Pro Tips for a Labor Day Grill Out in Your Private Backyard

Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894 to recognize the American labor movement, and today the long weekend symbolizes the unofficial end of summer for many of us. But instead of dwelling on the fact that summer is winding down, we’re proposing a celebration. Invite your friends and neighbors over to round out the season with a Labor Day BBQ!

And don’t worry if you’re not an expert party planner or grill master. We’re here to help. Keep reading to get a few of our best tips for your Labor Day grill out.

Send Invites Early

Our first piece of advice is to call, text, or email your friends as early as possible to invite them to your Labor Day grill out. The earlier you reach out, the better chance you have of receiving RSVPs of “yes” instead of “no.”

This way, you’ll ensure everyone can plan ahead of time—including you. The last thing you want is to prepare meat, veggies, and other summer side dishes for a BBQ, only to have nobody show up because they’re at another event.

Plan Your Menu

When it comes to hosting a barbecue, keeping it simple is the name of the game. Buying proteins that require different temperatures can cause you a lot of unnecessary confusion and coordination. Unless you’re confident in your grill skills, we recommend sticking to burgers and hot dogs instead of more complex proteins, like steak or chicken.

Then, diversify the menu with a variety of different sides for your Labor Day BBQ. You can even do things potluck style and ask guests to bring their favorite side with them.

Prep Your Backyard

You’ll want to decorate your backyard and prepare your grilling space well before guests are scheduled to arrive. Rushing to get everything ready as guests walk through the door is nerve-wracking for hosts and can create a bad first impression for guests.

Meal preparation includes cutting veggies, making sides, and seasoning your meats. You’ll also want to clean and oil your grill grate to prevent food from sticking.

You can’t really go wrong when it comes to backyard barbecue decorations—just make sure they’re festive! Red, white, and blue decor always plays well for Labor Day festivities, but you don’t have to limit yourself to patriotic decor. Decorate with colors you like, or come up with a fun theme for your private backyard.

Avoid Moving the Food Around

Now that the backyard is decorated and your feast is prepped, it’s time to fire up the grill and get to work. Despite common practice, there’s no need to continuously flip your burgers or roll your hot dogs around. In fact, doing so can ruin the flavor or lead to undercooked food.

Let everything sit for a while, and only flip your burgers once and roll the ‘dogs around a little bit to get even grill marks on every side.

Use a Meat Thermometer

Experienced grillmasters may be able to tell when a meat is done by touching it, but that’s not the case for everyone. To prevent foodborne illnesses, one of our best summer barbecue tips is to buy a meat thermometer.

We know you don’t want to keep hungry guests waiting while you bring your meats to a safe temperature, but don’t make the mistake of turning up the grill’s temperature to cook everything more quickly. Doing so will only burn your food or dry everything out—nobody wants that.

Let the Meats Rest

Mouths will water as burgers, hot dogs, and veggies sizzle on the grill. But tell everyone to be patient—meats should rest after they’re done cooking. Resting your proteins before slicing or serving them allows juices to distribute throughout the piece, ensuring a tastier meal for all of your guests.

Serve It Up

Now that everything’s thoroughly cooked and rested, it’s time to serve up your BBQ feast. We recommend setting everything out on a table and allowing people to serve themselves buffet style. In addition to being more time efficient, this method ensures everyone gets the perfect amount of their favorite foods.

Host the Best BBQ at Christopher Todd Communities

Ensure you host a flawless Labor Day BBQ by renting a home in a horizontal living community. From your private backyard to your luxurious interior kitchen, you’ll have everything you need to host a fantastic summer BBQ as a resident at Christopher Todd Communities.

After your BBQ, take a dip in our resort-style pool or relax with friends around the community fire pit—we have plenty of community amenities to suit everyone’s lifestyle.

Contact our team today to learn more about Christopher Todd Communities and schedule a tour.

Written By

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Christopher Todd

Christopher Todd Communities creates neighborhoods and communities for people to enjoy, share, and live. Here, you’ll find luxury, single-story, rental homes in gated, planned communities that are professionally managed. These come complete with amenities designed for socializing, energizing, for peace of mind, and even for pets.