold Barbeque Sauce — the mustard cuts the richness.
Verdict
BUY — a great lighter option that still feels like cookout food.
4. Veggie Kabobs — $5.99/12 oz
Pre-assembled skewers loaded with crimini mushrooms, bell peppers, onion, zucchini, and yellow squash — the vegetarian guest’s happy plate, no chopping required. They also rescue the meat-eaters when somebody inevitably asks “is there anything green?”
Cookout Role
Vegetarian main or shared side. Grill over medium heat 12–15 minutes, turning once and basting as desired.
Pairing Tip
Brush with the KC BBQ Sauce in the last two minutes for a sweet glaze that crisps on the squash.
Verdict
BUY — the rare hosting buy that saves you both prep time and an awkward “I only brought burgers” moment.
5. Brioche Buns — $3.99/9.45 oz
Soft, lightly sweet, golden-on-top — these are what your grocery-store burger bun wishes it could be. The richness from the egg and butter holds up to a juicy patty without going to mush, which is the only real job a bun has.
Cookout Role
Default burger bun. Warm at 350°F for 5 minutes or split and toast face-down on the grill for 30 seconds.
Pairing Tip
Built for the Angus Patties above with Pickled Red Onions tucked in.
Verdict
BUY — under four dollars for the bun that quietly carries the whole sandwich.
6. Pretzel Buns — $2.99/12.8 oz
Soft, chewy-crusted pretzel buns for the guest who wants their burger to taste a little different than the rest. The mild salt-and-malt flavor of a pretzel works especially well under sausage or saucy pulled meats — it stands up where a plain bun would fade.
Cookout Role
Alternate bun for sausages or sauced sandwiches. Toast lightly or warm at 350°F for 5 minutes.
Pairing Tip
Pile the Pollo Asado on one with a slick of KC BBQ Sauce.
Verdict
BUY — under three dollars for four buns that elevate the second-round burger.
7. Organic Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce — $2.99/19 oz
Sweet, tangy, molasses-forward — the BBQ sauce most of your guests are picturing when they say “BBQ sauce.” It’s the workhorse bottle on my picnic table and at $2.99 for 19 oz, it’s the cheapest brand-name move in the aisle.
Cookout Role
All-purpose glaze. Brush onto chicken, ribs, or kabobs in the last 2 minutes on the grill so the sugars don’t scorch.
Pairing Tip
Drizzle on the Pollo Asado Thighs after they come off the grate.
Verdict
BUY — organic, three bucks, fits any protein. Stock two bottles.
8. Carolina Gold Barbeque Sauce — $2.99/18 oz
Tangy, mustard-and-vinegar based with a touch of sweet — the regional alternative that turns a basic chicken thigh into something your relatives ask you about. Longtime customers tell me this is the bottle they keep returning for.
Cookout Role
Mustard-based glaze for chicken, pork, or grilled veggies. Brush on at the end of cooking or set out as a dipping sauce.
Pairing Tip
Pour into a ramekin next to the Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage — the mustard tang cuts straight through the fat.
Verdict
BUY — gives your spread a second sauce option without doubling the price.
9. Spicy Dynamite Sauce — $2.99/9.88 oz
Creamy and fiery — vegan mayo, sriracha, garlic, and pickled peppers in one bottle. This is the squeeze that goes on the burger after the cheese melts and before the bun closes, and it’s the secret weapon most of my cookout guests end up asking about.
Cookout Role
Spicy burger spread or shrimp drizzle. Shake before use, no heat or prep needed.
Pairing Tip
Stripe it across an Angus patty stacked on a Brioche Bun — mayo, heat, char, sweet bread, done.
Verdict
BUY — under three bucks for the bottle that makes your burgers feel like a restaurant’s.
10. Pickled Red Onions — $2.99/16 oz
Bright pink, sharply tangy, slightly sweet — the burger topping that took me years to start buying instead of fussing with a homemade jar. They cut through the fat of a beef patty or a sausage in a way raw onion can’t.
Cookout Role
Burger and sandwich topping, or a sharp garnish for cheesy dips. Open and use straight from the jar.
Pairing Tip
Pile a small stack on the Angus Patties under a drizzle of Spicy Dynamite.
Verdict
BUY — cheaper than the ingredients to make them yourself and they live in the fridge for weeks.
11. Roasted Hatch Chile & Jalapeño Cheese Dip — $4.99/10 oz
Creamy, cheesy, with real roasted Hatch chiles and jalapeños doing the heavy lifting on flavor. I serve this warm at every cookout I host — it disappears before the burgers come off the grill, which tells you everything.
Cookout Role
Warm cheese dip for the appetizer table. Microwave 30–45 seconds and stir until smooth.
Pairing Tip
Spoon a little onto an Angus burger as a queso glaze, or pair with the BBQ Flavored Potato Chips below.
Verdict
BUY — cheaper than gas-station queso and twice the flavor.
12. Spicy Mango Habanero Guacamole — $3.49/10 oz
Creamy Hass avocado with sweet mango and smoky habanero — the only pre-made guac I’ll put out without apologizing. The mango softens the heat just enough that even the kids’ table goes back for seconds.
Cookout Role
Cookout dip or burger topping. Stir and serve chilled; finish within 5 days of opening.
Pairing Tip
Spoon over the Pollo Asado Thighs as a sauce, or set it out with the Cowboy Caviar Salsa for a chip-dip station.
Verdict
BUY — the rare pre-made guacamole that’s worth the shortcut.
13. Cowboy Caviar Salsa — $3.49/13 oz
Chunky — black beans, corn, peppers, onions, lime — with the kind of texture that scoops on a chip without falling apart. It works as a dip, a relish, or honestly a side salad on its own when you spoon it into a bowl.
Cookout Role
BBQ dip or burger topping. Stir and serve chilled.
Pairing Tip
Spoon over Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage on a Pretzel Bun — sweet, smoky, crunchy in one bite.
Verdict
BUY — pulls triple duty as dip, topping, and salad. Hard to beat at $3.49.
Cookout Sides (no-cook to round out the spread)
14. Lemon Basil Pasta Salad — $4.99/11.5 oz
Farfalle with zucchini, peas, and asiago tossed in a lemon-basil vinaigrette — the kind of bright, herb-forward side that cuts through smoky grilled meat. Pop the lid, serve cold, and skip the whole “I need to make a pasta salad” Friday night chore.
Cookout Role
Cold side dish. Stir before serving; keep chilled until the spread comes out.
Pairing Tip
Set alongside the Pollo Asado Thighs — the lemon pulls the citrus in the marinade forward.
Verdict
BUY — deli-quality pasta salad without the deli markup.
15. Avocado Ranch Salad Kit — $3.99/12.8 oz
Pre-mixed greens, cabbage, kale, cheddar, corn chips, and a creamy avocado-ranch dressing — bag-to-bowl in under two minutes. I lean on a kit like this when I’m doing all the protein prep myself and need the green stuff to handle itself.
Cookout Role
Easy salad side. Toss and serve immediately for best crunch.
Pairing Tip
Use it as a slaw layer on the Pollo Asado Thigh sandwich on a Pretzel Bun.
Verdict
BUY — full salad, dressing, and crunch in one bag for under four bucks.
16. BBQ Flavored Potato Chips — $2.49/7 oz
Kettle-style with a sweet, smoky BBQ dust — the bag I open as soon as guests start arriving so nobody starves before the burgers are done. Tangier than a name-brand BBQ chip and crunchier too.
Cookout Role
Chips for the appetizer table and for piling next to burgers on the plate. No prep, just rip the bag.
Pairing Tip
Scoop them straight into the Roasted Hatch Chile Cheese Dip and call it the unofficial appetizer course.
Verdict
BUY — $2.49 for the bag that buys you another 30 minutes at the grill.
That’s the cookout cart I’d push to the register this week — four proteins, two buns, four sauces and condiments, three dips, and three sides for around $65 total. With Memorial Day four days out, one Trader Joe’s run handles the whole backyard spread, and you can spend Saturday at the grill instead of the grocery store.
