Labor Day’s parades and outdoor activities work up a serious appetite, so cookouts and picnics are critical for the long weekend. But this holiday is supposed to be a no-fuss fun time for friends and family, so we turn to the best Labor Day recipes that satisfy without breaking a sweat.
These Labor Day recipes make the most summery dishes with as little effort as possible. Expect long-weekend staples in the form of appetizers, mains and desserts—like dips for a crowd, the best summer sandwiches, some Labor Day salads and classic Labor Day grilled meats—you know, all the good stuff that people want to eat when it’s hot out.
There are a few no-bake desserts on the list for when it’s too hot to turn on the oven, like our decadent marshmallow fudge, Oreo ice cream cake and no-bake blueberry pie. The day before hosting, prep a few easy batch cocktails and make sure there are a few nonalcoholic options for kids. You’ll be well on your way to the most enjoyable Labor Day yet.
Orange creamsicles are a beloved summertime treat, but those vanilla and orange flavors don’t have to stay in the freezer. Orange creamsicle cookies transform the classic citrus-ice cream combination into a delightful treat that won’t melt in your hands.
These pudding cookies are almost like chocolate chip cookies, except they have plenty of orange zest and white chocolate chips incorporated into the dough. They’re moist, chewy and flavorful—truly the ideal nostalgic sweet. Make a batch (or several!) for a bake sale or put out a platter for your next backyard barbecue dessert table.
Ingredients for Orange Creamsicle Cookies
Butter: Unsalted butter works best for this cookie dough. Be sure to soften the butter to room temperature before mixing for the best texture.
Sugars: Both granulated sugar and brown sugar add sweetness, while the brown sugar also introduces a depth of flavor to the cookie dough.
Eggs: Eggs bind the ingredients in the dough and help the cookies rise while baking. It’s best to use room-temperature eggs for baking.
Orange zest: Use fresh zest from one orange to add vibrant flavor to the cookie dough.
Vanilla extract: Using a good vanilla extract vs. imitation vanilla is better for the overall flavor of most baked goods.
Orange extract: Orange extract works with the orange zest for a bigger citrus punch.
All-purpose flour: All-purpose flour provides structure for these creamsicle orange cookies.
Instant vanilla pudding: A package of pudding mix contributes to the cookies’ taste and texture. It provides rich moisture while incorporating plenty of vanilla for an ice cream-forward flavor.
Baking soda: A small amount of baking soda goes a long way in creating excellent texture and shape for these cookies.
White chocolate chips:White chocolate chips paired with orange zest create the ideal orange creamsicle combination.
A creamy, easy pasta salad perfectly complements a plate piled with grilled meats and barbecue sides. You may think pasta salads are all the same, but this summer classic has so many variations. Maybe you’ve made a mayonnaise dressing for your pasta salad, but what about ranch? Have you ever changed up your pasta shapes? And don’t forget adding a protein like chicken.
The next time you’re looking for an easy summer recipe, start with one of these pasta salad recipes. We chose these recipes as quick-to-make odes to the classic pasta salads you’re already used to, with fresh new twists.
The muffuletta is an iconic sandwich that originated in the French Quarter of New Orleans. If you don’t already know, the classic muffuletta features olive salad and several meats and cheeses sandwiched between two hearty slices of fresh Italian bread. Luckily, the combination of ingredients that makes the sandwich recipe a winner also translates nicely to pasta salad—and that’s just what we created with our muffuletta pasta salad recipe.
This hearty side is sure to be a crowd-pleasing Mardi Gras recipe at your celebrations. Muffuletta pasta salad can also be served alongside favorite picnic recipes at a summertime potluck or backyard barbecue.
When it’s too hot to turn on the oven, but you said you’re bringing dessert to the barbecue, it’s time to whip up some no-bake desserts. These cool and fuss-free treats—including icebox cakes, no-bake fruit desserts and ice cream pies—are just the thing you want to dig into on a warm day. You can explore some no-bake Thanksgiving desserts and make your preparations a bit less complicated. So make room in the fridge and whip up a few of these desserts while the temps soar.
Family-friendly meals that are “simple, healthy, delicious and always affordable. Erin proves that budget cooking does not have to be boring!” —Stephanie Nelson, New York Times–bestselling author of The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half
Erin Chase is the founder of “$5 Dinners,” the skyrocketing internet website that’s now the go-to source for families who want to eat well and stay within a budget. Erin became a supermarket savvy mom, challenged herself to create dinners for her family of four that cost no more than $5 and is here to share her fool-proof method with you in her first cookbook that contains over 200 recipes that cost $five or less to make. First, Erin will show you how to size up the best supermarket deals, clip coupons that will really save you money and create a weekly dinner menu plan. Then, in each recipe she shows you just how much she paid for each item and challenges you to do the same.
Here are a few of her favorites:
– North Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwiches – $4.90
– Curried Pumpkin Soup – $4.41
– Apple Dijon Pork Roastfour – $4.30
– Orange Beef and Broccoli Stir – $4.94
– Creamy Lemon Dill Catffours – $4.95
– Bacon-Wrapped Apple – $4.96
– Country Ribs with Fries – $4.77
Join the army of devoted followers who have already let Erin Chase show them how to be savvy supermarket shoppers who cook tasty, economical meals. You’ll never spend more than $5 on dinner again.
“This book will give you the simple tools you need to become a strategic shopper, make meal-planning manageable, and rediscover the joy of cooking and baking from scratch.” —Crystal Paine, founder of moneysavingmom.com
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Erin’s $5 Dollar Dinner approach is ideal for my family–her recipes are simple, healthy, delicious and always affordable. She proves that budget cooking does not have to be boring!”–Stephanie Nelson, author of The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half
About the Author
Erin Chase is the creator of http://www.5dollardinners.com. She has previously shared her savvy tips for saving on “The Rachael Ray Show” and “The Jean Chatzky Show” on Oprah Sirius Radio. She grew up in San Antonio, TX, went to Texas Christian University, and served as a missionary in the Dominican Republic where she met her husband. They live in Dayton, Ohio with their three children.
I find that during long stretches of hot summer days, you can never have enough frozen treats on hand to cool things down—and they’re even better when they taste like other summery sweet treats. One recent favorite is frozen s’mores. They capture all the flavors of s’mores—no campfire necessary.
This ice cream dessert is made with oven-toasted marshmallows that turn golden in less than a minute. They’re folded into vanilla ice cream, which then sits on top of a layer made with frozen chocolate pudding and Cool Whip. And of course, graham crackers hold everything together! Once prepared and frozen, stash the sliced and wrapped s’mores in the freezer for an easy grab-and-go snack. Or, make them to share: I brought out frozen s’mores bars at our last backyard barbecue and they were a huge hit.
The $5 Dollar Dinner Mom–savings guru, savvy supermarket shopper, and mommy extraordinaire Erin Chase–does it again! With the same fool proof system she used to cut your weekly food budget and put a healthy and delicious $5 meal on the dinner table for your family, she takes it one step further with “The $5 Dollar Dinner Mom Does Breakfast and Lunch”. Tailoring her tips at how to size up supermarket deals, clip coupons, and create weekly menu plans, she helps you start your day the right way. With the help of Erin–whether at home or on the go–you can use all the same tools you learned in “The $5 Dollar Dinner Mom Cookbook” to create breakfasts and lunches for less than $5 that are easy and kid-friendly too! Breakfast favorites include:
Apple fritters are one of my all-time favorite fall treats. I love the crackly glaze, those irresistible crispy edges, and chunks of apple packed into tender dough. And while I’m usually quick to make my favorite bakery treats at home (looking at you yellow birthday cake), apple fritters are not one of them because I hate the hassle of frying. Instead, I make a loaf of apple fritter bread.
This is the apple recipe that everyone in my family looks forward to every year and friends beg me to make. It’s a fall baking bucket list item for sure! Between the layer of cinnamon apples rippled through tender quick bread and the crispy cinnamon sugar and glaze drizzled over the jagged layer of apples blanketing the top, this bread has serious apple fritter vibes and all the flavors you’d expect from the classic donut. Best of all: no frying necessary.
Whether you’re having a Labor Day barbecue, spending the day at the beach or the park, or just hanging around doing a whole lot of nothing (but eating and drinking, of course), we’ve got you covered with red, white and blue Labor Day desserts that look festive without too much effort.
For something sweet, these Labor Day desserts bursting with patriotic color and seasonal fruit flavors will make the unofficial end of summer a memorable one.
Good Food, Good Meat, Good God, Let's Eat! 