31 Labor Day Party Recipes That Will Make The Holiday Feel Laborless
If there's one national holiday a year where you should really take it easy, it's Labor Day. This holiday, which honors hard-working Americans and labor activists, is also about enjoying a well-earned day off work. So why should you work in the kitchen when you don't have to?
Have a labor-free Labor Day party by creating a menu with plenty of no-cook dishes, no-bake desserts and big-batch cocktails. Don't believe a fantastic yet easy Labor Day party is possible? Check out these 31 recipes and become a believer.
Red Wine and Berry Spritzers
Although Labor Day is in September, temperatures can easily be 90 degrees (or higher). Cool down by making a bunch of refreshing cocktails, like this red wine and berry spritzer. You can prepare this cocktail in a big batch so your guests can refill their own glasses.
Brandy Slush
Brandy slush — Wisconsin's go-to for backyard barbecues — should be your new summer drink. As the name implies, brandy is the main component in this cocktail. It's poured into buckets and mixed with citrus juices, usually from frozen concentrates.
Lemon and Lavender Sparklers
An aromatic masterpiece, these lemon-and-lavender sparklers will keep your party guests refreshed and your workload light. Prepare the cocktail by mixing together simple syrup, lemon juice, rum and lavender, then chill the cocktail for at least two hours.
Botanical Bucket Punch
Any avid party planner knows that punch is a must. It's easy to make, serves a ton of people and has been a staple in America for decades. Traditionally, the batch cocktail is made by mixing an assortment of spirits with sweet, sour and bitter flavors. Maraschino liqueur, lemon and agave are used here.
Pineapple, Ginger and Bourbon Chiller
Most Southerners will agree that bourbon is the spirit of summer. While they might prefer it over ice or in iced tea, this recipe cuts the spirit's intensity by turning it into a cocktail with pineapple, ginger and apple juice.
For the Pineapple, Ginger and Bourbon Chiller recipe, click here.
Caprese Skewers With Pesto
No Labor Day party would be complete without a smattering of different appetizers, but that doesn't mean you need to spend hours in the kitchen mixing dips and frying chicken wings. These Caprese skewers are a no-cook side that come together in 20 minutes.
Fresh Guacamole
Beyond slicing and scooping, guacamole is one of the easiest dips you can make for your labor-free Labor Day party. All you need to do is mash avocados with lime juice, salt and pepper. If you have time, toss in some sliced onion and jalapeno like this recipe.
Easy Taco Dip
Like tacos? Like dip? Then make taco dip! This recipe serves as an easily customizable base. You can whip up some seasoned ground beef or keep it no-cook and use black olives, avocado, jalapenos and more yummy toppings.
Roasted Garden Salsa
To make this roasted garden salsa, you only need four ingredients: tomatoes, jalapenos, salt and fresh cilantro. This salsa comes together in 20 minutes and is a great way to use fresh tomatoes before they lose their seasonality.
White Bean Hummus
Believe it or not, making hummus from scratch is super easy. Although the main ingredient is typically garbanzo beans, this recipe uses white beans, which are added to a food processor and pulsed with olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes and parsley until smooth. Drizzle with olive oil and serve with pita chips, pretzels or sliced veggies.
Zesty Coleslaw
Coleslaw may be one of the worst foods you can serve at a cookout — mayo and the hot sun aren't exactly a match made in heaven — but this classic side dish is hard to give up. Make this zesty coleslaw and keep it indoors.
Creamy Potato Salad
Like coleslaw, summer parties can feel incomplete without mayo-based potato salad. This restaurant-worthy recipe uses traditional ingredients like celery and parsley, but there are plenty of ways to make potato salad if you want to mix it up for Labor Day this year.
Watermelon and Cucumber Salad
As far as labor-free dishes go, salads are one of the best. But some recipes require a lot of slicing and dicing, which can add time. For this recipe, pick up cubed watermelon from the grocery store and add it to a bowl with cucumber, feta cheese, avocado and pistachio. It takes 10 minutes to whip up.
Grilled Corn With Red Chile Garlic Butter
You can enjoy corn year-round but the vegetable shines during summer — and it's best served grilled. The key to this recipe is the red chile-garlic butter, which can be prepared before Labor Day and served on top of veggies, steak, burgers and more. The butter adds a spicy, richness to the corn that's amplified when it's grilled until the husks are blackened and tender.
For the Grilled Corn with Red Chile Garlic Butter recipe, click here.
Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is already fairly labor-free. All you need to do is slice up your favorite veggies and cook the pasta. Make the process even easier by opting for store-bought Italian dressing. But you can always make your own from scratch.
All-American Macaroni Salad
No cookout would be complete without a classic macaroni salad. Serve it as a vegetarian main dish or as a side to burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, ribs and more BBQ favs.
Fruit Salad
Make use of summer's best tropical fruits, like papaya, cantaloupe and pineapple, by mixing them with toasted coconut. Serve it as is or with a big scoop of coconut sorbet for a light dessert.
Grilled, Dilled Lemon Chicken With Honey and Dijon
Although grilled chicken takes longer to cook than steak, burgers or hot dogs, it doesn't require much attention. In this recipe, the chicken is simply marinated in lemon, vinegar, honey, mustard, dill and basil. All you need to do is grill it for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once.
For the Grilled, Dilled Lemon Chicken With Honey and Dijon recipe, click here.
Bold and Spicy Burgers
Mayo Grilled Salmon
The best part about summer cooking is having many chances to put your grill to use. Because of the grill's intense heat, you can have food on the table in minutes with little-to-no prep involved. Here, salmon fillets are brushed with mayonnaise and grilled for about four minutes on each side.
Ham and Cheese Sliders
Don't want to fire up the grill? No worries. You can make an incredible summer sandwich without lighting up your coals. Whether your Labor Day bash is in your backyard or at the beach, these ham-and-cheese sliders will hit the spot.
Smoky Beef and Mushroom Kebabs
Remember the red chile-garlic rub you used on the grilled corn? It's back with this smoky beef and mushroom kebabs. Paired with a smoky dry rub, making these kebabs is effortless but they'll taste like they've been marinating for days.
Grilled Marinated Flank Steak
If you want to serve steak at your Labor Day party but don't want to break the bank, flank steak is a great alternative to filet mignon. The thin, lean meat cooks in minutes but don't forgo the marinade — it's the key to cooking budget-friendly steaks.
Chicago-Style Hot Dog
What's an end-of-summer bash without hot dogs? The quintessential warm-weather food is stress-free. Just cook them up for a few minutes and call it a day. This recipe suggests serving your franks Chicago-style with yellow mustard, celery salt, relish, chopped raw onion, tomato slices, sport peppers and long slivers of jumbo dill pickle.
Shrimp Sandwiches With Chili Mayonnaise
Crafting a Labor Day menu is hard, especially if your guests have varying dietary restrictions. Luckily, these shrimp sandwiches will satisfy pescatarians and carnivores alike. Use cooked shrimp to save on time and prep work.
For the Shrimp Sandwiches With Chili Mayonnaise recipe, click here.
Quick and Easy Salmon Cakes
Believe it or not, you can make delicious salmon cakes by using canned salmon. The flavor is still dynamic, but you don't have to fuss with cooking or shredding the salmon by hand. Serve it on a roll with a dollop of guacamole. It's sure to be one of your best summer salmon recipes.
Strawberry Popsicles With Chocolate Drizzle
Labor Day is usually a scorcher. Cool down with a frozen dessert, like these strawberry popsicles. The hardest part of this recipe is pouring the mixture into popsicle molds and adding the popsicle sticks. Easy enough.
For the Strawberry Popsicles With Chocolate Drizzle recipe, click here.
Frozen Yogurt With Whipped Honey
One of the best ways to keep your Labor Day easy is to choose desserts with few ingredients. For this recipe, you'll be working with just two: yogurt and sugar (plus honey, water and Versawhip if you want to make the optional whipped honey). This frozen yogurt treat is great if you don't have an ice cream maker.
For the Frozen Yogurt With Whipped Honey recipe, click here.
Ooey Gooey S’mores
If you're having a smaller Labor Day gathering and plan to get a fire going once the apps and entrees have been consumed, no dessert does it better than s'mores. It's essentially a do-it-yourself treat, so all you need to do is get the supplies.
Rice Krispies Treats
A dessert that your kids can help you make, Rice Krispies treats are no-bake and low labor. Pour a mixture of melted marshmallows and cereal into a pan and wait for it to cool. You'll be left with a yummy, albeit sticky snack.
Nectarine and Berry Parfaits
Parfaits are often relegated to breakfast but they also make for great desserts. Swap out granola for crumbled cookies and sweetened whipped cream. It's one of many no-bake desserts perfect for hot summer days.
For the Nectarine and Berry Parfaits recipe, click here.
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