5 Tips for the Best Summer Backyard BBQ

A great go-to side dish can be simple grilled vegetables. Brush them with oil, put them on the grill, flip until they’re browned and tender, and sprinkle with salt. Everyone knows they should eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, so make that easier for your guests by serving watermelon with tequila, cantaloupe with vodka, or honeydew with gin—or all three! They’re a decadent, refreshing cocktail-dessert hybrid that’s sure to be the talking point of your cookout. When it comes to cookout sides, you can’t go wrong with serving the essential summer trio, by which we mean pasta salad, potato salad, and a crunchy green salad. Hosting a cookout is a mix of planning logistics, those details that keep everyone safe, and planning a menu.

• Serve this delicious, gently spiced chicken pie warm or cold – it will be a winner either way!
• Our favorite grilling recipes, barbecue sauces, barbecue side dishes, summer desserts, and summer drinks are all featured in this roundup, so you’ll have plenty of options to prepare for your meal.
• Don’t forget a bucket of ice, plus fun printed straws and tiny cocktail umbrellas to make everything extra-Instagrammable.
• This no-nonsense cocktail is perfect for large gatherings, as it makes a whopping 10 servings.
• Surrounded by fragrant basil then topped with candied pecans and a drizzle of spicy honey, this sweet & savory salad is a STUNNER.

It’s one of the only meats aside from chicken nuggets I can get them to eat…and thank goodness for that! Serve up your dogs with whatever you like – relish, mustard, ketchup, onion, or all the chili dog fixins. I’ve even started making chili dog bowls for our boys with chopped hotdogs, chili, and cheese. They eat it with a fork and clean their bowls in record time. I like to make sure there are a couple of entree options at our cookouts.

All the Elements Have to Be There for an Unforgettable Party

Along with tomatoes, how to survive summer parties and boozy bbqs corn makes its own convincing argument for eating locally. Truly fresh, local sweet corn knocks the socks off corn that’s traveled to get to you. If you are grilling boneless chicken, marinate several hours ahead of time and grill for about 6 minutes a side.

Buy mini drink umbrellas to signify which drinks are gluten-free while adding some fun and flair in the process. First and foremost, make sure all of your guests know beforehand the barbecue will not have alcohol present. As you invite friends and family, be sure to tell them the party is alcohol-free, but they’re welcome to bring any non-alcoholic beverages they enjoy. Otherwise, you might end up with an unexpected cooler full of alcohol. Chances are a few of your guests might be a little confused or even frustrated by the idea of a barbecue without alcohol. That’s okay, but be mindful to explain your reasonings behind the change.

Peach Burrata Caprese Salad

For instance, why not have pizza with https://ecosoberhouse.com/ky toppings, kabobs with a variety of flavors or something extra sweet for dessert, like a new flavor of cake? Pick easy, classic recipes and put a fresh new twist on them; your guests will enjoy the food so much, they won’t even remember the event is alcohol-free. The center of every barbecue is the food, of course, and we have everything you need to make any cookout incredibly delicious.

Chew slowly to experience the meal, without overfilling your stomach uncomfortably. For a fun, mouthwatering treat, Krinsky grills peaches and serves them with a dollop of Greek yogurt, a few sprigs of fresh mint, and a drizzle of honey. Peaches offer small amounts of fiber, as well as various vitamins and minerals. In terms of weight loss, they’re also low in calories, with 1 cup containing only 71 calories,according to the USDA. “A BBQ can be full of sugar, salt, and saturated fat, or it can be a delicious way to include some fresh, healthy foods,” says Ginger Hultin, RDN, owner of Champagne Nutrition in Seattle.