Summer’s here and that means one thing: it’s backyard BBQ season! While one survey estimates a whopping 68% of Americans will host a July 4th BBQ, for many – grilling and hosting is an all season (or even all year) event.
To help you best prepare for and host a backyard BBQ this year, we’ve written a guide to the key elements: the grill, the food, the drinks, and the exterior design. Scroll down to check out our tips for each element of your outdoor summer get together.
Backyard BBQ Prep
Real Simple pulled together a comprehensive guide to prepping your grill that is well worth reading. They recommend you heat the grill (gas or charcoal) before you clean it to make it easier to scrape any remaining food and animal contaminants and to clean it before each time you cook. Real Simple also recommends using a wire brush to clean the grill (we have heard mixed reviews), and spraying it with oil before cooking to prevent delicate foods from sticking. You can also – and ingeniously – use a creamer potato or even mayonnaise to make your grill nonstick.
If you stored your grill over the winter, you’ll obviously want to give it a good once over with soapy water and a cloth on the outside before using it for the first time. (The same goes for patio furniture and pool toys.) Those who clean their grills properly before putting them into storage (and use grill covers) find the job to be an easy one. Those who don’t may have to put a little elbow grease into it.
Food Prep & Serving
Once the grill is ready to go, it’s time to focus on the fun stuff: the food! If you’re hosting a July 4th BBQ, the typical menu looks something like this:
- Burgers & hot dogs (with buns and fixings)
- Veggie burgers/dogs for vegetarian friends
- Grilled steaks
- Potato salad
- Pasta salad
- Deviled eggs
- Baked beans
- Corn on the cob
- Watermelon
- Cakes & cookies
- Ice cream cones
To best prepare, you’ll want to decide the menu and gather your ingredients and condiments well before the holiday. Slice lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and onions the day before or morning of the party and keep under wraps in your refrigerator until it’s time to serve the food. Collect condiments (yellow and Dijon mustards, relish, pickles, ketchup, mayonnaise, butter, and even salt & pepper) on a tray or storage bin in the fridge to quickly pull out when needed.
Easy Serve
For serving, you’ll either want to use paper plates or melamine picnicware that won’t shatter if dropped. Tongs are great to serve watermelon or corn on the cob but use big plastic serving spoons for potato or macaroni salad and serving forks or spatulas for dogs and burgers. Make sure to provide plenty of paper napkins (or even a roll of paper towels) to clean up messes with ease. It may also be wise to invest in a plasticized tablecloth of some sort so that any spills can be quickly wiped up.
Another tip is to invest in some mesh food cover tents to keep the bugs away. Nothing turns a stomach more than seeing a big housefly on a plate of freshly cooked burgers. These cheap, lightweight covers have saved many a backyard BBQ!
Refreshment Options
Summer days and nights call for lots of beverages. Focus on providing plenty of options fit for hydration and celebration, including:
- Cold water and/or seltzer
- Lemonade or fruit punch
- Diet and regular soda
- Nonalcoholic beer (anything from Athletic Brewing Co. would do the trick)
- Beer, wine, and/or canned cocktails
NatureFresh Farms suggest adding cucumbers, lemons, or limes to iced water and serving it in pitchers or out of a dispenser.
If you’re wondering how you’re going to keep all these beverages cold, check out this awesome “Party Bar” rolling drink storage bin. Fill this puppy up with ice and drinks and your guests will be pleased as punch. Of course, depending on the size of the party, you may have to invest in a few different coolers or borrow one or two from your friends.
Need a place to store your grill and outdoor furniture off season? Find Storage Near You.
Backyard Design Ideas
Last, but certainly not least, is your “exterior design.” While a backyard BBQ on any summer evening might not require much besides some stringed lights, comfortable chairs, a table or two, and Citronella candles, an Independence Day BBQ might require some more festive 4th of July decoration. If you normally store your holiday décor in a 5×5 storage unit, a 10×10 storage unit, or even your garage or attic, be sure to pull it out and check for damage well before the holiday itself.
If you don’t have anything to work with yet, and are simply looking for backyard design ideas for your 4th of July barbecue, consider the following options:
- Red, white and blue everything and everywhere: tablecloths, napkins, plates, balloons, streamers, swags, you name it
- Small American flags to stick into planters or table vases
- Wildflower bouquets – think daisies, sunflowers, and other cheap and cheery blooms in ceramic jugs
- Bandana napkins and red gingham tablecloths
- Mason jar utensil holders
And Enjoy
The beauty of a backyard BBQ is that it’s meant to be rustic. No need to fret about being perfectly polished. Try your best – and don’t forget to have fun with it – and your guests will have a blast. If you’re worried about vibes, cue up the perfect playlist for the mood you want to invoke and let the music do its trick.
On the search for more BBQ tips, read through this guide from Thumbtack, which even covers how to clean up after your event.
