42 Labor Day Side Dish Recipes for Your Last Summer Cookout

No Labor Day is complete without a cookout, and these are the side dishes that might just steal the show. As the unofficial last weekend of summer, many of us send off the season by firing up the grill and hosting cookouts. While burgers and hot dogs are often the stars, it’s not complete without some great Labor Day side dish recipes. Whether you’re hosting this end-of-summer bash or are visiting a friend or family member’s house, lean heavily into the cookout sides. Whether you’re cooking chicken, beef or pork on the grill, it will not matter because these Labor Day sides are versatile and will work with just about any meat you decide to grill or smoke.

Asian Zoodle Salad

Asian zoodles salad is a wonderful blend of zoodle, or spiralized zucchini noodles along with other vegetables and an Asian inspired dressing. Have it for lunch or pair it with your preferred protein as a side dish.
Get the Recipe: Asian Zoodle Salad

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Cooked quinoa is a great base for a tasty salad. It’s filling, tasty and pairs wonderfully with the fresh ingredients used. It’s a versatile recipe and you can enjoy the Mediterranean quinoa salad as a side dish or as a main course.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Cheesy Vegetable Casserole

If you’re looking for new vegetable casserole ideas, you can’t go wrong with this tasty recipe. Boasting a variety of tasty veggies and a creamy cheese sauce, this breadcrumb topped side dish pairs with anything, and it’s incredibly easy to make.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Vegetable Casserole

Garden Veggie Macaroni Salad

For a colorful and healthy lunch or side dish, try this garden veggie macaroni salad with a creamy avocado dressing. The garlic, horseradish, and avocado dressing pairs perfectly with the pasta and veggies, creating a fresh and flavorful salad that is sure to impress.
Get the Recipe: Garden Veggie Macaroni Salad

Italian Tuna White Bean Salad

Simple ingredients combine to make this Tuscan classic. Juicy fresh tuna pairs with beans for a Tuscan tuna white bean salad everyone will enjoy. It makes a tasty meal, whatever the season.
Get the Recipe: Italian Tuna White Bean Salad

Heirloom Tomato Burrata Caprese Salad

This authentic Italian burrata caprese salad is a delicious side dish or appetizer that features heirloom tomatoes and creamy burrata cheese, with balsamic vinegar and truffle salt for added flavor. With every bite, you’ll savor the delicious flavors of this simple yet impressive dish.
Get the Recipe: Heirloom Tomato Burrata Caprese Salad

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

Elbow macaroni combines with fresh vegetables as well as a tangy dressing which is both creamy and tangy. This easy salad is colourful and definitely brings a tropical touch of aloha to your dinner plate!
Get the Recipe: Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

Italian Panzanella Salad

Panzanella salad is a refreshing summer side dish that combines juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and chunks of crusty bread, all tossed in a tangy vinaigrette. It’s the perfect accompaniment to grilled meats and a delightful way to enjoy the flavors of the season.
Get the Recipe: Italian Panzanella Salad

Italian Rice Salad – Insalata di Riso

This colourful, flavourful Italian rice salad is perfect for a picnic, potluck, summer BBQ, or as a versatile side dish for a simple lunch or dinner. Every mouthful of this Mediterranean brown rice salad is bursting with fresh ingredients such as tasty salad vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Italian Rice Salad – Insalata di Riso

Bloody Mary Deviled Eggs

Loaded deviled eggs such as these Bloody Mary eggs are always a welcome part of the BBQ, cookout, or picnic table. They’re also a handy snack at any time since you can make these unique gourmet deviled eggs ahead.
Get the Recipe: Bloody Mary Deviled Eggs

Smoked Potato Salad with Bacon

This recipe for smoked potato salad with bacon combines the smoky flavors of potatoes and hard-boiled eggs, making it an ideal dish for summer gatherings and barbecues that will surely impress your guests. Go ahead and add this to your list of the best summer side dish recipes!
Get the Recipe: Smoked Potato Salad with Bacon

Watermelon Feta Cucumber Salad

This refreshing watermelon feta cucumber salad is a colorful and easy-to-make side dish that brings together sweet, savory, and tangy flavors inspired by Greek cuisine. With only 4 ingredients for the salad and 3 for the dressing, this easy salad recipe is quick and easy to make.
Get the Recipe: Watermelon Feta Cucumber Salad

Antipasto Skewers

Impress your guests with easy-to-make antipasto skewers, perfect for any occasion! Made with classic Italian flavors, these crowd-pleasing bites are ideal for parties, picnics, and more.
Get the Recipe: Antipasto Skewers

Juicy Grilled Pineapple

Juicy grilled pineapple coated in an amazing mixture of cinnamon and sugar make for the perfect side dish that everyone is going to go crazy over!
Get the Recipe: Juicy Grilled Pineapple

Creamy Bacon Pea Salad

Creamy bacon pea salad is an amazing and creamy side dish that is perfect for this summers cookouts! Packed with crunchy peas, loads of crispy bacon and cheese- all tossed in an incredible dressing!
Get the Recipe: Creamy Bacon Pea Salad

Corn Salad

Easily assemble this zesty Mexican street corn salad with fresh, flavorful ingredients. It’s perfect for lunch, dinner, or even a midday snack!
Get the Recipe: Corn Salad

Smoked Italian Pasta Salad

Add some smoky flavour to your favorite pasta salad with this delicious smoked Italian pasta salad recipe. Packed with pepperoni, salami, mozzarella cheese, and a pepperoncini dressing, it’s the perfect dish for your summer BBQ.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Italian Pasta Salad

Zesty Tex Mex Chicken Pasta Salad

Try this Tex Mex chicken pasta salad that combines the best of all worlds – a southwest pasta salad with chicken. Bursting with color and flavor, this salad is perfect for a BBQ or as a flavorful side dish option. You will agree this one of the best summer side dish recipes!
Get the Recipe: Zesty Tex Mex Chicken Pasta Salad

Summer Farro Salad

This is sure to become one of your favourite summer side salad recipes. It’s a summer farro salad which is a beautiful rainbow salad filled with veggies, farro and a spicy peanut sauce.
Get the Recipe: Summer Farro Salad

Elote Street Corn Kale Salad

This Mexican inspired Elote Street Corn Kale Salad is a delicious and refreshing salad inspired by the flavors of street corn. With a mix of colorful and textured ingredients, and a spicy yogurt lime dressing, this salad is sure to be a hit at your next meal.
Get the Recipe: Elote Street Corn Kale Salad

Hot Girl Summer Salad

This Hot Girl Summer Salad is made with cucumbers, green pepper, red onion, eggs, Italian dressing, and more for a quick, easy, and refreshing lunch or snack!
Get the Recipe: Hot Girl Summer Salad

Shaved Brussels Sprout Slaw

If you’re searching for an alternative to coleslaw, consider trying this Brussels sprout slaw. Made with a combination of shaved Brussels sprouts and cabbage, and dressed with a tangy lemon apple cider vinaigrette, this salad is the perfect side dish for BBQs and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Shaved Brussels Sprout Slaw

Baked Beans with Ground Beef

Prepare a crowd-pleasing BBQ side dish with this flavorful recipe for baked beans with ground beef. Infused with delicious spices and enhanced by the addition of ground beef, these southern-style baked beans are a hit at any gathering, earning you requests for the recipe.
Get the Recipe: Baked Beans with Ground Beef

Smoked Mashed Potatoes With Gouda

Elevate a classic side dish with creamy smoked mashed potatoes, combining browned butter, sour cream, and rich Gouda for a hickory-infused flavor that complements any meal—prepare to be pleasantly hooked on this newfound favorite cooking technique. You will be adding this to your list of the best summer side dish recipes.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Mashed Potatoes With Gouda

Radicchio Endive Salad

This radicchio endive chicken salad with creamy honey mustard dressing is a fresh and delicious option for a filling summer meal as the weather gets warmer. Its unique combination of flavors and textures, including tender chicken and crisp veggies, is a must-try salad recipe.
Get the Recipe: Radicchio Endive Salad

Cobb Salad

This homemade Cobb salad is a delicious and visually stunning meal salad that’s perfect for summer. With a beautiful arrangement of ingredients including crispy bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and fresh veggies, it’s a must-try salad recipe.
Get the Recipe: Cobb Salad

Creamy Broccoli With Sun-Dried Tomatoes

This creamy broccoli with sun-dried tomatoes is a delicious stovetop broccoli side dish that can be made in only 25 minutes! Simply cook up broccoli florets and sun-dried tomatoes with spices before prepping an easy cream sauce.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Broccoli With Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Watergate Salad

Watergate salad is the classic side salad that’s light, sweet, fluffy, and creamy! Made with just 6 ingredients including pineapple, pistachio pudding mix, marshmallows, maraschino cherries, pecans, and whipped topping!
Get the Recipe: Watergate Salad

Layered Loaded Chicken Taco Salad

Layered chicken taco salad is made with juicy chicken, avocado, tomatoes, corn, black beans, cheese, tortilla chips, and more in this LOADED salad that’s EASY and ready in 15 minutes!! A creamy lime-cilantro dressing adds tons of FLAVOR!!
Get the Recipe: Layered Loaded Chicken Taco Salad

Best Ever Wedge Salad

This is the best ever wedge salad! With iceberg wedges, blue cheese, and crunchy bacon, it’s classic steakhouse fare, but our recipe includes a secret ingredient that gives it an extra delicious burst of flavor. Pair this super simple wedge salad with your favorite burger or steak for a simple, tasty meal.
Get the Recipe: Best Ever Wedge Salad

Caprese Garlic Bread with Arugula Pesto

Whether you pair it with your favorite pasta dish or call it dinner by itself, this Caprese garlic bread with arugula pesto will please the palate of any lover of Italian cuisine!
Get the Recipe: Caprese Garlic Bread with Arugula Pesto

Best Ever Baked Potatoes

Perfect baked potato is the prep, because if you don’t prep them right, that’s it, game over. First of all, I don’t care what you (or my husband) says, a baked potato is cooked in the oven, not the microwave.
Get the Recipe: Best Ever Baked Potatoes

Baked Potato Salad

Potato salad gets an upgrade with this tasty recipe. It has tender potatoes, creamy dressing and plenty of bacon crumbles for the perfect summer side dish recipe.
Get the Recipe: Baked Potato Salad

Mediterranean Orzo Salad

This simple side salad packs a lot of delicious Mediterranean flavors into one dish for the best summer side. Serve this with a vaariety of proteins for a really tasty addition to summer meals.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Orzo Salad

Broccoli Salad

This Broccoli Salad is an easy, crunchy, and lightly sweetened side salad that’s perfect for BBQs and more! Made with fresh broccoli, grapes, cheese, sunflower seeds, bacon, and a delightful dressing!
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Salad

Cajun Chicken Caesar Salad

Cajun Chicken Caesar Salad is a quick and easy salad that has a homemade cajun caesar dressing that makes this salad delicious!
Get the Recipe: Cajun Chicken Caesar Salad

Fig and Burrata Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

Fig and Burrata Salad with Maple Vinaigrette is a delicious and healthy end of summer salad! This fig salad will be sure to WOW your tastebuds!
Get the Recipe: Fig and Burrata Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

Charred Corn Avocado Salad

This Charred Corn Avocado Salad with Roasted Red Onions combines all the fresh flavours of summer in a salad bowl. Sweet, smoky charred corn mixed with avocado, cherry tomatoes, roasted red onions and a lemon Dijon dressing makes it a perfect side salad for any barbecue or potluck gathering.
Get the Recipe: Charred Corn Avocado Salad

Jamaican Rice and Peas

Transport your taste buds to the tropical islands with this quick and flavorful Jamaican rice and peas recipe featuring coconut rice, aromatic spices, and a scotch bonnet or habanero pepper kick.
Get the Recipe: Jamaican Rice and Peas

Crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad

This Crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad is a light and delicious addition to your summer gatherings. No cooking required and it’s ready in just 10 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad

House Salad

Enjoy the taste of your favorite restaurant starter at home with this easy-to-make house salad. Loaded with fresh vegetables, crunchy croutons, cheese, and bacon bits, simply toss everything together and serve with your preferred dressing for a versatile BBQ side dish that perfectly matches everything.
Get the Recipe: House Salad

Grilled Corn Salad

Embrace the flavors of summer with this vibrant grilled corn salad that’s perfect for BBQ side dishes. Skip the heavier ingredients and indulge in the simplicity of fresh corn, making it a refreshing and versatile option for weekend camping trips, lakeside days, or casual backyard gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Corn Salad