39 irresistible cookout recipes to close out summer with a Labor Day feast

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Ready to say goodbye to summer in style? Our collection of 39 irresistible cookout recipes is designed to help you close out the season with a mouth-watering Labor Day feast.

Bowl of Amish macaroni salad with some on a spoon.
Amish Macaroni Salad. Photo Credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Fajita Burgers

A burger topped with peppers and onions with guacamole.
Fajita Burgers. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Spice up your burger game with these sizzling fajita burgers! Juicy beef patties, infused with smoky spices and topped with grilled onions and peppers, create an explosion of flavors. They are perfect for Labor Day as they combine the classic American burger with the bold and zesty fajitas.
Get the Recipe: Fajita Burgers

Smash Potatoes

Smash potatoes on a blackstone griddle.
Smash Potatoes. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Prepare for a potato revolution with these crispy and creamy smash potatoes! Baby potatoes, boiled until tender, are smashed, seasoned, and smashed on the grill for a delightful side dish with a contrasting textures.
Get the Recipe: Smash Potatoes

Texas Caviar

Texas caviar on a tortilla chip.
Texas Caviar. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Say goodbye to summer with some Southwestern flair with this Texas caviar recipe. The combination of black-eyed peas, colorful veggies, and zesty dressing creates a flavorful and satisfying salad. It can be enjoyed as a salad, dip, or side dish with grilled meats.
Get the Recipe: Texas Caviar

Grilled Steak Kabobs

Steak Kabobs on a grill.
Steak Kabobs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These mouthwatering steak kabobs are a grill master’s dream for Labor Day! Tender chunks of marinated steak, paired with colorful veggies, are skewered and grilled, resulting in a flavorful and satisfying dish. They can be prepared in advance, and bring everyone together as they savor the delicious combination of juicy steak and charred vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak Kabobs

Broccoli Crunch Salad

A close shot of a fork full of broccoli salad.
Broccoli Crunch Salad. Photo Credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This broccoli crunch salad is a crowd-pleasing option for an end of summer cookout. With crisp broccoli florets, crunchy almonds, and a tangy dressing, it’s a refreshing and nutritious addition to any outdoor gathering.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Crunch Salad

Grilled Clam Bake

Corn, potatoes and clams on a plate.
Clam Bake. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Indulge in the taste of the ocean with this delightful grilled clam bake for Labor day! Succulent clams, potatoes, and corn are cooked together for the ultimate feast. Bring a coastal vibe to your next cookout.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Clam Bake

Old Fashioned Pea Salad

pea salad in a blue bowl.
Old Fashioned Pea Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Prepare this old-fashioned pea salad in advance for a cool and refreshing side dish that’s perfect for a Labor Day gathering. The combination of crisp peas, crunchy bacon, and creamy dressing creates a delightful medley of flavors and textures.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Pea Salad

Amish Macaroni Salad

Bowl of Amish macaroni salad with some on a spoon.
Amish Macaroni Salad. Photo Credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Get ready to dive into a bowl of creamy and flavorful Amish macaroni salad! It’s end of summer cookout recipe as it offers a cool and creamy complement to grilled meats, and the combination of textures and flavors will make everyone happy.
Get the Recipe: Amish Macaroni Salad

Grilled Greek Chicken Salad

Plate with chicken salad with corn, grilled peppers and avocado.
Grilled Greek Chicken Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Elevate your Labor Day cookout with this vibrant and refreshing Greek chicken salad! Tender grilled chicken, crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and tangy feta cheese are tossed together in a zesty dressing.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Greek Chicken Salad

Orange Fluff Salad

Orange fluff salad in a bowl.
Orange Fluff Salad. Photo Credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This vibrant orange fluff salad is the perfect make-ahead dessert for an end of summer cookout. With its creamy texture, citrusy flavor, and hints of sweetness, it’s a refreshing treat on a hot day.
Get the Recipe: Orange Fluff Salad

Cajun Pasta Salad

Cajun pasta salad of noodles with celery and bell pepper.
Cajun Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Spice up your Labor Day cookouts with this flavorful Cajun pasta salad. The combination of cooked pasta, colorful veggies, and zesty Cajun dressing creates a bold and tangy salad that will impress your guests.
Get the Recipe: Cajun Pasta Salad

Spicy Grilled Salmon

Spicy grilled salmon.
Image source: Upstate Ramblings

Get ready to spice up Labor Day with this fiery grilled salmon! The zesty marinade, packed with a punch of flavors, perfectly complements the tender fish. It’s a great cookout recipe as it adds a vibrant twist to the menu and satisfies seafood lovers with its tantalizing heat.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Grilled Salmon

Amish Potato Salad

creamy potato salad with eggs and mayonnaise.
Amish Potato Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Amish potato salad is a classic make-ahead side dish that’s perfect for a Labor Day cookout. With its creamy dressing, tender potatoes, and a touch of tanginess, it’s a crowd favorite.
Get the Recipe: Amish Potato Salad

Grilled Pork Kabobs

Three pork kabobs with pineapple on a wooden cutting board.
Pork Kabobs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Prepare for a flavor adventure with these delectable grilled pork kabobs! Succulent chunks of marinated pork, paired with colorful vegetables and sweet pineapple, are grilled, resulting in a juicy and savory delight.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Kabobs

Blue Cheese Coleslaw

Top view of a bowl of coleslaw with blue cheese on top.
Blue Cheese Coleslaw. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Blue cheese coleslaw is a delicious twist on the classic summer side dish. The creamy coleslaw is elevated with the bold and tangy flavors of blue cheese, adding a unique and irresistible element to every bite.
Get the Recipe: Blue Cheese Coleslaw

Dirty Soda

Orange soda with white coffee creamer in glasses with ice.
Dirty Soda. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Quench your thirst with this unique and refreshing dirty soda! This bubbly beverage combines your favorite soda with a splash of coffee creamer. It’s a fun addition to any Labor Day cookout, bringing a fun and nostalgic twist to the drink menu, and allowing guests to customize their drinks with different soda flavors.
Get the Recipe: Dirty Soda

7 Layer Salad

Seven layer salad in a bowl.
7 Layer Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Wow your Labor Day guests with this impressive 7 layer salad that is as visually appealing as it is delicious. With layers of fresh lettuce, crispy bacon, tangy cheese, and other colorful veggies, it’s a showstopper at any summer cookout.
Get the Recipe: 7 Layer Salad

Southwest Chicken Salad

Bowl of chicken salad with tomatoes and feta cheese.
Southwest Chicken Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Add a Tex-Mex twist to your end of summer cookout with this mouthwatering Southwest chicken salad! Grilled chicken, mixed with corn, black beans, avocado, and a zesty dressing, creates a fiesta of flavors.
Get the Recipe: Southwest Chicken Salad

Loaded Salt Potatoes

Plate of loaded salt potatoes topped with pulled pork, BBQ sauce, cheese and sour cream.
Loaded Salt Potatoes. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Get ready for a flavor explosion with these loaded salt potatoes! Baby potatoes, boiled until fork-tender, are topped with a delectable combination of pulled pork, melted cheese, crispy bacon, and tangy sour cream. This takes the classic salt potatoes to a whole new level of indulgence to Labor Day.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Salt Potatoes

Chickpea Salad

healthy chickpea salad in a blue bowl.
Chickpea Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This chickpea salad is a fantastic make-ahead option for Labor Day cookouts. With its protein-packed chickpeas, crisp veggies, and refreshing dressing, it’s a nutritious and flavorful side dish. It’s a versatile salad that complements grilled meats or works as a standalone vegetarian dish.
Get the Recipe: Chickpea Salad

Carne Asada

Carne asada on a blue plate surrounded by cilantro, halved oranges, limes, and beer.
Carne Asada. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

This is the best carne asada marinade out there, packed with authentic Mexican flavor. It’s smoky, citrusy, savory, and perfect for everything from carne asada burritos to a carne asada plate that rivals your favorite Mexican restaurant. Perfect for Labor Day cookouts.
Get the Recipe: Carne Asada

Caprese Salad

caprese salad with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese topped with basil.
Caprese Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Caprese salad is a simple Italian salad of tomatoes and mozzarella, yet it packs a punch of flavor. It is the perfect makeahead salad for an end of summer gathering.
Get the Recipe: Caprese Salad

Cheesy Grilled Potatoes

Grilled potatoes topped with cheese and bacon in a foil pan.
Cheesy Grilled Potatoes and Onions. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These cheesy grilled potatoes will be an instant hit at your Labor Day cookout! Slices of tender potatoes, seasoned to perfection and smothered with melted cheese, are grilled until golden and crispy.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Grilled Potatoes

Homemade BBQ Sauce

Homemade BBQ sauce in a jar with two spoons by the side.
BBQ Sauce. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Tired of store-bought sauces that just don’t cut the mustard? Say hello to our mouthwatering homemade BBQ sauce that will have you licking your fingers in no time. Get ready to be the talk of the Labor Day cookout with this flavor-packed masterpiece!
Get the Recipe: Homemade BBQ Sauce

Flavorful Steak Marinade

Flank Steak Marinade – 3 Ways!
Flank Steak Marinade – 3 Ways!. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

Flavorful Steak Marinade is the perfect addition to your summer cookout menu. With a perfect blend of herbs and spices, this marinade will infuse your steak with a depth of flavor that will make it the star of the grill.
Get the Recipe: Flavorful Steak Marinade

Bacon-Wrapped Pork-Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers

Smoked jalapeno poppers on a platter.
Smoked Pork Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers. Photo Credit: Cook What You Love

These meaty wonders are all about flavor! Spicy jalapenos get the slow-smoke treatment and they’re so crazy good and sure to be a hit at Labor day! Stuffed with pork and cheese and wrapped in bacon, the only question is, will you share?
Get the Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Pork-Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers

Lemon-Oregano Chicken Kabobs

Grilled Lemon-Oregano Chicken Kabobs with a dipping sauce.
Grilled Lemon-Oregano Chicken Kabobs. Photo credit: Keto Cooking Wins.

Infused with lemon and oregano, these easy and tasty kabobs are as fun to make as they are delicious to eat! These easy kabobs will be the star of your end of summer grilling menu.
Get the Recipe: Lemon-Oregano Chicken Kabobs

Watermelon and Feta Salad

Low angle shot of a bowl of watermelon salad with kalamata olives and feta cheese.
Watermelon and Feta Salad. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Watermelon Feta Salad with Kalamata Olives is a refreshing summer side dish. With only 5 ingredients, it is quick and easy to make and so refreshing! It goes perfectly with all your favorite grilled meats on Labor Day.
Get the Recipe: Watermelon and Feta Salad

Caprese Salad Skewers

Caprese skewers on a serving dish with balsamic glaze drizzled over.
Caprese Skewers. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Serving caprese salad on skewers is a great way to serve this traditional summer dish for a Labor Day cookout. This combination of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and balsamic vinegar works as either an appetizer or side dish.
Get the Recipe: Caprese Salad Skewers

Juicy and Guilt-Free Portobello Mushroom Burger

Portobello mushrooms buns with burger in between.
Juicy and Guilt-Free Portobello Mushroom Burger. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

This guilt-free, quick, and easy to make Portobello Mushroom Burger is super juicy and looks exactly like a real burger you would expect for a Labor Day cookout. Fully grain-free, gluten-free, low carb, and perfect for diabetics, this portobello mushroom recipe together with ground beef keto burger is a must when you start thinking of grilling time.
Get the Recipe: Juicy and Guilt-Free Portobello Mushroom Burger

Electric Lemonade

two glasses of electric lemonade with lemon wedge
Electric Lemonade. Photo credit: Easy Homemade Life

Sip on the tangy and sweet flavors of an electric lemonade at your summer cookout. Made with vodka, blue curaçao, lemonade, and a splash of lemon-lime soda, this colorful cocktail is sure to be a crowd-pleaser on at your next cookout.
Get the Recipe: Electric Lemonade

Grilled Corn

A pan filled with ears of grilled corn.
Grilled Corn. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Don’t let summer pass you by without grilling sweet corn. Corn on the Cob on the Grill cooked in the husk is a summertime side dish that’s easy to make and always a favorite.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Corn

Lemon Marinated Chicken

Lemon marinated chicken kebabs on a skewer with green background.
Lemon marinated chicken kebabs. Photo Credit: Honest and Truly.

Chicken on the grill is so delicious and juicy. It’s even better when you mix it with this simple lemon marinade for more flavor. Go ahead and skewer it with your favorite veggies for a delicious end of summer cookout everyone will love.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Marinated Chicken

Beet Cucumber Salad with Feta and Dill

Beet cucumber salad with feta and dill on a pink plate.
Beet Cucumber Salad with Feta and Dill. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

This beet and cucumber salad with feta and dill is packed with sweet, savory, earthy, tangy, and salty flavors. Crunchy cucumbers, tender cooked beets, and a fresh lemon vinaigrette combine to create a delicious beet salad you’ll crave.
Get the Recipe: Beet Cucumber Salad with Feta and Dill

Beer Boiled Brats

Beer boiled brat on a white plate with fries.
Beer boiled brats. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Bratwurst is a summer classic, and it’s even better when you make beer boiled brats. They are incredibly juicy and so flavorful. It’s a grilling win every time and perfect for Labor Day.
Get the Recipe: Beer Boiled Brats

Mexican Street Corn Salad

Mexican Street Corn Salad
Photo credit: Cook What You Love

The perfect pick with anything off the grill or smoker, this easy salad features sweet corn, spicy jalapenos, tangy, cheese, and so much more!
Get the Recipe: Mexican Street Corn Salad

BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs

Grilled chicken thigh on white plate with green beans.
BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs. Photo Credit: Little Bit Recipes

These juicy BBQ boneless chicken thighs will take your grilling to the next level! Perfectly seasoned and grilled to perfection, they will be a hit any time you crave cookout food.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Boneless Chicken Thighs

Grilled Vegetables

Grilled vegetables on a white platter.
Grilled Vegetables. Photo credit: Keto Cooking Wins.

Firing up the grill for Labor Day? Don’t forget about the veggies! A quick marinade infuses these tasty veg with flavor and they cook so quickly!
Get the Recipe: Grilled Vegetables

Strawberry Lemonade

mint leaves, strawberries and lemon slices garnish a glass of strawberry lemonade.
Strawberry Lemonade. Photo credit: Feast + West.

This homemade strawberry lemonade is bright and refreshing. Make it with fresh strawberries and real lemon juice for the ultimate flavor explosion. It is perfect sweet drink to serve on Labor Day.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Lemonade

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