31 Labor Day Recipes for Summer’s Last Hurrah

Watermelon som tam, grilled steak fattoush, banana pudding cake, and more dishes for one last summer cookout.Photograph by Peden + Munk, food styling by Adriana Paschen, prop styling by Ceci GarciaLabor Day weekend may not be the official end of summer, but it sure feels like it. Which is all the more reason to fire up the grill and make the most of the season while you still can. The best Labor Day recipes lean into both impulses: burgers, ribs, and hot dogs worthy of one last big cookout, alongside juicy tomatoes, sweet corn, watermelon, and stone fruit at their late-summer peak.Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue or bringing a dish to the party, we’ve got you covered. There are smash burgers and barbecue ribs for the traditionalists; grilled salmon and tofu burgers for branching out; and plenty of cookout sides, including potato salad, pasta salad, baked beans, and slaw. Save room for a fruity galette or ice cream pie—and don’t forget the lemonade. Summer’s not over yet.Labor Day mainsSides, salads, and snacksDrinksDessertsPhotograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Catherine Campbell PearsonSlow Cooker BBQ Pulled PorkThis pulled pork recipe is virtually hands-free with a big flavor payoff. Make it ahead of time, set out some buns and pickles, and rest assured you won't sweat all your makeup off before your Labor Day dinner even starts.Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich Pollo AsadoMarinate a spatchcocked chicken in a fragrant mix of achiote paste, cilantro, chiles, onion, and fresh citrus, then build a two-zone fire to cook it over the grill: the hot side chars it, developing the flavorful crust, while the cool side cooks it through.Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kendra Vaculin, prop styling by Gözde EkerGrilled Party Salmon With Green RomescoA whole side of salmon might be the easiest thing to grill for a crowd. It cooks entirely on one side and, once crisped, the skin provides a nonstick barrier.Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Alexandra MassillonBA’s Best Smash BurgersThis is a burger for the people—and by “the people,” we mean the ones who don’t have a grill. Want to take it outside? Slide a cast-iron skillet or griddle right onto the grates and smash away.Photograph by Yudi Ela, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta FlorczykCharred Eggplant With Spicy Tomato Sauce and PeanutsA smoky sauce of grilled tomatoes, garlic, and shallots, plus cilantro and lime juice, is the perfect foil to creamy eggplant halves charred on the grill.Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Marina BevilacquaPork Chops With Fiery Raspberry ChimichurriIf chimichurri usually calls to mind an herby, bright sauce, you’re not wrong. But this version calls for crushed raspberries (a great use of those berries that got squished on your way home from the market) and fresh chiles as a sauce for thick-cut grilled pork chops.Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Erica LutzConey Island Hot DogsTop grilled hot dogs with umami-rich beef chili, chopped white onions, and a squiggle of yellow mustard for this regional favorite from Detroit.Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Sean DooleyBulgogi Tofu BurgersMarinated in pear (just reaching its peak around Labor Day), ginger, sesame oil, and more, these are BIG-FLAVOR TOFU sandwiches. Stir extra marinade into mayo to spread on the buns.Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Gerri WilliamsBA’s Best Barbecue RibsYou’ll bake these ribs in the oven the day before you plan to serve them. To finish, slather them in homemade or store-bought sauce, then flash them on the grill (or under the broiler) to char.Photograph by Maria Be, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Marina BevilacquaSpiced Chicken BurgersSpiked with ginger, garlic, garam masala, and green chiles, these juicy chicken (yes, juicy chicken!) burgers get a swath of cheddar for that lush, creamy bite.Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Chris Morocco and Tom Cunanan, prop styling by Elizabeth JaimeGrilled Shrimp With PalapaThe star in this recipe is the palapa, an outrageously flavorful condiment made with red Thai chiles and toasted coconut. You’ll wish you had doubled it; it can make virtually any grilled or roasted protein sing.Photograph by Peden + Munk, food styling by Adriana Paschen, prop styling by Ceci GarciaGrilled Banh Mi for a PartyThe base of these sandwiches is a grilled pork patty flavored with fish sauce, garlic, and five-spice. Pickled carrots and cucumbers, radishes, thinly sliced jalapeño, and a mountain of cilantro finish things off.Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton, Prop Styling by Alexandra MassillonTiny Tomato GalettesLabor Day is basically heirloom tomatoes’ last hurrah. This recipe gives them their due in single-serve tarts with an herby Parmesan-laced filling.Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl JonesFancy and Beautiful Tomato SaladTime to make up for all the perfect tomatoes you didn’t buy this summer. Za’atar-coated pita chips go half-soggy in the tomato juices yet never devolve into full mush.Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Emma RingnessOlive Bar Pasta SaladRaid your grocery store's antipasto bar for all the pickled, briny, marinated goodies that catch your eye, then toss them with cooked pasta, cheese, and herbs for this easy cookout side that doubles as a vegetarian main.Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Maggie Ruggiero, Prop Styling by Christine KeelyEnsalada Rusa (Pink Potato Salad)A few diced beets give this potato salad its bubblegum hue, while also lending a subtle sweetness that pairs perfectly with charred meats.Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Maggie Ruggiero, Prop Styling by Christine KeelyPickle ColeslawThis exuberantly bright slaw is made from practically equal parts shredded cabbage and chopped dill pickles. A quick mayo dressing brings it all together.Photograph by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi, Prop styling by Emma RingnessBoston Baked BeansIf you’ve never made baked beans from scratch, here’s your opportunity. Dried beans simmer with rendered bacon in a rich sauce of ketchup, maple syrup, molasses, and more.Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Alexandra MassillonWatermelon Som TamPhotograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Shuai Wang, Prop Styling by Megan Forbes and Christina HusseyGrilled Corn Tiger SaladPart Chinese tiger salad, part Mexican esquites, this ideal Labor Day side dish makes the most of peak-season corn.Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth JaimeVietnamese Tomato SaladA nuoc cham–inspired dressing coats crunchy cucumber, fennel, and peppers laced with late-summer tomatoes. Store-bought fried shallots bring the crunch.Photograph by Heami LeeFood Styling by Maggie RuggieroProp Styling by Emma RingnessCharred GuacamoleHave you ever grilled your avocados before mashing them into guacamole? Here’s your permission to try it.Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Linden ElstranDill Pickle Potato SaladHere’s what you do: Pour hot brine over a bowl of sliced cucumbers and onions and set aside. Boil some red potatoes, toss them in with the quick pickles, add a shower of fresh dill. Done.Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Dayna SemanBA’s Best LemonadeMix together an intense lemon syrup (made using the zest) with lemon juice and water (or seltzer if you swing bubbly) for this flavor-packed lemonade. If a little gin makes it into your glass too, all the better.Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Micah MortonPalomaYes, we complicated one of the easiest party drinks—but hear us out: Fresh grapefruit juice and seltzer in place of canned soda make this tequila cocktail all the more refreshing.Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton, Prop Styling by Alexandra MassillonDirty Martini SpritzIf tropical summer cocktails aren’t your thing, try this bracing mix of vodka, Champagne, olive brine, and club soda. It’s dry, bubbly, and built for a long afternoon outside.Photo by Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Kalen KaminskiPeach-Plum GaletteThis crowd-pleasing galette is flexible enough to accommodate whatever stone fruit looks best at the market. Don’t forget the vanilla ice cream.Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Maggie Ruggiero, Prop Styling by Christine KeelyBanana Pudding CakeJust as easy to transport and serve as the pudding that inspired it, this showstopping cake gets mashed banana in the batter and uses the peels to flavor the topping.Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Alexandra MassillonMississippi Mud PieAn Oreo crust, store-bought coffee ice cream, toasted pecans, and copious amounts of chocolate drizzle come together in this nostalgic no-bake dessert.Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Maggie DiMarcoGiant Baba Au RhumThis supersized take on baba au rhum turns a feather-light enriched yeast loaf into a party dessert, soaking it with rum and citrus and crowning it with whipped cream and stemmed cherries. It’s the perfect cap to your Labor Day celebration.Joe joined the Bon Appétit team in 2022 after climbing the editorial ranks for a few years at Condé Nast’s other food publication, Epicurious. As the senior SEO editor, he works to make sure Google loves all of BA’s cooking stories just as much as you do. Look for his ... Read More