Are you looking for some neat ideas to boost your barbecue skills and get excellent feedback from your friends and family? There are many ways to make a successful BBQ and this has a lot to do with a little bit of everything. If you’re a weekend BBQ pitmaster, you’ll want to master these skills to pull off your next barbecue bash!
What makes a great backyard BBQ?
What does it take to be a great host at a BBQ grill party? Obviously, it takes more than BBQ skills to make any big BBQ party memorable and lively. And what most of us think is going to be good for some might not appeal to others. This is why it takes a lot of hats to wear when being a good host. With this being said, you’ll need to be an entertainer, humorist, creative chef, and innovative barbecue wizard.
Serving food is also a matter of presentation and appeal with a clear indication that anything that you’re making is going to taste great no matter how it looks. This is why uncommon foods that you might not otherwise put in your mouth are prepared and dressed to impress. Here are some tips and recipe ideas that can easily create the right atmosphere for your next backyard BBQ party.
Grilled Chicken Lollipops
Talk about a real showstopper with all the visual charm that makes BBQ even more finger-friendly. What makes these average drumsticks transform into savory lollipop bites is not so much work (than whats on the bone), as what’s not on the bone anymore. If you ever tried to tackle your typical BBQ drumsticks, honestly- it’s a big gooey mess. With an exposed chicken bone to hold onto that’s not slathered in sticky barbecue sauce, it’s a cinch to hold and eat. Kids will love this because it looks similar to those poor Among Us crewmates.
Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
Most people are hesitant about eating jalapenos because they’re so spicy! This is a real issue with so many folks but the secret is not with the jalapeno flesh itself but the seeds and the vein that connects them. This is where so much of the heat’ of the pepper is hiding and this needs to be removed if you’re concerned about heat issues. However, most of the spiciness of jalapeno is baked out on the grill.
Not only that, all of the creamy cheeses inside wrapped with smoky and crispy bacon will make you forget there’s a pepper inside these poppers.
For “next level” jalapeno poppers, place them on a smoker for 20 minutes before searing them over direct heat to crisp the bacon.
Blooming Onion
Although it’s not a barbecue item, it does make a terrific splash for making an appearance for any backyard grill party. You do need a good deep fryer and allow your onion to get adequate coverage from the milk so that all the sections of onion are coated. A pro tip is to use half and half since the cream will readily stick to your onion better than whole milk would. Chilling the onion before deep frying is also an important step to not forget.
Set the mood with BBQ decor
Backyard events are more than a few scattered chairs with a serving table and a makeshift wet bar. To get the best impact, you need to put as much effort into giving your barbecue party more pizzazz with plenty of atmosphere. Depending on what your overall theme is, every backyard BBQ party should follow some simple rules. This can help your guests get into the desired mood using some rather simple visual cues.
Maintain a strong theme
You can’t go wrong with barbecue themes that tend to take on a Tiki-like Island feel, but these days are different. It’s not unheard of to host theme parties where your guests can come in costume to match the event. Everything from Mardi Gras costumes to Spring Break or Super Bowl Sunday team spirit. You can take this one step further by providing banners, party decorations, and assorted props to transform your backyard and your guest too.
Choose party lights
LED lighting is cheaper than ever and now you can find a wide variety of string lights that are decorative and easy to string around your backyard. Thanks to the technology of these newer light systems, they can be controlled using a smartphone connection and even connect to music to add more visual stimulation.
Add ambient music
Music plays a vital role at your BBQ party so be sure to place wifeless speakers all over your backyard that can be linked together. This way, there is a constant level of music that can be increased and decreased as you like using a tablet or iPhone that’s playing all of the best party hits.
Provide comfort areas
Grab every chair, couch, and seat available to make sure that everyone can make this backyard BBQ as comfy as possible. If you don’t have enough of these items, it doesn’t hurt to ask neighbors or search around on Craigslist for free items you can add a few days before your grill party.
Refreshment stations
This is a perfect time to get creative about how you serve your refreshments. It’s going to take more than an ice-chest (unless that’s your theme), to serve chilled soft drinks or alcoholic beverages. Why not add old whiskey barrels as serving stations, or create a serving bar from a handy surfboard. Get creative at ways to use available items for your refreshment serving areas.
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