Best Labor Day Recipes: Burgers, Brisket, and BBQ Sides
Labor Day weekend is the perfect time for outdoor cooking and gathering with friends and family. This roundup features a selection of the best recipes, from juicy burgers and smoked brisket to classic BBQ sides, fresh summer salads, and late-season desserts.
Fire Up the Grill (or Smoker)
These backyard favorites are made for feeding a crowd and soaking up the last unofficial weekend of summer.
- Cheeseburgers: Juicy, classic cheeseburgers piled high with your favorite toppings. Get Recipe
- Smoked Brisket: Tender, smoky brisket that’s worth every minute on the smoker. Get Recipe
- Smash Burger: Thin, crispy-edged burgers with gooey melted cheese and restaurant-quality flavor. Get Recipe
- Hot Dogs: Keep it simple or load them up with your favorite toppings for an easy crowd-pleaser. Get Recipe
- Grilled Pesto Chicken: Packed with fresh basil flavor and perfect for summer grilling. Get Recipe
- Smoked Ribs: Fall-off-the-bone tender ribs with incredible smoky BBQ flavor. Get Recipe
- Pulled Pork Sandwiches: Slow-cooked pork piled onto soft buns with your favorite barbecue sauce. Get Recipe
- Brisket Nachos: The best way to use leftover brisket—loaded with cheese and all the toppings. Get Recipe
Classic BBQ Side Dishes
Every great cookout needs the sides.
- Mexican Street Corn: Everything you love about elote tossed into a creamy pasta salad. Get Recipe
- Tortellini Pasta Salad: Cheesy tortellini tossed with fresh vegetables and a flavorful dressing. Get Recipe
- Greek Pasta Salad: Fresh vegetables, feta, and olives make this a refreshing cookout favorite. Get Recipe
- Broccoli Salad: Crunchy, creamy, sweet, and salty in every bite. Get Recipe
- Corn on the Cob: Simple, buttery corn is always one of the first dishes to disappear. Get Recipe
- Macaroni Salad: Creamy, classic, and exactly what everyone expects at a summer BBQ. Get Recipe
- Deviled Eggs: A holiday favorite that belongs at every summer gathering too. Get Recipe
- Pesto Pasta Salad: Fresh basil pesto turns an ordinary pasta salad into something special. Get Recipe
Comfort Food Favorites
These classics pair perfectly with anything coming off the grill and keep everyone coming back for seconds.
- Mac & Cheese: Creamy, cheesy comfort food that’s always a crowd favorite. Get Recipe
- Garlic Bread: Golden, buttery garlic bread everyone reaches for first. Get Recipe
- Skillet Cornbread: Sweet, buttery cornbread that’s delicious with just about everything. Get Recipe
- Potato Casserole: Cheesy, creamy potatoes with the perfect crunchy topping. Get Recipe
- Classic Pea Salad: Creamy, crunchy, and surprisingly addictive. Get Recipe
- Potato Salad: A backyard BBQ classic that never goes out of style. Get Recipe
- Potato Rolls: Soft, fluffy rolls perfect alongside barbecue or sandwiches. Get Recipe
Fresh Summer Salads
Bright, colorful salads balance out all the rich barbecue favorites while making the most of summer produce.
- Tomato Cucumber: (Details omitted for brevity)