It’s a summer day! Which means it’s time to fire up the grill, pour a round of drinks, and crank up the music for the finest backyard BBQ party of the season. But before you throw a massive garden party at your house or plan to swarm a nearby park with friends, have a look at our backyard BBQ ideas for some inspiration.
We’ve got everything covered for your summertime BBQ party, from elegant decor and fun games to the greatest beverages, dinners, and desserts in the neighborhood. Read on for a few pointers on how to make sure your party goes off without a hitch.
Backyard BBQ Birthday Party Checklist
Nothing is more frustrating than being unprepared while organizing a party. To assist you, we’ve put together a barbeque checklist so you may prepare ahead and have a stress-free and fun summer get-together.
To make your summer BBQ a success, use our checklist, recommendations, and menu planner below.
The Basics of Grilling
Without the proper equipment, a BBQ is nothing! Make sure all of your tools are clean and ready to use before you start grilling.
- Spatula
- Tongs
- Grill Fork
- Grill Gloves
- Gas, Propane, or Charcoal
- Oil
Before you start your grill, double-check your propane or charcoal supply. Make sure you have adequate propane or charcoal the day before your BBQ gathering to avoid a headache.
Prepare a variety of drinks
Keeping your friends hydrated on a hot summer day will necessitate plenty of water. To accommodate all of your guests, serve a selection of beverages. Such as:
- Water
- Lemonade, fruit juice, or soda
- Beer, wine or cocktails
- Glass cups
- Cooler
- Ice
On a sweltering day, nothing beats ice cold water. Flavored ice-cold water! A tasty, sugar-free way to keep you and your friends hydrated!
Prepare Cutlery
Set-up and clean-up might take a long time depending on the size of your crowd. As soon as your guests arrive, make sure they have all of their dining utensils and necessities—especially if there are snacks on the table!
- Bowls and plates
- Knives, forks, and spoons
- Napkins
- Bowls for serving
- Serving spoons & tongs
- Table runner (Optional)
To avoid unnecessary clean-up work, set up a garbage/recycling station ahead of time. Cans, bottles, and caps should be deposited in a recycling container near your beverage coolers.
Get the Perfect Summer Barbecue Menu
Are you at a loss on what to cook on the grill? We’ve compiled a list of our favorite summer BBQ recipes to help you create the ideal dinner.
These veggie-packed dishes are quick and easy to make, making your grilling experience as stress-free as possible. Simply choose whatever dishes from each category you want to try and get grilling!
Main Course
- Bell Pepper Spinach Burgers
- Bell Pepper Burgers
- Savory Chicken Burgers
- Perfectly Grilled Steaks
- Better Hamburger Patties
- Brisket Rubs
- Pulled Pork Rubs
- Rib Rubs
- Grilled Chicken Recipes
- Cedar Plank Grilled Fish
- Grilled Shrimp
- Grilled Salmon
Condiments are a must-have for a burger and hot dog menu. By putting out all of the preferred toppings, everyone will be able to create their dream meals. Try a secret sauce or unusual toppings to truly make your burgers stand out.
Side Dishes
- Roasted potato salad
- Spiralized mini cucumber salad
- Bell pepper & pineapple kabobs
- Tomato and watermelon salad
At your barbecue, make sure to include a few side dishes. They may make use of the greatest summer food, and many cold salads can be made ahead of time. While you’re waiting for the grill to heat up, several of these make excellent appetizers.
Tips to Have Memorable Backyard BBQ Party
Prepare some favorite meal before your friends’ arrival
As you’ll see, the majority of these backyard BBQ party recommendations are based on mistakes we’ve made when entertaining friends and family in the past.
The first recommendation, which is to prepare before your guests arrive, is something we still fail to accomplish on a regular basis. When we do, however, prepare as much as possible ahead of time, it makes a huge difference in how much our family and our guests enjoy the barbecue.
When the guests come, make sure that all of the food is ready to put on the grill, and that any side dishes are arranged, cooked as needed, and on display. Guests should not arrive when you are still creating burger patties and slicing lettuce and tomatoes.
Add an artistic outdoor lighting
Outside, it will get dark. So, ornamental garden lighting should be on hand. A solar-powered outdoor string lights are fantastic!
They’re set on an automated timer to turn on when the sun sets. You won’t have to rush to turn on the lights this way. You keep them up all summer and arrange family picnics with just the three of us because they look so lovely.
Snacks should be served away from the cooking area
Nothing annoys us more as a regular dinner party and outdoor barbecue party host than folks congregating in the kitchen or around the grill – even if most of the labor is done ahead of time.
As a result, you can establish a snack table apart from the kitchen and grill. You are able to purchase a small folding table to put up that can be readily stored in your garage when not in use.
To keep the kiddos entertained, set up some yard activities
Summer is here, and the kids are itching to get outside and play. Before the party begins, set up any outside activities such as cornhole, horseshoes, or Twister. This way, the kids can start playing right away, while you can start socializing.
Prepare a Unique Backyard BBQ Invitations
Choosing the invitation is one of the most enjoyable aspects of organizing a party. You have the option of utilizing conventional paper invites or digital invites, which are both easier and more ecologically friendly.
You will get some pretty invitations below:
You can distribute the BBQ party information to everyone on your guest list with just a few clicks using online invites. Plus, keeping track of RSVPs online is far easier than keeping track of physical cards.
