The BBQ Essentials for Any Summer Garden Party

It’s barbecue season and time to get the parties started!

We Brits love a good barbecue, so let’s make sure we’re well prepared to host some great summer garden parties. 

To make sure you’ve got all the BBQ essentials you need, we’ve created a handy guide featuring everything you might require for summer grill-up success, including a BBQ food list, all the equipment needed to host a barbie – and more! 

No one wants to begin their barbecue, only to find they’re missing a key piece of equipment. So, before you start cooking, make sure you’ve got all the items and barbecue accessories you need from the list below: 

• • Barbecue (of course!)
  • Charcoal if you have a charcoal grill
  • Gas if you have a gas grill (make sure you know which type of gas to buy! Check out our blog on how to start a barbecue for more info)
  • Barbecue tools
  • Matches/lighter, firelighters or lighter fluid for a charcoal grill
  • Meat thermometer
  • Skewers
  • Smoker box
  • Rotisserie
  • Bottle opener
  • Aluminium foil
  • Plates and cutlery
  • Glasses
  • Napkins
  • Apron (with a pocket for your tools)
  • Barbecue mitt
  • Side table for plates and serving if your barbecue doesn’t feature one
  • Fire extinguisher for safety
  • Grill brush and cleaning equipment for afterwards

The food is, of course, the star of the show when it comes to a BBQ garden party, so it’s important to get it right! 

Here’s a complete BBQ party food list featuring all the essentials, as well as items that are often forgotten. With all the right foods ticked off, you’ll be the most popular BBQ host in town. 

Meat and Fish Checklist

•  Bacon
•  Chorizo skewers
•  Sausages
•  Beef steaks
•  Beef burgers (don’t forget the burger buns and garnish!)
•  Chicken wings and thighs
•  Salmon 
•  Prawns skewers

Vegetarian BBQ Checklist

•  Vegetable skewers: onion, red pepper
•  Mushrooms
•  Aubergines
•  Asparagus
•  Halloumi
• Meat substitutes
•  Courgettes
•  Corn on the cob
•  Baked potatoes

Side Checklist

•  Tortillas or pittas
•  Chips/potato wedges
•  Lettuce
•  Tomatoes
•  Cheese
•  Crackers

Dessert Checklist

•  Watermelon
•  Bananas and chocolate wrapped in foil
•  Strawberry and marshmallow skewers
•  Fruit salad
• Smores
• Ice cream 
• Chocolate fondue 

Hosting a barbecue is about more than just putting on some food. The key to success is in the preparation! When should you buy the food? How long should you cook each piece? How should you prepare the garden? There’s a lot to consider!. 

When it comes to food, you should try to buy it fairly close to the date of the barbecue so it’s still good and fresh, with no chance of reaching its use-by date. A couple of days ahead would work well if you can’t buy fresh on the day. 

Some food can be prepped in advance to save time, such as salads. Chop your veg and store in a covered bowl in the fridge (the day before the barbecue for maximum freshness, ideally), but leave the dressing until just before serving to avoid it spoiling. If anything needs defrosting, make sure you take it out of the freezer in plenty of time before the party.

When it’s time to grill up, know how to cook your food before you start! Pay close attention to barbecue cooking times for each type of food you’ll be cooking, from different types of meat to fish and veg. 

Your guests will want somewhere nice to sit with their tasty food, so make sure your outdoor furniture is nice and clean. Check out our blog on how to care for garden furniture for tips on cleaning and maintaining each material type. If your garden’s looking a little less than neat, give the lawn a mow or the plants a quick prune if necessary, to tidy it up for your guests’ arrival.

A clean patio wouldn’t go amiss either, given that this is where your barbecue is likely to feature. Give it a sweep and a spray down with a pressure washer if needed. So ensure you've got all the gardening equipment you need before your big BBQ party! 

It's important to make sure your barbecue is squeaky clean, so ensure you know how to clean a barbecue properly and have all the equipment you need to get it sparkling clean.

Now you know how to prepare your grill-up and you’ve read our BBQ checklist – both for food and essential supplies – you’ll be ready to host the best cookout in town. Remember, if you need a new grill or any other BBQ essentials, right down to garden furniture and cleaning supplies, we’re here with everything you might want. Discover our best BBQs this season and explore our range today to get your hands on everything you need for an unforgettable BBQ party.