These backyard BBQ menu ideas will help you plan your next
summer gathering.
What Exactly Is a Backyard BBQ?
A backyard BBQ is a gathering of friends and family in the
backyard of a host where barbecue is prepared and served along with a variety
of side dishes. It's common practice to hold this type of gathering during the
summer, when the weather is nice. The main courses are frequently prepared on a
barbecue grill or pellet smoker by the host and served alongside a variety of
family-style side dishes and appetizers.
3 Tips for Creating a Backyard BBQ Menu
Backyard barbecues are a popular way to celebrate US
holidays such as the Fourth of July and Memorial Day. Follow these guidelines
to improve your next backyard barbecue:
1. Select dishes with complementary prep requirements. When
planning your backyard barbecue, keep in mind that you will have limited prep
space, grill space, and fridge space. Choose dishes that use comparable
ingredients and take comparable amounts of time to prepare. This will help you
make the most of your prep time and space.
2. Think about dietary restrictions. Consider your guests'
dietary restrictions (gluten-free, dairy-intolerant, vegetarian, etc.) when
hosting a backyard BBQ to ensure you have options for everyone. Include at
least one completely vegetarian entrée.
3. Prepare a wide range of dishes. The buffet table brimming
with flavorful side dishes is the centerpiece of any backyard BBQ. If you're
hosting, prepare a variety of sides, some cold, some hot, some hand-held, and
some scoopable.
16 Backyard BBQ Menu Suggestions
Consider the following menu items for your next cookout:
1. Arrosticini: These charcoal-grilled sheep meat skewers
with notes of olive oil and rosemary make the ideal Mediterranean-inspired BBQ
main dish. Serve arrosticini with crusty bread and a salad of watermelon, mint,
and feta.
2. Baked beans: Due to the addition of animal fat, baked
beans have sweet, savory, and meaty flavors that complement any backyard
barbecue. Baked beans go well with any hearty, slow-cooked pork dish.
3. Barbecued chicken: Almost any cut of chicken becomes
perfectly juicy and flavorful when covered in sweet, savory barbecue sauce.
Serve BBQ chicken with corn on the cob, summer salad, or as a sandwich on a
potato roll.
4. BBQ sauce: Use as a marinade, condiment, or topping for
barbecued meats like pulled pork, baby back ribs, beef ribs, brisket, and
chicken. Barbecue sauce ingredients vary greatly, but most will include
different ratios of tomato and vinegar for the base, as well as a combination
of liquid smoke, spices, seasonings, and sweeteners.
5. Beef brisket: The fat and connective tissue in a piece of
brisket render to make tender, flavorful meat during a low-and-slow cook time
in the smoker. Keep the seasoning on smoked beef brisket simple and clean. Every
bite should have a smoky, beefy flavor. Serve this tender cut of meat with
German potato salad, salad, or macaroni and cheese.
6. Chocolate ice cream: Nothing beats a scoop of homemade
ice cream at a summer backyard barbecue. Set up a sundae station with toppings
like marshmallows, candy, walnuts, and chocolate syrup for your homemade
chocolate ice cream.
7. Coleslaw: Any home cook can adapt a coleslaw recipe to
their preferences. Shredded carrots, onions, broccoli, and cauliflower are
common coleslaw ingredients. Serve this fresh side dish alongside any of your
favorite grilled or smoked meats to balance out the protein's fatty richness.
8. German potato salad: Unlike the mayonnaise-based version
served in the United States, German potato salad has a light
vinegar-and-mustard dressing. Many German potato salad recipes include bacon,
making it an ideal accompaniment to smoked pork belly. Keep in mind that German
potato salad is typically eaten warm.
9. Green beans almondine: Fresh ingredients like green beans,
lemon juice, garlic, and sliced or slivered almonds are combined in this dish.
Serve smoked turkey and green beans almondine as a backyard-friendly
Thanksgiving meal.
10. Pesto bruschetta: Spread a layer of fresh basil pesto on
top of toasted bread crostini, then top with a spoonful of a fruity tomato
mixture instead of rubbing toasted bread with garlic and tomatoes. The ideal
summer-friendly appetizer to hold your guests over until it's time for the main
course is this last-minute pesto bruschetta.
11. Pulled pork: Boston butt, pork shoulder, and center-cut
pork loin are the most widely used meat cuts for this tender dish that is
slow-smoked. Whether you serve pulled pork with vinegar or barbecue sauce, it
is a crowd-pleasing main dish. Make pulled pork sandwiches with this tender
shredded meat, or serve it on a traditional barbecue platter with coleslaw and
buttered rolls.
12. Shish kebab: This dish is made up of tiny pieces of
grilled meat and vegetables. For your shish kebab, choose between beef or
chicken, and serve it with pita, grilled vegetables, and potatoes.
13. Smoked burger: While grilling hamburgers is a simple and
fast process, smoking the patties gives them a juicy texture and rich smoke
flavor. Serve your smoked hamburger patties alongside your preferred cheeses,
sauces, and garnishes.
14. Smoked chicken wings: Smoked chicken wings have crispy
skin and juicy, flavorful meat thanks to the low and slow cooking they receive
on a pellet smoker, charcoal grill, or electric smoker. Serve smoked chicken
wings with homemade ranch or blue cheese dressing, or bast them in your
preferred barbecue sauce or marinade.
15. Smoked mac and cheese: Combine cooked macaroni noodles
with a creamy cheese sauce to create this smoky take on the cheesy pasta dish.
The dish should then be warmed in a smoker over low indirect heat. This imparts
a light smoky flavor to the pasta. Smoked mac and cheese is the ideal indulgent
side dish for your favorite grilled meats or a filling vegetarian main dish.
16. Somen salad: This cold pasta salad is perfect for a
summer cookout because it is made with thin Japanese somen noodles and a tangy,
savory vinegar-based dressing. Shredded cabbage, scrambled eggs, sliced
vegetables, and chopped herbs are typical somen salad toppings.
