Perfect Family BBQ Recipes for Labor Day [Sides, Mains, & Dessert!]

I’ve rounded up the perfect family BBQ recipes for your next gathering!

Hey there friends! So it’s Wednesday… September 2nd. We’ve all said it, so I’ll say it again… HOW is it September already!? Lordy… Yesterday my little baby sister turned 18!! She will forever be the beautiful 3 year old with long curly blonde hair, constantly reciting movie quotes from Emperor’s New Groove (seriously it was the cutest thing). But now she is 18 and off to her first year of college. HOW did that happen. Goodness gracious.

Alright, so who is excited for a long weekend?! *raises hand* Me! YAY. This is my first weekend in what feels like forever, where I will be staying home for the ENTIRE weekend, with nothing to do but catching up at home, cleaning, blogging, recipe-testing, workouts, studying, more recipe-testing… 🙂

Our final little summer trip was last weekend and we had a GREAT time visiting our close friends. On the way up we stopped at Niagra Falls for the first time ever! Which was AWESOME. This view is from the Canadian side.

We went to the Tigers & Bluejays game (sad, pathetic day for Tiger’s fans), grilled out for din, ate lots, played games, had brunch on Sunday and ate some more… It was a splendid weekend. We may or may have not stopped at the outlets in Niagra on the way home as well… I couldn’t pass up checking out the Lululemon outlet 😉

Between traveling for work and trying to make the most of summer’s end, August has really felt SO busy. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I am just ready for a little break! So as much fun as it would be to have grand plans for the long weekend, I am really looking forward to relaxing and not having anything going on. How lame am I? Guess I am getting old. Blah.

So while we are all getting ready for the long weekend,  I am sure plenty of you will be needing ideas for this final summer hurrah. So I’ve searched the world wide web and rounded up some great recipes for you from some of my favorite bloggers! Sides and salads, mains, and even dessert! Because really, what’s a gathering without dessert? Definitely not any kind of gathering I want to attend… just sayin’.

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–SIDES & SALADS–

Maple Balsamic Quinoa Lentil Salad via Fit Mitten Kitchen ^^ A favorite!

Green Goddess Quinoa Summer Salad via Pinch of Yum– This sounds perfect.

Creamy Blueberry Broccoli Slaw Salad with Yogurt via Cotter Crunch ^^ I made this for 4th of July and loved it!

Healthy Southwest Pasta Salad with Chipotle-Lime Greek Yogurt Dressing via Ambitious Kitchen ^^ Avocado in pasta salad? Count me in.

Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint via Fit Living Blog– It may sound a little strange, but I’ve had something like this before and it was seriously delicious! Highly recommend.

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–MEAT MAINS–

Fiesta Chicken Salad via Fit Mitten Kitchen– Quick and EASY. Perfect for wraps, pita pockets, buns, ciabattas, etc.

Balsamic Fig Chicken Glazed Skewers via Physical Kitchness– Balsamic & figs grilled on chicken? Yes, please!

Quinoa Turkey Burgers with Spiralized Apples via Fit Foodie Finds ^^ How amazing do those look?

Spicy Roasted Pineapple and Avocado Bacon Burger via Shared Appetite– Again, AVOCADO. Oh, and pineapple. This combo sounds DEE-vine.

Mediterranean Grilled Lamb & Veggie Jar via Straight From the Jar ^^

Apricot Barbeque Chicken via The Healthy Maven

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–DESSERTS–

Peaches’n Cream Bars via Sally’s Baking Addiction– Millions of peaches, peaches for me…

Grilled Cherry Crisp with Chocolate and Almonds via Food Faith Fitness– GRILLED CRISP?! How fun is that!?

Boozy Pecan Pie Bars with Sea Salt via Minimalist Baker ^^ Booze IN my dessert? I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Chocolate Zucchini Brownies via Texanerin Baking– These are made with whole grains and applesauce instead of refined flour and oil!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Chickpea Cookies via Fit Mitten Kitchen ^^ Perfect for pumpkin lovers who can’t wait for fall 😉

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I hope you all have a GREAT long weekend and enjoy some time with friends and family! I’m hoping the weather holds up and it is not too hot out. I’m in the mood for a long bike ride 🙂

Anyone have anything exciting going on?!

What is your FAVORITE dish to bring to a cookout or BBQ gathering?