The Perfect Labor Day Menu To Make

Cover all your bases with a Labor Day menu worthy of a cooking show. But hopefully with fewer dishes. We’ve put together a comprehensive menu with vegetarian and kid-friendly options towards the bottom. 

Appetizer – Caprese Skewers

Preparing these the night before makes starting your Labor Day menu a breeze. Get your family in on the effort and make an assembly line to make the process faster. You can keep it simple with only cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and basil leaves. Quick and easy onto a skewer, then drizzle with balsamic glaze. Or, add a personal touch by adding some salami or pepperoncini onto the skewer.

What You’ll Need

• Cherry Tomatoes
• Skewers
• Basil Leaves
• Balsamic Glaze
• Mozzarella cheese balls

The amount you’ll need to buy for each ingredient depends on the number of guests sampling your Labor Day menu. You’ll put a minimum of one of each ingredient on the skewer (with the exception of the glaze which you just drizzle). 

Main Dish – Beer And Bourbon BBQ Chicken Sliders

Here’s the biggest benefit to this main dish on your Labor Day menu, there’s no need to stand out next to a hot bbq in the heat of the day. That’s right, you can have a bbq dish without having to grill anything. The quick cooking time of 25 minutes means you can maximize your day for fun instead of cooking. 

The recipe, that will be the star of your Labor Day menu, from Avery Cooks goes as follows. 

What You’ll Need:

• Olive Oil – 2 tbs
• Boneless & Skinless Chicken Breast – 1 to 1.5 lbs
• Salt & Pepper – To taste
• Lager Beer – 12 oz (can substitute your favorite beer)
• Bourbon or Whiskey – 2 tbs
• Barbeque Sauce – 1 1/2 cups
• Buns
• Sliced Pickles

How To Make

• Season chicken breast, then on medium heat, in a skillet with oil, sear breast on each side approximately 2 minutes.
• Reduce heat to a low temperature. Add beer (it will bubble) and whiskey. Let the chicken simmer for 10-15 minutes until fully cooked. Flip occasionally to cook on both sides. SAVE REMAINING BEER LIQUID
• Remove chicken and place in a bowl. Let cool slightly and use two forks to shred chicken. Then pour about 1/4 cup into the chicken. Adding more liquid increases beer flavor.
• Add in barbeque sauce and mix.

Just because they say sliders, there’s no reason you can’t make them on a larger scale and serve on a full-size hamburger bun. You’ll know what goes best for your guests and what they will crave on your Labor Day menu. 

Sides – Baked Zucchini Fries With Parmesan

Try a healthier option on a classic for your Labor Day menu. Adding extra veggies to the menu never hurt anyone. And when they are this tasty you won’t even realize you miss the original. They offer crunch with flavor and health. 

The perfect side dish is written by  “Best Recipe Box” rounds out your Labor Day menu. Here’s how to make it. 

What You’ll Need:

• Zucchini – 1 1/2 lbs
• Fresh Grated Parmesan – 1/2 cup
• Dried Herbs Of Your Choice – added to the parmesan
• Olive Oil – 2 tbs

How To Make: 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with tinfoil and olive oil
• Cut zucchini lengthwise into french fry shapes
• In a bowl combine grated parmesan and dried herbs
• Coat cut up zucchini in olive oil then coat evenly on all sides in parmesan mixture
• Bake for 15 minutes and then broil for 2-3 minutes to golden tops

Maybe double this recipe; your guests will want seconds and thirds of this Labor Day menu side dish. 

Dessert – Strawberry Cobbler Bar

Maybe the theme here is finger-friendly food for your Labor Day menu. Pssst. That means fewer dishes for you. We limit the mess of a traditional cobbler but keep the refreshing strawberry. There’s nothing more refreshing than fruit on the menu, but, let’s just make it a little sweeter. 

Hoosier Homemade depicts the perfect recipe that you can let your guests self serve. All you have to do is prepare the perfect ending to your Labor Day menu and sit back and watch your guests enjoy themselves. 

What You’ll Need: 

• Softened Butter – 1 cup
• White granulated sugar – 1 3/4 cups
• Room temperature eggs – 4
• Vanilla Extract – 1 tsp & 1/4 tsp
• Flour – 3 cups
• Baking Powder – 1 1/2 tsp
• Salt -1/4 tsp
• Strawberry Pie filling – 1 can
• Powdered sugar – 1/2 cup
• Milk or Cream – 1 tbs

How To Make: 

• Preheat oven to350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 15x10x1 baking dish
• Beat cream, butter, and granulated sugar in large bowl
• Add eggs one at a time and mix well before adding the next
• stir in vanilla (1 tsp)
• Mix baking powder, flour, and salt in sperate small bowl
• Combine dry mixture to wet mixture slowly
• Spread 3 cups of the mixture onto the pan
• Spread pie filling over top
• Use a tablespoon to add drops of remaining mixture over the top
• Bake 30-35 minutes
• Use Powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp of vanilla and cream to make the glaze

Be ready for these to go fast so set one aside for yourself before setting them out before the crowd.

Drink – Blueberry Mojito

The perfect refreshing twist on a classic drink to really get the party started on your Labor Day menu. Again, fruit on a hot summer day goes together like a wood-burning fireplace in the middle of winter. A classic combo is sure to please any crowd. 

These drinks cut some of the bitter bite of the alcohol with a sugar rim and mulled fresh fruit. 

Serena Wolf of Domesticate Me raved about her drink and we know your guests will beg for the recipe below. 

See Also

12 Reasons To Celebrate Mardi Gras Every Year

What You’ll Need: (serving 1 cocktail)

• Blueberries – 1/3 cup or more
• Fresh mint – 6-8 leaves
• Raw Sugar – 1 tbs
• Fresh Lime Juice – 2 1/2 tbs
• Light Rum – 2 oz
• Crushed Ice
• Chilled Champagne – 2 oz

How To Make:

• Place blueberries, lime juice, sugar, and mint leaves in a glass. Use a muddling tool or something similar to muddle until blueberries release their juice
• Add crushed ice then pour over the rum
• Top with chilled champagne

While this only makes one glass, you could convert the measurements to fit a drink dispenser and let your guests pour their own cup. 

Vegetarian Option – Zucchini Boats

Since you’re already buying zucchini, here’s another use for them in case you have a vegetarian attendee. It will add some variety to your Labor Day menu and won’t require too many additional items on your grocery list. This dish keeps you off the grill and only adds four additional ingredients to your shopping list. 

The recipe from “The Almond Eater” makes this dish simple. 

What You’ll Need: 

• Zucchini -3
• Quinoa – 1/4 cup
• Water – 1/2 cup
• Dried seasoning
• Cherry tomatoes – 1 cup
• Red Onion – 1/4 cup
• Chickpeas – 1/2 cup
• Feta Cheese – 1/4 cup

How To Make: 

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
• Cook quinoa in water with tomatoes, chickpeas, onion, and spices (follow instructions on quinoa package for cook time)
• Cut zucchini lengthwise and hollow out the center
• Fill zucchini with cooked quinoa and place on a baking tray
• Drizzle with cheese and then olive oil
• Bake for 30 minutes

Stuff For The Kiddos – Pizza Pasta Salad

This dish can be added to your Labor Day menu to please the kiddos. You serve it cold so you can prepare it the night before limiting your day of prep time. Really there is not much else in the world that kids love more than pasta or pizza so why not serve them both at the same time?

The “Country Cook” shows you how to make this dish and show the kiddos you thought of them when curating your Labor Day menu. 

What You’ll Need:

• Box Pasta Noodles – 1 box
• Italian Dressing – 1 1/2 cups
• Pizza Sauce – 1/2 cup
• Pepperoni – 3 oz
• Monterey Jack shredded cheese – 2 cups
• Shredded Parmesan – 1/2 cup

How To Make:

• Cook pasta and then run under cold water
• Mix pasta sauce and Italian dressing together
• Pour mixture over noodles in a large bowl and combine
• Add cheese and pepperoni
• Let sit in the fridge overnight

Is there anything you’d add to your Labor Day Menu? Let us know below or tell us what recipe will be a hit at your gathering!

Featured Image Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/408420259963068360/

Appetizer Image Source: https://lilluna.com/caprese-kabobs/

Main Dish Image Source: https://www.averiecooks.com/beer-bourbon-barbecue-chicken-sliders/#

Side Dish Image Source: https://bestrecipebox.com/baked-parmesan-zucchini-fries/

Dessert Dish Image Source: https://hoosierhomemade.com/strawberry-cobbler-bars/#_a5y_p=4976319

Drink Image Source: https://domesticate-me.com/blueberry-mojito-royale/

Vegetarian Image Source: https://thealmondeater.com/mediterranean-stuffed-zucchini-boats-with-quinoa/

Kid Dish Image Source: https://www.thecountrycook.net/kid-friendly-pizza-pasta-homemade-lunchables/