5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ

Learn how to throw an unforgettable backyard BBQ for your friends and neighbors with some help from these 5 simple ideas.

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It’s BBQ Time

Hey there, friends! Welcome to our latest supper club party. This month I’ve teamed up with my 5 friends, Michele, Rachel, Stacy, Anne, and AnnMarie, to share tips and ideas for hosting an unforgettable backyard BBQ.

For those of you who are visiting from Michele at Vintage Home Designs, thanks for stopping by! Texans know a thing or two about a good BBQ, and I loved Michele’s tips for how to throw a simple backyard get-together.

Each month we’re also joined by a guest host, and we’re so happy to welcome Kim from Shiplap and Shells to our barbecue party.

Kim lives in a small 102-year-old cottage on the Puget Sound in the breathtaking Pacific Northwest. If you don’t know Kim yet, stop by her blog and take a look around at her stunning gardens and charming home.

5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ

We love to grill in the summer and fall! And even though the season is starting to wind down, there’s still time to host a party! Today I’m sharing 5 simple ideas you can recreate to throw an unforgettable BBQ for family and friends in your backyard.

Tip #1: Set Up A Buffet

Like a football tailgate party or a low country boil, a BBQ is all about good food (and a lot of it), so a casual buffet is a perfect setup for this type of backyard party. 

It’s simple to prep and arrange, and your guests can serve themselves while still mingling and enjoying the BBQ.

Place a stack of plates near the end of the buffet. I used my favorite white stoneware plates, but if you want to cut down on your post-party clean-up, sturdy paper or plastic plates will work just fine.

Use glass jars or cups to coral the utensils. And don’t forget to set out some napkins, too.

I used chambray napkins with galvanized napkin rings. The napkin rings add a rustic element to the BBQ theme and help to keep the napkins from blowing away on a windy day.

And my Midwest friends know that we’ve had a lot of those here lately!

What To Serve At A Backyard BBQ

The next question is, what do you serve at a backyard BBQ? There are so many choices when it comes to creating your menu.

For the main course, hamburgers or hotdogs are always a hit with a crowd, especially with young kids who might be at the party.

Grilled steak and vegetable kabobs are also a great option. The fresh veggies on the kabobs add some bright color to the buffet, and the skewers make it easy for guests to grab a quick bite and go.

And what about the sides? Corn on the cob and fresh fruit salad are both classic summertime dishes.

Here are a few other BBQ side dish suggestions.

• Coleslaw
• Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
• Potato Salad
• Creamy Broccoli Salad
• Cut Vegetables for Dipping
• Cucumber Pasta Salad

Pro Tip: Use glass jars with lids to serve your side salads. It helps keep bugs out of your food before the party starts and makes it easy to clean up and store leftovers once the BBQ is over. 

Tip #2: Create a Drink and Dessert Bar

At a BBQ, most guests will gravitate toward the food first, so set up a stand-alone drink and dessert bar to keep the buffet line moving.

A separate space for beverages and desserts makes it easy for your guests to fill their plates and return later to grab a drink and some sweets.

No table? No problem! Since I used my only large table for the buffet, I had to think outside the box.

My potting bench worked perfectly in a pinch!

I styled it up and turned it into a DIY drink and dessert station with some sodas, a water dispenser, and, one of my favorites, chocolate chip cookies.

Tip #3: Add Some Simple Decor

Since the main focus of a BBQ is good food and good company, it’s best to keep the decor for your party simple.

Fresh flowers are an easy and inexpensive way to add some festive touches to your BBQ.

Choose colors that are cohesive and help to create a theme for the party.

A few of my favorite flowers to use in summer bouquets include lilies, hydrangeas, and sunflowers.

Pro Tip: Serving trays make great decor too! Choose pieces that look similar, like this galvanized tray and this metal cake stand to help create a theme that complements the rest of your party decor.

Tip #4: Create A Backyard Barbecue Music Playlist

It’s not a BBQ without some fun music to set the mood. Grab a Bluetooth radio and play music from your favorite station.

Or use a streaming service like Pandora or Spotify to create a playlist filled with summer hits.

My go-to playlist is packed with classic rock tunes from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, but you really can’t go wrong no matter what you choose.

Tip #5: Get Out Some Yard Games

Yard games make any backyard BBQ party more fun, so don’t forget to put a few out for your guests to play.

Bean bag toss, ladder golf, and lawn darts are all favorites in our house. The games get a bit competitive at times, but they always end with a lot of laughter.

If you need more ideas for party games, you can see my full list of the 15 best summer yard games HERE.

Pro Tip: The end of the summer is a great time to stock up on yard games! Check for sales online and in stores for markdowns as they try to clear out seasonal toys to make way for fall and winter items.

5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ

As always, thank you for stopping by. I hope this post inspired you with some simple ideas you can recreate at home to host a BBQ this summer.

All of the items I used for my backyard BBQ are linked below. If you like something you see, just tap on the image to shop or to learn more.

More Ideas For Hosting A Summer BBQ

Next, visit Anne and AnnMarie at Simpy2Moms to see their ideas for how to host a BBQ on a budget, and be sure to check the rest of the posts from each of my supper club friends linked below.

Xoxo,

Stacy at Bricks ‘N Blooms | Michele at Vintage Home Designs | Jen at Midwest Life and Style

Anne & AnnMarie at Simply 2 Moms | Kim at Shiplap and Shells | Rachel at The Ponds Farmhouse

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