Labor Day’s here, and with it, the bittersweet end of summer. It’s your last chance to soak up the sun, fire up the grill, and enjoy the season before everything turns into pumpkin-flavored chaos. These recipes are all about making sure you go out with a bang—no bland dishes allowed. So, while the days might be getting shorter, your menu doesn’t have to cut any corners.
Creamy Cucumber Salad
This version of creamy cucumber salad adds quick-pickled red onions for a refreshing twist, making it an excellent choice for any Labor Day cookout.
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Grilled Vegetable Orzo Salad
Grilled summer veggies meet orzo pasta in this dish, drizzled with a tart cherry balsamic glaze. Perfect as a side, served warm or cold at your gathering.
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Cucumber Melon Salad
Pairing ripe cantaloupe with cucumber and pickled onions, this salad is a refreshing side that complements any grilled meat for your Labor Day spread.
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Elk Burgers
Ground elk, seasoned with simple spices and grilled to juicy perfection, creates a burger that’s both easy and impressive for your summer cookout.
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Broccoli Raisin Salad
This broccoli salad, with plump raisins, bacon, and pumpkin seeds, is perfect for BBQs. The creamy dressing adds a light, tangy flavor that’s hard to beat.
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Mango Black Bean Salad
This quick mango black bean salad is not only refreshing but also packed with protein, making it a perfect side or light lunch for your Labor Day feast.
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Grilled Hummus Berry Flatbread
A summer flatbread topped with grilled corn and berries, and finished with a garlic parsley pesto, offering a fresh bite perfect for holiday weekends.
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Grilled Halloumi Burgers
Grilled halloumi and lamb burgers burst with Mediterranean flavors, thanks to caramelized red onions and sun-dried tomato pesto. A standout for any gathering.
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Simple Summer Tomato Corn Salad
Fresh corn, tomato, and basil come together in this no-fuss salad, making it an easy side dish that screams summer simplicity for your Labor Day menu.
Get the Recipe: Simple Summer Tomato Corn Salad
Grilled Potato Wedges
Seasoned and grilled to perfection, these potato wedges offer crispy edges and a tender center, making them the ultimate side for any grilled dinner.
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Bison Burgers
Lean ground bison replaces beef in these juicy, tender burgers. Cook them on the stovetop or grill, and top with your favorite fixings for a satisfying bite.
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Grilled BBQ Short Ribs
These BBQ short ribs are slow-cooked on the grill with a smoky dry rub and finished with BBQ sauce, making them a tender and flavorful summer dinner option.
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Flank Steak Pinwheels
Flank steak rolled with pesto, parmesan, prosciutto, and spinach, these pinwheels are both visually impressive and perfect for Labor Day parties.
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Indian Steak Kabobs
These steak kabobs are marinated with fragrant spices and cooked to tender perfection, making them an exciting addition to your Labor Day grill menu.
Get the Recipe: Indian Steak Kabobs
BBQ Lamb Ribs
Easy to grill, these lamb ribs are slow-cooked and finished with a high-heat sear, offering a crispy, BBQ-packed flavor that’s a hit at any summer celebration.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Lamb Ribs
Blueberry Balsamic BBQ Turkey Legs
Turkey legs get a makeover with a blueberry balsamic BBQ sauce, making them a fun and flavorful dish that’s sure to impress on Labor Day.
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Grilled Hawaiian Chicken
Stuffed with ham, pineapple, and smoked cheese, this grilled chicken is finished with a sticky teriyaki glaze, offering a tropical twist for your holiday feast.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Hawaiian Chicken
Grilled Stuffed Avocados
Avocados are grilled and stuffed with Asian-marinated steak and vegetables, creating a hearty and unique summer meal perfect for any Labor Day gathering.
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Harissa Grilled Pork Chops
Spiced with harissa, these grilled pork chops pair perfectly with a fresh peach and tomato salad, making them a spicy-sweet choice for summer dinners.
Get the Recipe: Harissa Grilled Pork Chops
Peach Honey Grilled Lamb Chops
Lamb chops are glazed with peach honey and served with a simple watercress salad, offering a sweet and savory option for your Labor Day meal.
Get the Recipe: Peach Honey Grilled Lamb Chops
Smoky Grilled Apricot Lamb Kebabs
These lamb kebabs, paired with dried apricots and grilled to perfection, provide an easy and flavorful weeknight grilling option as summer winds down.
Get the Recipe: Smoky Grilled Apricot Lamb Kebabs
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.