41 Low-Fuss Recipes for Labor Day Weekend
Maybe it’s time to branch out with your Labor Day recipes. Celebrating Labor Day weekend with grilled ribeye will never go out of style, but that’s exactly the point. Since that classic crowd-pleaser will always be there, why not try something new this year?
The holiday signals the unofficial end of summer: your last hurrah at the beach, park, or neighborhood block party. Make it memorable! Live a little! We’ve got pork shoulder steaks dressed with summer corn salad, spicy grilled chicken wings that’ll knock your socks off, and ice cream cakes that are all about a little bit of assembly, a lot of accolades, and not a lot of work.
Our favorite Labor Day recipes will keep you out in the sun, whether that’s flipping something on the grill, leaning over a fence with juices dripping down your wrist, or sitting by the pool with a drink in your hand.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich1/41Double-Stack Mushroom and Chicken Cheeseburgers
Of course we think of burgers when we think of Labor Day recipes. But double-stacked chicken and mushroom patties feel delightfully unconventional. If it just isn’t a burger for you without pickled red onions, that’s fine. Our accompaniments are but suggestions.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton2/41Chili Crab Dip With Shrimp Chips
Scoop-style shrimp chips make the perfect vehicle for moving this sweet-and-spicy dip from a bowl to your mouth. (We don’t want you working too hard on Labor Day.)
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Kim3/41Buldak-Style Barbecue Chicken Drumsticks
Turn your Labor Day feast into a Korean BBQ chicken and disco dance party, because why not? The buldak-inspired sauce works as both marinade and glaze, which means flavor on flavor on flavor.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Simon Andrews5/41Grilled Sweet Corn With Basil Butter
Grilled corn on the cob is one of our favorite summer sides, and this one has an especially aromatic kick. That’s because both chopped basil and thyme make appearances in the melty butter coating each and every kernel of corn.
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Prop Styling by Christine Keely, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht7/41Homemade Corn Dogs
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton8/41Blackberry and Chocolate Ice Cream Icebox Cake
When it comes to Labor Day desserts, you want something that looks way more complicated than it is. If you have the time to whip some cream, then you can throw this stunner together with no sweat.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks9/41Spicy Black Bean and Corn Tacos
If you haven’t played with mixing nuts into your salsa, this taco recipe is a great place to start. Raw corn kernels, toasted hazelnuts and pumpkin seeds, jalapeño, cilantro, oil, and lime juice make a crunchy, bright, but also grounded sauce for black bean tacos. No shame in adding guacamole, either.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova10/41Grilled Chicken With Mustard Barbecue Sauce and Tomato Salad
Did you know you can make your own BBQ sauce? Just mix apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, honey, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, and mustard.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich11/41Peanutty Marinated Cucumbers With Curled Scallion Salad
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams, Food Styling by Judy Haubert12/41Razzle Dazzle
If this summery cocktail doesn’t say Labor Day cookout, we don’t know what does. With fresh raspberries, pineapple juice, and chilled club soda, it’s the ultimate poolside refresher.
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Erica Lutz13/41Stacked Muffuletta Salad
Layered with the classic components of a muffuletta sandwich—salami, mortadella, provolone—this salad—yes, there’s lettuce and an olive oil vinaigrette and grated Parmesan on top—is a feat of engineering.
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott14/41Tomato Salad With Feta And Pistachios
Summer salads don‘t get breezier or better than this. If you prefer a more traditional caprese, may we suggest still adding a surprising twist? Crispy polenta croutons.
