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You may be concerned with what to bring to a BBQ & what not to bring as you expect a perfect enjoyable BBQ party with family & friends. However, certain things & ideas can make your upcoming BBQ party something more than exceptional.
A BBQ party is always something special. This is the best way to chill out with family, friends, or neighbors. But sometimes, you may get a little confused concerning what to bring or what not to bring to a BBQ party.
This happens with both the host & the guests. You may worry about what salads or side dishes to keep, what meat to choose, or what gifts to bring to the party. Well, you don’t need to worry.
This article is all about what to bring to a BBQ or what not to. So, get ready to explore some new & innovative ideas for your upcoming BBQ party.
What to Bring to a BBQ – The Best Gifts to Bring to a BBQ
Barbecues are all about fun and enjoyment. That’s precisely what you can design your gift for. The gift must match the style of the barbecue party:
If the ambiance is casual and relaxed, your barbecue gift may also be funny and original. If, on the other hand, the barbecue is a more formal event, you should shift the focus from fun to enjoyment and opt for classy and stylish barbecue accessories.
If the host is a joker and up for any joke, you can surprise him with an original barbecue gift like an apron with print. A good barbecue gift says more than a thousand words.
Your gift for a hearty BBQ party is a medium to define how you exactly feel about the BBQ host. If you have enough time, opt for an engraved gift: an engraving proves that you have put some thought into it and duly appreciate the host’s effort.
Barbecue gifts fall into the categories of valuable and fun – or a mix of both. Practical gifts include barbecue cutlery, branding irons, cutting boards, and spice blends.
Funny gifts include medals for grill masters and T-shirts with funny sayings. A mixture of “useful” and “original” offers barbecue sets for special occasions, such as with funny engraved cutting boards. This is what barbecue party gifts are all about.
What to Take to a BBQ When Told to Bring Nothing
Well, the host may tell you to bring nothing. They might mean it, or they just tell to bring nothing for the sake of courtesy. The host obviously will arrange for everything.
Whatever, if it seems awkward for you to go to the party with nothing, you can just bring some drinks or some small gifts like flowers or chocolates.
Also, you can show up at the party with even a bottle of wine & make the hosts impressed. You can even bring some salads or some side dishes, that’s entirely up to you.
But it’s good etiquette to always bring something to the BBQ party even if you are told to bring nothing.
What Should You Bring to a Last-Minute BBQ
When the barbecue season is here, and you are busy entertaining guests in a BBQ party, it may be challenging to plan ahead.
If you host a banquet at the last minute or forget your friend’s barbecue, these last-minute ideas are exactly what you need to make the barbecue livelier.
Garlic Bread
For a BBQ party planned ahead or last minute, garlic bread is a simple side dish that can bring something special to the taste. Buy a loaf of baguette in the store. Slice it, coat it with butter, sprinkle with chili powder & garlic powder, and then use some parsley.
Fold it up, wrap the whole bread in aluminum foil, and place it on the grill until the outside is charred and the butter melts.
A Perfect Pot of Iced Tea
In the store, buy a few pots of unsweetened or slightly sweet iced tea, as well as a bottle of peach nectar and a pack of fresh mint. Then, to bring some freshness to the tea, use fresh mint and peach nectar to serve a fantastic non-alcoholic beverage.
Butter and Cornbread Mix
Use a simple butter mixture to spice up store-bought or baked cornbread. Then combine the butter with garlic & some fresh herbs. You can also use citrus peel and honey to taste sweet. You can use the salty butter combination to make the dish special.
Baked Beans
No time to prepare your baked beans? No need to worry. First, you have to boil some meat slices, then cut them apart, and put them in a saucepan with baked beans.
You can use canned baked beans brought from the supermarket. Heat them and then use a bit more molasses along with some brown sugar.
Lastly, you have to give a touch of hot sauce to get a homemade taste. It will take no more than 20 minutes, but when you put the beans in the casserole, you will feel like you really did.
Simple Sangria
You don’t have to be a bartender to make delicious sangria. Use some red or white wine and combine them with fruit slices prepared in the supermarket, some lemon soda, or sparkling water.
Then if you want to make white sangria, use white rum in a proportion of two of Triple sec. Or you can add brandy (For red wine). Put them together in a jug. It’s like summer in a cup.
Also Read: Best Hot Pot Grill Combo - Perfect Gift For Anyone (Top 7 Picks)
What Do Cheap People Bring to a BBQ
Ever wondered about seeing someone come up at the BBQ party with a half-eaten packet of potato chips or a half bottle of wine?
No wonder it’s a cheap thing to bring to a BBQ. No one with simple etiquette will do something like this. In case you are the host, make sure that you have arranged everything for your guests.
Never leave some part of the BBQ party in expectation that the guests will bring something to fulfill. That’s a cheap thing. On the other hand, when you are the guest, at least bring some flowers or a wrapped packet of chocolates.
What Side Dishes and Salad Go Well with Seafood
Stewed tomato halves stuffed with rice and chives are something unique to introduce with seafood BBQ. However, it does not interfere with the delicate flavor of the grilled seafood.
Also, a rice salad with almonds and cherry tomatoes is delicious. Homemade potato chips can always be served with the grilled seafood. In summer, an iced gazpacho soup with toasted bread cubes tastes perfect with grilled seafood.
What Side Dishes Go with BBQ Ribs
Are you planning a rib feast? Then you must consider making a side dish that goes perfectly with. To serve juicy grilled ribs, you can consider some tortilla muffins or some macaroni or some baked beans and fresh salads and sliders.
You can choose anything. But if you want to make your guests enjoy most with something unique, use these mouthwatering rib side dishes-
Baked Beans In a Saucepan
Use your saucepan for cooking rich, thick, and juicy baked beans with many old-fashioned grill flavors. Prepare it the day before your BBQ party, soak and boil the beans overnight.
The next day, put them in a slow cooker along with other ingredients and let them cook carefree until the party.
Mexican Street Corn
Impress your barbecue guests with this super delicious vegetable side dish. Mexican street corn is a very unique dish to introduce to your BBQ party.
Every bite of this street corn is sweet and creamy as well as salty & crunchy. It can be eaten with or without corn on the cob.
Easy Macaroni & Cheese Casserole
Soft macaroni cooked in crazy cheese sauce; plus, optional crispy brown breadcrumbs is a must-have side dish for barbecue ribs.
This simple homemade recipe is easy to prepare, completes in 30 minutes, and can be easily replicated to meet the needs of large groups of people.
Black Bean Mango Salad
Black Bean, along with Mango Salad, is a festive and healthy buffet side dish. You have to use;
- Black beans
- Juicy mangoes
- Crispy peppers
- Sweet shallots
- Fresh coriander
- And optional jalapenos
This combination is delicious, super easy to make, and low in fat and calories. Use just a little bit of lime juice and olive oil for seasoning.
Roasted Dill Potatoes
If you want some grilled Potatoes in your BBQ, you can make these dill-wrapped potatoes as a side dish.
- First, cut potatoes into quarters.
- Season them with olive oil & some melted butter with garlic and fresh dill. Add some salt and pepper, and seal them in an aluminum foil bag for grilling.
- Steam the potatoes in the package to make the outside crispy & make the soft potato inside.
What Meat to Bring to a BBQ
This is the most important thing for a BBQ party. When you throw a BBQ party and are confused about what to bring to a BBQ, the most crucial part to consider is the meat.
Because it is the main attraction of your BBQ food lists, you can make unique BBQ recipes with any kind of meat. You may consider Chicken, beef, shrimp, lamb, or mutton in a BBQ.
If you are more concerned with making steak, it’s always better to go with lamb, or beef. Chicken is super easy to make a BBQ. And if you want to make a unique BBQ, you can opt to fish for a change.
Also Read: 15 Best Meat To Smoke For Beginners – Get Your Smoke On
What Snacks to Bring to a BBQ
Summer parties need great company and delicious food to enjoy outdoors. Snacks are something special for summer barbecues.
They will delight your guests before you are ready to serve the main course. In that case, you can entertain your family and friends with these delicious barbecue snacks:
- Grilled Halloumi Cheese
Barbecuing can make halloumi cheese to play its best effect, bring out its delicious salty taste, and make it have a satisfying snack. It can be enjoyed as it is, or it can be strung together with sliced tomatoes and basil leaves for an elegant snack.
- Nachos
This summer, use your grill to make the perfect nachos! Barbecue guests will enjoy a large plate of crispy potato chips topped with chopped bacon, red onion, and some diced jalapenos to add heat.
- Artichoke Dip
Baked artichoke is a classic party appetizer and is always popular. This recipe is easy to make and consists of a few ingredients, including canned artichoke hearts, two kinds of cheese, and mayonnaise.
- Fig Crostini
Figs are wonderful summer fruit that deserves a place on your BBQ party menu. These delicious little toasts are very easy to make. Fresh figs are seasoned with balsamic vinegar and black pepper and then layered on toasted French baguette slices. When serving, you can add blue cheese or shredded goat cheese if you like.
- Tofu
When you serve a plate of delicious tofu and vegetable skewers, your vegetarian barbecue guests will be happy.
What Salad to Bring to a BBQ
Salads are a must for a BBQ Party. When you search for what to bring to a BBQ, you must have the concern for salads. To make your guests thrilled with a deadly combination of BBQ meat & Salad, you can go for these unique ones-
Grilled Eggplant and Spinach Salad
Most people like grilled eggplant and can eat it all day long. You can use a pan, grill the eggplant on the griller, or even grill it with that kind of sandwich press. Spray a little olive oil to keep them from being too greasy.
Cyprus Corn Salad
This is probably the best Salad you will ever taste. The condiments are simply magical. It is the perfect side dish for a barbecue. Also, you can use the leftovers the next day.
Pesto Pasta Salad
Compared to the bland pasta salads commonly found on supermarket counters, this is a delicious choice. You can add fresh peas and asparagus, which will make this dish a healthy side dish, while the seasoning of pesto adds a new level of flavor. If it is not in season, green beans can be used instead of asparagus.
Pineapple Cucumber Salad
This fragrant Salad looks very refreshing and can be made easier with a small number of ingredients. The sweetness of pineapple is balanced by the sourness of the lime and the crispness of cucumber.
What Appetizer to Bring to a BBQ
Salads are a must for a BBQ Party. When you search for what to bring to a BBQ, you must have the concern for salads. To make your guests thrilled with a deadly combination of BBQ meat & Salad, you can go for these unique ones:
Grilled Eggplant and Spinach Salad
Most people like grilled eggplant and can eat it all day long. You can use a pan, grill the eggplant on the griller, or even grill it with that kind of sandwich press. Spray a little olive oil to keep them from being too greasy.
Cyprus Corn Salad
This is probably the best Salad you will ever taste. The condiments are simply magical. It is the perfect side dish for a barbecue. Also, you can use the leftovers the next day.
Pesto Pasta Salad
Compared to the bland pasta salads commonly found on supermarket counters, this is a delicious choice. You can add fresh peas and asparagus, which will make this dish a healthy side dish, while the seasoning of pesto adds a new level of flavor. If it is not in season, green beans can be used instead of asparagus.
Pineapple Cucumber Salad
This fragrant Salad looks very refreshing and can be made easier with a small number of ingredients. The sweetness of pineapple is balanced by the sourness of the lime and the crispness of cucumber.
What Desserts to Bring to a BBQ
Desserts are the perfect sweet ending to a BBQ with friends and family. From delicious cakes and fruit pies that make the most of seasonal fruits to super creamy brownies, S’mores rice crackers, and towering bars, these desserts are sure to be a hit:
S’mores Rice Crispy Treats
Enjoy all the flavors of traditional campfire barbecue with these simple handmade snacks without the sticky mess. Combine melted marshmallows and butter with rice grains, graham biscuits, and chocolate chips in just 10 minutes.
Strawberry Cupcakes
Moist, tender strawberry cupcakes burst out the sweet flavor of summer berries, coupled with delicious strawberry buttercream frosting and freshly chopped berries. It is an inspiring way to get joy from this summer fruit for the backyard BBQ.
Ultimate Brownie Cake
Crispy, dense, just right chocolate-this is the best brownie for summer parties. Use good sugar-free chocolate to make brownies that are rich in flavor and cake-like, even without icing.
Pineapple Meringue Pie
Pineapple meringue pie is a summer tropical change from the traditional lemon pie. Make this simple pie with frozen pie crust from the store, fill it with hot sweet pineapple curd, then put soft, fresh meringue on top and bake it until the surface is golden brown.
Banana Stick
This is an excellent dessert for a BBQ to please the kids with these fun stick-shaped, deconstructed banana chips. Even you can ask the children to help you make these simple foods, using wooden skewers to put sliced bananas, pineapple pieces, and strawberries in half. Then roll the skewers with melted chocolate. Also, you can sprinkle the stick with chopped nuts, but this is optional, depending on your taste.
What Side Dishes to Bring to a BBQ
When you are concerned with what to bring to a BBQ, you must have to give special attention to the side dishes of your BBQ.
You have tried a wide variety of side dishes with BBQ in your life for sure, but these unique dishes will leave you speechless with their incredible taste-
- Cutlets with spinach and caramelized onions: This traditional corn on the cob has been turned into a gourmet sauce with extra cheese, basil, and caramelized onions. Pairing: barbecue-burgers, sausages, steaks-everything.
- Roasted mushrooms with oregano and pistachio jam: This is a multi-functional side dish with gourmet flavor, especially suitable for vegetarians. It can be used with roasted chicken, meats, such as beef, or even with some grilled stew for vegetarians.
- Smoked chili beans: These meaty beans are delicious and, on a simple budget-they are guaranteed to be full enjoyment of your BBQ party. Eat them with grilled Mexican beef skewers, a handful of guacamoles, and some flatbread.
- Garlic and cheese bread: The secret of relaxing entertainment is this Cheat’s Pull-Part, a cheap way to satisfy the hungry. Enjoy the dish with Chicken, sausage, and seafood.
- Quick kimchi: Kimchi during barbecue? You Can actually believe it! Break the tradition and surprise your guests with this spicy sauerkraut side dish that only takes 20 minutes to prepare.
Conclusion
There is nothing more enjoyable than a BBQ party, and if you are concerned with what to bring to a BBQ, you are rightfully concerned for sure.
It is always essential to give the same importance to all little staff for an enjoyable BBQ party. You have to be confident & specific about your choices.
This article here is to help you make those choices to turn your BBQ party into something more than special. Try this combination of unique & classic traditional ideas in this article to make your guests enjoy most in a BBQ party.
