Some of the things that come to mind as we move towards summer are the thought of lighting up the grill, turning on the music, and pouring a round of drinks with our family and friends in the best backyard BBQ party of the season. Just like any other party, preparation is always critical when it comes to BBQs. As a host, you need to ensure that you have the right equipment, mood music, and drinks for the party. This article shares a few BBQ catering ideas for your outdoor party.
What to Serve At an Outdoor BBQ Party
- Main Dishes
A mixture of inventive recipes and BBQ classics will surely impress your guests. Grilling to perfection involves allowing enough time for ingredients to take the characteristic charring and smokiness while retaining their flavor.
Some of the main dishes you can choose for your BBQ party include burgers, chicken wings or thighs, BBQ ribs, hot dogs, prawns, and chorizo skewers. You can also choose courgette and halloumi skewers for vegetarians, vegetable kebabs, and stuffed peppers for vegans.
- Side Dishes
The minimum recommendation for an outdoor BBQ party is to serve at least three side dishes. The reason behind this idea is to provide a variety to your guests while keeping everything manageable at the same time. This could come in handy if you prep morning or the day before. A few side dishes that are suitable for vegetarians include mac n cheese, coleslaw, potato salad, and sundried tomato and mozzarella salad. Vegan options include grilled asparagus and barbecue baked beans.
- Desserts
Although many people often forget desserts when it comes to outdoor BBQ food ideas, it is always important to finish your meals with something sweet. A few dessert options include strawberry mille-feuille, s’mores, and raspberry ripple with white chocolate cheesecake bars. Dairy-free recipes for vegans include raspberry sorbet and fruit kebabs. Not only are they refreshing and flavored but are also ideal for capping off a BBQ.
- Drinks
It is not just about the food ideas when deciding what to serve at an outdoor BBQ party. Drinks also play a major role in setting a cheerful mood for the crowd. One of the best ways to get started is to set up a welcome mocktail or cocktail as well as a drinks station. Some of our favorite recipes include champagne cocktails, mint and lime mojito, and a summertime gin twist. You can also consider a luxurious alcohol-free option like the rose, rhubarb, and juniper mocktail.
Creating the Ideal Setting for an Outdoor BBQ Catering
- Ready the Grill
The grill is a special piece of equipment as it is considered the heart of a great barbecue party. Although they are available in different sizes and shapes, every backyard chef always has their preference. It does not matter whether your grill uses charcoal or gas, as long as it does the job! Besides preparing the grill, you need to be ready with tongs, a grilling fork, and a stainless-steel spatula. Whatever style or design you choose for these tools, make sure they can stand up to the heat of the grill.
- Barbecue Condiments and Sauce
The little things you take for granted are what make your food better. Whether it is the fixings for your burgers or the marinade for your steak, you need to have everything ready as it helps boost flavor. The spices, sauces, and condiments you need for your barbecue may vary depending on what you are cooking. You can have BBQ sauces for ribs and chicken, fruit-based, vinegar-based, or mustard-based – whatever works for your main dishes! A few condiments include spice rub for brisket, marinade for meat, salsa, hummus, and chimichurri for Latin American cuisine.
- Table Setting and Party Vibe
It is important to decide on the vibe of your outdoor BBQ party; like is it a thoughtful get-together for Memorial Day or an easy summer party? What kind of guests will you be having and which setting will make everyone feel comfortable? Set up your dining area if you want everyone seated around the table when food is served. Whether there will be campfires to keep people warm during the night make sure it is ready and well thought beforehand.
It is never easy to prepare a great outdoor BBQ party if you do not have an idea of where to start or how to go about everything. These are only a few of the different ideas that people incorporate into their BBQ parties to make them memorable. You can always tweak some food ideas and other items on the list to make your BBQ party even more fun.