16 Labor Day Cookout Recipes to End Summer on a High Note

byRenee N Gardner posted last updated
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Labor Day weekend is the last big cookout of the season, and these 16 recipes are built to make it count. From grilled mains and hearty main-course salads to a full lineup of desserts to close it out, this covers everything you need to send summer off the right way.

Six waffle ice cream cones filled with various scoops of fresh and fruity desserts, all topped with sprinkles, are arranged on a marble surface.
Dipped Ice Cream Cones with Homemade Magic Shell. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Grilled Bacon-Avocado Cheeseburger with Honey Sriracha Mayo

A bacon avocado burger with melted cheese and honey sriracha sauce on a brioche bun, served with green beans on a black plate.
Grilled Bacon-Avocado Cheeseburger with Honey Sriracha Mayo. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

A grilled bacon-avocado cheeseburger with smoked gouda and homemade honey sriracha mayo, ready in 25 minutes. An easy grill-out main for a Labor Day crowd, no drive-thru required.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bacon-Avocado Cheeseburger with Honey Sriracha Mayo

Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken

Overhead shot of grilled maple mustard chicken next to a bed of leafy greens.
Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Chicken marinated in a sweet, tangy maple mustard sauce and grilled hot and fast. A simple, crowd-friendly main for the last cookout of summer.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken

Grilled Citrus Marinated Pork Chops

Grilled pork chops on a plate with oranges and limes.
Citrus Glazed Pork Chops. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Pork chops marinated in orange, lime, honey, and ginger, then grilled and glazed. Ready in under 30 minutes, so it works for a weeknight or a Labor Day grill-out.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Citrus Marinated Pork Chops

Tri-tip with Pineapple Mango Red Pepper Salsa

Close-up of a fork holding a piece of cooked meat topped with diced yellow and red bell peppers and a green herb garnish from one of our cherished family recipes.
Tri-tip with Pineapple Mango Red Pepper Salsa. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Grilled tri-tip topped with a pineapple mango red pepper salsa. Summertime is grilling time, and this one’s built to impress a Labor Day crowd.
Get the Recipe: Tri-tip with Pineapple Mango Red Pepper Salsa

Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder with Mustard BBQ Sauce

A serving of slow cooker pork shoulder on a plate topped with mustard bbq sauce.
Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder with Mustard BBQ Sauce. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Pork shoulder simmered low and slow in a sweet and tangy mustard BBQ sauce until it falls apart. Let the slow cooker do the work while you spend Labor Day outside.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder with Mustard BBQ Sauce

Grilled Pork Chop Surf and Turf

Bone in pork chop topped with hollandaise sauce and shrimp, on a white plate next to green beans.
Grilled Pork Chop Surf and Turf. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Bone-in pork chops and shrimp grilled together and topped with an amped-up hollandaise sauce. A fun, upgraded spin on classic summer grilling for a holiday cookout.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chop Surf and Turf

Cedar-Plank Grilled Rockfish Tacos

Close up shot of three assembled grilled fish tacos with grilled rockfish.
Cedar-Plank Grilled Rockfish Tacos. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Cedar-plank grilled rockfish tacos layered with pickled slaw, mango pepper salsa, and lime avocado dressing. A lighter, fresher main for the last grill-out of summer.
Get the Recipe: Cedar-Plank Grilled Rockfish Tacos

Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken Kabobs

Savor the taste of Greek cuisine with these grilled chicken and yellow bell pepper skewers, artfully garnished with herbs on a white plate.
Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken Kabobs. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Zesty grilled Greek lemon chicken kabobs, ready in under an hour. Built for a Labor Day BBQ or any family cookout.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Greek Lemon Chicken Kabobs

Grilled Steak for Tacos

Steak Tacos with guacamole, salsa, shredded cheddar, and spicy srirach sauce PIN
Steak Tacos Meat. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Marinated steak, flash grilled over high heat and topped with salsa, guacamole, shredded cheddar, and sweet and spicy sriracha sauce. A build-your-own taco bar main that’s easy to scale up for a Labor Day crowd.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak for Tacos

California Steak Salad

Steak salad on a white bowl.
California Steak Salad. Photo Credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Tender steak over crunchy greens with juicy strawberries, tangy goat cheese, and a bright citrus vinaigrette. A lighter, summer-produce-forward main for a warm-weather cookout.
Get the Recipe: California Steak Salad

Carolina BBQ Chicken Salad

Square shot of hot of a wooden serving bowl filled with Carolina BBQ Chicken Salad in a dark wooden bowl.
Carolina BBQ Chicken Salad. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Loaded with fresh summer flavors, this BBQ chicken salad proves a salad can carry a cookout as the main course, not just the side.
Get the Recipe: Carolina BBQ Chicken Salad

Grilled Shrimp Grain Bowl

Close up image of a grilled shrimp grain bowl with barley, zucchini, mini bell peppers, shrimp, and avocado in a black bowl.
Grilled Shrimp Grain Bowl. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Grilled shrimp and grains packed with the fresh flavors of summer grilling. A make-ahead option that holds up well for a Labor Day spread.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Grain Bowl

Dipped Ice Cream Cones with Homemade Magic Shell

Angled shot of 6 cones, two in chocolate, two peanut butter, two vanilla.
Dipped Ice Cream Cones with Homemade Magic Shell. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Ice cream cones dipped in homemade peanut butter, chocolate, and vanilla magic shell. A make-ahead sweet finish for the last cookout of summer.
Get the Recipe: Dipped Ice Cream Cones with Homemade Magic Shell

Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust

A stack of three lemon bars on a silver plate in front of more lemon bars.
Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

A buttery shortbread crust under a tangy, sweet lemon filling. A make-ahead dessert that travels well to a Labor Day potluck or backyard gathering.
Get the Recipe: Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust

Homemade Strawberry Shortcake

Two servings of homemade strawberry shortcake on white china plates with silver forks.
Homemade Strawberry Shortcake. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Cardamom brown sugar biscuits, lime-macerated strawberries, and vanilla whipped cream, ready from scratch in 45 minutes. A fitting way to send off summer’s last strawberries at the Labor Day table.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Strawberry Shortcake

Shortbread Ice Cream Sandwiches

Ice cream sandwiches with chocolate drizzle.
Ice Cream Sandwiches with Chocolate Drizzle. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Creamy ice cream sandwiched between two wafer-thin shortbread cookies and drizzled with chocolate sauce. A make-ahead treat for the last hot afternoon of the season.
Get the Recipe: Shortbread Ice Cream Sandwiches

Recipe Creator

The food-loving recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind Renee Nicole's Kitchen. When I'm not working with food, you can find me in the garden, traveling, or enjoying the outdoors with my husband, son, and two dogs.

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