Holiday Planning · May 7, 2026

Plan the Perfect Memorial Day Cookout, Start to Finish

A full menu plan, timeline, and shopping list so you can spend the holiday with people — not stuck at the grill wondering what you forgot.

Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer cooking in Kentucky, and it deserves more than a last-minute run to the grocery store. A little planning — spread across the days before — means the day itself is relaxed. Here's how we approach it.

The Menu (Serves 8–10)

Main

Slow-Smoked Bourbon BBQ Ribs (start the night before or early morning)
Peach-Glazed Chicken Thighs (grill while ribs rest)

Sides

Charred Corn Salsa (doubles as a side dish)
Classic coleslaw (make the day before — it gets better)
Cast iron skillet cornbread (bake fresh, 30 minutes)
Sliced heirloom tomatoes with sea salt and olive oil

Dessert

Classic Strawberry Shortcake with fresh whipped cream
Sliced watermelon (always)

3 Days Before: Shop

The ribs need at least a day in a dry rub before smoking, and the coleslaw needs overnight rest. Shop Thursday so you can prep Friday and coast through Saturday into Sunday. Key items to secure early: full racks of spare ribs or baby back ribs (call ahead — they sell out near the holiday), fresh peaches if you're making the glaze from scratch, and strawberries.

The Day Before: Rubs and Slaws

Apply the dry rub to the ribs Saturday evening and let them sit uncovered in the refrigerator overnight. This dries the surface slightly and allows the spices to penetrate deeper. Make the coleslaw dressing and toss it with shredded cabbage — it needs at least 8 hours to soften and meld. Prep the strawberries: hull, halve, and sugar them. Let them macerate overnight. They'll develop their own syrup by morning.

Day-Of Timeline

7:00 AMLight the smoker or set up indirect heat on the grill. Get ribs on.
10:00 AMWrap ribs in foil with a splash of apple juice. Back on low heat.
12:00 PMPull ribs from foil, sauce, and hold warm. Prep chicken thighs.
1:00 PMGuests arrive. Grill corn and chicken. Set out coleslaw and tomatoes.
2:00 PMBake cornbread. Slice ribs. Eat.
4:00 PMWhip cream. Assemble shortcakes. Bring out the watermelon.

The One Thing Most People Forget

Ice. Always, always more ice than you think. And a separate cooler just for drinks so the food cooler stays at a stable temperature all day. These two things will save you more stress than any recipe tip I can offer.