The Perfect BBQ Dinner Party!
How to host the perfect BBQ dinner party. Tips, full menus, recipes, and ideas to host your next BBQ party like a pro!
The perfect BBQ dinner party!…
Is there anything better than having friends over for a fancy BBQ dinner party?!
A lovely summer night, some dear friends, a glass of wine, and a great meal…it just sounds like perfection to me!! 😊
But the last thing we want is to stress out about our meal! We want to enjoy that evening too, right?
So, today, not only will I share some great tips on how to host a fancy BBQ dinner party the easy way, but I will also propose two fabulous no-stress complete menus and, yes, all recipes!! 😉
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I will help you plan and organize that great BBQ dinner party!
…But because I kind of talk too much ( ha! ha! ), one article won’t be enough to share all the info I want to give you! Tips, ideas, menus, recipes, and then lists and planning… It’s way too much for only one post! So I thought… let’s split it in two!
Therefore, the first article will cover all tips and tricks, ideas, and menu ideas, while the second one will be all about planning your BBQ dinner party and… yes, all recipes!! 😉
Simple things…
You know that I’m all about Simple things. And I genuinely believe that it could be both; simple and fancy! So, of course, the two menus I propose had to be simple, easy, and stress-free!!
I have nothing against hot dogs, but I prefer something a little fancier, if you know what I mean, ha! ha!
For this reason, I will propose two great menu ideas, from appetizers to dessert! Simple fancy recipes, the kind of recipes you will make again and again! And I will also share a few more meal ideas…who said that we had to throw only one BBQ party!? 😉
If you like cooking & baking… and keeping track of your dinner parties, you will love this Bullet Journal!!
But before we start with the food section, let me share some great tricks to help you out a little…
Hold on because menus and recipes will follow right after!!
The perfect BBQ dinner party!… My best tips and tricks
I know that hosting dinner can be stressful sometimes.
And hosting outside requires a little more planning, so you don’t have to go back inside every two minutes to look for what’s missing, which could quickly become hard to handle…
But these Simple tips will help you for sure. And they will certainly help you keep your stress level low! 😉
So stop talking, and let’s jump into these 25 great tricks!!
1-Bring outside as much as possible to avoid back and forth in the kitchen.
2-Take out a cooler or two to keep beer, wine, and some food at the right temperature.
3-Prepare ahead as much as you can. You will appreciate having less to do once your friends are there.
4-Choose recipes that you can pre-cook for side dishes. Many kinds of veggies are great on the BBQ. I suggest you half-cook them ahead and grill them a few minutes before serving to add color and flavor.
5-A make-ahead dessert is a must… and a frozen one is even better!
6-Don’t forget to take out an ice bucket to keep white wine cold.
7-Choose entrées and dishes that you can all cook on the BBQ.
8-Fancy salads are great, and they are a good base for any starter dish.
9-Cover the serving plates to protect them from mosquitos.
10-Tell your friends in advance that the party will be outside, so they dress accordingly.
11-If your table is in full sun, think about a parasol or some kind of umbrella to protect your guest from the sun.
12-Use big trays for condiments and others, making it much easier to bring back things inside after.
And some more good tips…
13-Keep aluminum foil close to the BBQ.
14-Make sure to bring out all utensils you will need and some serving plates too.
15-If you use a gas BBQ, ensure that you have enough gas in your tank. There is nothing worse than running out of gas in the middle of cooking!
16-Add lanterns or lampions to your table.
17-Make sure there is light, at least near the stairs. But not too much light…bugs matter…
18-Citronella or Tikki lanterns are the best to hunt away mosquitos, and they are so pretty! They will surely add a special touch to your decor.
19-Cover bread and dinner rolls to protect them from the sun and bugs.
20-It is also a great idea to serve cold butter; it should warm up pretty quickly!
21-Don’t add flowers to your decor table. Flowers are very attractive to bees and bugs!
22-Decor your deck or patio as an extension of your house.
23-Bring out some cushions and plaids so your guests are comfortable throughout the evening.
24-Keep mosquito repellant near you.
25-Ensure that your guests know where the bathroom is and let some lights on inside so they can reach it easily.
So these are all tricks that always worked well for me! I’m pretty sure they will work for you too!! 😉
Although there was a lot there if you feel you need a little more… I also have great tips on how to keep perfect control of your party… you might want to read that, too, to ensure that you are totally ready to host a stress-free BBQ party!
The perfect BBQ dinner party!… Let’s talk about food
Now time to talk about your meal.
As promised, I will share two complete menus and, of course, recipes, but before, let’s have a quick look at a few other options.
Although there are plenty of dishes to choose from for your BBQ party, here are some of my favorite ones.
I like serving them because they are all good, but above all because they are easy to make…and easy to serve.
…and oh, I almost forgot!… They are So Perfectly Simple too!! 😉
My favorite appetizers:
First, the appetizers…I just can’t tell how much I like appetizers! It’s often the most “informal” part of our dinner. And the best way to start our dinner party the right way!
- Cream cheese and pesto brick with homemade crackers **
- Red bell pepper and Mascarpone dip with veggies
- Ricotta and figs toasts
- Brie, pears and pencetta canapés **
- Anti Pasto mini-skewers
Some of my favorite entrées:
On a hot summer night, nothing is better than a refreshing salad to start a meal… But not any salad! Look at these fancy ones I’m proposing to you!
- Grilled Haloumi and bacon balsamic salad **
- Grilled peach and pecan salad
- Scallops skewers on lemony salad **
- Grilled pears, blue cheese, and nuts salad
- Avocado and shrimps cocktail
And a few of my favorite main dishes:
I have so many favorite dishes! ha! ha!
But here are some of the classics I like to do. I also linked a Mediterranean grilled chicken breast that I tried last week for the first time. Wow! it is so good; you definitely have to try it too!
- The best-grilled salmon with yogurt sauce **
- Grilled portobello steaks with blue cheese sauce
- Marinated grilled pork medallions **
- Beer and cheddar pork chops
- Mediterranean grilled chicken breast
Now, my favorite side dishes:
Side dishes are so important. Not only are they adding colors to your plate, but they will also ensure that you offer a well-balanced dish to your guests. So make sure you choose the right ones!
- Lemon and veggies rice** or couscous
- Grilled asparagus **
- Baby potatoes and onions
- Grilled zucchinis
- Grilled colored bell peppers **
- Smashed potatoes **
- Grilled honey-colored carrots
- Grilled acorn squash
- A plate of mixed grilled veggies ( the more colorful, the better! )
- Grilled tomatoes and parmesan cheese
And finally… my favorite desserts!
Lastly…desserts…mmm… what more can I say. ha! ha! I’m certainly a true dessert lover!
To me, there is no better way to end a meal. I just can’t imagine a great meal without dessert. And it doesn’t have to be complicated to be good! These are all simple, easy, sweet, and tasty desserts! 😊
- Chocolate & vanilla ice cream cake with caramel sauce
- Grilled pineapple with ice cream and caramel sauce **
- Strawberry pie**
- Vanilla and orange sorbet
- Affogliatos… I just love these!
So these were some of my favorite dishes. I made each of them many times, and it was always a success! They are all perfect for a no-stress fancy BBQ party!
And some of these easy make-ahead desserts are part of my Dessert Book!
As you see, I added some links so you can find great recipes on Pinterest. And of course, in my next post, I will share my own recipes for all the dishes with **, so stay tuned! You don’t want to miss them!
The perfect BBQ dinner party!…Two complete menus
Now time to talk about these two menus!
They are both as good-looking as they are tasteful! But, most of all, they are easy to make and easy to serve!…
…I would say these are two “So Perfectly Simple” menus! 😊
As I said earlier, the last thing I want is to be stressed about my meal. That’s why I’m proposing you these dishes. Almost everything can be prepared ahead, so you’ll only have to throw a few items on the BBQ at dinner time…
…but grilling is also part of your BBQ party!! Chatting around the BBQ while things are grilling, having a drink, and enjoying the fabulous smells…what a great way to spend an evening with your friends! 😉
* Menu number 1 *
- Cream cheese and pesto brick with homemade crackers
- Grilled Haloumi & bacon balsamic salad
- The best-grilled salmon with yogurt sauce, grilled asparagus, and lemon rice
- Strawberry pie
* Menu number 2 *
- Brie, pears and pencetta canapés
- Scallops skewers on lemony salad
- Marinated grilled pork medallions, smashed potatoes, and mixed grilled veggies
- Grilled pineapple with ice cream and caramel sauce
Wow! These all look good, right? Believe me, they are! All these dishes are both so colorful and tasty; I have absolutely no doubt that all of your guests will enjoy each of them!
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The perfect BBQ dinner party!… In short
As you see, hosting the perfect BBQ party is so fun…and wait until you see my planner; it will be just like a child’s play…
As long as you remember to:
- Prepare ahead as much as you can.
- Take out all that you’ll need for your party.
- Select easy and simple make-ahead recipes that will all go on the BBQ.
- Have a shady spot and use coolers and ice buckets.
- Tell your friends in advance so they can dress appropriately.
- Pay attention to your decor; add lights and lanterns.
- Bring out cushions, blankets, and mosquito repellant so your guests are comfortable at all times.
- Check on the gas level of the BBQ before…
And most of all, don’t stress out with this party! Everything will turn out perfectly! Stay calm and enjoy each minute of it! 😉
The second part of this post will contain all recipes, task lists, grocery lists, and a planner too! So don’t miss it!
You are a click away from your Perfect BBQ dinner party!
I hope my 25 best tips will help you host that BBQ dinner party and that you are inspired by the two meal menu ideas I shared…
As always, I would love to hear from you. 🖤
Please use the box for any questions or comments. Or even better, use that comment box to tell me about your best BBQ tips and tricks; what works best for you? 🙂 I just can’t wait to share it!
If you liked this post, let your friends know! 😉
Talk to you soon!
Related Posts:
-The Perfect Dinner Party Menu
-50 Tips For An (Easy!) Fancy Dinner
-How To Plan The Perfect BBQ Party
