How to Throw a Laid-Back Summer Barbecue for Friends

11 minutes ago

5 min read

Want to host a summer barbecue that people actually remember?

Not like that stressful type. Not where the host is working 5x harder and stands at the grill the whole time.

The chilled-out kind.

Did you know... Casual Barbecues are easier than fancy ones. You don't need a big budget or culinary arts expertise. Just an easy plan, a couple shortcuts, and the proper attitude.

Ready? Here's how to do it...

Here's what's on the menu:

Why Laid-Back Beats Fancy Every Time

Create A Chill Zone For The Grown-Ups

Keep The Guest List (And Invites) Simple

Plan A No-Stress Menu

Set Up Your Backyard The Easy Way

Keep The Fun Going After Dinner

Why Laid-Back Beats Fancy Every Time

Barbecuing is summer's unofficial sport. Industry sources say that 70% of all households in the U.S. have at least one grill or smoker.

That means your friends have been to plenty of cookouts.

OK, now what's different about yours? It's not the china. It's the vibe in the room. If the hostess is stress-free, the guests will be stress-free. Period.

Create A Chill Zone For The Grown-Ups

Every great BBQ has a place to relax away from the grill. A couple chairs, some shade and a side table or two.

If there are any adult friends who smoke, that's where it's allowed. Locate this area downwind and as far away from the food, kids and non smokers as possible.

Here's the thing...

Many folks believe a cigar is “less” than a cigarette. It’s not. Compared to cigarette nicotine content, cigar vs cigarette comes nowhere close to being less. The average cigarette contains about 10-12 mg of nicotine in its tobacco. Premium cigars, on the other hand, averaged almost 300 mg of nicotine according to one study. Now some cigar smokers may not inhale like cigarette smokers do, but a lot of nicotine still gets absorbed in the mouth. If someone brings over a pack of Backwoods cigars to share after dinner, one slow, easygoing cigar is the perfect way to wind down the evening.

Keep this area for adults only. Provide an ashtray and a small bucket of sand. No one likes a stray ember on the grass.

Fun fact: You'll want to place this area away from where food will be set up. S'mores + Hamburgers = Sticky Situation!

Keep The Guest List (And Invites) Simple.

The best kind of laid-back barbecue is one with a group of friends who are already buddies. About 8-15 people. Large enough gatherings to feel like a celebration... Small enough that you can actually have a conversation with everyone.

Skip the fancy invitations. A quick group text works perfectly. Just include:

The date and time

Your address

What guests should bring (if anything)

Weekends during summer get booked up quickly. Especially holiday weekends. About 70% of upscale grill owners will grill out on the 4th of July. That means your friends' schedules are likely full. Shoot them a save-the-date no less than 2x weeks out.

Plan A No-Stress Menu

This is where most hosts go wrong.

They attempt to cook 6 varieties of meat, 4 salads and a homemade dessert. Then they end up stuck by the grill the whole party.

Don't do that.

Pick One Hero Protein

Pick one thing that you’re going to do justice on the grill. Burgers, dogs, chicken thighs or sausage are always winners. They’re inexpensive, fast and nearly impossible to ruin.

Got veggie friends? Throw on some corn on the cob or halloumi skewers.

Let Your Friends Bring The Sides

This is your lazy host's secret weapon. Have each guest bring one side, beverage or dessert. Everyone loves to contribute and it really frees you up.

Create a simple shared list early on so people can see what's already being brought, preventing 5x potato salads.

Keep Food Safety In Check

Here's something most people forget...

Don't let food linger outside. Keep perishables out for no longer than 2 hours max -- or 1 hour if it's above 90° Fahrenheit. Have a cooler filled with ice under your table and rotate food dishes as necessary.

Set Up Your Backyard The Easy Way

You don't need a backyard transformation. Just some simple things that keep folks comfy.

Begin with shade. Umbrellas or a collapsible gazebo will prevent guests from sunbathing. Next, arrange seating. Combine chairs, benches, blankets and maybe some oversized pillows on the lawn.

Next up... drinks.

Have a self-serve drink station away from the grill. Fill a tub with ice, water, soft drinks and your two favorite summer beverages. That way people won't crowd the cook (that means you).

And don't forget the small stuff:

Bug spray or citronella candles

Sunscreen by the back door

A playlist running on a speaker

Extra bin bags

It's the little details that make guests feel looked after.

Keep The Fun Going After Dinner

Once everyone has eaten, the party often hits a slow patch. That's totally normal.

The secret? Having a couple simple games available. Nothing fancy. Cornhole, giant Jenga, toss a football or put out a deck of cards. People can come and go as they please.

String lights transform any outdoor space as soon as the sun goes down. Affordable and easy to hang, string lights help make your backyard feel like an outdoor living room.

Pretty cool, right?

Having a fire pit is icing on the cake. People just love to sit around a fire and chat away. Things somehow always become interesting around a fire. Make sure you keep a bucket of water or fire extinguisher nearby.

Time To Fire Up The Grill

A relaxed summer barbecue doesn't have to be perfect. It's about great food, friends and a host who gets to enjoy the party too.

To quickly recap:

Keep the guest list small and send a simple invite

Pick one hero protein and let friends bring the sides

Set up shade, seating and a self-serve drink station

Create a chill zone for the grown-ups (away from the food)

Have a few easy games ready for after dinner

Master these fundamentals and you'll be hosting the kind of barbecue that will be the envy of your friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference in cigar vs cigarette nicotine?

One cigar can contain many times the nicotine of one cigarette. That's because cigars contain a lot more tobacco. And although most cigar smokers don't inhale, nicotine can still enter the body through the mouth lining.