Were you invited to a cookout but you have no idea what to bring? The world needed a definitive list of what to bring to cookout, and I’m happy to compile it!
As I’m posting this, it’s the week before Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer. You’re probably either hosting or attending a cookout at some point over the long weekend. If you’re attending, you’ve probably offered to bring a dish to share. And now you’re wondering what the heck to bring to a cookout. Which has brought you here. Welcome.
Today, I’m sharing exactly what to bring to a cookout (be it for Labor Day or any other cookout-type gathering). Because I’m assuming you’re attending a cookout that someone else is hosting, I’m focusing on peripheral dishes like appetizers, side dishes, and desserts. Everything on this list travels well, is a crowd pleaser, and doesn’t require fancy handling at your cookout destination. These are the unicorn cookout dishes you’ve been looking for!
What to Bring to a Cookout
Appetizers
When you’re attending a cookout and your host hasn’t given you an idea of what might be good to bring, I love the idea of bringing an appetizer. It’s an extra your host might not have planned for, so it will almost certainly be welcomed!
Pretzel bites
Pretzel bites aren’t hard to make, just a little time consuming. The extra time is worth it, though, because these will be demolished at any cookout you attend. Bring along a jar of dipping mustard or spend a few more minutes making a homemade beer cheese dip to go along with them.
Pesto yogurt dip
Every time I make this pesto yogurt dip it is the first thing on the spread to go. Serve with slices of grilled bread for an absolute winner of a cookout dish.
Two tomato bruschetta
Who doesn’t love bruschetta? Make it a little extra special by opting to bring two tomato bruschetta to the cookout. Instead of preparing each bruschetta piece separately, I like to bring the tomato mixture and the grilled bread slices separately for ease of travel.
Fruit salsa
A fun, easy dip that’s especially popular with kids is a fruit salsa. Serve with cinnamon chips and watch it disappear!
Pigs in a blanket
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel when deciding what to bring to a cookout. The classic party appetizers are classic for a reason. And what could be more classic than pigs in a blanket? Simply take cocktail wieners and wrap a strip of prepared crescent roll dough around each one. Bake at 375°F until the blanket is cooked through (about 10 minutes).
Pimento cheese
I grew up with pimento cheese and have a deep appreciation for it. My husband just discovered it when we lived in North Carolina for four years, but it’s now one of his favorite foods. We love it, and your fellow cookout-goers will too!
I highly recommend making a homemade version of pimento cheese. It doesn’t take long – I promise! Grate some cheddar cheese, add a small amount of mayo (not too much!), some chopped pimentos and seasonings (onion powder, garlic powder, and a dash of cayenne pepper). Mix it all together and serve with hearty crackers.
Side dishes
My favorite part of a cookout is the side dishes! Sure, a good hamburger or hot dog tastes good, but the side dishes really shine. So, when I’m deciding what to bring to a cookout, I usually opt for one of these side dishes.
Baked beans
I love to bring baked beans to a cookout. They’re delicious and no one else usually thinks to bring them. I don’t just bring any baked beans, though. The only baked beans I will ever make are How Sweet Eats’ baked beans. My husband hates all things beans and willingly eats these baked beans. My kids inhale them. When in doubt, bring these baked beans.
Mac & cheese
Who doesn’t love mac & cheese? It’s always the first side dish to go at any cookout I’ve ever hosted. In my humble opinion, mac & cheese is baked or it isn’t worth making. My favorite recipe for baked mac & cheese happens to be super easy, so there’s no excuse to skimp.
Pasta salad
If you want to keep your cookout side dish offering a little lighter, consider a pasta salad. Although I know a lot of people love mayo-based pasta salad, I highly recommend skipping them when you’re bringing a side dish to a cookout. You never know what the fridge situation is going to be and you certainly don’t want to make anyone sick. Opt instead for a simple Italian pasta salad that uses a vinaigrette instead.
Potato salad
My same advice applies if you want to bring potato salad to a cookout. Stay away from the mayo and pick a mustard vinaigrette-based salad instead.
Fruit salad
Especially if the cookout you’re attending will include kids, the answer to what to bring to a cookout is easy: fruit salad. It’s easy, healthy, and feeds a crowd. Just ask Nonna.
Desserts
As the host of many cookouts, I often outsource dessert, so I know from experience that this is a common item to be asked to bring to a cookout. Although the world of delicious desserts is infinite, so definitely work better for a cookout than others. Here are some proven winners.
Sheet pan cake
If the cookout is celebrating anything, a sheet pan cake is the way to go. I decided long ago that a sheet pan cake is infinitely better when feeding a crowd than a traditional cake. Plus, it has a greater frosting to cake ratio, which generally makes people happy (especially kids).
Pie
Pie is a wonderful cookout dessert, but the best pies to bring to a cookout are the ones that can sit out at room temperature for a while. Choose baked fruit pies over cream pies when you’re arriving at someone else’s function.
Cookies/cookie bars
Cookies or cookie bars are classic cookout desserts. They’re easy to transport, easy to store, and easy to eat with one hand while standing and mingling. I like to pick safe, well-loved cookies when I’m bringing them to a cookout. Nobody ever turns up their nose at a good chocolate chip cookie.
Brownies
Brownies also work great at a cookout for the same reason. Everyone loves a good brownie!
Peanut butter bars
If you’ve been asked to bring a dessert to a cookout, but you’re not the most confident baker, I highly recommend bringing peanut butter bars. They don’t require any actual baking, but they taste amazing!
Other posts
Looking for more content on party food? These posts might be helpful:
So, did I help you decide what to bring to a cookout this weekend? Tag me in what you make on Instagram @sarainseason!