Best BBQ Main Dishes for a Party
Looking for main dishes to serve at a BBQ party? We’ve got various recipes to mix and match to serve as the basis for the perfect barbecue menu. Check out these recipes, tips, tricks and more.
Aaaaah. ‘Tis the season for all things barbecue, and I do not know about you, but I am excited to host a backyard barbecue.
The world is your oyster with this, though.
You can make most of the dishes yourself or you can invite friends to turn it into a potluck situation.
No matter what you decide, you should first decide upon the main dish or the centerpiece of the meal.
What should I serve for a BBQ menu?
That’s up to you, my friend.
To me, a backyard barbecue is a gathering that shares the classic barbecue dishes I was raised on (including ribs, pulled pork and BBQ chicken) OR the Texas barbecue I’ve come to know and enjoy, like brisket.
However, it can be as simple as throwing steaks, hamburgers or hot dogs on the grill if that’s what it means to you.
This is oftentimes dependent on where you were raised. And no matter the way you want to do it, I’m here to encourage you.
However, this list of BBQ meat focuses on those more barbecue-centric dishes of my youth, not just any old summer cookout.
What to pair with your main barbecue dish:
Again, this is dependent on what you make as the main BBQ meats…
If you’re looking for side dishes, there is a world of possibilities for you.
There are dishes that highlight vegetables, like charred corn salsa (or plain ‘ol corn on the cob), cucumber caprese salad, caprese skewers and more.
And you can’t go wrong with classics, like potato salad, pasta salad, baked beans, watermelon fruit salad and more.
I share some of our favorite side dishes at What to Serve with Pulled Pork Sandwiches.
And if you’re in the market for a festive dessert that plays nicely with BBQ flavors? Check out 40+ 4th of July Desserts because we’ve got summery ideas, classic BBQ deserts (like cobbler, pie and ice cream) and more.
How to plan a BBQ party menu:
Every menu should be customized to YOU and the people you’re hosting.
Some things to consider as you build your menu for a backyard barbecue include…
- How many people are you feeding?
- What are you able to cook?
- Are you making everything or will guests bring dishes?
- Does anyone have any dietary restrictions? Be considerate and have some food everyone can enjoy. Most of these BBQ dishes are naturally dairy and gluten free! (After all, we don’t add cheese to our barbecue.)
- How many appetizers and sides will you need?
- What equipment do you have at your house? (For example, if you’ve got a grill with a side burner, you might be able to make more dishes outdoors instead of if you don’t have a grill.)
I always start with the protein and then expand out to capture how many sides, appetizers and sweets I’ll need to have on hand.
Consider this all as you make your menu.
Here are our favorite cuts of meat to barbecue for any occasion…
Our Favorite BBQ Recipes to Make and Share
Frequently Asked Questions
There is a world of possibilities that you can bring with you, and we’ve rounded up a LOT of them here in this post. I always advise asking your friend if they want to assign you a dish or to tell you what they already have covered so you don’t have duplicates.
It depends on where you’re from and where you currently live, but to me, a BBQ tends to involved slow cooked meat that can be slathered in barbecue sauce…
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
Before leaving a comment or rating, ask yourself: