Labor Day Sides: Delicious Side Dishes for Your Grill Out
Many Americans enjoy a good barbecue with friends and family on Labor Day. The right sides will round out your meal and keep your guests’ palates excited for more.
Why Are Side Dishes Essential for Your Labor Day Grill Out?
Enjoying a grill out on Labor Day is a salute to the original participants, who, over a century ago, also had a barbecue to celebrate their day off. Firing up the grill and sharing delicious food is a great way to step away from the daily grind and relax.
While going cave dweller style and ripping into a turkey leg alone can be fun, side dishes bring color to your meaty Labor Day spread.
How to Pick the Perfect Labor Day Cookout Sides
The best Labor Day side dishes complement the meats you plan on grilling. They should offer notes that elevate the essence of the meat to create an umami flavor bomb. Here’s how to pick the ultimate sides depending on what you throw on the fire:
- Ribs: You usually cover ribs in a sweet glaze, and whether beef or pork, the fat lends a natural sweetness to the meat. Ribs pair well with creamy, tangy or sweet sides.
- Chicken: The savory nature of chicken pairs well with tangy and refreshing sides. While sweetness can work, a citrus zest really pulls the flavors together.
- Sausage: The best part about grilling sausages for your Labor Day cookout is that they go with just about anything. Consider the type if you want to make the sausage flavors pop. For example, a good-quality chorizo sausage has bold chili and garlic flavors that pair beautifully with cheesy, creamy sides. Remember, always cook sausage to a minimum of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Steak: Steak is a popular barbecue meat with a delicious richness that shouldn’t be overpowered. Salty and buttery sides bring out the richness of any cut.
- Brisket: One of the richest, juiciest meats is brisket. Smokey, slightly sweet and charred sides balance out the fattiness while illuminating the strong beefy flavor.
- Shrimp: Shrimp is a versatile option that complements every flavor profile. Its natural sweet and savory taste pairs best with fresh, tangy or creamy sides.
- Pork: Pork chops and applesauce are classics for a reason. This sweet side dish brings out the natural sweetness of tender pork cuts.
What Are the Best Labor Day Side Dish Recipes?
Side dishes can make your Labor Day grills exciting and memorable. Below are four side dish recipes that complement a variety of barbecue meats. Each one serves an average of four adults.
BLT + Sausage Waffle Fries
These waffle fries combine the delicious flavors of a BLT sandwich with the added crunch of waffle fries. They go exceptionally well with grilled chicken and pork.
The Premio sweet Italian sausages have a deep umami flavor that’s perfect for this dish. Saute diced sausages until golden brown and crisp to add an incredibly meaty bite that contrasts beautifully with the melty cheese.
Once your waffle fries are golden, you can top them with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and crispy bacon. For extra crunch, toss some croutons over the mix.
This recipe comes together quickly, and you can drizzle it with any sauce you prefer. Ranch dressing gives it that BLT flavor, but you can also try sweet chili or sriracha for added spice. Serve as a side dish or starter alongside soft, fluffy rolls.
Spicy Sausage and Spinach Cream Dip
This spicy and creamy dip is the ideal match for any Labor Day meat. It’s also a delicious pre-grill treat with toasty baguettes or crisps.
Keep it around the grill so you can snack on it while barbecuing or share it with guests. Start by dicing up the sausage and pan-frying the pieces until they’re brown but still juicy. When the sausage is done, toss washed baby spinach into the same pan so it can soak up the meaty flavor.
You can use fully grown spinach instead of baby spinach, but it will be less tender and have a leafier taste. Once the spinach is wilted, put it in a bowl with the diced sausage. Add Greek yogurt. Full cream lends a creamier finish, but low fat also works well, depending on your dietary preferences. Drop in a few generous dollops of sour cream to add a tangy and dreamy silkiness to this dip.
If you want a hint of spice, mix in two tablespoons of Sriracha or top with chili crisp. Let the dip sit in the refrigerator so the flavors can mingle. When ready to enjoy, serve it with toasty baguettes or nachos. It’s the ideal partner for a juicy steak or pork chop.
Taco Salad
Treat your guests to a unique side dish for Labor Day with this delectable taco salad that comes together in minutes. Pan-fry Premio sausage for a deep and rich meaty flavor. Set it aside and start assembling the salad.
Layer tortilla chips, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. Top with salsa and the pan-fried sausage. Sprinkle with more cheese. You can enjoy it like this or broil it until the cheese is melted. Once you’re ready to serve it, add a guacamole dip. This salad is an excellent Labor Day starter that your guests can munch on while the meat is grilling.
Sausage and Fig Salad
Labor Day celebrates the socio-economic achievements of the American workforce. Since it’s observed on the first Monday in September, it also marks the end of summer, so many like to enjoy their day off with a summery treat.
This sausage and fig salad is the ultimate Labor Day side dish because it highlights the taste of summer and goes with any meat. It starts with grilling sausages until they’re perfectly cooked and juicy. While the sausages are cooking, you can get started on the other ingredients. Saute mushrooms and red onion and season with garlic and herbs. If you have black garlic on hand, it adds the perfect sweet and smoky notes that suit the sweetness of the figs.
Once the vegetables are tender, set them aside and make the tart dressing using sherry vinegar, an herb bouquet and Dijon mustard. Finally, gently toss the salad leaves and figs together. Top with a drizzle of the delicious dressing and crumble some goat cheese or feta over the ensemble for a salty, creamy bite.
This refreshing summer salad goes well with sticky barbecue ribs.
Make Your Labor Day a Hit With Premio Sausages!
Premio Foods has been making high-quality sausages for over 40 years. Our sausages have no fillers and contain only the finest ingredients. We offer a range of traditional Italian sausages as well as other ethnic varieties, like bratwurst.
Make your Labor Day unforgettable with our fresh and delicious sausages, made the way sausages should be made. Use our store locator to stock up on our products for your upcoming barbecue.
We’d love to know what you plan on cooking up for Labor Day with your friends and family. Share your meal ideas in the comments!
