Easy 9x13 Recipes for Your Labor Day Crowd

By Mary Shannon Wells
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Labor Day should be a relaxing holiday, not one spent in your kitchen preparing food for a party. Enjoy your break with crowd-pleasing recipes that don’t take much effort or time. With the help of everyone’s favorite 9x13 casserole dish, you can serve up incredible Labor Day food that every guest will love. From appetizers to desserts, these easy Labor Day recipes can be made in your trusty 9x13 dish. Whether you’re attending a Labor Day potluck at the neighbor’s or hosting yourself, let your 9x13 handle the cooking. With cookout classics like macaroni and cheese and baked beans, your Labor Day crowd will be in side dish heaven. We didn’t forget about dessert, though! Don’t waste time perfecting an intricate layer cake this Labor Day. Easy 9x13 desserts like poke cakes, lemon bars, and our new go-to, peanut butter fingers, will be gobbled up by kids and adults. On Labor Day, you should revel in your rest. These no-fuss 9x13 casseroles and desserts will let you do just that.

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Easy 9x13 Recipes for Your Labor Day Crowd

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Baked BLT Dip

Southern Living

Recipe: Baked BLT Dip

One of the South’s favorite sandwiches gets the appetizer treatment with this dreamy dip recipe.

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Baked Tex-Mex Red Pepper Cheese Dip

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Baked Tex-Mex Red Pepper Cheese Dip

Every cookout needs an incredible dip on deck for guests that arrive hungry, and we’re happy to report that this addicting recipe is ready for the job.

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Herbed Breadcrumb-Topped Macaroni and Cheese

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Herbed Breadcrumb-Topped Macaroni and Cheese

Our Test Kitchen’s secret for the creamiest mac and cheese? Adding cubes of cheese that melt as the pasta bakes.

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Rum Baked Beans

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Rum Baked Beans

You can make these cookout-ready baked beans up to two days in advance to take the pressure off on Labor Day.

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Squash Casserole

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Sarah-Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Julia Levy

Recipe: Squash Casserole

This cheesy casserole is a Southern potluck must, and Labor Day is the perfect time to make it with fresh summer squash.

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Hot Chicken Salad with Potato Chip Crust

Sheri Castle

Recipe: Hot Chicken Salad with Potato Chip Crust

This retro dish will knock old-school cold chicken salad off its thrown as the party favorite.

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Au Gratin Potato Casserole

Southern Living

Recipe: Au Gratin Potato Casserole

With hash browns, cheese, and a crunchy cornflake topping, there’s no way this classic casserole won’t be a crowd-pleaser this Labor Day.

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Corn Pudding Casserole

Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Corn Pudding Casserole

This version of corn pudding is extra creamy and more savory than sweet.

 

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Ham-and-Greens Pot Pie with Cornbread Crust

Hector M Sanchez

Recipe: Ham-and-Greens Pot Pie with Cornbread Crust

Ham, greens, and cornbread all in one satisfying casserole? Your cookout guests will be in Southern comfort food heaven.

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Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole

This veggie-filled casserole is your perfect vehicle for savoring all the flavors of summer.

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Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly

Recipe: Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake

Instead of showing up with the same cold pasta or broccoli salad you usually bring, delight guests with this tangy, warm side dish that combines the best of both.

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Blackberry Cobbler

Southern Living

Recipe: Blackberry Cobbler

This fresh summer cobbler hits all the right notes for a Labor Day cookout dessert: It’s easy to prepare, feeds a crowd, and is easy to bake and take. It can’t be beat when topped with a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream.

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Chocolate Lasagna

Southern Living

Recipe: Chocolate Lasagna

If you want to show up with a dish that no one can find a reason to complain about, let us introduce you to our favorite vintage dessert recipe.

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Nehi Orange Poke Cake

Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

Recipe: Nehi Orange Poke Cake

This moist poke cake is inspired by one of Mama Dip’s classic orange cake recipes.  

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Luscious Lemon Bars

Southern Living

Recipe: Luscious Lemon Bars

We don’t know any party that’s ever responded negatively to a cake plate stacked high with beautifully bright lemon bars.

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Peach Dump Cake

Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Peach Dump Cake

It’s all in the name here: For this delicious dessert, you literally dump a few recipes in your casserole dish and bake it. Hallelujah!

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Sweet Tea-and-Lemonade Cake

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Sweet Tea-and-Lemonade Cake

This Arnold Palmer-inspired sheet cake is ideal for summer cookouts.

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Coconut Dream Bar

Micah Leal

Recipe: Coconut Dream Bar

Most versions of this favorite dessert recipe include a plain shortbread crust, but ours is taken to next-level delicious territory with browned butter and chopped pecans.

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Peanut Butter Fingers

Micah Leal

Recipe: Peanut Butter Fingers

Chewy, crunchy, and a winner with kids and adults, these peanut butter fingers will be scooped up faster than you can finish setting them out.

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Chocolate-Zucchini Cake

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chocolate-Zucchini Cake

We can’t think of a better dessert to serve as a summer finale on Labor Day than this new favorite sheet cake that’s a clever way to use up any fresh farmers’ market zucchini you have left.

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