Labor Day sneaks up on us every year like that one guest who swears they’re “just dropping by for a minute” and then ends up staying until dessert. But honestly, we don’t mind—because Labor Day is the unofficial send-off to summer, the perfect excuse for one last picnic, and a well-deserved pause to celebrate all the hard work we’ve been putting in. It’s the long weekend we need to bask in the last warm rays, fire up a playlist, and chill with good food and even better company.

We like to think of Labor Day as a two-for-one deal: celebrating collective effort while also indulging ourselves a little. Food is the easiest, most delicious way to do both. And let’s be real—when the spread is colorful, fresh, and full of Latino flavor, everyone’s happy. So instead of sticking to the same old hot dogs and burgers, we’ve rounded up four recipes that are easy, fun, and guaranteed to surprise your crew.

Think figs and goat cheese on a pizza, a tangy steak that takes tamarind to the spotlight, a margarita that tastes like summer in a glass, and dessert cones oozing dulce de leche. Yes, we’re serious. Labor Day eats you didn’t see coming.

Why We Cook on Our Day Off

We know what you’re thinking: It’s a long weekend, why spend time in the kitchen? But hear us out. Cooking on Labor Day isn’t about slaving away at the stove—it’s about slowing down, playing with flavors, and turning a recipe into a little celebration.

Cooking is self-care, therapy, and a sensory experience rolled into one. The sizzle of chiles in a pan, the aroma of fresh figs, the sight of dulce de leche dripping from a cone… it’s mindfulness disguised as fun. Plus, when we cook, we get to control the ingredients, adjust for health goals (or ignore them entirely), and infuse every dish with personality.

And here’s the truth: Labor Day food doesn’t have to be complicated. These recipes give you maximum flavor with minimal effort, leaving plenty of time for hammocks, playlists, and clinking glasses.

4 Effortless Recipes to Celebrate Your Hard Work

Fig and Goat Cheese Pizza

1 hr.
Easy
Servings: 1 ea.

Ingredients
For the dough:

1 cup Spelt Flour or All-Purpose Flour
½ cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 tsp. Active Dry Yeast
½ tsp. Salt
¾ – 1 cup lukewarm Water
Olive Oil

Toppings:

Goat Cheese
Sliced Figs
Thyme
Salt

Directions

Put the flours into a medium bowl, add the yeast, and mix them together. Add the salt and mix again.
Pour half of the water onto the flour bowl. Using a spoon work the water into the flour. Add the rest of the water gradually into the flour and keep working with one hand until the flour and water turn into a slightly sticky dough. If it feels too sticky, add a little bit flour. If the dough is dry add a little bit water. Don’t rinse the bowl.
Knead the dough on a floured surface for at least 5 minutes. Shape the dough into a round ball.
Drizzle oil in the bowl (the bowl should be twice the size of the dough) then put the ball back in. Drizzle a little oil and brush it with your hands over the dough. Cover with a moist kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Put the bowl in a warm place. Let it rise until it doubles in size—about 1½ hours.
Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with baking paper.
When the dough has doubled, press it down with your palm, knead briefly, and shape into a ball.
Roll it into a square about ¼ inch thick.
Drizzle olive oil, dot with goat cheese, scatter figs, sprinkle thyme and salt.
Bake 12 minutes or until golden.

Check the full recipe here!

Watermelon Margarita

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Una publicación compartida de COCINA (@wearecocina)

Make this drink possible by shaking, shaking, shaking all the ingredients. That would be all. But, just in case, here’s a video to inspire you.

Watch how to make it, here!

Pro Tip: If you are looking for a frappe version, we recommend using frozen fruit. It adds flavor and creates the perfect texture.

Tamarindo Asada Steak

30 mins. + 2 hrs. marinate
Easy
Servings: 4

Ingredients

¼ cup Tamarind concentrate
2 Serrano Chiles, with seeds, thinly sliced into rounds
3 tbsp. grated Piloncillo (Brown Sugar Cane)
1 tbsp. Kosher Salt
2 tbsp. Grape Seed Oil
2 pounds Skirt Steak, cut into 4 pieces

Directions

Whisk tamarind, chiles, piloncillo, salt, and 1 Tbsp. oil in a shallow baking dish. Add steak and turn to coat. Cover and chill at least for 2 hours.
Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a large skillet over high heat. Working in 2 batches and adding remaining oil between batches, cook steak until it caramelizes and is deeply browned, about 2–4 minutes per side for medium-rare.
Transfer steak to a cutting board; let rest at least 5 minutes before slicing.

See the full recipe here!

Pro Tip: Grill tortillas and serve steak in tacos, topped with salsa.

Dulce de Leche Cones

It wouldn’t be a party without dessert. And what a dessert we’ve saved for last.

These Argentinian cones are known as “Dulce de Leche Cones” for their iconic shape and indulgent filling. They’re as hypnotizing as they sound, especially if you use authentic Argentinian dulce de leche.

Watch how to make them, here!

Final Thoughts

After all is done, invite yourself to a date: platter full of cones, margarita in one hand, sticky dulce de leche fingers on the other. That’s the joy of Labor Day—treating yourself, celebrating your work, and tasting Latin flavors that make the long weekend unforgettable.

👉 Labor Day only comes once a year, so let’s do it right—with good music, good company, and recipes that make you say, “Why didn’t we do this sooner?”

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Labor Day Eats You Didn’t See Coming

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