With the summer days that we have left, it can be fun to have backyard barbecues. After all, there isn’t really a better way to enjoy summer than to be outside. If you have been pondering the idea of having a backyard barbecue, read on. It’s not too late to invite your friends and family over for a backyard barbecue party. Hopefully this article will answer all the questions you’ve had about having a backyard barbecue. Let’s begin.
Delicious Food Ideas
Food is a backyard barbecue’s main feature. Although decorating and having fun games to play is important too, serving tasty food is what makes a backyard barbecue a success. Are you wondering what to cook? Here are some delicious food ideas.
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Get ready to amaze your guests with this tasty pulled porch sandwich. It can be made with the bread and barbecue sauce of your choosing. Get the recipe by clicking here.
Image Source: Food Network
Smoked Salmon
Smoking isn’t just for ribs. You can make a mouth-watering smoked salmon with only five ingredients: 1 cup of kosher salt, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of dark brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of crushed black peppercorns, and 2 large salmon fillets or sides with pin bones removed. It takes about five hours to cook, but waiting is worth it. Watch how to make this recipe by clicking here.
Image Source: Food Network
Pat’s Ribs with Peach BBQ Sauce
Despite its unique name, this is actually a very popular recipe. It combines ribs with peach sauce, as well as a few other ingredients that spice up this recipe. Click here to learn how to make Pat’s Ribs with Peach BBQ Sauce.
Image Source: Food Network
Veggie Burger
In case one of your guests is a vegetarian, cook some of these tasty veggie burgers. They look like a regular burger, but they have their own unique taste. It is very easy to make. Learn how to cook it by clicking here.
Image Source: Peta
Grilled Garlic Herb Corn
Do you happen to have some corn that needs cooked before summer ends? Make this delicious recipe by using 6 ears of corn, herbs, and a few other ingredients. It is very easy to make; and it only takes two steps to make. So turn your grill on, because this recipe is going to become a favorite.
Image Source: Peta
Grilled Fruit
Did you know that fruit can be grilled? Well, it can. Peaches, pineapples, bananas, and watermelon are great foods to throw on the grill. Find out how you can grill these fruits by clicking here.
Image Source: Pumpkin ‘n Spice
S’mores
Everybody loves s’mores, right? Why not serve some at your backyard barbecue. If you have a fire pit, you may want to allow your guests to cook their s’mores over the fire. If you don’t want to serve the traditional s’mores, click here to learn how to make many other delicious s’more desserts.
Image Source: Pixabay
Tips for Decorating
In order for your backyard barbecue to become a success, you’ll need to decorate your backyard. Here are some tips for making your backyard look ready for a backyard barbecue party.
Cute Tablecloths
The table is where guests will be sitting, so why not buy a cute tablecloth. Checkered tablecloths always look cute and summery.
Use a Wheelbarrow to Store Drinks
Do you have an old wheelbarrow that you don’t know what to do with? Wheelbarrows can make a great place to store drinks. Fill it up with ice and arrange the drinks in a way you’d like.
Image Source: Cottage Life
Cute Condiment Display
It’s the little touches that matter, right? Instead of having bottles of ketchup and mustard, have a larger variety of hot dog and hamburger toppings available. You can even label what each condiment is.
Image Source: Kara’s Party Ideas
Write out the Menu on a Chalkboard
If you don’t have a chalkboard, you can paint a piece of plywood with black chalkboard paint. Write on it what the menu will be so that guests know what they’ll be eating. This of course isn’t necessary, but guests will like knowing what they’ll be eating.
Image Source: You Could Make That
More Tips:
- Go simple. If you go overboard with decorations, guests won’t notice the important features. Besides, guests will be entertained by the food and fellowship the most.
- Consider choosing a theme for your backyard barbecue. For example, you could choose to decorate your backyard in a rustic way. You could use a rustic wood table, burlap as the tablecloth, and rustic looking plates.
- Many people like to decorate their backyard barbecue with flags. It doesn’t matter what size the flag is. You can display lots of little flags, or just have one large flag hanging.
- Don’t forget the table centerpiece. A lot of people like to display flowers on their table for a backyard barbecue. Pails and tin watering cans work great for displaying flowers.
Tips for Making Your Backyard Barbecue a Success
It’s the special touches and cute displays that will catch your guest’s attention. So how do you make your backyard barbecue extra special? Here are some tips.
Cute Invitation Cards
Make a good first impression by sending out cute invitation cards. You can buy backyard barbecue invitation cards on Amazon.
Image Source: Amazon
Turn a Watermelon Into a Keg
This is so easy to make, and will definitely be a big hit at your backyard barbecue. All you do is take out the watermelon (use it to make punch or a different drink for your barbecue), attach the spigot, and fill the watermelon with a drink (watermelon punch is a great idea).
Image Source: Tablespoon
Clean Your Grill
If you have had your grill for a long time, you probably know that it can get rusty, dirty, and not shining very quickly. Also, if you forget to clean your grill after cooking on it, it will become covered in gunk. Before you begin cooking the barbecue dinner, make sure you give your grill a good wipe down. If wiping it won’t clean it, it may be time to grab a bottle of ammonia. Pour it in a garbage bag, and place your grill in it. Seal the bag tightly, and watch ammonia do its work (don’t actually watch it, as ammonia can be dangerous for humans). After a while, take the grill out of the bag, scrub it lightly, and rinse it underwater until it becomes clean. Keep in mind that ammonia is toxic to animals, plants, and can be dangerous for humans. Always wear safety glasses and gloves when working with ammonia. Also, make sure the bag is sealed very well. Not only can ammonia kill the grass if it leaks out, but it can also make cleaning the grill more difficult.
Image Source: Pixabay
Use Herbs to Get Rid of Mosquitoes
A backyard barbecue is definitely more fun when you don’t have to slap mosquitoes off your skin. To make your guests feel more comfortable, place some herbs in the fire pit or grill (once you’re down cooking) to keep mosquitoes away. Herbs like lavender, mint, lemon balm, sage, and citronella will help keep mosquitoes away. These herbs will also make the air smell good.
Image Source: Pixabay
Fun Games to Play
Ring Toss
Ring Tosses are a classic backyard barbecue game. You can go simple and stick some stakes into the ground, or you could use these pink flamingos to play this game.
Image Source: Sugar and Cloth
DIY Dunking Booth
A dunking booth can be so fun to have. It can also be easy to make – this site instructs you on how to make your own dunking booth. Guests can decide if they want to join in on the fun or just watch as others get soaked. Just remember to remind guests to wear clothes they don’t mind getting wet.
Image Source: The Happy Housewife
Giant Scrabble
Guests will love playing this giant scrabble game. You can easily make it by buying wood cut in squares, sanding and staining them, and painting the letters on it. Have fun making words out of a large pile of letters.
Image Source: Consider the Peel
Volleyball
Volleyball is an excellent game to play. If you have a volleyball court, your guests can play there. If not, find a soft place to play and set up a portable volleyball net.
Final Thoughts
Are you considering hosting a backyard barbecue this summer? Hopefully you found this article to be helpful. In this article I went over some delicious recipes that you can cook on your grill, as well as some tips for decorating and making your backyard barbecue memorable. Every little detail counts, so don’t be skimpy when it comes to decorating. On the other hand, don’t overdo it so that the important features are not noticed. Details like having a menu and displaying condiments can be nice features to add to your backyard barbecue.
Don’t forget to prepare your yard for a backyard barbecue, as well as get your grill ready for cooking. If your grill has become dirty, consider using ammonia to clean the grill. Always be careful when cleaning your grill with ammonia, because it is very toxic. Lastly, don’t forget to provide some fun games to play. Ring tosses, volleyball, lawn scrabble, and a dunking booth can all be fun games to play. I hope you enjoyed this article, and I hope your backyard barbecue turns out to be memorable. Happy grilling!
