15 Backyard BBQ Party Ideas + Tips (Without Stress!)

As a self-proclaimed grill master, summer is one of my favorite times of the year. It means I get to roll out my grill and use it pretty much every night of the week. But, as much as I enjoy grilling up a few juicy ribeyes for my family, it’s even more fun to invite friends over for a backyard barbecue. Here are 15 of my tried and true backyard BBQ party tips to impress your guests without stress.

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1. Prep food before your guests arrive.

As you’ll discover, most of these backyard barbecue party tips come from mistakes that I’ve made in the past when hosting friends and family. This first tip is one that I still fail to do frequently. But, when I do prepare as much as possible beforehand, it makes a world of difference in the enjoyment of the cookout for all.

Make sure all the meat is ready to go on the grill when the guests arrive. Also, assemble, cook, and present all side dishes in advance. You don’t want guests to arrive while you’re still forming burger patties and chopping lettuce and tomatoes.

2. Make sure you have enough propane or charcoal.

Can I raise my hand as guilty again? Triple check to make sure you have enough gas in the propane tank for your gas grill or enough charcoal for your charcoal grill to cook dinner!

I’ve made more runs than I’d like to admit to the gas station as my half-cooked burgers sat waiting on a cold grill for me to return with propane. When I finally do return to cook them, the meat tastes lifeless and rubbery.

3. Ask guests to bring side dishes.

This tip especially comes in handy when it comes to large backyard BBQ parties. And, in our family, the more the merrier. Ask your guests to bring side dishes. Likely, you’ll be treated to an array of delicious foods.

Don’t feel like asking for side dishes is a burden, either. People love to show off their prized dishes. Besides, you don’t want to be whipping up five pounds of baked beans, heaps of potato salad, and dozens of deviled eggs while you’re getting the house and backyard ready.

4. Put up decorative outside lights.

It will get dark outside during your backyard party. Be ready with tiki torches or other decorative backyard lights.

We love our outdoor solar-powered string lights! They have an automatic timer, so they kick on when the sun drops. That way, we aren’t scrambling to turn on lights. They look so good; we keep them up all summer long.

5. Serve snacks away from the cooking.

As a frequent dinner party and summer soiree host, nothing annoys me more than people congregating in the kitchen or around the grill. This is true even if most of the work is prepped beforehand. (This cook needs his space!)

Thus, we set up a snack table AWAY from the kitchen and grill. My wife and I bought a compact folding table to set up just for this purpose. It is easily stored in our garage when we don’t need it.

Best BBQ Party Snacks

You have enough on your plate without making a slew of homemade barbecue party snacks, too. The easiest way is to stick to simple favorites instead. Here are some easy BBQ menu ideas.

• Potato Chips with Onion Dip
• Fresh Fruit Tray
• Vegetables and Dip Platter
• Cheese and Crackers Plate
• Tortilla Chips with Salsa and Guacamole
• 7 Layer Dip
• Pita Chips and Hummus Dip

Save yourself from needless chopping and mixing. Many of these options can be easily picked up from the deli section of your local grocery store.

6. Encourage guests to help themselves to kid-friendly and adult drinks.

As part of the pre-party prep, be sure to stock a cooler with ice, bottled waters, juice boxes, and other kid-friendly drinks. Set up another tub filled with beer, wine, and other adult beverages. To spruce up the drink station, use steel tubs instead of the weathered Igloo cooler.

Offer guests their first beverage and encourage them to help themselves after that. That way, you can greet new guests as they arrive and finish any last-minute cooking obligations.

7. Pre-make mocktails and cocktails.

If you want to offer fun summer season mocktails or cocktails, go for it! I suggest pre-mixing them, though, so you’re not constantly measuring, stirring, and pouring.

Delicious Summer Cocktails

• Mojito – Rum, fresh mint, lime, and sugar
• Margarita – Lime, triple sec, and tequila
• Aperol Spritz – Italian Aperol liqueur, sparkling wine, and club soda with fresh orange slices
• Summer Sangria – Red wine, fresh fruit, brandy, and sugar
• Paloma – Grapefruit juice, citrus soda or sparkling water, tequila, and fresh lime
• Mint Julep – Bourbon, fresh mint, simple syrup, and a splash of water

8. Set up yard games for all ages.

In summer, kids are restless to get outside and play. Take your outdoor party to the next level with lawn games that both children and adults will enjoy.

Arrange any outdoor games like cornhole, horseshoes, or Twister before the party starts. This way, the kids can go straight to playing and the adults can begin their drinking…ahem…socializing.

9. Mix up your grilling game.

Don’t bore your guests with plain old hamburgers and hot dogs. Chances are, they went to a barbecue last night and ate the same thing. Mix it up with fun and adventurous burger toppings!

For truly great BBQ, outfit your backyard with a Traeger electric smoker and smoke some pork or brisket! My pellet grill never fails to impress.

Tasty Grilling Recipes

Need some BBQ inspiration? Take a look at these tempting BBQ main dishes and then fire up the grill!

• Easy Smoked Brisket by Sweet C’s Designs
• Sweet and Spicy Ribs from Epicurious
• Carne Asada by Pinch and Swirl
• Grilled BBQ Chicken Kabobs by The Chunky Chef
• Grilled Beef Fajitas from the Food Network
• Greek Lamb Burgers by The Mediterranean Dish
• Grilled Whole Cauliflower from Epicurious (for vegetarian guests)
• Garlic and Black Pepper Shrimp from Bon Appetit

10. Make s’mores.

Nothing says summertime more than s’mores made over an open fire. The best part is you don’t have to cook them. All you need are some marshmallows, chocolate bars, graham crackers, and marshmallow sticks.

To jazz things up, use Marshmallow Peeps and an assortment of gourmet chocolate squares to make your s’mores.

You don’t need to build an elaborate fire pit to light a backyard fire either. There are plenty of steel fire pits available for any size or budget.

11. Stick to simple summer desserts.

You could stop with s’mores. But if s’mores aren’t your jam or you want to be extra sweet to your invitees, then serve one or more of the following easy, crowd-pleasing desserts.

BBQ Party Dessert Ideas

• Ice Cream (what better way to cool off on a hot summer day?)
• Popsicles or Frozen Fruit Bars
• Brownies
• Cookies
• Rice Krispie Treats
• Cupcakes
• Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake
• Rainbow Fruit Skewers

12. Choose a theme for your outdoor party.

For truly memorable backyard parties, choose a theme and decorate accordingly. Head to the Dollar Store for inexpensive decoration options.

If hosting a Memorial Day or 4th of July party, then decorate with patriotic red, white, and blue streamers and balloons. Go for a luau theme with leis and tropical flowers. Or host a Mexican fiesta featuring a pinata, brightly colored party decor, and sombreros.

A cowboy theme is a fun idea any time of year. Buy inexpensive cowboy hats, bandanas, and Old West trimmings. Fake mustaches make for fun photo ops!

13. Avoid pesky bugs.

Hosting an outdoor party means you might have some unwanted guests. Insects like bees, flies, and ants will be drawn by the lure of all the delicious foods you’re serving up. Mosquitos may join the festivities, too.

The easiest way to avoid insect bites is to place cans of bug spray on all outdoor tables. You should also light citronella candles to keep bugs at bay and provide pretty lighting. Add sage to your bonfire for further protection. Handing out paper fans to barbecue attendees helps, too.

14. Put safety first.

When dealing with fire, safety is the most important thing. Burgers, sausages, and even bone-in chicken quarters and breasts have a lot of fat that can cause flare-ups. Flame-broiled doesn’t mean opening your grill to find everything in flames.

The last thing you want is to put your family, friends, or yourself in danger. Make sure you have a spray bottle at the ready for small grease fires. Have a fire extinguisher nearby just in case, too. Yes, I’ve used mine.

15. Have fun at your backyard BBQ party!

You are now well equipped for the ultimate backyard barbecue party. Just remember the most important tip – have fun! That’s the point of hosting a barbecue. When the host is relaxed and having a good time, so will your guests. Besides, you deserve it!

Learn more tips.

Want to up your barbecue game? Check out my Traeger BBQ Smoker review.

For more outdoor fun, take a look at these backyard activities for kids.

If you like these fun BBQ party ideas, then plan your next party with these Cinco de Mayo party tips. Our festive ideas work for a Mexican-themed fiesta any time of year.

Beer lovers and basketball enthusiasts will want to learn how to host a March Madness beer tasting tournament.

Save these backyard BBQ party ideas.

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What backyard BBQ party tips can you add to this list? Do you have any questions about upping your BBQ game? Let us know in the comments below!

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