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5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ

Backyard BBQs, Celebrations & Occasions, Seasonal, Summer

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Learn how to throw an unforgettable backyard BBQ for your friends and neighbors with some help from these 5 simple ideas.

5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style

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It’s BBQ Time

Hey there, friends! Welcome to our latest supper club party. This month I’ve teamed up with my 5 friends, Michele, Rachel, Stacy, Anne, and AnnMarie, to share tips and ideas for hosting an unforgettable backyard BBQ.

5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style

For those of you who are visiting from Michele at Vintage Home Designs, thanks for stopping by! Texans know a thing or two about a good BBQ, and I loved Michele’s tips for how to throw a simple backyard get-together.

Each month we’re also joined by a guest host, and we’re so happy to welcome Kim from Shiplap and Shells to our barbecue party.

Kim lives in a small 102-year-old cottage on the Puget Sound in the breathtaking Pacific Northwest. If you don’t know Kim yet, stop by her blog and take a look around at her stunning gardens and charming home.

5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ

We love to grill in the summer and fall! And even though the season is starting to wind down, there’s still time to host a party! Today I’m sharing 5 simple ideas you can recreate to throw an unforgettable BBQ for family and friends in your backyard.

Tip #1: Set Up A Buffet

Like a football tailgate party or a low country boil, a BBQ is all about good food (and a lot of it), so a casual buffet is a perfect setup for this type of backyard party. 

BBQ Buffet Table - Midwest Life and Style Blog

It’s simple to prep and arrange, and your guests can serve themselves while still mingling and enjoying the BBQ.

5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style

Place a stack of plates near the end of the buffet. I used my favorite white stoneware plates, but if you want to cut down on your post-party clean-up, sturdy paper or plastic plates will work just fine.

5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style
5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style

Use glass jars or cups to coral the utensils. And don’t forget to set out some napkins, too.

I used chambray napkins with galvanized napkin rings. The napkin rings add a rustic element to the BBQ theme and help to keep the napkins from blowing away on a windy day.

And my Midwest friends know that we’ve had a lot of those here lately!

What To Serve At A Backyard BBQ

The next question is, what do you serve at a backyard BBQ? There are so many choices when it comes to creating your menu.

BBQ Buffet Table with DIY Drink and Dessert Station - Midwest Life and Style Blog

For the main course, hamburgers or hotdogs are always a hit with a crowd, especially with young kids who might be at the party.

Grilled Steak and Vegetable Kabobs - Midwest Life and Style Blog

Grilled steak and vegetable kabobs are also a great option. The fresh veggies on the kabobs add some bright color to the buffet, and the skewers make it easy for guests to grab a quick bite and go.

5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style
5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style

And what about the sides? Corn on the cob and fresh fruit salad are both classic summertime dishes.

Here are a few other BBQ side dish suggestions.

  • Coleslaw
  • Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
  • Potato Salad
  • Creamy Broccoli Salad
  • Cut Vegetables for Dipping
  • Cucumber Pasta Salad
5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style

Pro Tip: Use glass jars with lids to serve your side salads. It helps keep bugs out of your food before the party starts and makes it easy to clean up and store leftovers once the BBQ is over. 

Tip #2: Create a Drink and Dessert Bar

At a BBQ, most guests will gravitate toward the food first, so set up a stand-alone drink and dessert bar to keep the buffet line moving.

5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style

A separate space for beverages and desserts makes it easy for your guests to fill their plates and return later to grab a drink and some sweets.

5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style

No table? No problem! Since I used my only large table for the buffet, I had to think outside the box.

5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style

My potting bench worked perfectly in a pinch!

5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style
5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style

I styled it up and turned it into a DIY drink and dessert station with some sodas, a water dispenser, and, one of my favorites, chocolate chip cookies.

Tip #3: Add Some Simple Decor

Since the main focus of a BBQ is good food and good company, it’s best to keep the decor for your party simple.

5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style

Fresh flowers are an easy and inexpensive way to add some festive touches to your BBQ.

5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style

Choose colors that are cohesive and help to create a theme for the party.

5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style

A few of my favorite flowers to use in summer bouquets include lilies, hydrangeas, and sunflowers.

Pro Tip: Serving trays make great decor too! Choose pieces that look similar, like this galvanized tray and this metal cake stand to help create a theme that complements the rest of your party decor.

Tip #4: Create A Backyard Barbecue Music Playlist

It’s not a BBQ without some fun music to set the mood. Grab a Bluetooth radio and play music from your favorite station.

5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style

Or use a streaming service like Pandora or Spotify to create a playlist filled with summer hits.

My go-to playlist is packed with classic rock tunes from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, but you really can’t go wrong no matter what you choose.

Tip #5: Get Out Some Yard Games

Yard games make any backyard BBQ party more fun, so don’t forget to put a few out for your guests to play.

5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style

Bean bag toss, ladder golf, and lawn darts are all favorites in our house. The games get a bit competitive at times, but they always end with a lot of laughter.

If you need more ideas for party games, you can see my full list of the 15 best summer yard games HERE.

Pro Tip: The end of the summer is a great time to stock up on yard games! Check for sales online and in stores for markdowns as they try to clear out seasonal toys to make way for fall and winter items.

5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ

As always, thank you for stopping by. I hope this post inspired you with some simple ideas you can recreate at home to host a BBQ this summer.

All of the items I used for my backyard BBQ are linked below. If you like something you see, just tap on the image to shop or to learn more.

More Ideas For Hosting A Summer BBQ

Next, visit Anne and AnnMarie at Simpy2Moms to see their ideas for how to host a BBQ on a budget, and be sure to check the rest of the posts from each of my supper club friends linked below.

Xoxo,

Bricks 'N Blooms BBQ Party - Midwest Life and Style Blog
Vintage Home Designs BBQ Party - Midwest Life and Style Blog
5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style Blog

Stacy at Bricks ‘N Blooms | Michele at Vintage Home Designs | Jen at Midwest Life and Style

Simple 2 Moms BBQ Party - Midwest Life and Style Blog
Shiplap and Shells BBQ Party - Midwest Life and Style Blog
The Ponds Farmhouse BBQ Party - Midwest Life and Style Blog

Anne & AnnMarie at Simply 2 Moms | Kim at Shiplap and Shells | Rachel at The Ponds Farmhouse

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5 Simple Ideas For An Unforgettable Backyard BBQ - Midwest Life and Style

July 28, 2022 · 22 Comments

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Comments

  1. Debbie says

    July 28, 2022 at 7:57 pm

    Love the jars for salads great ideal. Very pretty table too!!

    Reply
    • midwestlifeandstyle says

      July 29, 2022 at 8:41 am

      Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.🥰

      Reply
  2. Heidi says

    July 28, 2022 at 12:53 pm

    This is beautiful Jen! I love the idea of the large glass jars for food, great idea! Your bouquet of summer flowers was beautiful too!!!

    Reply
    • midwestlifeandstyle says

      July 28, 2022 at 3:47 pm

      Thanks so much, Heidi! Sunflowers are one of my summer favorites.

      Reply
  3. Renae says

    July 28, 2022 at 12:09 pm

    Great tips and ideas. Your table looks so pretty. Hugs to you, my friend.

    Reply
    • midwestlifeandstyle says

      July 28, 2022 at 12:40 pm

      Thanks so much, Renae. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Cheers!

      Reply
  4. Michele - vintage home designs says

    July 28, 2022 at 11:32 am

    Such a fun table set up and great idea to make it self serve. Love the idea of serving the sides in jars!

    Reply
    • midwestlifeandstyle says

      July 28, 2022 at 3:48 pm

      Thank you, Michele! I’ve collected several of these jars from thrift stores over the years. It was a great way to put them to good use!

      Reply
  5. Kim | Shiplap and Shells says

    July 28, 2022 at 11:18 am

    I loved your ideas for throwing a summer BBQ Jen! Using the potting bench to set up the drinks and dessert separately is a great tip that I can’t wait to use. Sunflowers are always the perfect flower for an outdoor BBQ table. So happy to be joining you ladies this month.

    Reply
    • midwestlifeandstyle says

      July 28, 2022 at 3:48 pm

      Thank you, Kim. I’m so thrilled you could join us. Can’t wait to see all of the yummy recipes on Saturday!

      Reply
  6. Rachel says

    July 28, 2022 at 10:22 am

    LOVE IT!! I LOVE me some yard games and I’m ALL about kabobs and corn on the cob!! You nailed it Jen…your simple elements make everything feel cohesive, simple, and relaxed. SO GOOD!!

    Reply
    • midwestlifeandstyle says

      July 28, 2022 at 3:51 pm

      That is so sweet of you to say, Rachel. I appreciate it! I was going for casual and simple so I’m glad the photos conveyed that. I hope you are enjoying these last few weeks of summer!

      Reply
  7. AnnMarie - Simply2Moms says

    July 28, 2022 at 8:39 am

    I love how you used your potting bench as a serving stand for dessert & drinks. And the glass jars are such a great idea! All your details and pro tips were spot on. Pinned!

    Reply
    • midwestlifeandstyle says

      July 28, 2022 at 3:52 pm

      Thank you, AnnMarie! We don’t have a large outdoor generating space, so I had to get creative, but it worked out great.

      Reply
  8. stacy says

    July 28, 2022 at 6:59 am

    Jen your table looks amazing and I love all of your fun ideas!

    Reply
    • midwestlifeandstyle says

      July 28, 2022 at 3:52 pm

      Thank you, Stacy. Can’t wait for Saturday’s yummy recipes.

      Reply
  9. Rachel Harper says

    July 28, 2022 at 6:10 am

    Jen,
    Your table looks amazing as always. I loved the chalk boards and the beautiful sunflowers especially.

    Reply
    • midwestlifeandstyle says

      July 28, 2022 at 3:53 pm

      Thank you, Rachel. The tables were so creative this month. I love seeing what everyone comes up with. Can’t wait for the menu on Saturday!

      Reply

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I'm Jen, a past event planner turned blogger sharing all my best tips and tricks for easy entertaining at home. From seasonal decor, to party crafts, free printables, stunning tablescapes, simple recipes, and curated menus for any occasion. You'll find it all here.

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