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Labor Day is the last official weekend of summer. It is a great excuse to fire up the grill, get everyone together, and eat some good food before fall starts.

If you are figuring out your menu this year, I gathered the BEST Labor Day recipes in one place to save you the hassle of searching.

I’ve prepared a list of sticky chicken, dips, and easy no-bake desserts just to make your Labor Day weekend EASIER. This menu has a good mix of heavy barbecue staples and fresh salads to keep things balanced. Summer cooking just got EASIER.

Keep in touch for the NEW RECIPES waiting to join the list!

Karina’s Tips For A Stress-Free Labor Day

Hosting a summer cookout usually means managing a hot grill while trying to entertain your guests. Over the years, I have learned a few tricks to make the day run smoothly so I can actually sit down and enjoy the food with everyone!

  • Bring your meat to room temperature. Throwing cold meat straight from the fridge onto a hot grill causes it to seize up and cook unevenly. I pull my proteins out about twenty minutes before cooking so they get a proper sear and stay juicy inside.
  • Hold the BBQ sauce until the very end. Most store bought and homemade barbecue sauces contain a lot of sugar, which burns quickly over an open flame. I brush my brisket and chicken during the last five minutes of cooking. That is just enough time for the sauce to caramelize and stick to the meat without turning dark and bitter.
  • Keep cold sides cold. Creamy dishes like potato salad drop in quality fast in the late summer heat. I fill a large shallow pan with ice and nestle the serving bowls right on top. It keeps the salads safe to eat and tasting fresh all afternoon.
  • Prep desserts the night before. No bake treats actually need time to chill and set up. Getting them done the day before means you have one less thing to worry about when your guests arrive.

What Is Labor Day?

While we usually think of Labor Day as an excuse to fire up the grill, it actually started as a meaningful tribute to the American worker. Back in the day, the labor movement fought hard for fair wages and better working conditions for Americans across America. The holiday was originally proposed by Matthew Maguire, who was the secretary of the Central Labor Union, and they celebrated it with a massive street parade in New York City.

The idea caught on quickly, and President Grover Cleveland officially signed it into law in June of 1894, making it a recognized legal holiday and a federal holiday. Now, it always falls on the first Monday in September. Today, you will still see plenty of parades happening all weekend long, but for most of us, it is widely considered the unofficial end of summer. It is the last long weekend where the weather is still warm enough to host a proper backyard cookout before schools start back up.

I see it as the perfect time to take a well-deserved break, get outside, and share a good meal with family.

Appetizers To Start

You need something on the table to keep people happy while the grill heats up.

Buffalo Chicken Dip RECIPE with nachos in a bowl
5 from 26 votes

Buffalo Chicken Dip

My Buffalo Chicken Dip is always the first thing to disappear. I use shredded rotisserie chicken to save time, and the cream cheese base keeps the dip thick so it actually scoops up well with celery or tortilla chips instead of breaking apart.
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Cheese Sticks covered in hot sauce ready to eat
5 from 6 votes

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Doing my Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks means you skip the mess and smell of deep frying for a party. The breading gets a great crunch in just a few minutes, and the cheese melts perfectly inside.
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Close view of Lemon Pepper Wings
5 from 5 votes

Lemon Pepper Wings Recipe

Wings are always the first thing to disappear at my house. The citrus cuts right through the fat of the chicken, and I use a dry rub that adheres well to the skin as it bakes. They are crispy, tangy, and you do not need to stand over a deep fryer to make them.
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The Main Event

The secret to a stress-free cookout is picking your hero protein first. These main dishes are guaranteed to steal the show.

Side View of BBQ-Beef-Brisket
4.71 from 27 votes

Juicy Beef Brisket

My Juicy Beef Brisket works so well for a crowd. I rub it with garlic powder, paprika, cumin, and a hint of chili, then finish it with a barbecue sauce mixed with brown sugar and Worcestershire. It turns out incredibly tender with a great bark on the outside.
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Crispy Barbecue Buffalo Chicken Thighs with Avocado in a pan
5 from 1 vote

Sticky Buffalo Chicken Thighs

If you want something different than standard barbecue sauce, try these Sticky Buffalo Chicken Thighs. The chicken gets a great sear in the pan, and the glaze is just honey, butter, and hot sauce. The butter thickens the sauce so it actually sticks to the chicken instead of sliding off into the pan.
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Grape tomatoes burst and cook through a buttery garlic sauce in the Garlic Tomato Basil Chicken
5 from 39 votes

Garlic Tomato Basil Chicken

If you want a main dish that feels lighter, I always make my Garlic Tomato Basil Chicken. Pan seared chicken breasts are cooked with blistered grape tomatoes, fresh basil, and garlic. It is fresh, fast, and gives people a break from heavy barbecue meats.
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close up chili dogs ready to eat
5 from 5 votes

Chili Dogs Recipe

You cannot host a summer cookout without hot dogs. I top mine with a thick, homemade chili that actually stays put on the bun instead of sliding off onto your plate. You can set up a toppings bar and let everyone build their own.
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The Best Sides

You need a mix of hearty sides and fresh bites. These usually disappear fast.

Corn On The Cob With Garlic Butter on a tray
5 from 2 votes

The Best Corn On The Cob With Garlic Butter

My Garlic Butter Corn on the Cob is boiled in a milk and butter base so it absorbs flavor from the start. When it comes out of the pot, I brush it with homemade garlic and parsley butter. It is a huge step up from plain boiling water.
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5 from 6 votes

Classic Creamy Potato Salad

You need potato salad at a BBQ. My Classic Creamy Potato Salad has a dressing that coats the potatoes well without turning mushy. It provides a good cool contrast to hot grilled meats. Make it a day ahead so the flavors have time to settle.
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Loaded baked potatoes in a plate ready to eat
4.86 from 7 votes

Twice Baked Loaded Potatoes

If you want a side dish that stands out, try my Twice Baked Loaded Potatoes. The potato skins are stuffed with a chicken, bacon, and mushroom white wine sauce, then topped with Camembert cheese. The quick drizzle of honey at the end balances the saltiness of the bacon.
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DELICIOUS! Macaroni Salad is quick to throw together. A versatile, fool-proof pasta salad recipe with a full-flavored creamy dressing.
5 from 18 votes

Macaroni Salad

The key here is cooking the pasta just to al dente so it holds its shape when tossed. I make the dressing with a mix of mayonnaise, vinegar, and a touch of mustard to give it a clean, tangy finish that cuts right through the richness of grilled meats.
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Avocado Corn Tomato Salad with a lime juice dressing in a bowl
5 from 16 votes

Avocado Tomato Corn Salad

This salad feels like peak summer. The sweetness of the tender corn kernels balances out the creamy texture of the diced avocado. It requires zero actual cooking and adds great color to the spread while holding up perfectly in the heat.
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Make-Ahead Desserts

I avoid using the oven in the summer. These desserts can be made ahead and served chilled.

No Bake Pineapple Cheesecakes in a glass
4.50 from 2 votes

No-Bake Pineapple Cheesecakes

My No-Bake Pineapple Cheesecakes are a great alternative to a heavy cake. I use a graham cracker base with a cream cheese and Greek yogurt filling. The crushed pineapple adds an acidic bite that cuts right through the sweetness.
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Strawberries and Cream Tiramisu Parfait in a glass
No ratings yet

Strawberries and Cream Tiramisu Parfait

In my Strawberries and Cream Tiramisu Parfait, strawberries are layered with mascarpone cream in individual glasses. It looks nice on the table, tastes light, and takes very little effort to assemble before your guests arrive.
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Thirst-Quenching Pitcher Drinks

No summer cookout is complete without an ice-cold drink to wash down all that incredible BBQ.

Berry Sangria in a glass
5 from 3 votes

Berry Sangria

A summer cookout needs a pitcher drink so you are not playing bartender all afternoon. This Berry Sangria is absolutely perfect for Labor Day. It is loaded with fresh summer berries and a splash of citrus, making it dangerously refreshing and beautiful on the table. The best part? You can mix it up in a huge pitcher the night before, and the flavors only get better and sweeter as it sits in the fridge.
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Frozen Strawberry and Mango Margaritas in a glass
5 from 1 vote

Frozen Strawberry and Mango Margaritas

No backyard BBQ is complete without a good margarita. Just keep a bucket of ice and some salt-rimmed glasses nearby!
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final result of new york cheesecake
5 from 12 votes

New York Cheesecake Recipe

This is hands down the BEST cheesecake you will ever try. The greatest part about it for a summer cookout is that you actually need to prepare it the night before so it sets up perfectly in the fridge, making it the ultimate stress-free dessert. I promise you, there will be absolutely zero leftovers!
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Have a safe, delicious, and happy Labor Day! And please let me know in the comments which recipe you’re making first!

FAQs

What Is Traditional Food For Labor Day?

Burgers, hot dogs, and barbecue ribs usually take center stage at any summer cookout. For sides, you want staples like potato salad, macaroni salad, and corn on the cob. I always make sure to include a mix of heavy grilled meats and fresh, acidic salads to keep the entire menu balanced.

Do People Usually Barbecue On Labor Day?

Yes, grilling is a huge part of the holiday. Since it is considered the unofficial end of summer, most people want to spend the day outside around the barbecue before the colder weather sets in. It is the perfect time to cook heavily outdoors.

What Do You Bring To A Labor Day Cookout?

If you are a guest, bringing a cold side dish or a make ahead dessert is your best bet. Things like pasta salad, a fresh corn salad, or no bake treats travel really well. The host will appreciate it because those items do not require any of their oven or grill space.

What Is A Good Labor Day Dessert?

I always stick to desserts you do not have to bake. Fruit parfaits, no bake cheesecakes, or a big fruit salad work perfectly. After eating heavy barbecue all day, people usually want something cold and refreshing.

Karina eating butter chicken from a gold fork out of a bowl with a nann bread on the side.

Hey Good Food Lovers! It’s nice to see you! My name is Karina. Welcome to Cafe Delites, my beloved space for the last 10 years where my passion for food has flourished and connected millions!

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