Tips for Hosting the Best Backyard BBQ
The weather is warming up, and it’s time to start thinking about outdoor entertaining. Cookouts and barbecues are a great way to gather, enjoying the weather and good company. If you’re looking for some inspiration on how to host the best backyard BBQ this summer, we’ve gathered our favorite tips below.
Plan Your Backyard BBQ Menu
It’s not a BBQ without barbecue, so why not whip up your own sauce? There’s a wealth of barbecue sauce recipes out there, and they’re easy to throw together. Decide whether you’re barbecuing pork, chicken, or beef, then decide on some other things to grill, like shrimp, burgers, hot dogs, and vegetarian options.
Come Up With Some Out-of-the-Box BBQ Food Ideas
Choose some traditional sides, like coleslaw, potato salad, and keep them free from bugs by putting them in single-serving lidded jars portioned for each guest. Serve up a salad, fresh summer fruits like watermelon and berries, and cut vegetables to serve dip. Don’t forget dessert, perhaps putting a unique spin on s’mores by baking a s’mores cake, pre-scooping ice cream into cupcake liners and freezing until it’s time to serve them, or making an all-berry dessert spread.
Get Creative with Drinks
Mint juleps, sparkling rosé mixed with crushed berries, and a tub full of cold beer will kick the party off right. Don’t forget the non-alcoholic beverages, with a pitcher of lemonade, bottled water, and soda, and maybe even a soda float buffet!
Don’t Shy Away from Expressing Yourself with BBQ Decorating Ideas
Post your backyard BBQ menu prominently by coating plywood with chalkboard paint to let guests know what you’re serving. Choose melamine plates in beautiful patterns and decorate your table with fresh flowers. Create welcoming place settings with cloth napkins and personalized name cards. Pull out the Christmas lights for a festive atmosphere, and use buckets full of rocks with bamboo poles set in them if you need a great place to hang them. If you’re serving bottled beverages, create unique labels by wrapping them with patterned paper that matches your color scheme, securing the paper with double-sided tape. Set out gift tags and markers, so guests can label their drinks.
Find Some BBQ Party Games to Entertain Guests of All Ages
Set out some card games for people to play on the porch and strategically place some lawn games like Frisbees, badminton, and croquet. For the kids, put out balls and bubbles, perhaps using a kiddie pool and a hula hoop to create a giant bubble maker.
Is your backyard BBQ party ready? When choosing a new home, consider the exterior space as well as the interior. If you’re looking to create your dream home, Landmark Fine Homes has beautiful new and custom-built homes in a variety of sizes and floorplans, many with patios and porches just waiting to become yours. Our homes are energy efficient and built with the most attention to detail. Make your next house the home of your dreams by contacting Landmark Fine Homes today!
