Our 25 Best Labor Day Recipes for a Crowd-Pleasing End-of-Summer Cookout

[ad_1] Have fun the tip of summer time with our greatest Labor Day recipes! They embody enjoyable appetizers, picnic salads, grilling recipes, no-bake desserts, and extra.

In search of Labor Day meals concepts? You’re in the best place!

Beneath, I’ve rounded up our greatest Labor Day recipes for an epic end-of-summer cookout. You’ll discover simple mains you could toss on the grill, enjoyable appetizers, seasonal facet dishes, and—after all—summer time desserts to spherical out the meal.

I don’t know precisely what I’m making for our BBQ but…however I do know that corn, tomatoes, and peaches shall be on the menu. For those who ask me, summer time meals is the most effective meals. Have fun it this weekend with these Labor Day recipes!

Labor Day Appetizer Concepts <img decoding="async" class="alignnone" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0naHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmcnIHdpZHRoPScxNzQwJyBoZWlnaHQ9JzE3NDAnPjwvc3ZnPg==" data-original="https://cdn.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/corn-salsa-2.jpg" alt="corn salsa" width="1740" height="1740" data-pin-description="Celebrate the end of summer with these easy Labor Day recipes! They include grilling mains, side dishes, appetizers, and more crowd-pleasing food ideas for your BBQ or cookout." data-pin-url="https://www.loveandlemons.com/labor-day-recipes/"/> <span class="xc_pin" onclick="pin_this(event, 'http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.loveandlemons.com/labor-day-recipes/&media=https://www.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/corn-salsa-2.jpg&description=Celebrate+the+end+of+summer+with+these+easy+Labor+Day+recipes%21+They+include+grilling+mains%2C+side+dishes%2C+appetizers%2C+and+more+crowd-pleasing+food+ideas+for+your+BBQ+or+cookout.')">

Corn Salsa Crisp, juicy candy corn is the star of this recent, 5-minute salsa. Serve it with tortilla chips for a zesty Labor Day appetizer!

7 Layer Dip Can’t resolve whether or not to serve guacamole or bean dip? This recipe delivers the most effective of each…after which some. A creamy layer of refried beans is topped with guac, taco-spiced bitter cream, and a great deal of recent fixings. It’s one in every of our household favorites.

Avocado Salsa One other enjoyable, recent salsa on your Labor Day menu! This one is a scrumptious mixture of creamy avocado, candy, juicy mango, and spicy chiles. Recent lime juice brightens all of it up.

Tomato Galette Full of herbed goat cheese and jammy heirloom tomatoes, this galette is a summer time stunner. I like to serve small slices as an appetizer. Company are all the time impressed!

Caprese Salad Skewers Traditional Caprese salad in bite-size kind! Drizzles of olive oil and balsamic discount take these excessive.

Primary Dish Labor Day Recipes <img decoding="async" class="alignnone" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0naHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmcnIHdpZHRoPScxMTYwJyBoZWlnaHQ9JzE1OTknPjwvc3ZnPg==" data-original="https://cdn.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/veggie-burger.jpg" alt="Best Veggie Burger" width="1160" height="1599" data-pin-description="Celebrate the end of summer with these easy Labor Day recipes! They include grilling mains, side dishes, appetizers, and more crowd-pleasing food ideas for your BBQ or cookout." data-pin-url="https://www.loveandlemons.com/labor-day-recipes/"/> <span class="xc_pin" onclick="pin_this(event, 'http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.loveandlemons.com/labor-day-recipes/&media=https://www.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/veggie-burger.jpg&description=Celebrate+the+end+of+summer+with+these+easy+Labor+Day+recipes%21+They+include+grilling+mains%2C+side+dishes%2C+appetizers%2C+and+more+crowd-pleasing+food+ideas+for+your+BBQ+or+cookout.')">

Finest Veggie Burger This recipe has over 450 5-star critiques for a purpose! Made with mushrooms, walnuts, and brown rice, the burgers have a tremendous meaty texture and savory taste. They’re grill-able too!

Vegan Scorching Canines Okay, bear with me right here: marinated grilled carrots make a surprisingly scrumptious scorching canine sub. Serve them on buns with all of the fixings, and even meat eaters will love them!

BBQ Tofu Slathered with barbecue sauce and properly charred, these tofu skewers are a scrumptious plant-based cookout most important.

Black Bean Burger These burgers are simple to make in a single bowl in underneath half-hour…no meals processor required! I prefer to prep the patties forward in order that they’re able to grill when company arrive. They maintain within the fridge for as much as a day earlier than cooking!

Picnic Salads <img decoding="async" class="alignnone" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0naHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmcnIHdpZHRoPScxMTYwJyBoZWlnaHQ9JzE2OTYnPjwvc3ZnPg==" data-original="https://cdn.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/pasta-salad.jpg" alt="Easy pasta salad" width="1160" height="1696" data-pin-description="Celebrate the end of summer with these easy Labor Day recipes! They include grilling mains, side dishes, appetizers, and more crowd-pleasing food ideas for your BBQ or cookout." data-pin-url="https://www.loveandlemons.com/labor-day-recipes/"/> <span class="xc_pin" onclick="pin_this(event, 'http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.loveandlemons.com/labor-day-recipes/&media=https://www.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/pasta-salad.jpg&description=Celebrate+the+end+of+summer+with+these+easy+Labor+Day+recipes%21+They+include+grilling+mains%2C+side+dishes%2C+appetizers%2C+and+more+crowd-pleasing+food+ideas+for+your+BBQ+or+cookout.')">

Straightforward Pasta Salad Full of recent herbs, feta, and a zesty lemon dressing, this packable pasta salad was one in every of our hottest recipes of the summer time. It could be an ideal facet dish for a Labor Day cookout!

Mexican Road Corn Salad Talking of widespread recipes, readers RAVE about this elote-inspired salad! Paula wrote, “Oh wow! This was so superb I'll have made it as a facet after which ate the entire bowl for dinner! Truthfully probably the greatest issues I’ve eaten this summer time.”

Greek Salad For those who’re on the lookout for Labor Day recipes which can be 1) simple, 2) tremendous recent, and three) nice for making forward, this Greek salad is for you! Simply wait so as to add the mint till proper earlier than serving in order that it doesn’t wilt.

Watermelon Salad What’s a summer time cookout with out watermelon? This ultra-refreshing salad is my favourite method to serve it. I really like how the candy melon performs off the brilliant lime dressing, tangy feta, and creamy avocado.

Black Bean and Corn Salad In search of make-ahead Labor Day recipes? You may’t beat this salad. I truly prefer it greatest a day or two after it’s made. The flavors simply get higher because it sits within the fridge!

Finest Potato Salad Dill lovers, this creamy potato salad is for you! Dill pickles, dill pickle brine, AND tons of recent dill pack it with tangy, savory taste.

Creamy Coleslaw Who else loves coleslaw?! I can’t get sufficient of it, particularly when it’s coated in my 5-minute, naturally sweetened coleslaw dressing.

Tortellini Salad I’ve shared loads of pasta salad recipes over time. They’re all scrumptious, however this one may be essentially the most enjoyable. It stars chewy, tacky tortellini, plus pepperoncini, artichoke hearts, and a home made Italian dressing for daring, zesty taste.

Chickpea Salad You possibly can use common crimson onion on this refreshing chickpea salad, however pickled crimson onions actually make it pop. Deliver it to a cookout over Labor Day weekend, or pack it up for lunch by the pool or on the seaside.

Extra Facet Dish Labor Day Recipes <img decoding="async" class="alignnone" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0naHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmcnIHdpZHRoPScxMTYwJyBoZWlnaHQ9JzE3MzUnPjwvc3ZnPg==" data-original="https://cdn.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/grilled-vegetables-recipe.jpg" alt="grilled vegetable skewers" width="1160" height="1735" data-pin-description="Celebrate the end of summer with these easy Labor Day recipes! They include grilling mains, side dishes, appetizers, and more crowd-pleasing food ideas for your BBQ or cookout." data-pin-url="https://www.loveandlemons.com/labor-day-recipes/"/> <span class="xc_pin" onclick="pin_this(event, 'http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.loveandlemons.com/labor-day-recipes/&media=https://www.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/grilled-vegetables-recipe.jpg&description=Celebrate+the+end+of+summer+with+these+easy+Labor+Day+recipes%21+They+include+grilling+mains%2C+side+dishes%2C+appetizers%2C+and+more+crowd-pleasing+food+ideas+for+your+BBQ+or+cookout.')">

Grilled Greens Loaded with late summer time veggies like peppers, zucchini, and corn, these colourful skewers are one in every of my favourite Labor Day sides. They’re scrumptious on their very own, however I prefer to serve them with a tasty sauce like tzatziki or Greek dressing to bump up the flavour issue much more.

Grilled Corn on the Cob Serve it merely with butter and salt, or gown it up with elote fixings for a show-stopping cookout facet dish.

Grilled Zucchini You received’t discover a better Labor Day facet dish—this straightforward recipe is prepared in underneath quarter-hour!

Labor Day Dessert Recipes <img decoding="async" class="alignnone" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0naHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmcnIHdpZHRoPScxMTYwJyBoZWlnaHQ9JzExNjAnPjwvc3ZnPg==" data-original="https://cdn.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/blackberry-crisp.jpg" alt="Labor Day recipes - blackberry crisp" width="1160" height="1160" data-pin-description="Celebrate the end of summer with these easy Labor Day recipes! They include grilling mains, side dishes, appetizers, and more crowd-pleasing food ideas for your BBQ or cookout." data-pin-url="https://www.loveandlemons.com/labor-day-recipes/"/> <span class="xc_pin" onclick="pin_this(event, 'http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.loveandlemons.com/labor-day-recipes/&media=https://www.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/blackberry-crisp.jpg&description=Celebrate+the+end+of+summer+with+these+easy+Labor+Day+recipes%21+They+include+grilling+mains%2C+side+dishes%2C+appetizers%2C+and+more+crowd-pleasing+food+ideas+for+your+BBQ+or+cookout.')">

Blackberry Crisp This simple crisp has a brown sugar and oat topping and a tart, jammy blackberry filling. Simply add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the proper Labor Day dessert!

Straightforward Peach Cobbler My objective during the last month has been to eat as many peaches as doable. So naturally, I’m planning to make this cobbler over Labor Day weekend. It’s one in every of my favourite summer time desserts—evenly candy, buttery biscuits high a thick layer of juicy peaches.

Strawberry Tiramisu This fruity no-bake dessert was a HIT over the 4th of July. For those who’re on the lookout for yet another excuse to make it this summer time, a Labor Day gathering is it! Heads up that it wants to sit back in a single day within the fridge earlier than serving, so plan to make it no less than 1 day forward.

Do-it-yourself Vanilla Ice Cream What higher method to have fun the tip of summer time than with a bowl of home made ice cream?! My recipe is straightforward to make with 5 substances, and it’s creamy, candy, and scrumptious.

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" style="border-width: 0px;border-style: solid;border-color: #666666;" width="150" height="150" src="https://cdn.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/labor-day-recipes-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-150x150 size-150x150" alt="" srcset="https://cdn.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/labor-day-recipes-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cdn.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/labor-day-recipes-846x846.jpg 846w, https://cdn.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/labor-day-recipes-282x282.jpg 282w, https://cdn.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/labor-day-recipes-500x500.jpg 500w, https://cdn.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/labor-day-recipes-158x158.jpg 158w, https://cdn.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/labor-day-recipes-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https://cdn.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/labor-day-recipes-580x580.jpg 580w, https://cdn.loveandlemons.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/labor-day-recipes-120x120.jpg 120w" sizes="(min-width: 960px) 580px, 100vw"/> Finest Labor Day Recipes: Black Bean Burger Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook dinner Time: 10 minutes minutes

Whole Time: 20 minutes minutes

Serves 6

This simple black bean burger is one in every of our favourite Labor Day recipes!

3 cups cooked black beans , drained and rinsed ⅓ cup grated yellow onion* , about ½ medium 2 garlic cloves , minced 2 chipotle peppers from a can of chipotles in adobo , diced 2 tablespoons adobo sauce 1 tablespoon tamari 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon floor cumin ½ teaspoon sea salt ½ teaspoon freshly floor black pepper 1 massive egg 1 cup panko bread crumbs Additional-virgin olive oil , for brushing Cooking spray , if grilling Hamburger buns , for serving Desired fixings , for serving Cook dinner Mode Forestall your display from going darkish

In a big bowl, mix the beans, onion, garlic, chipotles, adobo sauce, tamari, balsamic, cumin, salt, and pepper. Use a potato masher to mash till the combination holds collectively however nonetheless has some seen chunks of black beans. Add the egg and use a spatula to fold till mixed. Then, fold within the panko.

Use your palms to kind the combination into 6 patties. The combination must be cohesive and a little bit moist. If it’s too moist to deal with, chill within the fridge for 20 minutes to agency up or mash your beans a little bit bit extra.

Warmth a cast-iron skillet over medium warmth. Brush with a little bit oil and prepare dinner the burgers for about 5 minutes per facet, till charred on either side, turning the warmth down as crucial. The precise timing will rely upon the warmth of your range and cookware.

Alternatively, preheat an outside grill to 400°F. Flippantly brush the patties with olive oil, spray the grill grates, and grill for 8 minutes on the primary facet and 4 minutes on the second facet.

Serve with hamburger buns and desired fixings.

*Grate the onion on the big holes of a field grater. As you grate it, the onion will launch loads of liquid. That is regular! Add the moist onion pulp to the black bean combination, leaving extra liquid behind in your work floor.