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.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Stevie Stewart15/41Cherry Pie With Lattice Crust
Whether it’s your first time rolling out pie dough or you consider yourself something of a savant, this pie crust recipe has a forgiving fat-to-flour ratio.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Stevie Stewart18/41Potato Salad
This Southern-style potato salad recipe comes from legendary chef Leah Chase. (If you don’t know, now you know.) Bookmark it for future summer cookouts and potlucks.
Photo by Emma Fishman19/41Grilled Green Bean Salad With Thai Dressing
Grilled tofu and creamy avocado add filling protein and healthy fats to this bean salad, turning it into a filling and delicious vegetarian Labor Day lunch or supper.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Catherine Campbell Pearson20/41Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
Photo by Luke Albert, Food Styling by Tamara Vos, Prop Styling by Louie Waller23/41Spiced Yogurt-Marinated Grilled Cauliflower With Mango
Whether you spell them them kabobs or kebabs or something else entirely, know that these mango and spiced soy yogurt-marinated cauliflower skewers—yes, that’s what we’ll call them—are vegan excellence.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton24/41Pocky S’Mores
All you need to make this recipe is some heat, one packet of your favorite flavor of Pocky, and one bag of your favorite marshmallows. (Make sure those flavors work together.) That's it.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Maggie DiMarco26/41Hot Pink Punch
Imagine, when your guests ask you what beverages are on offer, you get to reply, “HOT PINK PUNCH.” (Thanks, watermelon and Campari.) PS: Don't throw away your watermelon rinds.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell27/41Summer Corn, Tomato, and Salmon Salad With Za’atar Dressing
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton29/41Easy Pasta Salad
Other than the pasta in this pasta salad, nothing is cooked, and the final product is full of varied textures cooked veg, raw veg, creamy cheese) and fresh and tangy flavors (pickles, olives, herbs).
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Liza Jernow30/41Spicy Tamarind-Glazed Grilled Chicken Wings
Serve these tamarind-glazed, charred wings with thinly sliced red onions, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges for squeezing over the top. Add a side of white rice to turn it into a main dish.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown, Props by Meilen Ceramics32/41Corn & Chickpea Bowl With Miso-Jalapeño Tahini
Call this corn salad in the summer, or swap out its star to transform it into cauliflower or kale salad in the colder months. She can adapt.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson33/41Blackberry-Cucumber Mule
We’ll let reader Miriam take this one: “Absolutely delicious! I used strawberries because we had several soft ones no one was eating, and limes instead of lemon juice. Made it a mocktail so the kid could have some, served over seltzer. Huge hit.”
Photo by Gizem Kumbaraci35/41Chili Bean Tofu and Vegetable Skewers
These tofu vegetable skewers are a little sweet and a little salty with tons of umami from tomato paste, chili bean sauce, and soy sauce.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton36/41Rosie Ranch Water
Ranch water is a Texan specialty that involves but a trinity of ingredients: tequila, lime, and Topo Chico. This version is a touch more complicated in the best, most vivacious way.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce38/41Chipotle-Grilled Pork Shoulder Steaks With Corn Salsa
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food styling by Simon Andrews40/41Baked Tomatoes, Peppers, and Goat Cheese with Crisped Toasts
If you haven’t yet gotten your fill of tomato recipes this summer, serve this cheesy, tangy concoction with bread for a vegetarian dinner or an elegant appetizer.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson41/413-Ingredient Ginger-Peach Ice Cream Floats
What would a list of Labor Day recipes be without an ice cream float? We think this mixture of poached peaches, vanilla ice cream, and ginger beer makes for a fun new take on the classic.
