11 No-Fuss Recipes for Labor Day Weekend
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Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer—the last hurrah at the beach, park, or neighborhood block party. It’s a time for food that’s low on effort and big on reward. You know, like shrimp you can grill in five minutes (and Labor Day desserts you can make with just a handful of ingredients). Below we’ve gathered some of our favorite super-quick, super-easy summer recipes to help you kick back, relax, and soak up the sun while you still can.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano1/11
Dolly Parton's Coleslaw
If you split your Labor Day recipes into the major food groups, you'd probably mentiongrilledthings, crunchy sides, and drinks. Right? For the sides category, this is the slaw we'll always love. It's simple enough that you can memorize the formula—and yes, Dolly has a secret ingredient.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton2/11
Rosie Ranch Water
Ranch water is aTexan specialty这是真正的简单。这个版本是more tasty, thanks to a muddled orange, a touch of sotol or mezcal, and spicy, herby salt.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson3/11
3-Ingredient Pesto-Grilled Chicken with Peaches
You can change up your grilling routine without getting complicated or committing to a lot of prep. In this recipe, store-bought pesto works as both a simple marinade for the chicken and a finishing sauce. Consider it a good step toward the worthy goal of eating as manypeachesas you can while they're still in season.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson4/11
Grilled Corn on the Cob With Salt-and-Pepper Butter
No need to pass the salt shaker around the table—this grilled corn is perfectly seasoned thanks to a simple, spreadable salt-and-pepper butter.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Simon Andrews5/11
Frozen Margarita Pie
It's a cocktail. It's crowd-pleasing Labor Day dessert. And it'll cool you off, too. This tart and creamy pie only uses a few ingredients, but it needs time to freeze—so make it a day or two before your Labor Day barbecue.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Simon Andrews6/11
Baked Tomatoes, Peppers, and Goat Cheese with Crisped Toasts
If you haven't gotten your fill oftomatoesyet this summer, serve this cheesy, tangy-sweet concoction with bread for lunch or an elegant appetizer.
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Photo & Food Styling by Joseph De Leo7/11
Habanero BBQ Shrimp
In this recipe from Lazarus Lynch'sSon of a Southern Chef, shrimp marinates in a sweet-and-spicy mixture of apricot preserves, lime juice, habanero, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. It's the perfect 15-minute dinner party main. Serve with beer or freshlimeade.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson8/11
3-Ingredient Ginger-Peach Ice Cream Floats
Poaching fresh peaches in ginger beer infuses them with sweet, spicy flavor. Layer the cooked fruit withvanilla ice creamand top with more ginger beer for a fun take on the classic float.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Liza Jernow9/11
Spicy Tamarind-Glazed Grilled Chicken Wings
Serve these tangy, beautifully-charred wings with crunchy onions, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges for squeezing over the top.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton10/11
Easy Pasta Salad
This easy pasta salad recipe makes enough for a crowd—add a can of chickpeas if you want to make it the center of your meal rather than a side. Other than the pasta,nothing is cooked, but the final product is full of varied textures and fresh and tangy flavors.
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Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kendra Smoot11/11
Cucumber and Peach Salad with Herbs
Looking to round out your menu of Labor Day recipes with a salad? This one's just peachy.
ByZoe Denenberg
ByJulia Price Baron