17 Recipes For A Perfect Labor Day Cookout (2024)

Perfect Deviled Eggs

Cool, creamy, and very portable, deviled eggs make excellent appetizers for an outdoor event. This particular recipe adds savory Worcestershire sauce and a dash of hot sauce to the mix, resulting in a crave-worthy handheld snack.

Barbequed Ribs

These ribs undergo a two-part cooking process; they're baked with aromatic garlic, then grilled with barbeque sauce until they're fully glazed and ready for a messy (but so worthwhile) chow down experience.

Watermelon Summer Salad

For a unique recipe, this watermelon salad includes red onion, black olives, mint, and feta cheese. "This is a recipe I stumbled upon one hot lazy afternoon," says recipe creator Jessica Mayo. "Don't be scared by the ingredients, they work together to make a very tasty and refreshing salad. Go ahead and try it — be prepared for a pleasant surprise!"

Chuck's Favorite Mac and Cheese

A homestyle mac and cheese recipe singing with sharp Cheddar, this baked pasta dish also incorporates both cottage cheese and sour cream for an extra layer of richness. Don't forget to sprinkle the bread crumbs on top before baking for a contrasting crunch!

Sheboygan Grilled Brats

Sure, you could serve up regular hot dogs at your Labor Day cookout, but grilled bratwurst topped with beer-soaked caramelized onions offer a far more flavorful alternative.

Esquites (Mexican Elotes Salad)

A popular street-food treat in Mexico, elote consists of grilled corn slathered in mayo, spices, and cheese. When you cut the kernels off the cobs, elote become esquites, a flavorful side dish that pairs beautifully with cookout barbeque fare.

Boston Baked Beans

These slow-cooked baked beans load a lot of flavor into every bite: sweetness from the molasses, salty umami from the Worcestershire sauce, smokiness from the bacon, and a spicy kick from the dry mustard. "[These beans] taste great served with fresh cornbread or biscuits and honey. Although you need to allow time for soaking and simmering the beans, this recipe is still quite easy," says recipe creator AJRHODES3.

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

Strawberries count among the most beloved seasonal summer produce out there, which is why strawberry shortcakes regularly show up on cookout menus from Memorial Day through Labor Day. For an easy spin on this classic that doesn't require a fork, try this strawberry shortcake cupcake recipe.

Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken

"The honey mustard sauce is truly great. I could think of a ton of things it would be good on," raves reviewer ChefScharny. "I would recommend letting the chicken marinate in the sauce to really get filled with flavor."

Grilled Potato Salad

If you're of the opinion that "it's not a cookout without potato salad," then you're sure to enjoy this version of the classic barbecue side, which includes a tangy, mayo-free dressing.

Amazing Spicy Grilled Shrimp

The marinade for this grilled shrimp dish packs a ton of heat, so if you're a spice fiend, then you'll be very pleased with the recipe as written. If you prefer a milder version, then you can easily reduce the amount of chile paste and hot sauce used in the marinade.

Pesto Pasta Caprese Salad

Allrecipes Allstar thedailygourmet says that this salad is "the traditional Caprese salad modified to pasta form." Seasonal ingredients like grape tomatoes and fresh basil are used to their full effect here, and fresh mozzarella cheese provides a creamy counterpoint to the salad's natural acidity.

Homemade Black Bean Veggie Burgers

Your vegetarian friends shouldn't have to compromise on flavor, and this veggie burger recipe, specially formulated for backyard cookout purposes, ensures that they'll have a delicious meal option.

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.

Firecracker Kabobs

Skewers make outdoor grilling as simple as can be, allowing each piece of meat and vegetable to cook evenly and come off the barbecue with the perfect amount of char. These beef and mushroom kabobs feature a maple syrup marinade, which lends a nuanced sweetness to the finished dish.

Juiciest Hamburgers Ever

These aren't your average hamburgers. With egg, bread crumbs, evaporated milk, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, and garlicmixed into the ground beef, these burgers pack a flavorful punch. "Made it for about 20 people tonight. I was a hero," says reviewer neokhanh.

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

"Bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers," your guests will say. "Where?" Jalapeño poppers are brought to the next level thanks to the addition of bacon — and so too will your cookout rise in the eyes of all who try this stellar snack.

More Inspiration

• Check out our complete collection of labor day recipes.
• 14 Perfect Plum, Peach, and Pear Desserts for Late Summer.
• Relax on Labor Day with these summery drinks.