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    Home » Trending

    14 Labor Day Side Dishes Everyone Will Be Talking About

    Published: Aug 29, 2025 by Kristen Wood · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Labor Day celebrations call for sides that stand out and bring everyone together. 14 options rise to the occasion, mixing flavor, style, and a touch of fun. These are the dishes that turn a holiday meal into the highlight of the season.

    Best Roasted Potato Salad

    Best Roasted Potato Salad. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

    Cookouts feel complete when there’s something hearty on the table that keeps everyone coming back. That’s where Best Roasted Potato Salad makes an appearance, giving people a reason to gather around the side dish spread. It’s the kind of dish that quickly turns into conversation because it’s familiar but different from the usual.
    Get the Recipe: Best Roasted Potato Salad

    Air Fryer Onion Rings

    Pile of onion rings on a white plate.
    Air Fryer Onion Rings. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

    Crunchy sides always draw attention when people gather outdoors. Air Fryer Onion Rings hit the table with a texture that feels indulgent without being too heavy. Before long, they’re usually gone while people laugh about how quickly they disappeared.
    Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Onion Rings

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    Louisiana Voodoo Fries

    Louisiana Voodoo Fries. Photo credit: xoxobella.

    Cookouts often have something bold that people keep snacking on while waiting for the main course. Louisiana Voodoo Fries fill that role with seasoning that makes them hard to stop eating. They end up as the side dish everyone talks about long after the grill cools down.
    Get the Recipe: Louisiana Voodoo Fries

    Easy and Tasty Roasted Okra Recipe

    Easy and Tasty Roasted Okra Recipe. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

    Long weekends call for foods that feel effortless yet memorable. With Easy and Tasty Roasted Okra Recipe, the vegetables take on a flavor and texture that people don’t expect at a holiday table. Guests often find themselves talking about how good it is compared to the version they thought they knew.
    Get the Recipe: Easy and Tasty Roasted Okra Recipe

    Cilantro Lime Sauce

    A close-up image of a spoon dipped into cilantro lime sauce inside a white bowl.
    Cilantro Lime Sauce. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

    Cookouts often have plenty of grilled meats and sides that could use something fresh. A drizzle of Cilantro Lime Sauce makes almost anything stand out, from vegetables to burgers. Guests usually start passing it around and asking what’s in it before long.
    Get the Recipe: Cilantro Lime Sauce

    Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad

    Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad. Photo credit: xoxobella.

    Everyone expects pasta salad at a cookout, but not everyone expects it with tortellini. That’s why Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad always gets people talking once they try it. The combination feels hearty, flavorful, and different from what’s normally served.
    Get the Recipe: Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad

    Cheese Bourekas

    A close-up of golden, sesame-topped pastry triangles on a tray, served with fresh tomato halves and a sliced boiled egg.
    Cheese Bourekas. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

    Handheld foods tend to disappear first during big gatherings. That’s why Cheese Bourekas always earn attention with their flaky layers and warm filling. They often become the side that people talk about as much as the main course.
    Get the Recipe: Cheese Bourekas

    How to Make Easy Pickled Cabbage

    How to Make Easy Pickled Cabbage. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

    Something crisp and tangy always stands out during a heavy Labor Day cookout. That’s why How to Make Easy Pickled Cabbage often ends up balancing everything on the plate. Friends notice how it cuts through the richer sides and usually ask how to get some for themselves.
    Get the Recipe: How to Make Easy Pickled Cabbage

    Easy Cabbage Curry

    An overhead image of cooked cabbage curry in a round plate.
    Easy Cabbage Curry. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

    Big gatherings benefit from having something a little different among the usual sides. Bringing Easy Cabbage Curry to a Labor Day spread introduces flavors that surprise people in the best way. It’s a dish that feels filling without weighing down the table.
    Get the Recipe: Easy Cabbage Curry

    Roasted Artichokes

    Roasted Artichokes. Photo credit: xoxobella.

    Sharing food often means bringing something people don’t see every day. Offering Roasted Artichokes at a Labor Day gathering usually sparks curiosity and conversation. Once they try it, guests often want to know how you made them taste so good.
    Get the Recipe: Roasted Artichokes

    Pommes Duchesse

    Pommes duchesse on a white plate wiht parsley.
    Pommes Duchesse. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

    Holiday meals give room for sides that feel a little special. Pommes Duchesse show up looking elegant but still carry the comfort of potatoes everyone loves. People notice them right away and usually mention how they’re not something they see often.
    Get the Recipe: Pommes Duchesse

    Creamy Cajun Coleslaw

    Creamy Cajun Coleslaw. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

    Cookout plates tend to need a mix of textures, and coleslaw always finds a place. With Creamy Cajun Coleslaw, the familiar crunch gets paired with bold seasoning that sparks conversations. People appreciate how it feels both classic and new at the same time.
    Get the Recipe: Creamy Cajun Coleslaw

    Slow Cooker Cabbage

    An image of slow cooker cabbage on a plate.
    Slow Cooker Cabbage. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

    Long holiday weekends mean finding sides that can stay warm and ready without extra work. That’s the strength of Slow Cooker Cabbage, which cooks down to comfort while you focus on everything else. It often becomes the side dish that people keep spooning onto their plates.
    Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cabbage

    Orzo Salad

    Orzo Salad. Photo credit: xoxobella.

    Tables full of sides benefit from having one dish that feels lighter but still filling. That’s the role Orzo Salad plays, mixing pasta with vegetables and herbs in a way that works for hot-weather meals. Guests find themselves reaching for it because it balances out the heavier options.
    Get the Recipe: Orzo Salad

    About Kristen Wood

    Kristen Wood is a writer, photographer, world traveler and cookbook author. Her work has been featured in various publications both online and in print, including Elle, Forbes, NBC, Chicago Sun-Times, Martha Stewart, Food Drink Life, Arizona Highways Magazine, New York Daily News, and more. She is also a syndicated writer for The Associated Press.

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