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Labor Day is almost here, and if you're hosting a backyard cookout this year, I've got you completely covered. This week I'm sharing five recipes that will make your spread look like you planned it for weeks — smoky Southern grilled chicken straight off the grill, corn on the cob done the right way, those trendy corn ribs everyone keeps asking about, a classic creamy macaroni salad that belongs at every cookout table, and a bright blue Smurf Punch that's going to be the most talked-about thing at the party. One last big cookout before summer clocks out. Let's fire it up

🍗 The Cookout Centerpiece

​Cracker Barrel Smoky Southern Grilled Chicken — Juicy chicken infused with smoky Southern seasonings and grilled to perfection — this is the Cracker Barrel recipe that delivers everything you want from backyard grilling without any of the guesswork. The marinade does all the heavy lifting, the grill does the rest, and what comes off is chicken that's deeply flavorful, perfectly charred on the outside, and incredibly juicy inside. Make a big batch, because it disappears fast.

🌽 The Classic You Have to Have

​How to Grill Corn on the Cob — Smoky, juicy corn with beautiful char marks all along the cob — this is the one cookout side that everyone lines up for, and once you learn this method, you'll never go back to boiling corn again. Grilling in the husk steams the corn from the inside while the outside gets those gorgeous grill marks that make it look and taste like something from a summer street fair. Simple, perfect, and exactly right for Labor Day.

🌽 The Trendy Twist Everyone Will Want to Try

​Air Fryer Corn Ribs — Corn cut into rib-style strips, seasoned and air-fried until they curl up and get beautifully caramelized on the edges — this is the fun, shareable cookout snack that makes everyone do a double-take when you bring the platter out. They're easy to pick up, packed with flavor, and the kind of thing guests will photograph before they eat. If you want one dish at your Labor Day cookout that feels fresh and different, this is it.

🥗 The Cookout Classic Nobody Can Resist

​Southern Macaroni Salad — Creamy, tangy, loaded with cheese and crisp veggies — this is the macaroni salad that belongs on every Labor Day table without exception. This Southern version has the perfect balance of richness and brightness, making it completely irresistible alongside anything coming off the grill. Make it the night before, let it chill, and it's even better by party time. This is the side dish everyone will spoon into their bowls before the chicken is even plated.

💙 The Patriotic Punch That Steals the Show

​Ruby Tuesday Smurf Punch — Bright, vivid blue punch made with Sprite, a splash of blue coloring, and topped with whipped cream — this is the non-alcoholic drink that makes the whole party table look festive without any effort at all. Ruby Tuesday used to serve this at the restaurant, and people absolutely loved it, and now you can make it at home in about five minutes. Kids go absolutely wild for it. Set up a punch bowl on the picnic table and watch it disappear before the burgers are done. Stars and stripes and Smurf Punch — that's how you send summer off in style.

💬 Which Restaurant Side Belongs on Your Cookout Table?

Every cookout has a gap — the one restaurant side you wish you could set out next to the grilled chicken but have never cracked at home. Tell me which one it is, and I'll put it on the list to develop next. Join the CopyKat Community to vote, ask questions while you're prepping this weekend, and post a photo of your plate on Monday.

🔥 In the Kitchen for Cookout Day

Three things that make your Labor Day cookout run smoothly from grill to table.

🖌️ Silicone Basting Brush — That smoky Southern chicken wants a second coat of marinade right as it hits the grill, and a silicone brush is the only kind that will lay it on evenly without shedding bristles into your dinner. The heads pull off and go straight in the dishwasher, so the sticky BBQ sauce cleanup takes about ten seconds. Once you grill with one, you'll never go back to the old boar-bristle kind.

🥣 Tupperware Fix-N-Mix 1.7 Gallon Bowl with Lid — Cookout food gets made in big batches, and this is the bowl that actually holds a full recipe of macaroni salad without slopping over the sides while you fold it together. The lid snaps on so it goes straight into the refrigerator overnight, which is exactly what that salad needs to taste its best. It doubles as your punch bowl for the Smurf Punch, too.

🧊 Insulated Food Carrier — If you're taking the macaroni salad to someone else's cookout (or just keeping it cold in your own backyard), an insulated carrier keeps everything at a safe temperature from kitchen to table. No balancing a bowl covered in plastic wrap, no worrying about it warming up in the sun — just snap the lid, carry it out, and serve. This is the practical cookout essential that makes everything easier.

🇺🇸 Have the Best Labor Day Cookout on the Block

Smoky grilled chicken off the grill, corn two ways, the creamiest macaroni salad, and a blue Smurf Punch that makes the whole table look like a celebration — this is your complete Labor Day cookout menu, ready to go. Pick one recipe or make the whole spread. Either way, you're going to have the best backyard on the block this year. Happy Labor Day!