All good things must come to an end, summer included. But let’s not mope about it. Instead, host a soirée to toast to all beach days, alfresco meals and ice pops you’ve enjoyed since Memorial Day. If you feel like you’ve gone through all your summer dinner ideas, no worries: This Labor Day menu has everything you need to end the season on a delicious note, from frozen Aperol spritzes to homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream.
This Labor Day Menu Has Everything You Need to End Summer on a High Note, from Drinks to Dessert
It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later
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Published Jul 23, 2024
Digital Art by Katherine Gillen
Flashpop/Getty Images
Shopping List:
Produce
4 oranges
6 lemons
One 2-pound muskmelon (such as cantaloupe or honeydew)
1 large bunch fresh basil
1½ pounds mixed heirloom tomatoes
9 shallots
8 garlic cloves
12 apricots
1 bunch fresh tarragon
2 large heads broccoli
3 scallions
1 bunch fresh parsley
1 bunch fresh mint
Meat
8 chicken thighs (about 3 pounds)
Dairy
¼ cup shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more for garnishing
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2¾ cups heavy cream
Canned and Packaged Goods
1 bottle prosecco
1 bottle Aperol
½ cup tahini
¼ cup chili oil
4 cups cubed olive bread, ciabatta or sourdough
1 bottle dry white wine
¼ cup almonds
12 ounces green olives
4 ounces dark chocolate
One 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
Peppermint extract
Green food coloring (optional)
Pantry Ingredients: granulated sugar, extra-virgin olive oil, kosher salt, sesame seeds, freshly ground black pepper, sherry or Champagne vinegar, Maldon smoked sea salt or flaky sea salt, all-purpose flour, coconut oil
Cocktail: Frozen Aperol Spritz
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, special occasion–worthy
- Serves: 2 to 3
Want to take a break from the rosé? This festive take on the classic summer cocktail is one part boozy, two parts refreshing and 100 percent about to be your new favorite drink. Double or triple the recipe (except for the simple syrup) to make enough for a crowd.
Appetizer: Grilled Melon With Tahini, Chili Oil and Sesame Seeds
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes, <10 ingredients, dairy free, gluten free
- Serves: 4 to 6
Salt and melon are a classic combination, and adding a nutty, creamy element (tahini) makes the pairing feel fresh. I recommend using cantaloupe or honeydew here; watermelon is delicious, but tends to get mushy when you put it on the grill.
Salad: Heirloom Tomatoes with Basil and Olive Croutons
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
- Serves: 4
With juicy, colorful heirloom tomatoes and an herb-infused oil, this lettuce-free salad tastes like summer on a plate. If you can’t get olive bread, just use any rustic loaf and add a handful of chopped olives instead.
Main Course: Skillet Chicken with Apricots and Fresh Herbs
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
- Serves: 6
This is the type of dish you make once or twice a year, and then you wait all year to make it again when apricots are in season. Don’t skimp on the herbs: The fresh tarragon and basil are the cherry on top of this summer masterpiece.
Side Dish: Roasted Broccoli with Olive and Almond Pesto
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
- Serves: 4 to 6
Roasted broccoli on its own? Totally fine, if not overplayed. But if you add a garlicky, olive-y pesto and a shower of Parmesan shavings, the vegetable takes on a new life. The dish serves six people, but it never hurts to make extra (you know, as a chef’s treat).
Dessert: No-Churn Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
- Time Commitment: 5 hours
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, gluten free
- Serves: 8
Your Labor Day menu wouldn’t be complete without a little dessert, and homemade ice cream fits the bill. Don’t have an ice cream maker? No sweat: This version can be made with a stand mixer, hand mixer or even a whisk. (And the fresh mint flavor is like nothing you’ll find in a store.)
