Labor Day may not always call for a full red, white, and blue menu, but it is one last chance to send summer off with good food and good people. Whether you’re planning a backyard cookout, bringing a dish to share, or just looking for easy Labor Day food ideas (dare I say “lazy”), this list has plenty of party recipes to choose from. Pick a few new favorites, add them to the table, and celebrate the long weekend with recipes made for sharing.
Is it a dip or is it a salad? Yes. Packed with black eyed peas (or your favorite beans), sweet corn, and crisp veggies tossed in a tangy-sweet dressing. Perfect for chips, tacos, or spooned alongside your grilling favorites.
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Rotini catches the creamy lime-mayo dressing, while sweet corn, cotija, and chopped jalapeño bring just the right balance of richness, salt, and heat. It’s easy to prep ahead—even better after a night in the fridge—and it sits comfortably next to grilled meat, tacos, or a cold beer.
I talk about these a lot. They are easy to make and you may even think, why bacon? Isn’t that just like a picnic breakfast? Well, a picnic breakfast sounds great right about now, but also, the crisp smoky bacon just adds a zip of flavor to a cookout classic like deviled eggs.
All the tex-mex goodness of the usual ingredients, but in a keto-friendly (dirty keto, let me be clear on that), low carb snack. Make more than you think you’ll need—they’re just that easy to eat.
One of those “is it a side dish or is it a salad” recipes that hail from the midwest or the south (does anyone know for sure? discuss.) But this one is truly lemon to the max. A squeeze of fresh lemon makes this pop, so if you love bright lemon flavor like I do, give this a try. Want something more sturdy? These chewy Lemon Cool Whip Cookies also do the trick.
I’m tired of hearing myself talk about these, so I need to hear you talk about these. Immediately get thee to the store for fresh pineapple rings. An easy mop of butter and brown sugar, and PATIENCE (the hardest part, I promise), and your rings get a gorgeous caramelized char. Triple the recipe, because they won’t sit around; fam will be standing around the grill with fork in hand.
This slow cooker main dish is a party favorite year round, especially if you are doing your Labor Day festivities inside. Plug this in and watch people go back again and again for a slider bun or tortilla chips full of this delectable cheesy pulled chicken.
This was surprisingly good for a three-ingredient recipe. And white beans are a carte blanche for nearly any flavor profile, so you can make this Greek (lots of lemon), tex-mex (cumin and taco seasoning), smoky (use Kinders Wood-Fired), or just salt and pepper if you really want the bean flavor to shine through.
I add meatballs to almost every gathering I host. Bag of homestyle meatballs from the store and I sauce them up every which way. Here’s the latest in an appetizer meatballs recipe that you can serve with toothpicks, serve over potatoes or rice, or slide two or three onto a butter dip biscuit. It’s an easy sweet-and-savory protein.
If you are a fan of hot, homemade bread but you have exactly zero time to knead or rise any dough, this one doctors up a can of biscuits in the best possible way. These go great with the Honey Garlic Biscuits, alongside a pulled pork, or just buttered as a happy little snack.
We’ve got some serious fluff love in this house. This one is Renee’s favorite. It’s definitely not a dip — sometimes they cross over when you hear the word fluff. This is a classic JELL-O “salad” than salad. Blend the cottage cheese for the smoothest texture. Fairly protein-rich treat, I must say. Use lots of fresh strawberries and a can of high-quality crushed pineapple. Another riff? Our wildly popular Hawaiian-style Fruit Salad.
This one requires a traditional oven for baking on a cookie sheet, but you can serve it inside or outside and it’s just as good room temp as it is hot from the oven. Add the usual favorite toppings: bowls of sour cream, chopped tomatoes, and more shredded cheese. It’s hard not to like anything wrapped in crescent roll dough, you know?
The mixture of sweet apple and carrot pummel this side dish with all kinds of flavor. Swap in half-and-half Greek yogurt with the mayo if you want to punch up the tangy bite. It goes great with every grilled protein you can think of.
When I have company over, I utilize every appliance I have: grill, slow cooker, stove top and especially the air fryer. If I have veg that I want that grilled feeling but not the stress of wondering if I’m going to lose them all to the grill depths, I use my air fryer like a boss. These smashed potatoes are crisp and good – start with the small-ish red potatoes so you get a perfect snack or side.
This recipe adds a hint of creamy richness to what is a healthful combination of fresh fruits like berries, apples, grapes and pineapple chunks. Swap in sour cream or any flavored yogurt for the Greek yogurt to use up what you have on hand. Refreshing and delicious for any Labor Day gathering.
We used ground beef for these, but you can use pulled chicken or pork, fajita-style steak or vegetarian. You can even cut down on the toppings if you want just the cheese and beef all gooey on the crisp tortilla chips. And speaking of sheet pan goodness…
For a smaller crowd, cut this baking sheet of joy into big, fat squares of tex-mex deliciousness. The usual Mexican-style suspects wrapped into flour tortillas (copycat Taco Bell crunchwrap, anyone?) So yeah, if you want the best in tex-mex Labor Day party food night, pair these with the nachos, the nacho cups, and the taco crescent ring, plus a Mexican Margarita for the grownups.
Is your Labor Day celebration staying inside with the AC? Mine are, more often than not because Texas. I can’t get enough of puff pastry any time of year, so this kid-friendly party appetizer is hard to beat.
20. Beachy Cupcakes
Make these cute cupcakes to wave off the fun of summer. Make them as simple or homemade as you have time for; it’s really about the cute decorations. Teddy Grahams, Fruit by the Foot, crushed graham crackers, and our dye-free blue frosting recipe, and you’ll have every sized kid laughing over every yummy bite.
These are delectable and so unlike store-bought chips. They taste natural and full of goodness while still being a crispy snack—and just a little oil, unlike what you get with the deep fry. If there are just a couple of you (or just yourself, you deserve a treat too), and want to give these a try, you will be delighted. A mandoline slicer is best. Lovely paired with my Thick N Clingy Blue Cheese Dip too.
The bottom line
What do you think? A Sheet Pan Tex-Mex number, a smooth dip or side slaw? We’ve got the no-cook/no-bake sides and desserts on lock too. So what will it be? Let us know if you’re doing a taste-test before the Labor Day Weekend.
