There’s no rule that says grilling must stop after Labor Day, though many treat the holiday as the end of summer’s backyard cookouts. Days get shorter, the air turns a bit cooler and routines change when kids return to school, but that doesn’t mean the grill has to retire. I never put my grill away on Labor Day — it’s always a good excuse to invite friends over, fire it up, and enjoy a warm evening outdoors. Here’s a favorite summer grilling menu that celebrates fresh, bright flavors and easy entertaining:
A light, vibrant starter is Avocado Chimichurri Bruschetta. Ripe summer tomatoes and creamy avocado get a lively lift from a chimichurri-style sauce made with mint, parsley, cilantro, chives, lime, and garlic. The result is a fresh, herb-forward bite that stands out from ordinary bruschetta — the chimichurri is so tasty you’ll want to spoon extra over everything.
For an authentic street-food treat, Mexican Grilled Street Corn (elote) is hard to beat. Grilled until lightly charred, the corn is slathered with mayonnaise and finished with lime juice, chili powder, and cheese. It’s deliciously messy to eat, which is all part of the fun of summer barbecues.
For the main course, Cumin-Glazed Grilled Ribs are a dependable crowd-pleaser. They’re easy to scale for a larger group and deliver tender, flavorful meat with a warm, slightly smoky spice from cumin. A bright pineapple salsa adds a sweet-and-spicy contrast, though the ribs are excellent on their own if you prefer to skip the topping.
Cold sides like fruit salad or potato salad are ideal accompaniment for a barbecue. Both can be prepared in advance and served chilled, helping to balance the heat from the grill and offering guests refreshing options that pair well with smoky mains.
Grilled fruit makes a natural, elegant finish to a meal cooked outdoors. Grilling concentrates the natural sugars in peaches, nectarines, and other stone fruits while adding a hint of caramelized char. Firm fruits that hold up on the tongs work best; serve them simply with vanilla ice cream or use them to build summery shortcakes for a slightly fancier dessert.
This menu highlights the best elements of late-summer grilling: fresh produce at peak ripeness, bold herb and spice flavors, and easy recipes that scale for company. Whether you’re celebrating Labor Day or simply savoring a warm evening, these dishes keep the season’s tastes alive well past summer’s unofficial end.