Tips on How to BBQ for a Party

The restaurant industry has a term called mise en place, meaning everything in its place. That’s exactly what you’ll need to BBQ for a large group: Having your menu, portion sizes, grilling station, and after-party storage set up well in advance.

And once you do have everything in its place, the actual barbecuing process will be a breeze. So let’s dig into each area of planning, one at a time.

Know Your Crowd Size

First things first: How many people will you be cooking for?

This doesn’t have to be an exact number (though that helps if you’re on a tight budget). But get a good estimate, and round up to the nearest multiple of 10. So if you think that 36 people will be attending your BBQ, plan for 40—that way, there will be enough for healthy eaters and a good bit of leftovers for sandwiches throughout the week. It's always good to err on having a little too much food than not enough!

But know this also: The larger your party size, the more planning you’ll have to do in advance. Because it takes longer to cook and serve everything, there are more steps you’ll need to take to ensure that your cooked food is served safely.

This may also include making lists, including one for any foods that need special ordering, items you need for grilling (pellets, accessories, cutting boards), and things you might need to rent, like tables and chairs.

Come Up with a Menu

When it comes to planning your BBQ party, crafting the perfect menu is the first step to flavor-packed success and happy guests. Start by coming up with a menu full of star-studded proteins, delicious sides, desserts, and drink options.

Once you've come up with your menu (simplicity is key), make sure to select your choice of pellets to infuse your dishes with wood-fired flavor. With Traeger, your BBQ menu is limited only by your imagination so get creative.

When you’re figuring out how to BBQ for a party, you may want to consider what sort of occasion it’s for as we. Are you cooking for a casual get-together or a wedding? A birthday party, or a reunion? This may affect your menu and the different foods you decide to serve.

Calculate Portions And Times

Timing is key when it comes to barbecuing for a lot of people. Start with your preparations a few days or even a week out, especially when it comes to your meat choices. Marinating or seasoning meats and vegetables ahead of time is a great way to enhance the flavor for your guests to enjoy. This is also a great time to take a look at your grill. Does it need cleaning? Are you out of any products? Have you plugged it in to make sure everything is up to par? Before the big day, be sure to plug in your Traeger and turn it on. That way you can receive any firmware updates, which can take a few minutes to process before you start cooking.

When it comes to the actual day of the party, consider timing the various elements by the hour so you'll know you'll be ready when your guests arrive. And consider your fridge space. You may need a cooler to hold everything or empty it out of non-essentials.

You'll also need to have a good idea of your portions. In general, a pound of food can feed 3-4 people, so a good rule of thumb is to have a quarter of that for each person. Though with how good Traeger BBQ is, you might need to plan for a bit more.

Set Up Your Grilling Station

Whether you’re cooking for 15 people or 150, setting up an organized grilling station will make the whole process smooth and simple.

Do an equipment check. Do you have enough bowls, platters etc. Serving spoons. How will you keep hot foods hot for serving?

The basic idea is this: You want to have all of your tools and ingredients set up around your grill before you start grilling. That way, you never have to leave the grill—or risk burning hamburgers or hot dogs while you’re away.

Any meats you will be grilling need to be refrigerated while you’re waiting to cook them. This is easily accomplished by keeping them on ice in a cooler, wrapped in plastic so they don’t get waterlogged. Raw vegetables can be kept at room temperature while awaiting the grill.

Lastly, make sure you have the right tools at your side to ensure a successful cookout. Our Traeger Flat Top Grill Essentials Kit includes a scarper, spatulas, and squeeze bottles for cooking on a Flat Rock add a pair of our BBQ Grilling Tongs for whatever you’re cooking on your pellet grill, and you’ll be ready to rock.

Keep Drinks and Desserts Simple

While you could go with pre-made dessert options from the store, why not show off your skills and opt for some unique smoked desserts? If you plan on making desserts for your BBQ, consider easy treats that can feed a crowd like smoked lemon bars, peach cobbler, bacon marshmallow treats, and baked berry cheesecake.

A stack of red solo cups, cold cans, or bottles of beer, wine, soda, and bottled water on ice are always must-haves when having a large group of people over for a BBQ, but it doesn't hurt to have a few fun cocktails on hand. Consider some of our batch drink recipes:

• Traeger 'Que Cocktail: Grilled orange juice, lemon, honey, bourbon, and beer have never tasted so good.
• Grilled Strawberry Bourbon Lemonade: Kick up your summer lemonade with bourbon and wood-fired flavor for a refreshing and unique cocktail your guests will love.
• Smoked Sangria: With a mild wood-fired flavor, your guests will drink up this Grand Marnier, simple syrup, fruit, and red wine combination.

Serving some sides for a BBQ party is the perfect way to add some variety and color to your guest's plates. Because you’ll be preparing them in advance, you can make an impressive spread without dedicating too much time to serving.

You can go as simple as possible, such as grilled corn on the cob and pre-made baked beans, or flex your chef skills with recipes like our Grilled Mango Coleslaw and Loaded Baked Potato Salad. For even more inspiration, check out our selection of vegetable recipes for all occasions.

How Many Sides Should You Serve?

Three to four sides is a good choice because it gives people enough variety to choose from, but is also curated to match the main courses.

Plan on serving about four ounces of each side per person. So for a BBQ for 20 people, you would need 80 ounces—5 pounds—of each side.

The perfect BBQ always begins with tantalizing appetizers that set the stage for an unforgettable meal.

• Traeger Smoked Deviled Eggs: Take a classic appetizer to a new wood-fired level.
• Traeger Bacon Poppers: Made with fresh jalapeño peppers, cream cheese filling, and smoky bacon, this blend of spicy and savory is the perfect way to kick off a Traeger BBQ feast that's packed with flavor
• Smoked Hummus & Vegetables: For a unique and unforgettable appetizer (that all of your guest will want the recipe for), consider a tasty dip infused with wood-fire flavor. Pair it with fresh, grilled vegetables for a tasty pairing.
• Smoked Guacamole: Guacamole is a must-have for any party, and for a BBQ, no appetizer lineup is complete with a bowl of fresh and zesty guac.

For more appetizer ideas, read our article and get inspired for flavor.

Handling Leftovers

No amount of planning can guarantee that your guests are going to eat the exact amount of food you prepare. And since it’s better to overshoot the target than come up short, you’re going to have leftovers.

Have some plastic or glass storage containers ready to store all your leftovers as soon as the party’s wrapping up. Remember to keep hot foods hot, and cold foods cold—you don’t want anything that’s been cooked or chilled sitting out at room temperature, because that can lead to health hazards.

If you have any leftover pulled pork, you’ll be eating well for the next week with our 17 leftover pulled pork recipes.

When you choose Traeger for your BBQ party, you're not just grilling; you're embarking on a flavorful journey that ignites your taste buds and leaves a lasting impression on your guests. With our premium wood-fired grills, quality pellets, and a world of delicious recipes at your fingertips, your party is guaranteed to be a sizzling success.

So, fire up your Traeger, get ready to wow your friends and family, and let the smoky aromas and bold flavors take center stage at your next BBQ bash.