How To Host an Easy, Stress-Free BBQ With Friends
It’s sunny. You like these people. That’s enough of a reason. Light the BBQ.
Sizzling sausages, fruity Pimms, and your favourite people enjoying the sunshine… then chatting round the campfire toasting marshmallows as evening sets in? Barbeques (BBQs) might just be the easiest way to get everyone together. And the best thing? You don’t need to plan one months in advance. If the sun comes out, you’ve got an excuse to host a BBQ.
Perfect for birthdays and both small and large groups, hosting a BBQ is pretty simple as long as you’re organized. They work planned ahead of time, or as a last-minute spontaneous ‘come on over, we’re BBQ-ing tonight’ get-together to take advantage of a sunny day and long summer nights. Hell, we’ve even barbecued in the snow!!
Here are our top tips for hosting your BBQ, stress-free.
BBQ At A Glance
The Quick Plan
(For those short on time or energy!)
- A quick text message to friends that morning: ‘we’re BBQ-ing from 5pm tonight – you in?’ to round up the troops
- Buy 1-2 burgers per person, ditto sausages (or veggie alternatives), some rolls, ketchup, a quick salad, and some marshmallows (& skewers) for toasting
- A jug of pimms or summer punch… or just some beers in an ice bucket
- Don’t forget your charcoal/wood, firestarters, kindling and lighter, or to top up your gas BBQ…
And you’re cooking on gas and good to go! (or not in our household – cooking on gas is apparently sacrilegious to my South African husband, Corné. It’s charcoal or a wood fire all the way here…!). For those wanting more tips and BBQ tricks, read on!
Wet Weather Plan
Having a wet weather plan is a must if you’re somewhere with unpredictable summers (like the UK). We’ve previously used marquees, all piled indoors… and I will never forget Corné’s first UK BBQ:
A South African husband vs the English wife’s view of a BBQ:
Corné’s first UK BBQ day dawned and it was absolute chucking it down with rain all morning. As our kick-off neared, being South African and used to glorious sunshine, Corné’s face fell as he looked out the window at the deluge.
South African husband, “Oh no! We’ll have to cancel!”.
British wife hands him an umbrella. “Nope, out you go”, and ushers him out the back door to BBQ under the umbrella in the garden in the downpour. I mean, if we stopped doing things in the rain in the UK, we’d never get outdoors!
Thankfully, after years of subsequent experience, Corné is now a pro at a rainy BBQ.
So, hope for good weather, but plan for bad too so your fun can continue no matter the weather!
Top Tip
Don’t forget to have some shade for guests if it’s a hot day – some people love to sit in the sunshine while others burn to a crisp at the sight of it, so have options for both preferences.
Great BBQ Food
- Food-wise, anything goes: burgers, sausages, lamb or pork chops, ribs, skewers/kebabs, veggie equivalents, halloumi, corn-on-the-cob, even pineapple slices can be barbecued.
- Pair your barbecued foods with cold items such as salads, potato salad, cous-cous and rice dishes. Make these extras ahead of time, so you’re outside enjoying chatting to your friends once they arrive rather than slaving in the kitchen.
- We always have chips (crisps) and dips for friends to munch on while they chat and wait for the BBQ food to be ready (this also takes the pressure off the BBQ-er!).
- Summery desserts such as Eton Mess, key lime pie, ice cream, or just toasting marshmallows all go well with a BBQ.
Top Tip
If you’re worried about poisoning people with undercooked chicken, cook it in your oven and just finish it off with a char on the BBQ. Do not serve pink chicken!
The Easy BBQ Food Formula
That’s it. You don’t need twelve different salads and a Pinterest-worthy grazing table.
Don’t Forget The Second Act
The BBQ doesn’t have to end when the burgers are gone. Once the sun goes down, get everyone around the fire with marshmallows and skewers. It’s one of those wonderfully simple things that somehow makes an ordinary evening feel like an occasion. Pair with hot drinks like mulled wine or hot chocolate if you’re entering a chilly evening. There’s something about chatting by an open fire…
The Bring & BBQ
Hosting a big group or on a tight budget? You don’t have to provide everything yourself. Provide the BBQ, some basic salads and drinks, and ask everyone to bring something for the grill, or a side dish to share, and/or their favourite drink. Voilà, a communal feast!
It’s cheaper, easier and – most importantly – means you’re not spending the whole afternoon preparing food for everyone.
How Much Food Should I Provide For A BBQ?
Not sure how much to buy? It’s a bit of an art, and every friend group is different (scale up for those with giant appetites, and down for the opposite).
As a rough starting point, allow around 1–2 burgers and/or sausages (or veggie equivalent) per adult, plus salads, bread and snacks. If you’re serving lots of other substantial food, you can scale that down.
Don’t go nuts; you’ll just end up eating leftovers the whole next week. But also don’t beat yourself up if you get it wrong as it’s so hard to judge right – we over-cater all the time (I’d rather that than people go hungry). If you’ve over-catered, just see if guests will take some leftovers home with them.
What To Put On The Table For A BBQ
Don’t forget to put these basics out ahead of time:
- Plates (plus small plates/bowls for dessert if applicable)
- Cutlery
- Glasses
- Napkins
- Rolls for burgers/sausages
- Cheese slices for burgers
- Butter for rolls
- Salt & pepper
- Ketchup, mayo & other condiments for your tastes/ of your region
- Skewers for marshmallow toasting
Top Tip
You can use single-use paper plates and bamboo cutlery if you want to cut-down on the washing up, especially if you’re holding a big party, as well as plastic ‘glasses’ (this also avoid glass breakages). I personally try to avoid single-use plastics if I can (or wash up the ‘glasses’ and re-use them) and obviously recycle any single-use items where possible to try to cut down the environmental impact.
Great Drinks For Your BBQ
I’m British, so you can’t go wrong with a jug of Pimms & lemonade on offer for my guests to help themselves to – to add, or not add, fruit to it is the controversial question (that’s a no for me)!
BBQs are meant to be relaxed, so offer what you want to offer for drinks – it could just be some beers, you could have white or rosé wine, a fruit punch, or even glam it up with some summer cocktails (ideas on our Pinterest account). Don’t forget non-alcoholic mocktails or squashes for those who don’t drink or are driving – and, of course, plenty of chilled water and ice for those wanting it. You can also just ask guests to bring their favourite tipple with them – I’ve never known anyone mind this.
Little Touch, Big Impact
#1 Don’t wait for the perfect occasion
The best BBQs are sometimes the ones you decide to have at 11am that day because the weather forecast looks promising.
#2 Light the garden
A string of fairy lights, lanterns or a few outdoor candles can transform a BBQ once the sun goes down. You don’t need elaborate decorations – the warm glow does the work and just adds a bit of magic to your evening.
Set The Mood Music
Again, BBQs are relaxed, so no music is fine, but if you’d like to set a particular mood you could have mellow background music or a full-on Ibiza set if that’s more your tastes. Prep your playlist the day before (or borrow someone else’s e.g. via Spotify) – avoid needing to fiddle with the music once your guests have arrived as you should be enjoying your party instead.
BBQ Extras
You don’t actually need activities. Sometimes the best BBQ activity is a drink in your hand and nowhere else you need to be.
If, however, you want to provide some laughter and talking points, you could include any of the following:
- Giant jenga or chess
- A frisbee or football
- Badminton set up
- Boules or croquet
Keep the extras optional and light-hearted as adults do not like being forced into organised games they don’t like! Those who are keen will usually find like-minded people and just get playing.
Hosting Timeline
- A few weeks before (or even last minute): invite your guests
- One week before: plan your menu
- One day before: buy your food and drinks; clear up your house & garden if needed; prepare any foods that can keep overnight. Don’t forget ice!
- The morning of: prepare the rest of your foods (make sure to keep them appropriately chilled)
- Two hours before: get changed and get yourself a drink – you’ve earned it!
- One hour before: lay your table if relevant; put out nibbles and drinks; put music on
- Depending on your BBQ fuel and how late your friends tend to be, light the BBQ at an appropriate time so it has time to get to the right temperature for cooking
- Guests arrive: enjoy the drinks, snacks and chatting while the BBQ gets properly underway
The Biggest BBQ Mistakes
Avoid these schoolboy errors!
Our Top Tips For This Theme
As a South African, Corné is a pro BBQ-er! Here are his 8 Golden BBQ Tips:
A Quick Note On BBQ Safety
Never leave a lit BBQ unattended, especially around children, pets or dry vegetation. Be especially careful with your BBQ fire in hot summer weather when your surroundings are tinder-dry – watch for sparks, escaping embers etc. Make sure your BBQ is completely extinguished before you go inside, and follow the manufacturer’s guidance for your BBQ and fuel.
So many summer wildfires are caused by BBQs – do not be that person.
And Finally
Remember: the best BBQ isn’t the one with the most food, the fanciest table or the most elaborate garden. It’s the one where everyone stays a little longer than they intended because they’re having such a good time.
So next time the sun comes out, don’t overthink it. Text your friends. Fire up the BBQ. Get together and have fun.
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