It’s easy for things to slip through the cracks when you’re hosting a party and overwhelmed with tasks like decorating and cleaning.
If food for your Labor Day cookout was one of those things, don’t panic—these last-minute recipes will save the day and let you enjoy more time with loved ones outside the kitchen.
You can make these Labor Day recipes with a few simple ingredients:
Garlic Grilled Shrimp
Garlic grilled shrimp is the perfect party food if you’re short on time but want to impress all your loved ones. You don’t have to be a professional chef to prepare this garlicky shrimp dish. Grilling the shrimp takes less than 10 minutes and adds a mouthwatering, smoky flavor.
Garlic Grilled Shrimp Skewers Recipe
Sweet and Savory S’mores
Forget boring old roasted marshmallows—mix things up with sweet and savory s’mores treats. S’mores are a fun, hands-on dessert at any age, and these recipe ideas incorporate fresh, unconventional flavors. Elevate your s’mores with everything from mint leaves to crispy bacon, and prepare to send your tastebuds on an unforgettable journey.
Cowboy Caviar
If you haven’t tried cowboy caviar, you’ve been missing out. This fresh bean and vegetable salad can be served alone, on top of lettuce cups, or with tortilla chips. The best part is that cowboy caviar tastes best when chilled overnight, making it convenient to prep in advance.
Easy Hummus
Hummus is a crowd-pleasing party snack that’s ready in minutes. This recipe has several variations to jazz up plain hummus with various add-ins and toppings. Serve the tasty dip with chips, pita bread, and fresh vegetables for a fresh appetizer the entire party will enjoy.
Jalapeno Popper Dip
Add some spice to your Labor Day celebrations with a jalapeno popper dip. This dippable appetizer offers an unexpected twist on classic jalapeno poppers. It’s irresistibly creamy, tangy, spicy, and cheesy. What’s not to love?
Pasta Salad
A big bowl of cold pasta salad is essential at any backyard barbecue. Skip the bland, pre-packaged options at the store and make a batch at home before your get-together. This Italian-inspired recipe calls for tomatoes, basil, sausage, and mozzarella, but you can customize it with any herbs and vegetables you like.
Honey Chicken Kabobs
Fire up the grill and prepare these unbelievably easy honey chicken kabobs for Labor Day. Grilled skewers are a summertime staple, and you only need four ingredients to create a flavorful marinade that keeps the chicken tender and juicy. Pair the protein with your favorite veggies, like bell peppers, squash, and onions, for a mouthwatering handheld dish.
Yummy Honey Chicken Kabobs Recipe
Stars and Stripes Mocktail
No Labor Day party would be complete without a patriotic drink to sip on. A red-white-and-blue mocktail sangria is a fruit and refreshing option everyone can enjoy. Instead of wine, this recipe uses fruit juice and soda garnished with naturally sweet mixed berries.
Stars and Stripes Mocktail Sangria Recipe
Smash Burgers
Don’t waste money on fast food when you can make restaurant-quality burgers at home. These smash burgers are incredibly juicy thanks to their thin patty shape, which gives them a crispy exterior once cooked. Set up a build-your-own burger bar and let your guests go wild with all the toppings their hearts desire.
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Make the most of the season by throwing some ears of corn on the grill. Grilled corn is smoky, salty, and subtly sweet in all the best ways. Keep things simple to let the corn’s natural flavor stand out, or take things to the next level with butter and various seasonings.
Grilled Corn on the Cob Recipe
Foil Packet Cheesy Sausage and Peppers
Everyone will rave about these cheesy sausage and pepper foil packets. Combine the ingredients in a compact foil pouch and grill or bake until everything is fully cooked and the cheese has melted. Unwrapping the foil packets to reveal the contents is a fun and flavorful surprise.
Foil Packet Cheesy Sausage and Peppers Recipe
Watermelon Salad
Add a Mediterranean flair to this Labor Day with this cucumber and watermelon salad. Serving watermelon with feta cheese and fresh mint might sound strange, but don’t knock it until you try it. The flavors combine beautifully into one sweet, salty, and bright side dish.
Watermelon Salad with Feta, Cucumber, and Mint Recipe
Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Bites
You can’t go wrong serving these bacon-wrapped chicken bites at your holiday gathering. Chicken and bacon are individually tasty but even more delicious together. These moist and savory bites are rolled in brown sugar, which caramelizes in the oven for the perfect hint of sweetness.
Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Bites Recipe
Fresh Homemade Salsa
Bring the flavors of Mexico home with this fresh salsa recipe. Homemade salsa is a surprisingly easy Labor Day snack that you can serve with chips or layer atop burritos, enchiladas, and tacos. The secret is using fresh and canned tomatoes to achieve a dippable, restaurant-style texture.
Banana Cream Pie
Satisfy your sweet tooth and finish the day strong with a hearty slice of banana cream pie. This make-ahead dessert tastes like summer in every bite. The creamy banana filling pairs well with the crisp cookie crust—it tastes like the old-fashioned banana pudding you enjoyed as a child.
Are you looking for more easy party recipes?
Planning a menu, shopping for ingredients, and cooking food can be stressful amidst the chaos of hosting a party. Keep things simple with dishes that impress your guests but require minimal prep time.
16 Last-Minute Patriotic Recipes to Wow Your Party Guests
Indulge in a sweet treat that’s also good for you
You don’t have to blow your entire diet to satisfy your craving for something sweet. These desserts are so delicious you won’t believe they’re healthy.
15 Healthy Labor Day Desserts to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
