31 Labor Day Recipes for Summer’s Last Hurrah
Labor 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 those 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.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Catherine Campbell Pearson1/31Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich2/31Pollo Asado
Marinate 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 Eker3/31Grilled Party Salmon With Green Romesco
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon4/31BA’s Best Smash Burgers
Photograph by Yudi Ela, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk5/31Charred Eggplant With Spicy Tomato Sauce and Peanuts
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua6/31Pork Chops With Fiery Raspberry Chimichurri
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Erica Lutz7/31Coney Island Hot Dogs
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Sean Dooley8/31Bulgogi Tofu Burgers
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca9/31Grilled Corn and Steak Fattoush
Classic fattoush is a stellar cookout side, but add grilled strip steak, charred fresh corn, and scallions, and suddenly you have a meal-worthy salad you won’t want to share.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams10/31BA’s Best Barbecue Ribs
Photograph by Maria Be, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua11/31Spiced Chicken Burgers
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Chris Morocco and Tom Cunanan, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime12/31Grilled Shrimp With Palapa
The 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 Garcia13/31Grilled Banh Mi for a Party
The 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 Massillon14/31Tiny Tomato Galettes
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness16/31Olive Bar Pasta Salad
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Maggie Ruggiero, Prop Styling by Christine Keely17/31Ensalada Rusa (Pink Potato Salad)
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Maggie Ruggiero, Prop Styling by Christine Keely18/31Pickle Coleslaw
Photograph by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi, Prop styling by Emma Ringness19/31Boston Baked Beans
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon20/31Watermelon Som Tam
Earlier this summer, we wrote about the spicy watermelon salad that has our editors in a chokehold. Here is that salad. The obsession is still going strong.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Shuai Wang, Prop Styling by Megan Forbes and Christina Hussey21/31Grilled Corn Tiger Salad
Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime22/31Vietnamese Tomato Salad
Photograph by Heami LeeFood Styling by Maggie RuggieroProp Styling by Emma Ringness23/31Charred Guacamole
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Linden Elstran24/31Dill Pickle Potato Salad
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman25/31BA’s Best Lemonade
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Micah Morton26/31Paloma
Yes, 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 Massillon27/31Dirty Martini Spritz
If 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 Kaminski28/31Peach-Plum Galette
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Maggie Ruggiero, Prop Styling by Christine Keely29/31Banana Pudding Cake
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon30/31Mississippi Mud Pie
An 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 DiMarco31/31Giant Baba Au Rhum
