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30+ Quick and Easy Labor Day and End of Summer Recipes

Robyn Stone

Published Aug 26, 2025

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!

Image of BBQ ribs with text overlay for 30+ Quick and Easy Labor Day Recipes. - 1

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.

Caprese Salad Skewers of tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, drizzled with balsamic glaze on a white platter. - 2

Simple Caprese Salad Skewers

Sliced apples surround and are dipped into a bowl of creamy apple dip. - 3

Easy Apple Dip Recipe

Photo of spinach artichoke dip on a slice of toasted baguette. - 4

Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe

Deviled eggs make the perfect appetizer or side dish for family meals, parties, holidays, potlucks, picnics and more. This simple and classic deviled eggs recipe is a family favorite! // addapinch.com - 5

Classic Deviled Eggs

Main Dishes

Fire up the grill for these quick and easy main dishes that capture the essence of summer barbecues and Labor Day feasts.

Hamburger with grilled sweet potatoes on a white plate. - 6

Bart’s Best Hamburger Recipe

Photograph of pulled pork on a bun with bbq sauce and pickles. // addapinch.com - 7

The Best Pulled Pork Recipe

Photo of BBQ ribs on a white platter on a white background. - 8

Easy Slow Cooker Ribs Recipe

Grilled chicken on a white plate with a salad. - 9

The Best Grilled Chicken Breast Recipe

Classic chicken salad on a white plate with slice of tomato, lettuce, and a fork with a bite of chicken salad. - 10

Classic Chicken Salad Recipe

Cast iron skillet with a butter-basted ribeye steak topped with rosemary. - 11

Skillet Ribeye Steaks 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! // addapinch.com - 12

Chili Rubbed Chicken Skewers Recipe

Easy Side Dishes

These easy sides use end-of-summer produce and come together fast to complement any main dish.

Closeup of a bowl of Southern potato salad in a glass bowl. - 13

Southern Potato Salad Recipe

Photo of broccoli salad on a white platter. - 14

Broccoli Salad Recipe

30+ Quick and Easy Labor Day and End of Summer Recipes - 15

Grilled Okra 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! // addapinch.com - 16

Cucumber and Tomato Salad Recipe

30+ Quick and Easy Labor Day and End of Summer Recipes - 17

Coleslaw Recipe

Southern Baked Beans Recipe - This recipe makes the perfect side dish for so many meals! This easy baked beans recipe will become a favorite! // addapinch.com - 18

Southern Baked Beans Recipe

Cucumbers, onions, dill, and creamy dressing for cucumber salad in a glass bowl. - 19

Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe

Caprese Salad with Balsamic Glaze. - 20

Caprese Salad

Grilled corn salad features fresh summer corn with avocado, tomato, jalapeno, and onion. A delicious, quick, easy and healthy recipe that is perfect for summer barbecues! // addapinch.com - 21

Grilled Corn Salad Recipe

Southern Macaroni Salad Recipe - Southern Macaroni Salad makes a delicious addition for picnics, potlucks, and any get together! An easy make-ahead staple, this macaroni salad is a definite go-to recipe for your summer parties! // addapinch.com - 22

Southern Macaroni 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. // addapinch.com - 23

Fresh Peach, Basil and Burrata 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! // addapinch.com - 24

Best House Salad Recipe

Crowd Favorite Desserts

Be sure to include a crowd-favorite dessert that celebrates summer fruits and flavors.

Photo of peach cobbler in a white bowl with vanilla ice cream - 25

Easy Peach Cobbler Recipe

Ice cream cone with scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream - 26

Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe

Blackberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream in a white bowl - 27

Easy Blackberry Cobbler Recipe

Key Lime Pie Recipe - Key Lime Pie makes a classic, refreshing dessert recipe. Made of simple ingredients, this updated key lime pie recipe comes together quickly and chills to a light and airy consistency for an elegant dessert. - 28

Key Lime 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. // addapinch.com - 29

No Bake Lemon Cream Pie Recipe

Glass trifle bowl holds a berry trifle dessert with layers of cream, vanilla cake, blueberries and strawberries. - 30

Berry Trifle Recipe

Southern Banana Pudding Recipe - An heirloom family recipe for banana pudding that is a classic, Southern dessert. Creamy, traditional banana pudding topped with airy meringue. // addapinch.com - 31

Southern Banana Pudding Recipe

Strawberry shortcake topped with homemade whipped cream and mint sprig on a white plate. - 32

Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

photograph of chocolate chip cookie on a white plate on a dark background. - 33

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Enjoy! Robyn xo