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I Threw a Last-Minute Labor Day BBQ and Here's Everything I Grabbed
25
items Monday morning you realize Labor Day is THIS weekend and you haven't planned a thing. No decorations, no decent grill tools, nothing to keep the kids busy while burgers cook. I panicked through this exact scenario last year and spent way too long wan...
Sections
5
Grilling Gear That Doesn't Fall Apart After One Cookout
Outdoor Setup for When Your Backyard Looks Bare
Food Prep Shortcuts for Feeding a Crowd Without Losing It
Lawn Games That Actually Keep People Off Their Phones
Patriotic Decor That Doesn't Look Like a Dollar Store Exploded
Grilling Gear That Doesn't Fall Apart After One Cookout
Last Labor Day I used a spatula that literally bent in half flipping a burger. The handle on my tongs melted. I replaced everything this year and the difference was embarrassing. Should've done it sooner.
Grab this if your old grill has more rust than grate left. Set it up in about 20 minutes and the heat distribution was actually even for once. Worth it before another summer slips by.
Weber, Charcoal Grill, 22 Inch Premium Kettle, Black
Swap out those mismatched dollar store tools. The tongs alone are worth it. My neighbor borrowed the corn holders and tried to keep them, so maybe buy two sets.
Cuisinart Wooden Handle Essential Stainless Steel Grill
Keep two bags on hand because running out mid-cookout is a special kind of panic. These light faster than the generic brand I wasted money on last July.
Kingsford Original Charcoal Briquettes, 16 lbs (2 Pack)
Ditch the lighter fluid forever. Seriously. Coals were ready in 15 minutes and nothing tasted like chemicals. My uncle, the guy who argues about everything, admitted it was better.
Weber 12.7 Inch Rapidfire Chimney Charcoal Starter
Use this if you're the person who cuts into every chicken breast to check doneness. Stopped serving dry pork chops the day I started actually measuring temps instead of guessing.
ThermoPro TP03 Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Outdoor Setup for When Your Backyard Looks Bare
I looked at my yard the Thursday before last year's party and realized I had one folding chair and a card table. Guests were eating standing up. Never again.
Throw this up when the forecast says sun but your yard has zero shade. Took maybe five minutes solo. Three of my guests moved their chairs under it within ten minutes of arriving.
Ozark Trail, Pop Up Canopy Tent, 10x10, Simple Push Setup
Get at least two. One for food, one for seating. They wipe clean in seconds, which matters when your cousin's kid spills ranch dressing everywhere. Folds flat behind the garage after.
Mainstays 6 ft Rectangle Centerfold Folding Table, Black
For the friend group where everyone says they'll bring chairs and nobody does. Comfortable enough for a three-hour hangout and they stack in a closet when you're done.
COSCO SmartFold Fabric Folding Chair, 4-Pack, Gray
Pair these with the canopy once the sun goes down. Hung them across the fence in about ten minutes and suddenly my basic backyard looked like a restaurant patio.
Brightown Indoor/Outdoor LED String Lights
Pour this in any tiki torch and the mosquitoes actually backed off. We sat outside until 11 PM without getting eaten alive, which is unheard of for my zip code in September.
TIKI, Bitefighter Torch Fuel, 64 oz, Citronella and Cedar Oil
Food Prep Shortcuts for Feeding a Crowd Without Losing It
Cooking for 15 people solo taught me that anything I can prep ahead or serve straight from the container is a win. Nobody cares if you made the coleslaw from scratch. They care if there's enough.
Wrap corn on the cob, cover trays, make foil packets for veggies. Bought the heavy duty version after the regular stuff tore on me mid-grill last year. Small upgrade, big difference.
REYNOLDS WRAP, Aluminum Foil, Heavy Duty
Send leftovers home with guests so you're not eating pulled pork for six days straight. Also great for prepping burger toppings the night before. Lids actually snap on tight.
Rubbermaid TakeAlongs 40 Piece Food Storage Set
Bring out the big bottle because those little squeeze ones run dry after four hot dogs. This is for the purist at every BBQ who puts mustard on everything including the potato salad.
French's Kosher Classic Yellow Mustard, 20.0 oz Bottle
Try this on ribs, chicken, even as a dip for fries. Poured some into a bowl for the table and it was gone in 30 minutes. Stock up now because it disappears off shelves before holiday weekends.
Sweet Baby Ray's® Original Barbecue Sauce 28 oz
Skip the fancy drinkware when you're hosting outdoors. Nobody wants to wash 30 glasses at midnight. These are the universal signal that a party is happening.
Red Solo Party Plastic Disposable Cups, 18 oz, 50 Count
Lawn Games That Actually Keep People Off Their Phones
Last year everyone just stood around in small groups staring at screens between burger rounds. This year I set up three games and suddenly people were yelling, laughing, and actually talking to each other.
Get this before the weekend because it single-handedly saved my party from being boring. Even my dad played, and he hasn't voluntarily participated in anything recreational since 2014.
GoSports Regulation Size Premium Wooden Cornhole Set
Perfect for the competitive friend group that turns everything into a tournament. Set it up on the grass and watch people who said they weren't playing suddenly dive for the ball.
Spikeball Portable Foldable Standard 3 Ball Kit ...
Toss a frisbee into a can. Sounds simple but grown adults were screaming. Works great for mixed ages since the rules take about 30 seconds to explain.
Kan Jam Original Disc Toss Target Game for the Backyard
Bring this out after sunset with the string lights on and it becomes the main event. Way more fun than regular Jenga because the crash is dramatic enough to get the whole yard's attention.
GoSports Toppling Tower - Giant Wooden Stacking Game
Keep this one for when kids need something to do that isn't asking you for more lemonade every four minutes. Water plus competition kept them busy for over an hour.
Wham-O Washer Target Toss Games with Board
Patriotic Decor That Doesn't Look Like a Dollar Store Exploded
Red white and blue everything is fine, but there's a line between festive and tacky. Crossed it badly two years ago. These kept things looking put-together without spending all morning decorating.
Sturdy enough to hold a loaded burger without folding in half. That's the only test that matters for paper plates at a BBQ. The flag print is a nice bonus, not the selling point.
Patriotic Flag Disposable Paper Plates, Red/White/Blue
Toss a stack on every table and you're covered. Thick enough to actually wipe sauce off your hands instead of just smearing it around like the cheap ones do.
Customer reviews for Patriotic Party Napkins / 48 Beverage
Hang this across the fence or porch railing in two minutes. It looked way more intentional than the random balloons I taped everywhere last time. Survived a windy evening too.
Large Patriotic Pennant Banner (24Ft) - Party Decor
Drape it along the food table for instant color. My sister, who judges every party setup, actually complimented it. That's how I knew it worked.
Patriotic Star Garland Banner With Red White Blue
Throw these over folding tables to hide the fact that they're ugly folding tables. Cleanup took about 90 seconds. Just ball the whole thing up, toss it, and you're done for the night.
3 Pack Patriotic Tablecloths, 108"x54" Disposable Plastic