Cookout Classics for Labor Day
Planning the last big barbecue of the season? These must-have recipes will help you send summer off in the most delicious way possible.
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Grilled Cheeseburgers
The beauty of these classic burgers is that they’re incredibly versatile. Load them them with traditional fixings (like American cheese, lettuce tomato and red onion) or deck them out with the most-outrageous toppings you can think of. Either way, they’ll be delicious!
Get the Recipe: Grilled Cheeseburgers
Corn Salsa
Get the Recipe: Corn Salsa
Foil-Pack Grilled Sweet-and-Spicy Chicken Wings
Marinate your wings in an easy sweet-and-spicy mixture, then grill them in a foil pack for mess-free cooking (you’ll still need napkins for eating, though!).
Get the Recipe: Foil-Pack Grilled Sweet-and-Spicy Chicken Wings
Rainbow Coleslaw
It just wouldn’t be an end-of-summer cookout without a few classics, coleslaw being one of them. Trisha’s version is tangy and crunchy, perfect with whatever you’re grilling up.
Get the Recipe: Rainbow Coleslaw
Turkey Club Kebabs
What’s the one thing you probably haven’t grilled all summer? Turkey. We like turning it into bacon-wrapped kebabs — for sandwiches!
Get the Recipe: Turkey Club Kebabs
Grilled Picnic Corn
This kicked-up, grilled corn tastes great eaten right from the cob (stick a popsicle stick into one end for easier handling!) but it also makes a great salad. Simply cut the corn off the cob after you char it and then toss it with the other ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Picnic Corn
Frozen Sangarita
Get the Recipe: Frozen Sangarita
Sweet and Spicy Apricot BBQ Chicken Thighs
Save the space on your grill for hamburgers and hot dogs — without giving up BBQ chicken. Valerie cooks hers in the oven, while basting it with a sweet-and-spicy, homemade apricot BBQ sauce.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Apricot BBQ Chicken Thighs
Pepperoni Potato Salad
A tasty twist on classic potato salad? Add some Italian flavors! Ree tosses in Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, basil and pepperoni. Yum!
Get the Recipe: Pepperoni Potato Salad
Barbecue Cheeseburgers
Get the Recipe: Barbecue Cheeseburgers
7-Layer Pasta Salad
Get the Recipe: 7-Layer Pasta Salad
Fresh Peach Cake
Get the Recipe: Fresh Peach Cake
Dijon Chicken Wings
Get the Recipe: Dijon Chicken Wings
Chicken or Turkey Salad Sandwiches
Get the Recipe: Chicken or Turkey Salad Sandwiches
Baked Creamed Corn With Red Bell Peppers and Jalapenos
Get the Recipe: Baked Creamed Corn With Red Bell Peppers and Jalapenos
Spicy Lemon Shrimp Skewers
Get the Recipe: Spicy Lemon Shrimp Skewers
Strawberry-Arugula Salad with Sweet Lime Vinaigrette
Get the Recipe: Strawberry-Arugula Salad With Sweet Lime Vinaigrette
Beer Can Chicken with Cola Barbecue Sauce
Get the Recipe: Beer Can Chicken with Cola Barbecue Sauce
Macaroni and Egg Salad
Get the Recipe: Macaroni and Egg Salad
Anna's Tomato Tart
Late-season tomatoes, which tend to be extra-sweet and juicy, are perfect for Ina’s impressive tarts. She tops a homemade crust with Gruyere and Parmesan cheese, thick tomato slices and fresh pesto.
Get the Recipe: Anna's Tomato Tart
Layered Picnic-in-a-Jar
Get the Recipe: Layered Picnic-in-a-Jar
Fried Chicken
Get the Recipe: Fried Chicken
Fresh Blackberry Crisp
Sometimes it's best to keep it simple. That's why we combine flour, brown sugar and butter to make a sweet, crumbly topping for juicy late-summer blackberries. The perfect summer dessert with just a handful of ingredients!
Get the Recipe: Fresh Blackberry Crisp
Honeydew and Arugula Salad
Get the Recipe: Honeydew and Arugula Salad
Slow Cooker Beef Brisket
Trisha’s beef brisket is a great multi-purpose dish for a crowd. Serve it as-is with your favorite sides or use it as the filling for a barbecue sandwich.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Brisket
Yogurt-Marinated Chicken Skewers
Molly combines warm spices and creamy yogurt to make an easy marinade for her chicken skewers. Layers of sweet onion and juicy pepper round out her crowd-pleasing kebabs.
Get the Recipe: Yogurt-Marinated Chicken Skewers
Black Bean and Corn Salad
Get the Recipe: Black Bean and Corn Salad
Herb-Stuffed Zucchini
Get the Recipe: Herb-Stuffed Zucchini
S'mores Pudding Pie
No campfire needed for Kelsey’s creamy pudding pie. If you don’t have a kitchen torch, place the pie under the broiler until the marshmallows are brown and gooey.
Get the Recipe: S'mores Pudding Pie
American-Style Potato Salad
Get the Recipe: American-Style Potato Salad
Sparkling Raspberry Limeade
Make the raspberry syrup for this limeade up to two days in advance. Just keep it in the refrigerator until the party starts.
Get the Recipe: Sparkling Raspberry Limeade
Zucchini and Goat Cheese Pinwheels
Katie’s pretty pinwheels are deceptively easy. To make them, slice zucchini into very thin sections (use a mandoline if you have one), top with a goat cheese filling and roll ‘em up.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini and Goat Cheese Pinwheels
Mini Chicken and Mango Tostadas
Get the Recipe: Mini Chicken and Mango Tostadas
Baby Back Ribs with Spicy Peach BBQ Sauce
Giada’s secret to great ribs? She brushes the meat with BBQ sauce after roasting, then pops them under the broiler for just a few minutes. The high heat allows the sauce to get extra thick and perfectly sticky.
Get the Recipe: Baby Back Ribs with Spicy Peach BBQ Sauce
Vanilla Ice Cream with Peach Syrup
Sweet peaches and sugar make a simple syrup for topping vanilla ice cream.
Get the Recipe: Vanilla Ice Cream with Peach Syrup
Triple B Burgers
Get the Recipe: Triple B Burgers
Turkey Burgers With Orange Mustard Glaze
Get the Recipe: Turkey Burgers With Orange Mustard Glaze
Nectarine-Tomato Salad
Get the Recipe: Nectarine-Tomato Salad
Foil-Packet Corn
Get the Recipe: Foil-Packet Corn
Mini Open-Faced Steak Sandwiches on Garlic Bread with Aged Provolone and Parsley Oil
Get the Recipe: Mini Open Faced Steak Sandwiches on Garlic Bread with Aged Provolone and Parsley Oil
Ranch Chicken Sandwiches
Get the Recipe: Ranch Chicken Sandwiches
Grilled Lamb Kebabs with Tomatoes, Zucchini and Yogurt Sauce
Get the Recipe: Grilled Lamb Kebabs with Tomatoes, Zucchini, and Yogurt Sauce
Hoisin Eggplant
Get the Recipe: Hoisin Eggplant
Stuffed Mini Peppers
Whether you're making them as a grab-and-go snack or as a party-ready appetizer, these stuffed peppers are sure to be a hit. Alex stuffs them with creamy goat cheese and toasty pine nuts to give them a touch of decadence.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Mini Peppers
Greek Guacamole
Salty feta, fresh dill and tangy olives put a Greek-inspired twist on the classic guacamole. Serve with tortilla chips and cucumber slices for dipping.
Get the Recipe: Greek Guacamole
Flank Steak With Balsamic Barbecue Sauce
Bobby grills with flank steak for these party-ready bread bites because it cooks quickly and is affordable.
Get the Recipe: Flank Steak With Balsamic Barbecue Sauce
Grilled Pizzas
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pizzas
Grilled Turkey Sliders with Tomato Jam
Get the Recipe: Grilled Turkey Sliders with Tomato Jam
Grilled Triple-Decker Hot Dog Sandwich
Jeff’s over-the-top dish is like a cross between a sandwich and lasagna. He layers the hot dogs with Cheddar, provolone and salami, then grills the dish until the cheese is melted. Before eating, top with mustard, lettuce, tomato and celery salt.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Triple-Decker Hot Dog Sandwich
Green Tomato and Strawberry Salad
Juicy strawberries and plump green tomatoes infuse this salad with freshness and color.