What to Serve at a BBQ: 20 Classic BBQ Foods & Sides

Barbecues are casual cookouts that take place anywhere outside. Gathering at the beach, in a park or even in your own backyard to have a barbecue is the perfect way to connect with friends and family. 

Hamburgers and steaks are traditionally the most common food item thrown on the grill, although there are so many more options for what to serve at a BBQ. From steak to oysters to vegan salad, grab some inspiration from our list of BBQ food ideas.

1. Steak

Category: Main dishes 

Try serving grilled ribeye steak, sirloin or strip steak. And don’t forget to let them rest for 10 minutes after grilling. Serve with steak sauces such as chipotle sauce, black pepper sauce or even Australian steak sauce. 

2. Sausages

Category: Main dishes 

Sausages or hot dogs are always a regular at barbecues. For something a little different, try bratwurst or chicken sausage. Fry some onions on the flat plate, and have some extra condiments like sauerkraut, salsa or hot sauce to add a twist to the standard hot dog in a bun.

3. Slow-cooked ribs

Category: Main dishes

Tender, juicy and covered in sauce, barbecue pork ribs are delicious and always a people-pleaser. They’re relatively easy to prepare and cook, and extra bonus points if you can cook them so the meat just falls off the bone.

4. Burgers

Category: Main dishes

Burgers are another solid favorite, but why not consider setting up a burger station? The fun of building or grilling your own burger is everyone can customize their food. Aside from the usual cheese and ketchup, try topping burgers with the following items:

• Candied bacon
• Hoisin sauce
• Caramelized onions
• Feta or goat cheese
• Sriracha sauce
• Blue cheese dressing 

5. Seafood 

Category: Main dishes

If you’re a seafood lover and not sure what to serve at a BBQ, try grilling oysters, mussels or shrimp. Most shellfish grills easily and has a sweet, smoky flavor. Try ginger and soy sauce shrimp skewers — they’re delicious with lime dressing. 

6. Pulled pork

Category: Main dishes

Pulled pork is mouthwatering and affordable, especially if you slow cook it in barbecue sauce and cook it to a texture that just melts in the mouth. This dish does need to be cooked in the slow cooker first, but then just keep it warm on the grill. 

7. Chicken

Category: Main dishes

For chicken on the bone, salt the chicken ahead of time, and it’ll help retain its juices when cooking. For chicken breast pieces, marinating is the key. Make chicken in the slow cooker or try honey mustard grilled chicken, spicy wings, soy ginger drumsticks or satay chicken skewers.

8. Vegetarian and vegan options

Category: Main dishes

Although barbecues and vegetarians don’t seem like a good match, there are so many delicious meat-free options to explore. Try grilled marinated tofu pieces, barbecued halloumi and grilled bell pepper skewers. Grilled cauliflower steaks or grilled acorn squash are a great alternative for the main dish. 

9. Desserts

Category: Side dishes

Yes, you can even barbecue your dessert. Of all the things you didn’t know you could grill, fruit is the one that gets overlooked the most. Try grilled fruit like pineapple or rockmelon slices with coconut ice cream.

10. Classic potato salad

Category: Side dishes

Add this classic side to your list of what to serve at a BBQ — everyone will like it. For the perfect potato salad, use Yukon gold potatoes and add boiled eggs, green onions, dill, chives, sour cream and mayonnaise. 

11. Summer salad

Category: Side dishes

Create an epic salad to balance out all that meat. Use iceberg lettuce with heritage tomatoes, cucumber, mango, avocado, red onion, feta and corn, and serve with a lime-cilantro dressing. 

12. Homemade coleslaw

Category: Side dishes

Homemade coleslaw is way better than shop-bought versions, and it pairs perfectly with burgers and on pulled pork sandwiches. Make with the usual cabbage, carrots and onions, and add a little Dijon mustard and paprika to the mayonnaise dressing for extra zing. 

13. Grilled herbed vegetables

Category: Side dishes

Simply flavored with garlic, herbs, lemon and olive oil is all vegetables need to be delicious and nutritious. Try grilling eggplant, red bell peppers, tomatoes and onions. 

14. Cheesy garlic bread toast

Category: Side dishes

Spread garlic butter and parsley inside ciabatta loaves, sprinkle on Parmesan and cook under a grill until golden. Then lightly char the outside on the barbecue before serving. 

15. BBQ corn on the cob

Category: Side dishes

Wrap corn on the cobs in foil and throw on the barbecue until tender. If you want them charred, throw them on without wrapping. Brush with chili butter to serve. 

16. Jacket potatoes with sour cream

Category: Side dishes

Oven-bake large jacket potatoes rubbed with olive oil and sea salt. Then serve with a filling of sour cream, shallots and chives. This could be a great addition to your list of what to serve at a BBQ since it’s easy to make and looks aesthetic.

17. Vegan slaw

Category: Side dishes

Perfect for barbecues, this dairy-free slaw is tangy and delicious. Use shredded red and white cabbage, carrots and red onion. Cover with a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice and Dijon mustard.

18. Vegan potato salad

Category: Side dishes

No plant-based guest should miss out on sampling this classic side dish. Make your classic potato salad vegan by using vegan mayonnaise. Throw in some capers too for some extra bite.

19. Stuffed peppers

Category: Side dishes

Stuff whole red and yellow bell peppers with mozzarella, gorgonzola, cherry tomatoes, rice and stock. Wrap kitchen string around the stalk to secure and barbecue the stuffed peppers until browned. 

20. Chickpea and cauliflower salad

Category: Side dishes

Another vegetarian delight, this warm chickpea cauliflower salad is sweet and crunchy. Marinate and bake a head of cauliflower and roast the chickpeas alongside it. Toss in tomatoes, lemon juice and coriander and mix with coconut cream and yogurt for the dressing.

How much BBQ per person should I cater for?

Now that you know what to serve at a BBQ, let’s discuss the quantity per person you should cater for. 

For the star of the show — the barbecue food items — as a general rule, it’s smart to plan for around 1/4lb to 1/2lb of meat (or meat alternative) per person. This allows for some guests who may be big eaters and also covers you if more guests turn up. Serve generous portions of sides, and you won’t run out of those.

Food is the heart of any gathering, and a backyard BBQ is no exception. For the best barbecue experience, visit the meat counter at your grocery store and choose nothing but the top-quality cuts.

To make planning even easier, shop all your BBQ essentials through Instacart. With convenient, same-day delivery of groceries, snacks, and party platters, you’ll be ready to fire up the grill without any hassle.

BBQ party planning checklist

Grab it now on Instacart:

Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce, Sweet Vidalia Onion

Previously Frozen Backrib Pork Loin

Maui Short Ribs

Bull's-Eye Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce

Coleman Portable Grill, Roadtrip

Kingsford Original Charcoal Briquettes with Mesquite, BBQ Charcoal for Grilling

Kingsford Charcoal Lighter Fluid, 64 fl oz, 2 ct

Carolina Q Sauce, Hickory, Carolina Sweet

Fresh Chicken Thighs

Ball Park Sliders, Flame Grilled

Food is always the focus of any event or social gathering, and a backyard barbecue cookout is no exception. For the right type of meat and to get the best cuts for your barbeque, visit the meat counter at your grocery store.

When you’re planning your next barbecue event, save yourself some time and effort and shop all your barbeque food supplies through Instacart. Get convenient, same-day delivery on all of your groceries, snacks, and party platters.

Cady Cohen

Author

Cady Cohen is a culinary writer at Instacart who empowers home cooks to navigate the exciting world of food with confidence. She has worked in digital media for over seven years covering food, health, and wellness. From handy conversion charts and recipe calculators to in-depth cooking guides, Cady's work makes grocery shopping a breeze and empowers you to make informed choices about what you put on your plate.

Heather Matley

Editor

Heather Matley is an editor at Instacart whose passion for food and cooking has inspired her work on everything from grocery guides to recipe development. With over eight years of experience in editing, content creation, and search engine optimization, she strives to empower readers with the most effective tools, guides, and ideas to transform their home cooking.