Eat Like an American: Red, White and Blue Labor Day Party Foods
Every year we pay tribute to all hard-working Americans by celebrating Labor Day. Most people consider Labor Day the marker of the end of summer, which makes it a perfect occasion to get together and enjoy the last long sunny days.
This year, make your Labor Day extra patriotic with red, white and blue food and drinks. Here are four ideas you can bring to your Labor Day party, spanning from tangy tacos to satisfying sangria.
The Main Event: Tacos
Tacos are great every day of the week, but this patriotic twist on classic tacos can make your Labor Day celebration even more fun.
Find blue corn tortillas (or make them if you’re skilled in the kitchen!) — if your grocery store doesn’t have them, you can also find them online.
From there, the fixings are pretty much up to you. You can stick with traditional tacos or get creative with some fusion cuisine.
Add a dash of red with tomatoes, salsa, red bell peppers and red onion. For white, queso blanco is always a crowd-pleaser, and you can also add cubed chicken. You’ve got the blue covered with the tortilla!
Tip: Tacos are always a big hit at parties — allowing your guests to make their own will make sure even the most selective eater will find something they’ll like.
On the Side: Patriotic Potato Salad
You’re probably familiar with yellow and white potatoes, but have you ever tried a blue potato? They’re the main ingredient of a red, white and blue potato salad that makes the perfect complement to any Labor Day main course.
Combine cooked blue potatoes, sliced roasted red pepper, and a dressing made of dried herbs, olive oil and red or white wine vinegar. Top the salad with a few shavings of parmesan cheese, and you’ve got red, white and blue in a single side dish.
Tip: Can’t find blue potatoes? You might be able to find blue pasta at your grocery store.
For Refreshment: Sangria
Add some American flair to your sangria for the holiday. To make a batch of Labor Day-themed sangria, add your typical ingredients of white wine, sugar and juice. The fun part is when you add the fruit.
Toss in blueberries, strawberries and raspberries to make your sangria red and blue. Then, cut pineapple into star-shaped pieces for even more festive pizzazz. If you’re really detail-oriented, you could even use exactly 50 star-shaped pineapple pieces.
Tip: Add some seltzer to make it an extra-refreshing treat on a hot day.
The Sweet Treat: Red, White and Blue Parfaits
This red, white and blue parfait is easy to make and perfect for the occasion. Layer your ingredients of choice in individual parfaits, or layered the treat in a large dish or bowl for guests to take as much as they like.
Want to make it more fun? Set up a red, white and blue parfait bar so your guests can help themselves. Line a table with containers of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, whipped cream, yogurt, shredded coconut and other patriotic toppings.
Looking for more ideas? The ladies of Joan Lunden Productions handpicked our favorite summer salad recipes that are perfect for Labor Day >
Joan Lunden’s in-house research and writing team works with Joan to create content that complements her focuses and the interests of her fans. The team is dedicated to creating a thriving community through content and conversations, and hopes their work, like Joan’s, can make a difference in the lives of her readers everywhere.