Savor the Last Days of Summer: Top Labor Day Recipes for Your Cookout
Although Summer actually extends through much of September, Labor Day always seems like the end of Summer for most of us. It is a great time to savor the last flavors of Summer and gather with friends and family. If you are planning an end of Summer cookout or dinner during Labor Day Weekend, here are 45 recipes that will make you a hero with your friends and neighbors
Appetizers
Bacon Jalapeno Popper Hot Corn Dip
It doesn’t get much more summertime than a dip that uses fresh corn at the peak of corn season. You can throw this dip on the smoker for a backyard Labor Day gathering and it pairs great with ice cold beers.
Grilled Watermelon with Whipped Feta Dip
Celebrate the end of summer with popping some watermelon slices on the grill and pairing them with this whipped feta dip
Bacon-Stuffed Deviled Eggs
Upgrade a beloved cookout starter — deviled eggs — by adding an ingredient that everyone loves: salty, smoky bacon.
Marcy Ragan’s Grilled Panzanella Caprese
This recipe manages to combine three of our favorite summery Italian staples—tomato caprese + grilled bruschetta + panzanella—in an utterly simple and harmonious, if not entirely traditional, way.
Taco Pinwheels
I find pinwheels an easy appetizer for gatherings and this taco variety will add a Latin flair.
Mango Salsa
Fresh mango salsa is sweet, tangy, and delicious. It’s a quick and easy recipe that you can whip up with just 6 ingredients and in under 10 minutes. So much fun on Labor Day.
Citrus Shrimp Nachos
Scoop citrus-marinated shrimp and veggies onto crispy chips for an easy-yet-elevated appetizer that screams ‘summer’.
Avocado Salsa
Serve this combo of guacamole and salsa with tortillas and vegetables
Main Dishes
Beer Can Chicken
Make Tender chicken using a can of Beer
Avocado Lobster Rolls With Crispy Shallots
Nothing says summer quite like a lobster roll. In this California-inspired twist on the classic, avocados are pureed with garlic, lemon juice, and salt for a creamy, zippy dressing that beautifully complements the lobster’s buttery sweetness.
Baby Back Ribs with Spicy Peach BBQ Sauce
The peach sauce adds a summery flavor to the recipes. If you put the ribs under a broiler for a few minutes after adding the sauce it will be nice and sticky
Juicy Lucy
If you’ve never had a Juicy Lucy before, prepare to be amazed! The burgers aren’t topped with cheese like regular cheeseburgers, they’re stuffed with cheese for a core of molten cheesiness.
Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with Barbecue Sauce
Using the slow cooker allows you to cook it over night and then pop it on the grill or under the broiler to caramelize the outer crust before serving.
Spicy Lemon Shrimp Skewers
Skewers are an easy way to serve food at a BBQ. Sriracha gives spice to these grilled shrimp skewers.
Grilled Lemongrass- and Coriander-Marinated Tofu Vietnamese Sandwiches (Vegan Banh Mi)
This is a great option for your vegan and vegetarian guests. For these vegan sandwiches, we soak the tofu in a lemongrass-and-coriander marinade, then grill it and serve it with cilantro, cucumber, jalapeños, , and pickled carrots and daikon.
Pollo Yucateco Asado (Yucatán-Style Grilled Chicken)
Topped with bright homemade giardiniera and roasted sweet peppers, these Italian beef sandwiches have lots of beefy flavor and a deeply satisfying jus.
Teriyaki Chicken Skewers with Pineapple
Juicy and tender teriyaki chicken skewers with pineapple, bell peppers and red onions are sticky, sweet, savoury, and tangy. So flavourful and delicious.
Foil-Pack Grilled Sweet-and-Spicy Chicken Wings
Marinate your wings in an easy sweet-and-spicy mixture, then grill them in a foil pack for mess-free cooking (you’ll still need napkins for eating, though!).
Grilled Short Ribs with Smoky Blackberry Barbecue Sauce
This recipe comes together in only half an hour and can be made ahead of time, so it’s great for parties.
Side Dishes
Grilled Parmesan Garlic Asparagus
This simple five ingredient recipe has Parmesan cheese to help the asparagus shine
Grilled Veggie Skewers
An easy side dish for your Labor Day Party
Rainbow Coleslaw
It just wouldn’t be an end-of-summer cookout without a few classics, coleslaw being one of them. This version is tangy and crunchy, perfect with whatever you’re grilling up.
Root Beer Baked Beans
This classic side gets a boost of unexpected flavor, making it a fun addition to your Labor Day cookout!
Strawberry-Arugula Salad with Sweet Lime Vinaigrette
This simple strawberry and arugula salad is drizzled with a citrus vinaigrette.
Grilled Zucchini Caprese Salad
Thin slices of charred zucchini add color to the typical caprese salad.
Upside-Down Tomato Cornbread
Show off those beautiful summer tomatoes in this upside-down tomato cornbread, which will be a showstopper at your backyard barbecue.
Burrata Salad
This easy summer salad combines ripe tomatoes, burrata cheese and a balsamic drizzle.
Desserts
Blackberry Pie
This homemade pie will hit the spot when sweet, juicy blackberries are at their peak. Finish it off with a big dollop of whipped cream or a heaping scoop of ice cream if you prefer.
Grilled Banana Boats With Peanut Butter, Chocolate, and Marshmallows
If you’ve got the grill going anyways, you might as well use it for dessert. Banana boats are a campfire favorite that our bound to be a hit. Our recipe suggests making them with mini-marshmallows, chocolate chips, and peanut butter chips, but you should put out a variety of ingredients and let guests choose their favorites.
Peach-Plum Galette
Discover the ultimate crowd-pleaser that’s both foolproof and versatile, perfect for showcasing the freshest market finds. Plus, it’s a heartwarming reminder to savor the best of the season!
S’more Brownies
The campfire staple of s’mores seamlessly adapts to a brownie format in this decadent recipe. And this version utilizes boxed brownie mix as its base ingredient, making it a quick and low-stress dessert to whip up for your Labor Day cookout.
Grilled Pineapple With Coconut Whipped Cream
If you have the grill fired up, this makes an excellent dessert
No-Bake Berry Tiramisu
This easy no bake tiramisu makes a wonderful dessert for your Labor Day get-together
Creamy Mango Cheesecake
This mousse-like, creamy mango cheesecake with a graham cracker crust, light cheesecake filling packed with mangos, and mango swirled on top is so easy to make.
