We’re all about the barbecue here at The Spruce, so we’ve rounded up some tips, tricks, and ideas for making your next cookout a delicious success. From classic burgers to cool salads and everything in between, these ideas will turn your backyard into an all-day party with no effort at all.
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Host your party during the day.
Host your party during the day. It’s more economical, it will be less stressful for you to plan and for your guests to attend and most importantly, there are plenty of reasons why having a barbecue during the day is awesome!
- You don’t need to worry about what the weather will be like.
- You can host any time of year as long as someone else is willing to step up and help out with hosting duties while you’re away from home (or just not invited). For example: my friends have hosted an afternoon BBQ in their backyard on an absolutely freezing December day complete with hot chocolate, marshmallows and Christmas music playing in the background because they wanted everyone to be able to come together before everyone went their separate ways once again for New Year’s Eve celebrations elsewhere. It was perfect!
- It’s more relaxing because no one has had too much food or drink yet so people aren’t getting rowdy or making stupid decisions just yet – which means that everybody leaves feeling good about themselves instead of feeling sick after eating too much junk food or regretful over something stupid they said earlier on in the evening (or worse yet… both!).
Serve up a frozen popsicle bar with fresh juice.
The Frozen Popsicle Bar is a fun, creative way to serve up a variety of flavors that your guests can enjoy. You’ll need just a few ingredients and some ice trays to set this up. Start by making your own juice or smoothie base. Then fill popsicle molds with the fruit purees you’ve made, then freeze them until solid. To keep things cool, create an area where guests can serve themselves their favorite flavor (and maybe even make their own), so they don’t have to wait on you while you run back and forth between the kitchen and backyard with frozen treats in hand!
If you want something different than the standard popsicle, consider making ice cream instead! This can be done two ways: 1) purchase ready-made ice cream from the grocery store, or 2) make your own using an ice cream machine (or even just in a Ziploc bag!). If neither of those options sounds appealing but still want something special for guests at your barbecue party then try these delicious recipes for homemade ice creams: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream or Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream Pie!
Make a classic dish, just not on the grill.
A great way to get the most out of your barbecue is to make dishes that are typically cooked on the grill in other ways. Some examples include:
- Classic meatloaf (made in the oven)
- Grilled chicken breast (baked)
- Ribs (cooked in a slow cooker)
If you want to go really over-the-top, you could even try using your barbecue as a smoker. The benefits here are twofold: firstly, it gives your food a unique flavor; secondly, it’s fun and eye-catching!
Make an ice cream sandwich bar.
An ice cream sandwich bar is a great idea for your next barbecue. You’ll need plenty of ice cream flavors, as well as a variety of cookies and cookie cutters. This way, you can give guests a choice between different types of sandwiches and desserts, which will encourage everyone to try something new!
You can also encourage people to get creative with their toppings—make sure there are plenty of sauces on hand so that guests can top their creations however they like!
Make a potato salad buffet.
Potato salad is a classic dish that can be served cold or hot. It works as both a side dish and an appetizer, and it’s super easy to make—just boil some potatoes, chop them up with some onions, celery, and hard-boiled eggs (optional), mix in mayonnaise or another creamy dressing (like ranch), season it with salt and pepper, chill it until ready to serve. And then you’ve got yourself some darn good potato salad!
In addition to its versatility as a side dish or appetizer for your next barbecue party (or any other kind of party for that matter), potato salad is also the perfect candidate for a buffet setup since you’ll have tons of options when it comes time to serve yourself from the buffet line: You can go traditional with just mayo or add extras like mustard or salsa; there are tons of recipes out there too so feel free to experiment—just make sure not to overdo it on those extras because nothing ruins good potato salad faster than too much stuff going into it (unless maybe chocolate chips).
Give everyone an appetizer to eat while they’re waiting for main food to be ready.
Sometimes appetizers can be made the day before, or can be made in advance and frozen. If your guests aren’t likely to eat all of their appetizer, wrap it up for them to take home. You can also make an extra batch of your favorite appetizer and keep it at room temperature on a platter (or in a cooler) so that people don’t miss out on the fun while they wait for their main course to cook.
Play games and have them at different stations.
You don’t need to have all the games at one station. Instead, they can be spread out throughout the yard or even inside. For example, you could have a game room with pool tables and foosball tables where guests can go play any time of day. You can also play lawn games together outside during the day for some friendly competition (think: cornhole). If you want to make it more challenging, separate everyone into teams and give each team their own space for playing different types of games (tag, dodgeball, etc.). That way everyone has an equal chance at winning and doesn’t feel like they’re too far from food or drinks!
Offer both vegetarian and meat options.
While it might not seem like a big deal, offering both vegetarian and meat options can make any barbecue more fun. You can offer these dishes on the same plate or in separate bowls. This will allow everyone to taste both versions and have a better understanding of how they compare.
Vegetarians should eat the same food as meat eaters, even if you think they won’t like it because they’re not used to eating that way. They probably won’t know what they’re missing! It’s also important to note that some vegetarians may choose not to eat foods containing eggs or dairy products either; these items are sometimes overlooked when planning a barbecue meal but are totally worth considering when planning your menu for guests who follow alternative diets.
Vegetarians will be happy with this option because it offers them delicious new flavors without being limited by their food choices—and meat-eating guests will enjoy more variety at their barbecues!
Have multiple types of music playing to create a festive mood.
You can have multiple types of music playing to create a festive mood. Music is one of the most effective ways of setting the tone for any party, and it’s something that people will remember long after the event is over.
Before you throw your next barbecue, consider playing different types of music at different times during the day: some before guests arrive (to help them get in the mood), some during the event itself (to keep things lively), and others when it’s time for everyone to go home (to help them wind down).
For example, if you’re having a backyard barbecue with an outdoor theme and want to create a dance floor where people can let loose without worrying about getting too hot or sweaty, try putting on some old-school hit songs from artists like Michael Jackson or Prince.
Use natural decorations such as flowers or candles and printed tablecloths to add color.
Natural decorations such as flowers or candles and printed tablecloths can add color to your party. If you want to bring some romance into the mix, candles are a great way to do this. Other natural decorations include paper lanterns, balloons, and even leaves that have fallen from trees!
To give your party an extra special touch, use plates and cups that go with the theme of your gathering. For example: if you’re having a baby shower then use pink plates and cups with pictures of babies on them! You could also get napkins that match the theme too (like ones with unicorns on them for example). This will make everything look really nice together when set out at each place setting on your table!
Rent a popcorn machine so you can make your own popcorn flavors!
If you’re looking for something different that will make your party stand out from the rest, consider renting a popcorn machine!
Popcorn is such a great snack food and can be enjoyed by everyone. It’s easy to make, super simple to clean up after and best of all…it can be made with healthy ingredients. You can even add your own flavors and toppings to customize it further. Or if you want something more fun, try making popcorn in different colors or shapes!
There are so many options available when renting a popcorn machine. You could even rent two machines side by side so that people don’t have to wait in line before they get their own bowl of deliciousness!
Everyone will love these ideas and will want to come back again next time.
When you’re planning an outdoor party, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, think about the weather — if it’s cold or rainy, you might have to move your event indoors or reschedule for later on. Second, make sure everyone can come! The last thing you want is your whole party canceled because someone couldn’t make it because of bad weather or other issues.
One way to avoid this problem is by renting a hot air balloon from RentalTents.com! Hot air balloons are great for barbecues because they give guests something interesting to look at while eating their food and chatting with friends. And since these balloons are mobile, they can be moved around easily enough so that everybody gets a good view no matter where they’re sitting!
All these benefits mean that having an outdoor barbecue will really help bring people together while still giving them something unique and memorable between bites of potato salad and grilled chicken strips.”
Conclusion
We hope that you’ve found these ideas to be helpful in planning your next barbecue. It can be a lot of fun, but it’s also easy for things to get out of hand if you don’t have a plan or enough time to prepare. Luckily, we have some great tips for making sure your next party goes off without a hitch!
