Grilling is all about simplicity—something Evan LeRoy, chef, pitmaster, and co-owner of LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue in Austin, Texas, especially appreciates when cooking outdoors over a holiday weekend like Memorial Day.

“It’s great not to have to think about an elaborate meal and just enjoy spending time with family and friends over the holiday weekend,” says LeRoy, who plans to fire up the grill for a smoked and grilled steak, served with a fresh salad and a rich dessert. “It’s simple—no frills, just fun and good food.”

LeRoy is used to cooking for a crowd. LeRoy and Lewis was ranked fifth in Texas Monthly’s Top 50 BBQ Joints of 2021, featured on Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil, and awarded a Michelin star in the MICHELIN Guide Texas 2024. So it’s no surprise there’s often a line of hungry customers waiting for his self-described “new school barbecue.” But when it comes to personal entertaining, he says his favorite thing to cook is a big steak. “I still feel like I’m cooking barbecue by firing up the pit and the grill, but it takes a fraction of the time—and the results are just as good, if not better,” he adds.

Like many of his meals, this three-course menu carries a sense of nostalgia, tying together past and present. Growing up, LeRoy remembers his dad loving steak, while his mom gravitated toward salads and dessert. Now, he says, his daughter loves helping him cook. “We have an Obra Elements island that she keeps her stool next to, and she’s always eager to jump up and help!”

This Memorial Day, LeRoy plans to start the afternoon with a cold beer—“probably a Lone Star, because of course, it’s Texas,” he says—before switching to a Cabernet Sauvignon to pair with the meal.

Still stressing about what to cook for the holiday? LeRoy offers some simple advice: “Don’t overthink it. Know when to buy something premade to make your day easier, instead of trying to make everything from scratch.”