Happy Labor Day, Seafoodies!!
Let’s address the irony of this holiday for a second! Labor Day is supposed to celebrate taking a break in recognition of all our yearly achievements—yet somehow we all end up working overtime to plan our “relaxing” weekend! Between coordinating schedules, stocking up on supplies, prepping tricky cookout menus and making sure the house is party-ready—we’re more exhausted before the holiday even starts than we were during our regular work week.
So we’re here to remind you that Labor Day doesn’t need to be labor-intensive! While everyone else is stressing out over complex grocery lists and elaborate prep, we’ve got your back with 15 seafood recipes that are so doable, you’ll have time to enjoy your own party (shocking, right?!) These dishes are all tried and true crowd-pleasers, bringing well-loved flavors to the entertaining spread—all while requiring minimum effort. The only thing you should be sweating over Labor Day weekend is whether to have another helping!
Start with a 10-minute miracle dip, like Smoked Salmon with a platter of pre-cut veggies from the store or Smoked Trout and a side of assorted crackers. Empty the sleeves in a circular pattern around the outside of a pretty plate, pop the dip in the center and you’ve got a light nosh set out on the table faster than you can mix a pitcher of sangria. Get creative with a fun Seacuterie Board that can be tweaked to fit your level of commitment. If you have more time—go wild with a colorful array of fruit, veg and cheese sliced in different fun shapes. For the same impact with less work, shop for a collection of unique tinned seafood, open, display and let their whimsical and interesting packaging start the conversation!
Because it’s not Labor Day without some outdoor cooking for the main course, Char-Grilled Honey Parmesan Oysters bubble away—more or less managing themselves—while adding an upscale spin or keep fingers mess-free with grab-and-go Mediterranean Tuna Skewers. High temps redirecting the party indoors? Sheet Pan Crab Nachos can be prepped right on the plan and added to the oven as needed. Pair that with Air Fryer Lobster Burgers that taste as good (if not better) than if they were sizzling on the grill!
However the party happens and whatever recipes you select, we hope you take on our “finally, a real break” philosophy. Who knows—this might be the first Labor Day where you actually get to labor less!
Seacuterie Board
We tested a bunch of ingredient combinations before coming up with this hands-down delectable recipe mix, but there are SO MANY ways to build your platter.
Ceviche-Style Bloody Mary Shrimp Cocktail
Crisp celery both within the ceviche mixture and as a garnish adds that quintessential Bloody Mary crunch. And yes, there’s a splash of vodka for authenticity, though you can easily substitute non-alcoholic vodka to keep it family-friendly.
Air Fryer Lobster Burgers
Serve these burgers on brioche buns with all the fixings—the entire process takes about 35 minutes from start to finish, making this an entirely doable special party meal, without special effort.
Grilled Salmon Skewers
Get little Seafoodies involved by letting them brush on the marinade, thread pieces of fish onto skewers—or simply set out the plates!
Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs
You can’t go wrong with deviled eggs—this simple app always comes together effortlessly and disappears even faster! Plus, the smoked salmon ups the protein in this easy appetizer or side.
Smoked Salmon Dip
Grabbing some smoked salmon from the grocery store is a cinch, and we’re willing to bet you’ve already got most of the other ingredients hanging out in your kitchen.
Smoked Trout Dip
Buttery and flaky smoked trout come in a tin, pouch or vacuum-packed—making it another pantry or fridge-stable seafood product that’s great to have on hand during Labor Day weekend.
Char-Grilled Honey Parmesan Oysters
Have the platter and long tongs at the ready—mineral-rich oysters cook in under 10 minutes. You’ll know they are getting ready to plate when the shells are nicely charred, and the oyster is bubbling!
Skinny Baked Popcorn Shrimp
Instead of deep-frying these little morsels of deliciousness, we’re baking them to crispy perfection. The result? All the crunch and flavor you love, with a fraction of the calories, saturated fat and prep time.
Crab Empanadas with Mango Salsa
To complement the stellar taste and introduce some extra color, we’ve topped these perfect pouches off with homemade mango salsa—adding a refreshing burst of tropical flavor that pairs well with the richness of the crab.
Sheet Pan Crab Nachos
While the chips and crab are baking, chop up the avocado and some cherry tomatoes for a tangy-creamy tortilla topper. Serve straight out of the oven with a drizzle of hot sauce—these will get snapped up long before they cool off!
Hot n’ Crunchy Fish Sandwich
No leftovers will remain after guests sink their teeth into these impressively crispy fish fillets, seasoned just right with a hint of heat and a crunch that’s downright addictive.
Triple Seafood Boil
As far as recipes go, a boil is incredibly painless. Add seafood and veggies to a pot of heady broth, then let ‘er steam away in the background as you get the party started!
Mediterranean Tuna Skewers
We use traditional shish kabob vegetables in this recipe, but you can make substitutions depending on what you have on hand—other options are small pieces of pineapple, zucchini, yellow squash or even whole mushrooms!
