60 of the best recipes guaranteed to help you have a fun and easy BBQ party this summer. A collection of everything you will need. Sauces, appetizers, main dishes, desserts and even fun drinks.
Summer Fun Ahead
Summer is the time for cooking outdoors and celebrating with people you love. Having a large or small gathering can be fun and doesn’t have to be stressful. We have collected a set of 60 recipes to help you have an easy and fun BBQ. Simple, delicious and easy recipes are always a win, just like our CAULIFLOWER SALAD and our BABY BACK RIBS, we can have you cooking in no time!
How to Have a Fun and Stress Free BBQ
Prep ahead!
Be sure to do what you can ahead of time to lighten your load for the day off. Prepping vegetables, marinating meat and making sides that can be reheated or stored in the fridge a just a few ideas.
Have plenty of Seating.
You don’t have to have tables set up necessarily but do make sure you have plenty of places for folks to take a load off. You can borrow chairs (and tables) from your church or community center or even have a B.Y.O.C, Bring Your Own Chair, party!
Have a good supply of cooking fuel. Propane/Charcoal.
Just like planning for food needs, making sure you have enough cooking fuel on hand is a must. It is far better to have too much than too little. Because with cooking fuel, that can make or break a BBQ.
Have snacks on hand for until food gets ready.
Small bites are perfect for any party. With a BBQ party, waiting on hot cooked main dishes can mean your guests may get restless. Having simple things like a charcuterie board or simple dips and veggies can keep the guests happy while the master chef finishes the main attraction.
Two Words: Bug. Spray.
For any outdoor outing in the Summer, most people don’t think of bringing their bug spray along. Having deet free options as well as traditional bug spray on hand will keep everyone comfortable.
Music makes the world go round.
Stream your favorite party tunes on a speaker. Making sure to keep the volume where people can still comfortably talk. Music in general is a mood enhancer and if you make a playlist ahead of time to fit your party theme, fun will be had by all.
Side Dish Potluck
Whether you enlist the help of your closest friends or make it part of the party theme, having your guests bring what they are famous for does a few fun things. It gives them a sense of authority, meaning they will have a great topic of conversation. It helps take the load off of you, need I say more?
Accept Help!
“My best tip for a fun and successful BBQ is simple: accept the help that’s offered! When your friends ask to bring something, ask them for something you need that would benefit the gathering. If your sister asks to help, set her up to pick herbs, assemble a salad, or get the drinks in the cooler. Your guests will feel useful and you’ll have a few things taken off your plate, allowing for more time to enjoy.” -Gen La Rocca, Chef and Owner of Two Cloves Kitchen
Keep things quick and Easy
“You always need more ice than you think you need. Have a few spare bags in the freezer. Keep.It.Simple. You may be tempted to do 6 different meats, but try and resist. Do 2-3 max, and focus on doing the best version you can rather than throwing out every optional under the sun. Assign a kid to be your “runner”. You’ll need more stuff from the kitchen, need cooked meats brought in, need more paper plates brought out, etc. You need a runner.” Nicole Johnson – owner and resident bbq expert @ OrWhateverYouDo.com
Most of all, have FUN!
BBQ and Summer just go together. Like Baseball and Hot dogs. No matter your party size or theme, make sure it is stress free and fun for you!
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Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Wings
Grilled Cilantro Chicken Wings. A simple marinade makes for a super flavorful, perfectly charred, smoky grilled cilantro lime chicken wings.
Bacon Cornbread Salad is a great southern classic. Combining fresh salad components with sweet southern cornbread is a win all the way around. Dressed with a mayo dressing and the king of protein, Bacon!
This easy Crack Dip is loaded with delicious Ranch seasoning, bacon, and cheesy flavors and comes together in 5 minutes. It’s a savory crowd-pleasing appetizer that can be served cold or warm.
Here are three ways to make a healthy, from-scratch Flank Steak Marinade! Each one only takes only 10 minutes of prep time, followed by marinating in the refrigerator, then grilling to tender perfection just in time for a delicious meal.
This Hibiscus Margarita is everything you want in a margarita: tart, sweet, and a little boozy. Plus, an absolutely gorgeous color makes this drink stand out on any table!
Loaded with plant-based protein and soaked in a tangy balsamic dressing this chickpea quinoa salad recipe makes a tasty 30-minute meal or a wonderful side dish!
Southern Coleslaw is a sweet side dish great for any occasion. Using Cabbage or Broccoli slaw mix is a great base for this traditional side dish. Adding a homemade dressing with mustard and vinegar really gives it a zip that will make it stand out.
Burrata Caprese with Peaches is the perfect summer dish. Ripe tomatoes paired with sweet-tart peaches and creamy burrata cheese, then topped with chopped pistachios and a drizzle of basil vinaigrette.
Colorful Avocado and tomato salad made with simple ingredients is going to be a huge hit with your grilling crowd. Great as a sandwich filling or as a side dish.
Bacon Wrapped Onion Rings are the perfect appetizer. Spicy red onions wrapped in smoky bacon cooked to perfection in the oven. Best served with some smoky BBQ sauce!
Drunken BBQ Chicken Legs are the perfect protein for your BBQ celebration. Made with a delicious marinade of beer, honey and spices, these chicken legs will up your grill game.
This caprese salad with arugula has cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic reduction. It's a perfect summer salad you're going to love!
Using your grill means your house stays cool while these potatoes cook. You can enjoy all the creamy goodness of a twice baked potato, any time of the year!
BBQ Pork Stuffed Sweet Potatoes is a tasty way to spruce up that baked sweet potato. We use lean Pork tenderloin seasoned and pulled to perfection and add in some really great toppings to make it a delicious meal.
Ugali is an East-African side dish that goes perfectly well with just about everything! It is easy to make, flavorful, vegan, and only requires two ingredients!
This Street Corn Salad is my favorite side dish to serve at a cookout! It’s great for a crowd because you can make it ahead of time and you can make it as spicy or as mild as you like.
Make one of East Africa's most popular dishes! Kuku choma, which simply refers to grilled or oven-baked chicken, is made by first marinating chicken in a wonderful blend of spices. This is then slowly roasted.
Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars with Chocolate – Bar Recipe
These marshmallow-peanut butter-chocolate bars are the most amazing upgraded version of the gooey, chewy version of the classic. Trust me; everyone will love them!
This slush cocktail is a refreshing blend of strawberry, watermelon, and watermelon rum with agave nectar. It's perfect for summer and guaranteed to be love at first sip.
How to Make a Blueberry Crumble Pie Recipe (Quick & Easy)
You will love this crumble pie, best in summer, when the blueberries are abundant and sweet. It doesn’t have a fancy lattice crust, but it’s faster, easier, and oh-so delicious!
Alabama White BBQ sauce. Creamy, tangy and the perfect zippy addition to your BBQ. A mayo based creamy sauce that is good on any pork butt, chicken and even doubles as an excellent dipping sauce for fries!
Orange BBQ Salmon with Foil Packet Garlic Soy Vegetables
This 30-minute Orange BBQ salmon recipe is a fresh and tangy foil packet meal that's perfect for summer grilling. Whether you use a traditional grill or a pellet grill, everyone is sure to love this easy and delicious dish!
Turn Texas Caviar into this delicious Cowboy Caviar Salad. Rice, black beans, corn, creamy avocado, fresh cilantro, and a sweet and spicy chili maple dressing. The BEST summer side dish!
This Marinated Zucchini Tomato Salad makes a beautiful presentation with its bright colors. But the best part is that they're so easy to prepare; just place the sliced vegetables in a serving bowl, dress them with the salad dressing, and let them marinade for a couple of hours. The acid in the marinade will help to bring out the flavor of the vegetables, and the oil will help to keep them moist.
Summer’s here! Keep cool with a chilled pasta salad without mayo. Featuring a light, refreshing Italian dressing, this simple recipe is perfect for a side dish or an easy lunch.
This summer, try something new and mix things up with this watermelon mint lemonade. It is the ideal refresher for a hot day and brings the classic lemonade to a new level. The sweetness of the watermelon mixed with the tartness of the lemon makes for a delicious and refreshing drink. And the mint adds an extra kick. In addition, it can be easily transformed into a beverage for adults using vodka (lemon flavored vodka is preferred) if desired.
These juicy BBQ boneless chicken thighs will take your grill to the next level! Perfectly seasoned and grilled to perfection, they will be a hit any time you crave cookout food.
Packed full of crunchy veggies and savory bacon, this broccoli salad with bacon is sure to be a hit. It is an easy, delicious side dish that's perfect for a summer cookout.
Indulge in the rich and savory flavors of our Homemade Gluten Free Enchilada Sauce, used in almost anything on your grill and made with just a few simple pantry staples.
This simple yet delicious recipe combines freshly grated radishes with an array of flavor-packed ingredients. The result is a colorful and flavorful dish that’s perfect for sharing.
Crispy Roasted Old Bay Potatoes give a new meaning to a regular old side dish. Roasted up crispy and yummy with a little oil, they only get more delicious by adding Old Bay Seasoning.
Juicy and Guilt-Free Portobello Mushroom Keto Burger
This guilt-free, quick, and easy to make Portobello Mushroom Keto Burger is super juicy and looks exactly like a real burger bun you would expect from a BBQ evening.
This shredded cabbage and carrot salad is so pretty with hues of purple, green and orange. It is very refreshing and delicoius as well. Very easy to make in large batches.
Crab stuffed mushrooms are perfect for parties or any other time you need a quick and easy appetizer. Filled with hearts of palm, seasonings and creamy components that enhance the rich, sweet flavor of the crabmeat.
This creamy and smooth no-bake peanut butter pie is made with a simple mixture of cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar and whipped cream, all poured into a graham cracker crust.
This panzanella salad has a delicious summer spin… Watermelon! Watermelon Panzanella Salad is not only packed with the delicious summer fruit, but it also has bread, cucumber, feta, jalapeño, and mint. It will be such a pretty addition to all your summer cookouts!
Cedar Planked Wild Salmon with Peach + Tomato Salsa
This mouthwatering recipe for Cedar Planked Salmon with Tomato Peach Salsa makes a simple and flavorful grilled dinner. The cedar plank adds incredible flavor and the salsa is the perfect compliment.
Smoked Boston Butt is a fan favorite in the South. Decadent Pork Shoulder slow smoked over a wood fire just can't be beat. We show you an absolutely simple and delicious rub to take it from good to great!
Fresh and Easy Pico de Gallo is one of my favorite fresh treats. It reminds me of summers bounty with fresh onions, tomatoes, jalapenos and lime juice. We soften the cilantro up with a bit of mint. Have this anytime of the year to get that fresh fix!
Grilled Halloumi + Peaches with Arugula, Jalape�os and a Honey Lemon Vinaigrette
Grilled Halloumi + Peaches with Arugula, Jalapeños and a Honey Lemon Vinaigrette is a simple summer meal that's fresh, healthy and absolutely delicious! Salty Halloumi cheese turns crispy and melty on the grill, making it a perfect pair for the jammy, sweet charred peaches.
This quick and tasty recipe for Citrus Herb Grilled Shrimp is a simple, yet flavorful meal that's great for entertaining. It can be served as an appetizer or entree and is always a crowd pleaser.
Spicy Pimento Cheese is a Buttered Home favorite. We take a southern favorite and heat it up a bit. Adding Pepper Jack cheese and a touch of cayenne, it will knock your socks off!
Grilled pears are a versatile treat that can serve as an easy barbecue side dish, a delicious dessert, or a healthy snack loaded with flavor that everyone loves.
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