Every Recipe You'll Need for Labor Day, from Burgers to Booze

Wasn't it just last week that were planning out the menu for our Memorial Day and Fourth of July barbecues? Sure feels like it. But suddenly, it's September, and it's kind of our last chance to fire up the grill and revel in all of the sunshine, smoked meat, and slushy cocktails that characterize our summer festivities.

So you're trying to decide what to cook for your squad come Monday (or every day this weekend). We're already on it.

Start off with some meat, because hey, this a barbecue. From Matty Matheson's legendary cheeseburgers to Beer Can Chicken to Beet Burgers, we've rounded up dishes that you can't really sink your teeth into—whether you're a carnivore or a vegetarian. Did we mention that the beet burgers are topped with truffle cashew cheese?

Next up, you've got to consider your sides. You can make a whole damn meal out of sides if you want to. Pile your plate up high with Grilled Corn Salad with cotija cheese and herbs, Action Bronson's totally genius Golden Beet Poke, spicy watermelon with candied peanuts and hot sauce, and homemade onion rings (no one will guess that they're gluten-free).

Tis the season for some serious seafood too, so don't miss out on Lobster & Chips and Smoked Oysters with Bacon, Chard, Lemon, and Ranchero Cheese.

And naturally, you're going to want to wash all of this down with some drinks that make you feel, you know, "vacation-y." And if a DIY Piña Colada, a classic Blue Hawaii, or a fiery but refreshing Michelada doesn't accomplish that, maybe nothing will, you late-summer grump.

Now get the coals and stock the bar. It's time to honor Labor Day, and the only thing you should be laboring over is this menu.

This post was originally published in September 2015.