Get ready to end summer with the best flavors of the season!
- Start the feast with creamy and crunchy appetizers like Fried Pickle Dip and Fried Green Tomatoes.
- Don’t miss out on Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad and Italian-American Pasta Salad.
- Make your mains pop with Juicy Lucy burgers and Sonoran Hot Dogs.
- End on a sweet note with Lemon Icebox Cake and classic Banana Pudding.
Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, but it’s also a perfect excuse to celebrate the season’s best flavors. Whether you’re having a neighborhood bash or a small family gathering, this menu has you covered.
For starters, indulge in a Fried Pickle Dip that’s tangy and creamy, perfect for pickle lovers. Meanwhile, the Fried Green Tomatoes with Rémoulade offer a crunchy treat that makes use of unripe tomatoes in the best way possible.
Move on to salads with a Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad that not only grills the chicken but also the romaine and croutons, elevating the classic dish. Then there’s the Kachumbari, an East African Tomato Salad that combines fresh summer tomatoes, raw onion, chile pepper, cilantro, and lime juice for a burst of freshness.
Classic Potato Salad is a must for any cookout, offering a blend of tangy, salty, and sweet flavors with creamy, fluffy potatoes. Another salad worth trying is the Italian-American Pasta Salad, which adds brightness and acidity with capers and olives.
Sides don’t disappoint either. The Slathered Grilled Corn Ribs are tossed in garlic-paprika butter and are best enjoyed with your hands. Slow-Cooked Boston Baked Beans provide a creamy, rich, and saucy staple for any gathering. And don’t forget the Kansas City-Style Cheesy Corn, which is creamy, cheesy, and a great way to make the most of corn season.
As for the mains, you’ve got the Juiciest Juicy Lucy, a burger with gooey cheese oozing from the center. The Sonoran Hot Dogs are another crowd-pleaser, featuring bacon, pinto beans, jalapeño salsa, and juicy tomatoes, all wrapped in a soft bun. For vegetarians, the Hot Sauce-Spiked Mushroom Veggie Burgers are packed with umami and double the hot sauce.
Desserts are just as essential. The Lemon Icebox Cake is a refreshing treat that tastes like a lemon meringue pie. If you want something fun, try the Easy Fruit-Swirl Ice Cream Sandwiches; they’re simple to make and delicious. Finally, the Classic Banana Pudding is upgraded with vanilla pastry cream for a richer taste.
Wrap it all up with drinks like the Limoncello Spritz and Spicy Cucumber-Jalapeño Limeade, perfect for keeping cool while enjoying the last days of summer.
Celebrate Labor Day with a feast that sends summer out with a bang!
Source: Seriouseats