5 Yummy Recipes for a Healthier Labor Day Weekend Cookout

Easy & healthier Labor Day recipes that everyone will love? You betcha! Check out five that we love!

With Labor Day Weekend around the corner, we’re all preparing for the last weekend of the summer! I think it’s safe to say a majority of us will be enjoying at least one BBQ to close out the season. There will be more than enough hotdogs and pasta salads to fill up on, but what if you’re looking for some lighter, healthier dishes?

Get ready to adjust your Labor Day Weekend shopping lists!  We have some healthy and delicious summer recipes for you from Medifast’s new Simply Well™: An Everyday, Healthy Cookbook! Let’s check them out!

Healthy Labor Day Recipes

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Veggie Chips & Buffalo Chicken Dip

healthy-labor-day-recipes

PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES   COOK TIME: 40 – 50 MINUTES   YIELD: 4 SERVINGS
1 Leaner    3 Green    1 Healthy Fat    3 Condiments

For the Veggie Chips:

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • ½ tsp rosemary
  • 3 cups thinly sliced yellow squash
  • 3 cups thinly sliced zucchini

For the Buffalo Chicken Dip:

  • 4 light spreadable cheese wedges, softened
  • 1½ cups plain, low-fat Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup light ranch dressing
  • ¼ cup hot pepper sauce
  • 1, 12.5-oz can chicken breast, packed in water, drained
  • 1 cup shredded, reduced-fat Colby and Monterey Jack cheese

Cooking spray

  1. Preheat oven to 400° F.
  2. Whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and rosemary together in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Add yellow squash and zucchini, and gently mix to coat.
  4. On a large, lightly-greased baking sheet, arrange yellow squash and zucchini slices in a single layer.
  5. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until crisp.
  6. Meanwhile, mix all dip ingredients until smooth, and transfer dip mixture to a small, lightly-greased baking dish.
  7. Once chips are removed from the oven, add dip mixture and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned, hot and bubbling. 

Tuna Nicoise Salad

healthy-labor-day-recipes

PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES   YIELD: 4 SERVINGS

1 Leaner 3 Green 1 Healthy Fat 3 Condiments

  • 4 tsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 6 cups mixed greens
  • 2 cups string beans, steamed until just tender
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
  • 6 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
  • 2, 7-oz cans of tuna, packed in water and drained
  1. Whisk together oil, vinegar, and garlic.
  2. Prepare a bed of mixed greens. Layer with string beans, tomatoes, egg slices, and tuna. Drizzle with oil mixture.

Tip: Purchase hard-cooked peeled eggs at the grocery store.

Greek Chicken Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce 

healthy-labor-day-recipes

PREP TIME: 20 MINUTES   COOK TIME: 10 – 15 MINUTES   YIELD: 4 SERVINGS

1 Leaner 3 Green 1 Healthy Fat 3 Condiments

For the Tzatziki Sauce:

  • 1 small cucumber
  • ½ Tbsp chopped fresh mint
  • 1 Tbsp chopped fresh dill
  • ½ Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 cup plain, low-fat
  • Greek yogurt

 

For the Chicken Burgers:

  • 2 oz crumbled, reduced-fat feta cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
  • 10 Kalamata olives, chopped and pitted
  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • 1 lb 95 – 97% lean ground chicken
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 2 tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 small head iceberg lettuce, cut into eight bun-sized pieces

 

  1. Chop half of the cucumber into small pieces, and place in a small bowl. Slice remaining cucumber into thin slices for sandwiches, and set aside. Add remaining sauce ingredients to small bowl, and refrigerate until ready to use.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the first nine burger ingredients. Add chicken, and mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into four burger patties.
  3. Moisten a paper towel with oil, and, using cooking tongs, rub on grill rack to coat lightly. Add burgers, and grill covered, over medium heat, until a meat thermometer reads 165° F (about 5 to 7 minutes on each side).
  4. Serve on iceberg lettuce “buns” with tomato slices, remaining cucumber, and sauce. 

Tuna Noodle Casserole

healthy-labor-day-recipes

PREP TIME: 5 MINUTES   COOK TIME: 5 MINUTES   YIELD: 1 SERVING

1 Medifast Meal ½ Leanest 2½ Condiments 

  • 1 packet of Medifast Macaroni & Cheese
  • 1, 3.5-oz can or pouch tuna, packed in water, drained
  • 1 Tbsp chopped red onion
  • 1 Tbsp chopped freshly parsley
  • ½ tsp wheat germ
  1. Prepare Medifast Macaroni & Cheese as directed on package.
  2. Stir in tuna, red onion, and parsley. Sprinkle wheat germ on top.

 

Mini Pepper Nachos

healthy-labor-day-recipes

PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES    COOK TIME: 5 MINUTES   YIELD: 4 SERVINGS,
1 Leaner    3 Green    1 Healthy Fat    1 Condiment

12 PEPPER HALVES PER SERVING

  • ¼ cup chopped jalapeño pepper
    Cooking spray
    1, 12.5-oz can low-sodium chicken breast (in water), drained
    6 oz avocado, mashed
    ½ cup plain, low-fat Greek yogurt
    2 cups shredded, low-fat cheddar cheese, divided
    1 tsp chili powder
    24 mini bell peppers, halved with stem, seeds, and membranes removed
    ¼ cup chopped scallions
  1. Sauté the diced jalapeño in a lightly greased skillet until tender.
  2. Mix the jalapeño, chicken, avocado, yogurt, one cup of cheese, and chili powder in a medium bowl.
  3. Arrange the mini bell peppers in a single layer in a large casserole dish. Fill with chicken mixture, sprinkle with remaining cheese, and broil until cheese has melted, about 2 to 4 minutes.
  4. Garnish with scallions and serve with salsa, if desired.

Do you have any favorite healthier Labor Day recipes? Share in the comments!

3 thoughts on “5 Yummy Recipes for a Healthier Labor Day Weekend Cookout”

  1. I always love trying out healthier recipes anytime and these are some delicious ideas for the labor day to make it special. The Greek Chicken Burgers & Mini Pepper Nachos are my favorites among all these.

  2. These look so delicious and I can’t wait to try them. I decided to take the kids somewhere fun for Labor Day weekend because it’s suppose to rain. I’ll try them when we get back though.

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