The ending of summer is so bittersweet. So 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 50 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, , or sausage and peppers foil packs. Looking for impressive burgers and dogs? Check out our pineapple bun 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 elote (Mexican street corn) tacos, our huli huli chicken, 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.
1
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.
2
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.
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3
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.
4
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.
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5
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.
6
Gnocchi Foil Packets
The foil packets trap in steam from the wine and juices from the tomato and corn as everything grills, which in turn cooks the gnocchi to perfectly tender while infusing the pasta with all the flavors of the dish. Bonus: Some of the meal browns a bit on the bottom right before it finishes cooking, adding extra flavor.
Get the Gnocchi Foil Packets recipe.
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7
Tomato Galette
This tomato galette uses an herb speckled savory pie crust and is topped with ripe heirloom tomatoes and fresh ricotta for an extremely easy, yet impressive looking dish. It can be a light summer dinner or served as an appetizer at your next outdoor party. No matter the occasion, it's perfect. Using peak-season tomatoes will really make this galette stand out and heirloom tomatoes provide beautiful shapes and sizes. Sprinkling the tomatoes with salt and letting them sit for 10 minutes will draw out some of their moisture to ensure your galette stays nice and crisp on bottom!
Get the Tomato Galette recipe.
8
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 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 .
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9
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.
10
Grilled Corn On The Cob
This is our simplest, easiest recipe, but the flavor combo options are endless—check out the rest of our grilled corn ideas too.
Get the Grilled Corn On The Cob recipe.
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11
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.
12
Chicken Teriyaki Pineapple Bowls
The pineapple in this recipe doesn't just serve as a pretty serving vessel (though, WOAH): It adds a fresh and vibrant sweetness to this teriyaki sauce as well. Use the juice that pools at the bottom of your pineapple when scooping out the chunks.
Get the Chicken Teriyaki Pineapple Bowls recipe.
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13
Grilled Tomatoes
Tomatoes are maybe the best part of summer, so say goodbye to them in style. You can season simply with salt, black pepper, and oregano and eat as is, but we love topping this with a flavor-packed tahini-Caesar dressing.
Get the Grilled Tomatoes recipe.
14
Greek Salad
When you’re looking for simple, refreshing, and reliable, you’d be hard pressed to find a dish better than classic Greek salad. Filled with fresh veggies, tangy feta, and a simple dressing made of ingredients you might already have in your fridge, this bright salad only takes 15 minutes to prepare, making it a perfect last-minute addition to your Labor Day celebration.
Get the Greek Salad recipe.
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15
Big Mac Hot Dogs
Trust us, Big Mac sauce is great for SO much more than just hamburgers. If you're a hot dog and a fast food fan, these are for you!
Get the Big Mac Hot Dogs recipe.
16
Classic Cheeseburger
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 Classic Cheeseburger recipe.
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17
Watermelon Feta Salad
Watermelon + cucumbers is one of the most refreshing combos of all time. Throw in some mint, red onion, and feta and toss it all with a very simple vinaigrette (just olive oil + red wine vinegar), and you've got yourself a mean summer salad.
Get the Watermelon Feta Salad recipe.
18
Thai-Inspired Grilled Cauliflower Steaks
Cauliflower steaks demand a place on your grill! We found the perfect funky balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy in this Thai-inspired sauce to blanket them. Try the sauce and if needed, balance it out to your taste with brown sugar for more sweetness, red pepper flakes for more heat, lime juice for more pucker, and salt.
Get the Thai-Inspired Grilled Cauliflower Steaks recipe.
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19
Grilled Chicken Kebabs
Many Labor Day cookouts are plagued by folks using breasts and not knowing how to grill them. Chicken thighs like we've used here, however, are a lot more forgiving due to their natural tenderness and flavor. They taste even better when slid on skewers alongside bok choy and scallions, then glazed with a hoisin barbecue sauce.
Get the Grilled Chicken Kebabs recipe.
20
Grilled Corn Salad
This versatile, flavorful corn salad is the perfect way to use up leftover grilled corn. Mix and match your favorite cheeses, herbs, and nuts, but keep the citrus for brightness and oil for a little richness. And if your dad like a little *kick*, add some sliced jalapeños or a big pinch of red chili flakes.
Get the Grilled Corn Salad recipe.
