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Home » Recipe Collections

19 cookout favorites to make before Labor Day weekend is over

Published: Aug 27, 2026 by Shruthi · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

There’s no better excuse for one more cookout than the final stretch of summer. These crowd-friendly recipes bring plenty of flavor to the grill, picnic table and backyard spread, whether you’re hosting or bringing a dish to share. They’re the kind of familiar favorites that keep everyone coming back for another helping. Make them while the season—and the cookout weather—lasts.

Roasted Vegetable Salad

An overhead image of roasted vegetable salad on a serving dish. with the dressing on the side.
Roasted Vegetable Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Roasted vegetables with vinaigrette work for lunch, dinner, or any outdoor meal. Since it holds up in the fridge, it’s easy to prep ahead and gone quickly when guests arrive.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Vegetable Salad

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Overhead image of mediterranean quinoa salad on a plate.
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Quinoa salad with fresh herbs and beans is light, balanced, and fast to put together. It’s a dependable choice for a crowd since it always gets finished.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Grilled Peach Salad with Tomatoes

A plate with Grilled Peach Salad with Tomatoes.
Grilled Peach Salad with Tomatoes. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Grilled peaches and tomatoes with feta and pickled onions hit the sweet and tangy notes at once. That flavor mix makes it one of the first bowls to clear out.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Peach Salad with Tomatoes

Ninja Woodfire Grilled Vegetables

A variety of grilled vegetables on a platter.
Ninja Woodfire Grilled Vegetables. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Marinated vegetables stay crisp and cook quickly, making this side easy to throw together. It’s the type of dish that disappears while you’re still flipping burgers.
Get the Recipe: Ninja Woodfire Grilled Vegetables

BBQ Walnut Chickpea Veggie Burgers

Overhead image of two BBQ walnut chickpea veggie burgers on a bed of green leafy vegetables.
BBQ Walnut Chickpea Veggie Burgers. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

BBQ Chickpea Walnut Burgers grill up hearty and filling while still being simple to prep. They win over even skeptics and never seem to last long.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Walnut Chickpea Veggie Burgers

Grilled Artichokes with Lemon Herb Tahini Dipping Sauce

Overhead image of grilled artichokes with a dip and lemon slices on a plte.
Grilled Artichokes with Lemon Herb Tahini Dipping Sauce. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Grilled artichokes with lemon tahini dip bring out a whole new flavor. They’re easy finger food that always gets snatched up quickly.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Artichokes with Lemon Herb Tahini Dipping Sauce

Grilled Elote Corn Ribs

Grilled Elote Corn Ribs on a black platter.
Grilled Elote Corn Ribs. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Elote corn ribs are full of flavor and take little time to make. They’re fun to eat and one of those cookout dishes that’s gone before you know it.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Elote Corn Ribs

Heirloom Caprese Salad

An overhead photo of caprese salad served in a white bowl.
Heirloom Caprese Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

A Caprese-style salad is quick to make and looks sharp on the table. It’s fresh, colorful, and sure to disappear from the spread.
Get the Recipe: Heirloom Caprese Salad

Italian Chopped Salad

Italian chopped salad in a bowl next to dressing.
Italian Chopped Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Italian chopped salad is crisp, simple, and easy to throw together. It’s a go-to side because it pairs with everything and never lingers on the table.
Get the Recipe: Italian Chopped Salad

Beet & Goat Cheese Salad

Close-up of Grilled Beetroot Goat Cheese Salad in a bowl.
Beet & Goat Cheese Salad. Photo credit: Parallel Plates.

Roasted beets with goat cheese and walnuts add flair without taking much time. That makes them perfect for a cookout where guests clean their plates.
Get the Recipe: Beet & Goat Cheese Salad

Grilled Ratatouille

Grilled Ratatouille top view.
Grilled Ratatouille. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Grilled ratatouille brings out natural sweetness with just olive oil, garlic, and thyme. It shows how simple vegetables can become a favorite at an outdoor table.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Ratatouille

Macedonian Salad

Top view of macedonian salad in a bowl.
Macedonian Salad. Photo credit: Little House Big Alaska.

Macedonian salad keeps things simple with the right mix of texture and flavor. It leaves a big impression even though it doesn’t take much to make.
Get the Recipe: Macedonian Salad

Grilled Potato Wedges

Close-up of grilled potato wedges.
Grilled Potato Wedges. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Grilled potato wedges are quick, easy, and seasoned just enough to let the grill do the work. Sides like this are always the first to vanish.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Potato Wedges

Italian Tuna Potato Salad

Italian Tuna Potato Salad in a wooden plate.
Italian Tuna Potato Salad. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Potato salad with vinaigrette, tuna, and olives brings a sharp change to the usual. It’s a bold side that people remember and scoop up fast.
Get the Recipe: Italian Tuna Potato Salad

Easy Grilled Veggie Kabobs

Close-up image of grilled veggie kabobs on a dish.
Easy Grilled Veggie Kabobs. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Veggie kabobs with zucchini, onions, mushrooms, and peppers are colorful and easy to grill. They look great on a platter and are always gone before the meat.
Get the Recipe: Easy Grilled Veggie Kabobs

Lemon Greek Potatoes

Close-up image of lemon greek potatoes in a dish.
Lemon Greek Potatoes. Photo credit: Parallel Plates.

Lemon potatoes bake crisp with garlic and herbs for big flavor. They’re simple, classic, and never stick around after serving.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Greek Potatoes

Grilled Fruit Skewers

Four eggplants grilled cheese with Yemenite green hot sauce on a wooden board.
Grilled Fruit Skewers. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Grilled fruit skewers are light, sweet, and quick to make. They prove dessert doesn’t need to be complicated to disappear.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Fruit Skewers

Grilled Cauliflower Steaks

Three pieces of grilled cauliflower steaks on a black plate.
Grilled Cauliflower Steaks. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Cauliflower steaks brushed with herb oil cook up crisp and flavorful. They show how vegetables can hold their own at a cookout table.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Cauliflower Steaks

Eggplant Grilled Cheese With Yemenite Green Hot Sauce

Eggplant Grilled Cheese With Yemenite Green Hot Sauce. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Middle Eastern Grilled Cheese with eggplant and tomatoes makes sandwiches feel like an event. It’s handheld food that’s always grabbed fast.
Get the Recipe: Eggplant Grilled Cheese With Yemenite Green Hot Sauce

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Hi, I'm Shruthi! I am the owner and blogger at Parallel Plates. I love everything about food, and I hope that you can find the best recipe inspiration, trends, hacks, and more here.

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