Summer days are well spent when surrounded by good friends and a good old ole’ backyard barbecue. Whether it be a celebratory occasion like Father’s Day, a graduation party, or even just a regular summer Friday evening, there is no better way to entertain Al Fresco style than with a sizzling barbecue. So let’s get grilling and chilling with our favorite barbecue tips so you can savor your summer days to the fullest.
Tip #1: Plan out your cooking times
It’s essential when hosting a backyard bash to have a balanced menu. While meats are typically your main attraction, it’s important to mix in veggies and sides for your guest. Plan your cooking times so everything can come hot off the Grill together. And when the Grill gets too crowded, your Savorly apps are the perfect gourmet appetizer to cook in your oven or air fryer to free up some space on the Grill.
Tip #2 Use a grilling bowl
Nothing is worse than losing a veggie or potato wedge into the grill grate. Using a grill bowl is a great way to save every last bit and separate your items from the meats. We love this Nordic Ware Nonstick Grilling Basket from Food52. “The perforated surface lets in heat and smoke without letting out a single morsel, and the sloping sides let you shift as you’re cooking. And when you’re done? Slide it all right out to be served — thanks, nonstick.”
Tip #3 Create a custom skewer station
Grilling vegetable skewers seems like a barbecue no-brainer, but a great way to get your guest involved in the grilling festivities is to set up a custom skewer station. Cut a variety of vegetables of your choice into the same size thick chunks. This could be anything from eggplant to zucchini to onions, bell peppers, or even sweet potatoes. Provide the skewers and invite guests to curate their personalized skewer creation. Have salt and pepper, and if you feel fancy, provide a variety of dried herbs such as oregano, mint, tarragon, or basil for an added flavor to sprinkle on top.
Tip #4 Throw some fruit on the Grill
Fresh fruit is delicious on its own, but have you ever tried grilling it? According to The Spruce Eats, “The intense heat of the grill — whether gas or charcoal — adds a fantastic, smoky-sweet flavor and caramelized texture to most fruits.” Try out peaches, watermelon, pineapple, or even pears. Serve alone or chop and toss a green salad with your choice of crumbled cheese.
Tip #5 Serve a signature drink
Did someone say sangria? Refreshing white wine sangria is one of our favorite Al Fresco drinks to serve while entertaining for a backyard bbq. Any sangria recipe is super flexible and can be easily scaled to make enough for any number of guests. Customize and experiment with this simple formula to create your signature mixture: Bottle of white wine + 3 cups of sliced fruit + 1/4 cup of brandy + 1/4 cup of liquor. Our Savorly signature sangria includes a dry, fruity Spanish wine such as an Albariño, apples, peaches, strawberries, blackberries, grapes, oranges liquor. When serving, we like to prepare a glass with ice cubes, spoon in a portion of fruit, and fill two: one part sangria + sparkling water. The combination of fresh fruit, white wine, orange liquor, and sparking water creates the most delicious white wine sangria cocktail– perfect for cooling off while BBQing Al Fresco.
