Barbecues are a fantastic way to host friends and have amazing food-focused parties. If you’re a grilling novice instead of a grillmaster, however, you might not really know where to start with hosting the ultimate barbecue. Follow these easy tips to step up your grill game, and become master of the coals (or propane). You’ll be impressing your friends with great barbecue food in no time.
1. Don’t go overboard with the menu.
It’s tempting to get over-excited and try to serve up everything you can imagine. Keep the menu streamlined, and pick some good quality meats to grill up. Choose one or two meat products like burgers, sausages, steaks or chicken for kebabs, and focus on those. You could add a fish to add some variety, and maybe a vegetarian option, like halloumi. Halloumi is a great veggie option for the grill, as the cheese gets solid instead of melted when heated and tastes delicious. Add a couple of side salads, and some quality bread rolls and you’re golden. Get ideas for some great barbecue recipes from a site like Grillseeker to find easy recipes that will still wow your guests.
2. Make sure you have enough seating.
Don’t panic too much about having enough room around the table, as long as all guests can sit down, you’re fine. Break out the beach chairs or some floor cushions to add extra seats, or ask friends to bring some spare chairs with them if you’re really stuck for seating options. For younger guests, like kids, you could even layout some picnic blankets and save the chairs for older visitors.
3. Set up a condiment station.
Everybody likes different options to top their burgers or hot dogs, so set up a station for people to serve themselves. You could put out toppings like ready fried onions, pickles or salad leaves, and then a range of condiments like ketchup, mayonnaise, relish, and mustard. Your guests can help themselves and construct the burger of their dreams.
4. Stock the bar.
Get in a range of beers and soft drinks. Fill your cooler with ice and wedge the cans or bottles into the ice, so your guests have a cool drink on hand throughout the party. Iced tea and lemonade are great non-alcoholic options, and can be made beforehand in large pitchers to save you worrying when your guests are there. Stock the freezer with plenty of ice, and you’re ready to go.
5. Add lawn games for a fun activity.
Lawn games can make for a really fun barbecue party with a focus other than food. Layout a few games like horseshoes or lawn croquet. Games like giant Jenga could be a worthwhile investment for entertainment if you plan to have outdoor parties a lot. For kids, you can keep them entertained for ages with something as simple as some sidewalk chalk and free rein to decorate your patio.
6. Prevent unwanted guests from getting a free meal.
Keep the food inside until the last moment and then cover anything not currently being eaten to avoid attracting too many insects. Light some citronella candles for a cozy atmosphere and to keep mosquitoes and other bugs at bay. Pack away any leftover food, and make sure you deal with any trash promptly to avoid attracting more bugs.
7. Get your barbecue ready.
If the grill has been languishing in the shed since last summer, make sure you get it out in plenty of time. Give it a good clean to remove any dust or spiders who’ve moved in. If there’s old stuck on burnt food from last time, heat the barbecue up to make it easier to remove. If your barbecue is beyond saving, invest in a new one. Think realistically about how often you’ll use it and how many people you’ll be cooking for before choosing the best option for you.
8. Keep your guest list a sensible size for your lawn.
Make sure you have enough space for everyone to relax, without your yard becoming cramped and crowded. Summer weekends can be busy for people, so don’t worry if everyone can’t make it. That just means more burgers for you.
9. Invest in some outdoor dishware.
Sturdy plastic plates and glasses can look stylish and are more practical than your regular dishes and glasses for outside. The plastics are much harder to break, even if they’re knocked over or dropped. If the thought of all the washing up after the party is too much for you, you could even just buy paper plates and cups, and just recycle it all when your guests leave.
This is a contributor post, which has been reviewed and edited personally by me before being published. Links to external reviews are meant to provide additional ideas to readers and do not reflect my personal opinion or review of products.
Featured photo credit: Evan Wise