55 Labor Day Recipes Perfect For An End-Of-Summer Party
Parting with summer is such sweet sorrow.
No matter how you spent the season, the end of summer is so bittersweet. This is why we always try to sweeten it up with a big Labor Day feast. If summer has to end, the food better be good, right? Chicken, burgers, foil packs, grill skewers—you name it, we got it. Whether you’re celebrating the labor movement, your love of BBQ-ing, or your last three day weekend for a while (yeah, us too), we’ve got something for everyone. Check out our 55 Labor Day recipes for ideas—don't let your summer end without a bang.
We’ve spent all summer glued to our grills, and while we’ll almost certainly continue that as long as the weather allows, Labor Day does mark the unofficial end of grilling season. To commemorate, we’re going all out with all our favorite grilling techniques and recipes. Love a foil pack? Try our Hawaiian chicken, corn & tomato gnocchi, or sausage and peppers foil packs. Looking for impressive burgers and dogs? Check out our best-ever burgers, our BLT dogs, and our hot dog board (yep, a charcuterie board just for hot dogs). Looking for vegetarian BBQ options? Try our tomato gnocchi kebabs, our BBQ tempeh sandwich, or our tomato galette.
And we can’t forget side dishes! Potato and pasta salads just don’t taste quite the same outside of summer, so we’re remaking our favorites one last time. We’ve got a fancied up lobster roll pasta salad and simple potato salad, as well as surprise standouts from this summer like our lobster roll pasta salad, our loaded baked potato salad, and our Thai peanut chicken pasta salad.
All our favorite summer produce like sweet corn, watermelon, tomatoes, and pineapple are heading out for the year too (hi, hello butternut squash and apples!), so make as many dishes involving them as you can this Labor Day. Try our watermelon feta salad, our Hawaiian chicken skewers, our zucchini bun hot dogs, or our grilled tomatoes for some of our favorites, but to be honest, we’ll probably be sneaking produce into everything we make (and recommend you do the same).
Want more Labor Day inspiration? Check out our favorite Labor Day appetizers and Labor Day desserts too.
Sausage & Peppers Foil Pack
When we need a summer dinner in a pinch, we turn to foil packs again and again. Their beauty is in their simplicity: toss your ingredients in the foil along with your seasonings, grill, and dig in! While we have many variations on this cooking method that we can't get enough of (we're looking at you, Hawaiian chicken), this sausage & peppers recipe is one of our favorites. Filled with bell peppers, onions, and charred Italian sausage links, these packs are filled to the brim with hearty, classic flavors. Plus, this recipe only requires 7 ingredients (including salt and peppers), so you don't have to trek to your campsite with a cooler full of ingredients.
Get the Sausage & Peppers Foil Pack recipe.
Classic Potato Salad
A classic potato salad is a must-have at every picnic and barbecue. This one is creamy and tangy, with a little bit of crunch from the onion and pickles.
Get the Classic Potato Salad recipe.
Paella-Inspired Party Packs
Looking to add a little Spanish flair to your cookout, but don't want to spend an hour making paella? Make these easy foil packs instead: They only take 25 hands-off minutes, meaning you'll have more free time to mix up some sangria too.
Get the Paella-Inspired Party Packs recipe.
Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken
Craving BBQ pulled chicken? Good news—this slow-cooker recipe makes it easier than ever to create delicious, tender, and extra-flavorful pulled chicken right at home with minimal effort. To really take this recipe over the top, we added brown sugar, some Italian dressing, and bourbon to create a slightly sweet, smoky sauce that you just might want to add to all your BBQ staples. You can definitely leave it out, but we think it's the best part. 😉
Get the Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken recipe.
Zucchini Bun Hot Dogs
No hot dog buns? No problem! Serve them in hollowed out zucchini for an extra summery alternative.
Get the Zucchini Bun Hot Dogs recipe.
Hawaiian Chicken Skewers
While we have plenty of favorite protein + veggie combinations, these Hawaiian chicken skewers just might be one of our favorites. With sweet pineapple, chicken, red bell peppers, and onion all basted in a sweet teriyaki-style sauce, these skewers are the ultimate summer dinner.
Get the Hawaiian Chicken Skewers recipe.
Grilled Shrimp Piccata Skewers
These grilled shrimp piccata skewers are the perfect combination of juicy, charred shrimp, bright lemon zest, briny capers, and white wine butter sauce that will make your friends beg you for the recipe. Since it only takes 45 minutes from start to finish, it’s ideal for everything from a backyard bash to a quick weeknight dinner.
Get the Grilled Shrimp Piccata Skewers recipe.
Turkey Burger
We love our turkey burger for one simple reason: We let it be. We don't try to cover up the fact that it's turkey. Instead, we embrace it. Turkey burgers tend to be drier, so we add an egg to ours to help it hold together and give it moisture. Pro tip: Use 94 percent lean ground turkey so the patties easily stay together.
Get the Turkey Burger recipe.
Watermelon Strawberry Caprese Salad
Step aside, all other fruit salads—this watermelon strawberry caprese is here to win every summer BBQ. We took inspo from two summer salad staples—caprese salad and watermelon feta salad—to create this best-of-both-worlds creation. Fresh strawberries have been added to juicy watermelon, tangy feta, and fresh basil for an extra-sweet summer treat. Pair with the simple olive oil dressing that ties everything together, and you've got the easiest, freshest side dish ready to devour in just 10 minutes.
Get the Watermelon Strawberry Caprese Salad recipe.
Grilled Baked Potatoes
Sure, a baked potato in the oven is great, but have you tried them on the grill? Use this method for your backyard grill or even when you're out camping. The potatoes cook up just as fluffy as they do in the oven, but have the bonus of smoky flavor.
Get the Grilled Baked Potatoes recipe.
BBQ Tofu
Who needs meat? Tofu isn't just for vegetarians and vegans. Be sure to serve the tofu with more of the spicy BBQ sauce on the side, and it will compete with all your classics like brisket, short ribs, and chicken.
Get the BBQ Tofu recipe.
Summer Couscous Salad
Here we're using couscous as the base for a confetti of colored vegetables (cucumbers! bell peppers! red onion!), doused in a creamy lemon Dijon dressing. We’ve also added tangy feta and sun-dried tomatoes, crunchy toasted almonds, and nutty, earthy chickpeas to give it a little added oomph. It’s simple and light, but still special enough for a Labor Day celebration.
Get the Summer Couscous Salad recipe.
Best-Ever Burger
There are about a million ways to top a hamburger, and we're not here to tell you what goes onto your patty. It is our duty to make sure that you're cooking burgers as best as you possibly can. Our golden rules: Be sure to let the meat come to room temperature and season generously with salt and pepper before you grill up.
Get the Best-Ever Burger recipe.
Campfire Hot Dog Skewers
Skip the chicken skewers or basic hot dogs in a bun—if you're looking for the most creative grilled recipe or a way to get even the kids excited, then turn to these hot dog skewers. In this recipe, we layer cut up hot dogs, bell peppers, pineapple, and onions on skewers before basting with a homemade sweet-tangy BBQ sauce and grill until charred and caramelized. The result is a slightly sweet, summer-worthy skewer made to be served at any BBQ, camping trip, or casual, end of summer dinner.
Get the Campfire Hot Dog Skewers recipe.
Loaded Cheesy Corn Bites
What happens when you cross a corn muffin with a loaded baked potato—and then miniaturize it?! Bite-sized bliss. Packed with cheese, bacon, and three types of corn, these loaded cheesy corn bites will be the first app gone at your summer cook-out.
Get the Loaded Cheesy Corn Bites recipe.
Grilled Ribs
Few foods are better than perfectly tender ribs, glistening with caramelized BBQ sauce. Now, you can have smokehouse-quality ribs from the comfort of your own home—all it takes is a grill, a few hours, and a good amount of patience.
Get the Grilled Ribs recipe.
Hot Dog Board
A hot dog board is an easy way to turn the cookout staple into a fun station for your Labor Day party to build and top their own dogs—because, let's face it, everyone likes their dogs a different way!
Get the Hot Dog Board recipe.
Greek Chickpea Salad
We’re no strangers to a great chickpea salad, so coming up with a Greek-inspired one was a no-brainer. It’s got all the flavors you love from Greek salad, turned into something more substantial and filling that pairs well with almost anything.
Get the Greek Chickpea Salad recipe.
Foil Pack Cinnamon Apples
Foil packs are one of our favorite campfire hacks, and while we usually turn to them for mains (we're looking at you, burger foil packs), they also work perfectly for dessert. In this apple pie-inspired recipe, you'll add sliced apples to a foil pack, and top with cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, and cubes of butter. In around 30 minutes, you'll have tender spiced apples that will rival your favorite apple pie recipe.
Get the Foil Pack Cinnamon Apples recipe.
Lobster Roll
This lobster roll is Connecticut style, which means absolutely no mayo in sight—just melted butter and some chives for freshness. We think this version really lets the lobster take center stage so, crustacean lovers, this is the sandwich for you.
Get the Lobster Roll recipe.
