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? Check out these recipes for a stress-free Labor Day gathering.
(Madeline Buiano, The Daily Meal)
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. For the Red Wine and Berry Spritzers recipe, click here. (Kristen Mendiola/The Daily Meal; Shannon Kinsella/food styling)
Brandy Slush
Brandy slush — 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. For the Brandy Slush recipe, click here. (Kristen Mendiola/The Daily Meal; Shannon Kinsella/food styling)
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. For the Lemon and Lavender Sparklers recipe, click here. (Kristen Mendiola/The Daily Meal; Shannon Kinsella/food styling)
Botanical Bucket Punch
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. For the Botanical Bucket Punch recipe, click here. (Doug Kapustin, Special to The Baltimore Sun)
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. (Kristen Mendiola/The Daily Meal; Shannon Kinsella/food styling)
Caprese Skewers With Pesto
Fresh Guacamole
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. For the Easy Taco Dip recipe, click here. (Jacqui Wedewer/The Daily Meal)
Roasted Garden Salsa
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. For the White Bean Hummus recipe, click here. (nata_vkusidey/iStock/Getty Images Plus)
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. For the Zesty Coleslaw recipe, click here. (haoliang/iStock/Getty Images Plus)
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. For the Creamy Potato Salad recipe, click here. (Taimy Alvarez/Sun Sentinel)
Watermelon and Cucumber Salad
Grilled Corn With Red Chile Garlic Butter
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. (Eberly Film Labs for The Daily Meal; Shannon Kinsella/food styling)
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. For the Zesty Italian Pasta Salad recipe, click here. (Carolyn Menyes/The Daily Meal)
All-American Macaroni Salad
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. For the Fruit Salad recipe, click here. (Chris Shorten)
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. (Michael Tercha/Chicago Tribune)
Bold and Spicy Burgers
Of course, no Labor Day bash would be complete without burgers. The sandwich is as American as it gets. This twist on a classic burger incorporates soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar and spicy steak sauce with ground beef. For the Bold and Spicy Burgers recipe, click here. (wundervisuals/E+/Getty Images)
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. For the Mayo Grilled Salmon recipe, click here. (Katherine Martinelli/The Daily Meal)
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. For the Ham and Cheese Sliders recipe, click here. (Courtesy of Happy Money Saver)
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. For the Smoky Beef and Mushroom Kebabs recipe, click here. (Eberly Film Labs for The Daily Meal; Shannon Kinsella, food styling)
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. For the Grilled Marinated Flank Steak recipe, click here. (Bill Hogan, Chicago Tribune)
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. For the Chicago-Style Hot Dog recipe, click here. (Chicago Tribune)
Shrimp Sandwiches With Chili Mayonnaise
Quick and Easy Salmon Cakes
Strawberry Popsicles With Chocolate Drizzle
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. (Courtesy of Evan Sung)
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. For the Ooey Gooey S’mores recipe, click here. (Olga Miltsova/Shutterstock)
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. For the Rice Krispies Treats recipe, click here. (© L Hill)
Nectarine and Berry Parfaits
