By the end of summer, the last thing we want to do is head into the hot kitchen to cook up some Labor Day food. With back to school, fall, and the end-of-year holidays approaching, the name of the game in our over-heated, over-sunned, and hopefully quite relaxed state is stress free, easy-to-cook, easy-to-love Labor Day recipes. After all, why end your summer by spending it cooking and cleaning?
To make your Labor Day party special, delicious and memorable, Fine Cooking has pulled together some of our favorite Labor Day desserts, BBQ, grilled pizza and burgers, salads and sides that will keep you cool and happy.
Looking for more Labor Day entertaining ideas? Check out these articles and collections below:
- 30 Main-Course Summer Salads
- 15 Summer Grain Salads
- No Cook Dinners for Hot Summer Nights
- Gluten-Free Summertime Favorites
- 6 Great Grilled Summer Pizzas
- Easy Popsicle, Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Recipes
- Healthy Breakfast Smoothies and Bowls
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RecipeChocolate-Dunked Bananas with Peanuts
My mom always had frozen chocolate-covered bananas in the freezer. Frozen bananas (with or without the chocolate) make a nice snack anytime, so make a big batch and keep them in the freezer. Kids love the fact that there’s a stick inside—it’s more like a Popsicle or ice cream treat! Get the Recipe: Chocolate-Dunked Bananas with Peanuts. -
RecipePenne with Ricotta, Arugula, and Basil
Parmigiano-Reggiano, ricotta, and lemon zest form the base for a creamy, no-cook pasta sauce that comes together in minutes. Get the Recipe: Penne with Ricotta, Arugula, and Basil. -
RecipeTurkey-Chorizo Burgers with Guacamole
Adding chorizo to ground turkey boosts its flavor and makes these burgers juicier. Don’t use cured Spanish-style chorizo, though; instead, use the fresh Mexican-style sausage. Get the Recipe: Turkey-Chorizo Burgers with Guacamole. -
RecipeFresh Tomato and Garlic Pizza
Flavored with a little oregano, this is a pizza lover’s dream pie, especially when made with perfectly ripe, local summer tomatoes. Goat cheese adds to the fresh feel of the pizza. Get the Recipe: Fresh Tomato and Garlic Pizza. -
RecipePork with Rice Noodles, Scallions, and Chile
A riff on larb, a vibrant ground-meat salad from Laos, this dish has sour, salty, and spicy flavors from lime juice, fish sauce, and chile, balanced by a fragrant hit of fresh mint and cilantro. Get the Recipe: Pork with Rice Noodles, Scallions, and Chile. -
RecipeGrilled Steak Kebab Pitas with Ginger & Garlic Dressing
Add some Mediterranean flair to tonight’s grilled steak. These kebabs are simple yet flavorful; the ginger and garlic dressing drizzled over the meat and vegetables adds plenty of zing to the finished dish. Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak Kebab Pitas with Ginger & Garlic Dressing. -
RecipeQuick-Cooking Ratatouille
Sweet balsamic vinegar helps mellow the flavors of the vegetables. Get the Recipe: Quick-Cooking Ratatouille. -
RecipeBlackberry Fool
A fool is a simple dessert made with puréed fruit and sweetened whipped cream. Here, a chipotle chile adds a subtle spicy note that enhances the sweetness of the berries. Get the Recipe: Blackberry Fool. -
RecipeGrilled Chicken Tacos Alambres
Guacamole, pico de gallo and a tomatillo salsa give greater flavor to this simple taco recipe. Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Tacos Alambres. -
RecipeBeef Burgers with Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onions
Salty blue cheese, sweet onions, and juicy beef are a classic and addictive combination. Cooking the onions is the most time-consuming part of this recipe, but be patient: It’s worth it to coax out their deep, earthy flavor. Get the Recipe: Beef Burgers with Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onions. -
RecipeStrawberry-Yogurt Brûlée
Simple yogurt and fresh strawberries become a special treat with the addition of a crunchy, caramelized sugar topping. Enjoy it for breakfast or dessert. Get the Recipe: Strawberry-Yogurt Brûlée. -
RecipeShrimp & Cannellini Salad with Tarragon Vinaigrette
This salad is satisfying enough to work as a main course. Pull out a bottle of wine for a relaxed summertime supper and let your guests nibble as they like. Get the Recipe: Shrimp & Cannellini Salad with Tarragon Vinaigrette. -
RecipeSpicy Udon Noodles with Wilted Watercress
Watercress curls and twirls along with the noodles in this full-flavored dish. The cooling cucumbers balance the hot sambal oelek in the sauce for a pleasant tingle. Get the Recipe: Spicy Udon Noodles with Wilted Watercress. -
RecipeAsian Steak, Watercress & Spinach Salad with Hoisin Vinaigrette
Fast cooking makes for fast enjoyment of this filling, high-protein dinner. Get the Recipe: Asian Steak, Watercress & Spinach Salad with Hoisin Vinaigrette. -
RecipeFrozen Hot Chocolate
This delicious cross between a milk shake and a slushie makes for a surprisingly refreshing (and easy) summertime dessert. You can add about 1/4 cup of chocolate or coffee liqueur for a boozy kick, if you like. Get the Recipe: Frozen Hot Chocolate. -
RecipeGrilled Corn & Tomato Salad with Basil Oil
A quick kiss of the flame on these ingredients makes them go from good to great. Get the Recipe: Grilled Corn & Tomato Salad with Basil Oil. -
RecipeGrilled Fresh Figs with Ice Cream & Honey
I like to grill these figs just as dinner is winding down. They take only a couple of minutes to prepare and since they’re cooked over a low flame, you can use the last dying embers of a charcoal grill (or just switch on the gas grill). Get the Recipe: Grilled Fresh Figs with Ice Cream & Honey. -
RecipeSmoky Slow Cooker Brisket
You don’t have to man the smoker all day to get barbecue on the table for dinner (even on a weeknight). Instead, slow-cook a brisket until it’s so tender that a meat fork can be pulled out without any resistance, then break out the coleslaw. Get the Recipe: Smoky Slow Cooker Brisket. -
RecipeSpice-Rubbed Tilapia with Tomatillo, Black Bean & Mango Salad
Tomatillos look like small green tomatoes surrounded by a papery husk. They’re common in Mexican cuisine, and their refreshing flavor is great either raw or cooked. Get the Recipe: Spice-Rubbed Tilapia with Tomatillo, Black Bean & Mango Salad. -
RecipeMelons with Ginger Syrup
Melons, mint, and a fresh ginger syrup are delicious complements in this fruit salad. Cutting the melons in large cubes enhances their big, juicy flavor. For this salad, I like to use a combination of four melons, choosing from cantaloupe, honeydew, Santa Claus, Persian, casaba, or seedless watermelon. Get the Recipe: Melons with Ginger Syrup. -
RecipeChopped Grilled-Chicken Salad
Buttermilk, blue cheese, and bacon: These three Bs conspire to make a chicken salad that’s unbelievably good. Get the Recipe: Chopped Grilled-Chicken Salad. -
RecipeGrilled Southwestern Potato Salad
This potato salad is filled with favorite flavorings of the Southwest—corn, chiles, red onions, peppers, and some crisp bacon. Get the Recipe: Grilled Southwestern Potato Salad.
