These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (2024)

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (1)

This Independence Day, cook up a spread of star-spangled 4th of July recipes worthy of America's birthday. From traditional 4th of July foods (we’re talking about you, coleslaw and potato salad) to modern, creative finger foods, we've rounded up mouthwatering recipes to help you celebrate the summer holiday in the most delicious way possible. Fire up the grill and make some of the best all-American entrees, keeping it classic with fried chicken, smoky meats, and burgers of all kinds — or even trying some zesty seafood recipes that taste like you’re eating beachside. You'll of course have to pair it with some delicious 4th of July apps, refreshing summer salads, or the best desserts to cap off a backyard barbecue. And don't forget the drink recipes to pair with all your cookout fare — it is the American way, after all.

And the fun doesn’t have to stop at your 4th of July menu: embrace your patriotic pride with some red-white-and-blue decorations or some creative crafts (we’ll be playing American Flag Corn Hole all summer long). The best way to celebrate living in the land of the free is with some old-fashioned summer fun, so go ahead and don your best blue garb, make some room on your plate, and raise a glass to 244 more years.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

1

Beef and Mushroom Burgers

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (2)

These half-veggie, half-beefy burgers get an extra dose of flavor from mushrooms. With cheese and all the fixin's, they might just be the new ultimate burger.

Get the recipe for Beef and Mushroom Burgers »

RELATED: 50 Easy Ground Beef Recipes for True Meat Lovers

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

2

Grilled Leek Potato Salad

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (3)

Toss this mild oniony veg on the grill for a boost of charred flavor to a classic grainy mustard potato salad.

Get the recipe for Grilled Leek Potato Salad »

RELATED: 50 Easy BBQ Side Dishes to Make This Summer

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

3

Tangy Charred Coleslaw

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (4)

Lightly charring wedges of cabbage before cutting it into smaller pieces transforms ordinary slaw into extraordinary.

Get the recipe for Tangy Charred Coleslaw »

RELATED: 20 Must-Try Coleslaw Recipes for a Summer BBQ

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

4

Steak Chimichurri

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (5)

Make an extra batch of this zesty Argentinian-inspired herb, garlic, and chili sauce. You're going to want to spread it on everything.

Get the recipe for Steak Chimichurri »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

5

Chilled Tortellini Romesco

You'll never go back to plain old pasta once you've had a cheesy side salad. Bonus: the Romesco sauce can also be tossed with potatoes, or used as a dip or a killer sandwich spread.

Get the recipe for Chilled Tortellini Romesco »

RELATED: 40 Best Dips That Will Win Over Every Party Guest

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

6

Grilled Chicken Wings

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (7)

Once you toss this game-day classic on the grill, you'll never go back to boring fried wings again.

Get the recipe for Grilled Chicken Wings »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

7

Chicago-Style Chicken Dogs

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (8)

Sweet and spicy pickles and peppers make these grilled dogs a real winner.

Get the recipe for Chicago-Style Chicken Dogs »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

8

Grilled Sweet Potatoes With Lemon-Herb Sauce

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (9)

A fiery, fragrant chile and mint relish is the perfect topper to perk up these smoky grilled sweet potatoes.

Get the recipe for Grilled Sweet Potatoes With Lemon-Herb Sauce »

RELATED: 60+ Grill Recipes That Will Be Your New Summer Favorites

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

9

Grilled Pineapple

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (10)

Juicy pineapple dipped in coconut sugar and cinnamon, then grilled until golden and caramelized, is the perfect start-of-summer dessert.

Get the recipe for Grilled Pineapple »

RELATED: How to Cut a Pineapple in a Few Easy Steps

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

10

Charred Salsa

Grilling nearly all of the ingredients before blending gives this salsa its uniquely smoky flavor.

Get the recipe for Charred Salsa »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

11

Heirloom Tomato Salad

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (12)

This salad is all about the tomatoes — choose the highest quality options you can find at the farmer's market or grocery store for the most delicious summer flavor.

Get the recipe for Heirloom Tomato Salad »

RELATED: 15 Fresh Tomato Salads You Have to Try This Summer

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

12

Mexican Grilled Corn

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (13)

Grilled corn gets even better with zesty, spicy, and smoky toppings. Oh, and plenty of crumbled Cotija cheese.

Get the recipe for Mexican Grilled Corn »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

13

Zucchanoush

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (14)

For a fun, summery twist on baba ganoush, try swapping out eggplants for zucchini to take advantage of the summer squash in its peak season.

Get the recipe for Zucchanoush »

RELATED: 12 Light and Easy Summer Squash Recipes

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

14

Grilled Green Beans, Fennel, and Farro

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (15)

Packed with fiber-loaded farro, this flavorful side also makes for a light vegetarian main.

Get the recipe for Grilled Green Beans, Fennel, and Farro »

RELATED: 46 Hearty Vegetarian Recipes for the Whole Family

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

15

Corn Wheels With Hot Honey Butter

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (16)

Give summer a warm welcome by complementing your main with these sweet and spicy corn wheels. Top tip: The more honey butter, the better.

Get the recipe for Corn Wheels with Hot Honey Butter »

RELATED: 20 Easy Grilled Corn Recipes to Round Out Your Summer BBQ

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

16

Greek Salad Recipe

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (17)

Flavorful capers give this go-to Mediterranean dish a serious boost of flavor, while a pinch of confectioners’ sugar balances the tartness for the perfect zesty bite. Consider this our go-to Greek salad recipe.

Get the recipe for Greek Salad »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

17

Green Chile Cheeseburger

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (18)

Roasted green chiles, gooey cheddar cheese, and a brioche bun are a genius way to take your burger game to the next level.

Get the recipe for Green Chile Cheeseburger »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

18

Charred Shrimp, Leek, and Asparagus Skewers

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (19)

Because co*cktail shrimp are boring. Serve this shrimp and veggie trip with a spicy homemade sauce for a punch of flavor.

Get the recipe for Charred Shrimp, Leek, and Asparagus Skewers »

RELATED: 20 Quick and Easy Grilled Shrimp Recipes to Try This Summer

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

19

Cucumber and Cantaloupe Salad With Savory Quinoa Granola

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (20)

Skip basic fruit salad. This cool and crunchy side is packed with fresh flavor.

Get the recipe for Cucumber and Cantaloupe Salad with Savory Quinoa Granola »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

20

Ice Cream S'mores

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (21)

Who needs a campfire?! These are a cinch to make with store-bought ice cream, graham crackers, and all your favorite toppings and mix-ins.

Get the recipe for Ice Cream S'mores »

These Easy Summer BBQ Recipes Are Perfect for Big Families (2024)

FAQs

What to grill for a big family? ›

Our Favorite Grilling Ideas for Large Groups
  1. Pork Belly Sliders.
  2. Chicken Bacon Ranch Kabobs.
  3. Blackened Catfish Tacos.
  4. Grilla'd Chicken Wings.
  5. Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers.

What is a must have for BBQ food? ›

Some must-have ingredients include store-bought chips, dips and fruit platters, homemade barbecue sauce and of course, meats and fish to grill such as pork ribs, sausage, shrimp, salmon, beef spare ribs and chicken drumsticks. Related: How Much Potato Salad Do You Need Per Person for Your BBQ?

What is the most versatile BBQ? ›

Big Green Egg. Big Green Egg popularized the kamado-style grill in the United States, and it's easy to see why. Versatile enough for smoking, for grilling, for pizza baking and as an outdoor oven, the Egg's ability to hold heat makes it a great tool for the cook who likes to change it up.

What is the most popular food to grill? ›

Top 10 foods for grilling
  • Steaks — When the gristle from a well-marbled choice cut Delmonico steak drips down onto the fire, the crackling flames jump up and the meat sizzles intensely. ...
  • Hot dogs Keep in mind that we are in October. ...
  • Ribs Sometimes, you have to get get your hands dirty.
Oct 16, 2008

How do you feed 50 people on a BBQ? ›

Consider how much an average person will eat, on average being 3-5lbs of food a day. Of course, we don't mean 4lbs of food for dinner. 4lbs for 3 people is a good ratio for an evening BBQ dinner. Then multiply 4lbs by your number of guests + 50%.

How much food do I need for 20 people BBQ? ›

How much BBQ for 20 people: 8 pounds (128 oz) of meat total (2 meats recommended) 1 XL size (feeds 10-12 people) for each side ordered. Drinks: 2 gallons.

How many pounds of BBQ do I need to feed 25 people? ›

Adults. In general, each pound of BBQ feeds 3 to 4 people, especially if you're serving sides. You can expect most adult guests to eat ¼ to ⅓ pounds of meat each during your event. Adults will likely be drinking, grazing on snacks, and filling up on sides, too.

How do you host a BBQ for a crowd on a budget? ›

1 tip for hosting a budget-friendly BBQ is simple: Make it a potluck-style party, and delegate. If you're hosting, focus on the main part of the meal (check out the best budget-friendly proteins for a BBQ to help you decide). Prepare something in advance to save you day-of stress, like our Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Gov. Deandrea McKenzie

Last Updated:

Views: 5531

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Gov. Deandrea McKenzie

Birthday: 2001-01-17

Address: Suite 769 2454 Marsha Coves, Debbieton, MS 95002

Phone: +813077629322

Job: Real-Estate Executive

Hobby: Archery, Metal detecting, Kitesurfing, Genealogy, Kitesurfing, Calligraphy, Roller skating

Introduction: My name is Gov. Deandrea McKenzie, I am a spotless, clean, glamorous, sparkling, adventurous, nice, brainy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.