30+ Quick and Easy Labor Day and End of Summer Recipes
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Celebrate Labor Day and savor the end of summer with 30+ quick and easy recipes. From mouth-watering mains and seasonal sides to crowd-favorite desserts, these family-friendly meals are perfect for barbecues, picnics, and more!
Favorite Labor Day and End of Summer Recipe Ideas
As summer winds down and Labor Day approaches, it’s time to fire up the grill, toss together vibrant salads, or prep easy meals for your Labor Day celebration. These recipes are quick, delicious, and ideal for feeding a crowd. Many use pantry staples, require minimal cleanup, and can be prepped in advance to make your celebrations low-stress.
Success Tip: Easy Prep for Labor Day
To make your Labor Day or end-of-summer gathering low-stress:
- Plan for make-ahead desserts to keep things cool and easy.
- Marinate meats the night before for quick grilling.
- Prep sides like salads and dips in advance—they taste even better after chilling.
- Use a grill basket for veggies to save time and cleanup.
Appetizers and Dips
These quick starters are perfect for sharing at your Labor Day gathering or as easy snacks for end-of-summer picnics.
Simple Caprese Salad Skewers
These tasty Caprese Salad Skewers are a quick and easy appetizer to make in minutes! Juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, fresh basil, and homemade balsamic glaze make a simple, yet impressive party food!
Easy Apple Dip Recipe
Easy Apple Dip Recipe – Sweet, creamy Apple Dip is easy and delicious for parties and snacks! Ready in minutes from just a few ingredients, it's an addictive dip for apples, pretzels, and more!
Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe
This hot Spinach Artichoke Dip recipe is easy, cheesy, and delicious! Bake in the oven or make crockpot spinach artichoke dip in your slow cooker! Make ahead and freezer-friendly. It's a crowd-favorite dip and perfect for entertaining!
Classic Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs make the perfect appetizer or side dish for family meals, parties, showers, and other events. Get this family favorite deviled eggs recipe you are sure to love.
Main Dishes
Fire up the grill for these quick and easy main dishes that capture the essence of summer barbecues and Labor Day feasts.
Bart’s Best Hamburger Recipe
Make juicy, flavorful hamburgers every time with Bart's Best Hamburger Recipe! With just two ingredients and a few expert tips, these are the best beef hamburgers you've ever tasted!
The Best Pulled Pork Recipe
The BEST pulled pork recipe I've ever tasted! Tender, delicious, and perfectly cooked in the slow cooker with just 4 simple ingredients!
Easy Slow Cooker Ribs Recipe
This Easy Slow Cooker Ribs Recipe makes the most delicious, tender, fall off the bone ribs! No grill or oven is required with these amazing ribs!
The Best Grilled Chicken Breast Recipe
The BEST Grilled Chicken Breast recipe for moist, tender, and juicy grilled chicken breasts! Easy recipe for perfect grilled chicken every time!
Classic Chicken Salad Recipe
This Classic Chicken Salad is made with tender chicken, creamy mayonnaise, lemon juice, crunchy celery, and is ready in minutes!
Skillet Ribeye Steaks Recipe
Skillet Ribeye Steaks Recipe – These delicious Skillet Ribeye Steaks are butter-basted and will remind you of those at your favorite steak house! This recipe makes the best ribeye steak and is easy to make at home!
Chili Rubbed Chicken Skewers Recipe
Chili Rubbed Chicken Skewers Recipe – Ready in minutes, these chicken skewers are a weekend AND a weeknight favorite! The secret is the chili rubbed chicken!
Easy Side Dishes
These easy sides use end-of-summer produce and come together fast to complement any main dish.
Southern Potato Salad Recipe
This delicious Southern Potato Salad recipe has been in my family for generations and is a go-to favorite! It makes the perfect side dish for holidays, casual suppers, potlucks, and cookouts! With its soft potatoes, crunchy pickles, yellow mustard, and hard-boiled eggs, this classic potato salad is one you'll make again and again!
Broccoli Salad Recipe
This Broccoli Salad recipe makes a quick and easy side dish. Tossed in a homemade dressing, this easy broccoli salad is a crowd favorite!
Grilled Okra Recipe
Grilled Okra makes a delicious addition to any meal. Get this simple, yet scrumptious grilled okra recipe to serve soon!
Cucumber and Tomato Salad Recipe
Cucumber Tomato Salad Recipe – A quick and easy summer staple, this cucumber and tomato salad goes well with fish, chicken, pork, or a plate filled with veggies! Add in onions too if you like!
Coleslaw Recipe
Coleslaw Recipe – A delicious easy coleslaw recipe that’s always a crowd favorite! Crunchy cabbage with a delicious dressing, this easy coleslaw is a perfect side anytime!
Southern Baked Beans Recipe
Southern Baked Beans Recipe – This recipe makes the perfect side dish for so many meals! These easy baked beans are a family favorite!
Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe
Classic creamy cucumber salad recipe combines thinly sliced cucumbers, onions, dill, and a tangy dressing for a favorite make-ahead dish.
Caprese Salad
A classic Caprese Salad recipe featuring juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil is a delicious favorite! It's made with only five ingredients and topped with my simple homemade balsamic glaze!
Grilled Corn Salad Recipe
This mouthwatering Grilled Corn Salad is loaded with fresh corn, creamy avocado, fresh tomato, jalapeno, and more, all tossed in fresh cilantro and lime. Such an easy and delicious corn salad that is perfect for cookouts and summer barbecues!
Southern Macaroni Salad Recipe
Southern Macaroni Salad Recipe – Southern Macaroni Salad makes a delicious addition to picnics, potlucks, and any get-together! An easy make-ahead staple, this macaroni salad is a definite go-to recipe for your summer parties!
Fresh Peach, Basil and Burrata Salad Recipe
Peach, Basil and Burrata Salad Recipe – A delicious take on a traditional caprese salad, this peach, basil and burrata salad comes together in minutes and is just as delicious as it is beautiful.
Best House Salad Recipe
This simple salad recipe makes the best house salad that goes with anything! Made with simple greens and add-ins, this is the side salad of all side salad recipes!
Crowd Favorite Desserts
Be sure to include a crowd-favorite dessert that celebrates summer fruits and flavors.
Easy Peach Cobbler Recipe
Easy Peach Cobbler made with a buttery topping on sweet peaches. This makes the BEST Peach Cobbler recipe and favorite dessert!
Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
An old fashioned vanilla ice cream recipe that everyone loves! This creamy custard base homemade vanilla ice cream recipe tastes like an ice cream parlor favorite.
Easy Blackberry Cobbler Recipe
This Easy Blackberry Cobbler recipe is filled with juicy blackberries and a simple, sweet crust. It's quick to make and uses fresh or frozen blackberries, along with simple baking ingredients for a delicious dessert everyone loves!
Key Lime Pie Recipe
This Key Lime Pie is deliciously tart, airy, light, and refreshing! An easy, updated version of a classic, this is the best key lime pie recipe ever! Such an elegant dessert that is always a favorite!
No Bake Lemon Cream Pie Recipe
This no bake lemon cream pie is a quick and easy twist on the classic. Made with cream cheese, cream, and lots of lemon with a buttery graham cracker crust.
Berry Trifle Recipe
This easy Berry Trifle recipe is a delicious dessert that's ready in minutes! Great to make ahead, this beautiful trifle features layers of fresh berries, cake, and cream for a favorite dessert anytime!
Southern Banana Pudding Recipe
This easy Southern Banana Pudding recipe makes a delicious old-fashioned homemade banana pudding from scratch! Rich and creamy homemade banana pudding between layers of vanilla wafers and fresh bananas and topped with an airy meringue make a favorite dessert!
Strawberry Shortcake Recipe
This homemade Strawberry Shortcake recipe is deliciously different and tastes divine! Sweet, tender biscuits topped with sweetened strawberries and fresh whipped cream make this simple strawberry shortcake the best around!
Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
This is the best Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe I've ever tasted – Crisp outside, yet chewy and soft inside and full of chocolate! Simple ingredients – but something special that elevates them to the most amazing chocolate chip cookies every time!
I hope these quick and easy recipes make your Labor Day celebrations and end-of-summer moments delicious and memorable! Which one will you try first? Let me know in the comments.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
