Say goodbye to summer with a full stomach by rounding out your weekend cookout with these Labor Day side dishes. If you’re searching for classic baked beans, no-mayo potato salad, sweet macaroni salad, quick tortellini salad, grilled corn, and slaws, these side dish recipes are always crowd-pleasing. Whether you’re firing up the grill for burgers, steak, chicken, or hot dogs, they’ll round out your feast.
No Mayo Potato Salad
“This has been in my family for years. It is a hit when I take it to picnics. You can use any combination of oils or vinegar. I have used olive oil and red wine vinegar. I have an aunt who will put leftover cooked bacon, ham, or pepperoni in this, as well.” – Cindy
Fresh Basil Corn and Tomato Salad
“Fresh is the key. Don’t be tempted to use frozen corn in this salad, or dried basil – it’s not the same.” – Kathy
Creamy Country Coleslaw
“Although there are thousands of coleslaw recipes out there, this one stands out from the rest. It’s easily adaptable to your liking. This is the way I’ve made coleslaw for over 30 years. A true family favorite.” – Family Favorite
New Potato and Green Bean Salad
“When invited to summer picnics or BBQs, this is the dish I’m always asked to bring along.” – Toni
Sour Cream and Chive Cucumbers
“This recipe has been in my husband’s family for many years. His mom shared the recipe with me before she passed. It has been one of my favorites ever since. Our entire family loves this recipe. This recipe is also in my cookbook. Has been a proven winner whenever we have company, and I make and serve this.” – Rose Mary
BBQ Baked Beans
“I love baked beans… many are tasty, but just average. I have found that adding fresh onion and green pepper makes just about anything taste better, and baked beans are no exception. The beans are sauced up with an improved BBQ sauce. Add a pound of bacon and you’ve got something really special.” – Tracy
Sweet Macaroni Salad
“A nice change to traditional macaroni salad. I always have to double the recipe and never have leftovers.” – Barbara
Crazy Corn
“I am not a fan of mayonnaise, but I could eat this corn all summer long! If you hate mayo, you can sub it out with extra butter.” – Ashley
Marinated Cucumbers, Onions and Tomatoes
“I grew up marinating cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes every summer as a side dish. Always a great side to a summertime meal.” – Angie
Creamy Corn Salad – Easy Summer Side Dish Recipe
“This creamy corn salad is made with crisp veggies, sweet corn, and a tangy dressing. A fast, refreshing side dish for summer BBQs and potlucks!” – Debbie
Baked Potato Salad
“This salad is served at a barbecue place a few miles from my house. It’s delicious!” – Joyce
Asian Slaw
“This is a favorite from my boss’s scrapbooking clubs. They all love it and it shows up at every one of their gatherings.” – Debi
Grilled Vegetables with a Tangy Sauce
“I love making up flavorful sauces for marinating and basting. I used to avoid things that required basting, but after doing it a few times and noticing the difference in the finished product. This sauce contains sorghum, a molasses-type syrup from the American Sorghum Cane plant.” – Susan
Quick Summer Tortellini Salad
“This is a quick, delicious summer salad. Perfect for picnics, no need to refrigerate. A little sweet, and a little tart with a touch of fresh basil for a punch of flavor.” – Deb
Asparagus Pesto on Penne
“A fresh and bright asparagus pesto pasta that’s tasty, quick, and easy!” – Kevin