Labor Day

Get a jump on party prep by making the patties ahead of time; they can be chilled for up to 8 hours.

Use a metal cake tester or thin paring knife to check the potatoes; they should still hold their shape but offer no resistance when pierced.

An herb marinade is your secret weapon for these grilled chicken wings. And pretty much everything else.

These little blueberry pies are simple to make, and thanks to their rectangular shape, you won’t end up with wasted scraps of dough. 

Avoid rookie mistakes when it comes to barbecuing chicken. If you apply the sauce too early, it will scorch. And most bottled sauces are too sweet, which is where this vinegary version comes in.

In this rack of lamb recipe, the lamb needs to marinate overnight, so be sure to start 1 day ahead. But trust us: It's worth it.

If you don't have a bunch bowl, use a big glass vase--it's nice and tall and doesn't take up too much space on your table.

Sprinkle the cutting board with chopped herbs dressed with oil and citrus zest before setting the meat on top to rest. The cooked protein will absorb the herbs' aroma.

Watermelon's natural sweetness gets a little boost from agave syrup instead of refined sugar in this refreshing summer beverage.

It goes without saying, but the sweeter and riper your strawberries, the better this adult slushy will taste (and look).

This blueberry cobbler recipe is for individual portions—you knew you would find a use for those ramekins!

Using this triple-threat sauce as a marinade, basting liquid, and finger-licking-good dip guarantees a depth of flavor that’s impossible to achieve with any single step.

Five ingredients and five steps will get you to burger heaven. Want to take this summer cook-out staple to the next level? Check out our recipe for the Butcher's Burger, which includes three different cuts of beef. This is part of BA's Best, a collection of our essential recipes.