Backyard BBQs are the best part of summer. Food, friends, laughs – what more could you ask for? If you want to make your next gathering memorable, I have 25+ crowd-pleasing cookout food ideas that everyone will love – even the kids!
25+ Crowd-Pleasing Cookout Food Ideas for Your Next Backyard BBQ
1. 7-Layer Dip
No party is complete without a good dip, and this one takes the cake. It has delicious layers that are perfect for dipping:
- Refried beans
- Greek yogurt
- Guacamole
- Pico de gallo
- Toppings (lettuce, grated cheese, green onion, etc.)
I recommend using tortilla chip cups to scoop up all of that goodness! But you could also use pita chips, crackers or even raw veggies like celery and carrots.
Pro tip: Use a glass casserole dish to show off those layers!
2. Italian Grinder Sliders
Loaded with layers of gooey cheese, deli meats and a tasty Parmesan glaze, these sliders will be the talk of your cookout.
While the recipe calls for ham, salami and pepperoni, you can use whatever meats and cheese you want. But I recommend sticking with the Hawaiian rolls. They’re just the right size and have the perfect flavor for this recipe.
The salad topping is where the magic happens. You’ll need shredded lettuce, tomato, pepperoncini peppers, mayo, vinegar and spices. These sliders are baked to melt the cheese before you add the salad topping – yum!
Related: 15+ Mouthwatering BBQ Appetizer Ideas for Outdoor Gatherings
3. The Best Hamburger Recipe
Burgers are a staple at every BBQ, but don’t just head to the freezer aisle and buy ready-made patties. Make them yourself!
All you need are lean ground beef, a few eggs, onions, hamburger seasoning, Worcestershire sauce and bread crumbs (panko works best!).
Grill and serve with a selection of toppings. I highly recommend using brioche buns – your guests will love them.
4. Corn Salad
Here’s one of the best cookout food ideas if you want to serve something fresh and light. This corn salad is delicious! Use fresh corn on the cob for the best flavor. Mix with diced avocado, cherry tomatoes, finely chopped onion, diced jalapeno (no seeds) and cilantro.
The dressing is a simple vinaigrette with lime juice.
Just mix everything together and serve!
5. Maple Chipotle Corn
Grilled corn is a must-have at every BBQ, but I love this variation, which adds a hint of sweetness and spiciness.
The buttery sauce is a tasty mix of fresh garlic, onion powder, black pepper and finely chopped chipotle.
Baste your corn and grill as usual. This is a super simple recipe that will impress everyone.
6. Macaroni Salad
I love a good macaroni salad, especially at a BBQ. This recipe is so simple and delicious, and it’s easy to double or triple it to feed a crowd.
Make sure you use elbow macaroni. Add sweet pickles, red pepper, celery, red onion and hardboiled eggs (or diced cheddar cheese).
The dressing is what gives this dish its classic, nostalgic flavor. The pickle juice is the key, so don’t skip this ingredient!
7. Build Your Own Hot Dog Bar
Here’s a fun idea for your BBQ, and it’s something the kids will really love. Set out mason jars filled with hot dog toppings, and let your guests build their own hot dogs.
Get creative with your toppings. Here are some ideas: cheddar, feta, pico de gallo, bacon, green onions, Cheetos, pickles, kimchi, pickled jalapenos.
Don’t forget to add a selection of hot dog buns, too.
8. Grilled Pork Chops
Grilled pork chops may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you’re planning a BBQ, but they’re a delicious choice for a main dish. These chops are marinated in a brown sugar and mustard sauce before being grilled to perfection.
The best part? They’ll pair well with virtually any side dish and dessert you want to serve.
9. Cheesecake Salad
A delicious and simple dessert salad loaded with fresh fruit mixed with a cheesecake-like filling that is so addicting. Just mix Cool Whip with cream cheese and white sugar.
You can use any fruit you want. Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries are excellent choices. Stick to fruits that aren’t too watery to keep the cheesecake mix from losing its creamy texture.
10. Deviled Strawberries
Simple, sweet and perfect for your next BBQ. These strawberries will be a favorite among both kids and adults.
You’ll be making your own whipped cream for this recipe, which is so easy. Just slice your strawberries in half, top with a dollop of whipped cream and sprinkle on some graham cracker crumbs. Get the freshest strawberries you can find for this one.
11. Asparagus, Tomato and Feta Salad
A fresh, tasty salad is the perfect side for a cookout. Toss parboiled asparagus with fresh tomatoes, chopped walnuts and crumbled feta cheese.
Add a homemade balsamic vinaigrette to the mix and serve in a pretty ceramic salad bowl.
12. Watermelon Salad
One of the most refreshing cookout food ideas on this list! This watermelon salad pairs all of your favorite summer flavors together: fresh watermelon, cucumbers and raspberries.
Add feta cheese, mint and a tasty homemade vinaigrette to complete this summer dish.
I recommend using mini cucumbers for this recipe. They have a milder flavor and are the perfect size for this salad.
If you want to kick the flavor up a notch, you could add some fresh basil to the mix.
13. Fresh Summer Corn Salad
A refreshing salad that your guests will devour. Corn on the cob pairs with diced avocado, red bell pepper, shallot and basil in this summer dish. Toss with a zesty lemon vinaigrette and serve.
Cookout food doesn’t have to be complicated. Dishes like this make it easy to please your guests while saving you time in the kitchen and at the grill.
Related: The Best BBQ Shredded Chicken Recipe
14. Marinated Tomatoes with Mozzarella
A flavorful side dish that will complement any BBQ food you serve. Freshly sliced tomatoes (use the on-the-vine variety) and cubed mozzarella (use fresh, not shredded) mix with a balsamic marinade that’s so light and refreshing.
You’ll need to marinate the tomatoes in the marinade for at least 2-3 hours before serving, so be sure to plan ahead.
15. Southwestern Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is a must-have dish at any BBQ. I love the southwestern flavors of this recipe and your guests will love it, too.
While this recipe calls for grilled chicken, you can skip this ingredient if you’re already serving grilled chicken separately.
As for the rest of the dish? You’ll mix pasta with black beans, bell pepper, corn, red onion, tomatoes, cilantro and a chipotle ranch dressing. I like to add some diced cheddar for a little extra flavor.
16. Cucumber Tomato Salad
If you love simple cookout food ideas, you’ll appreciate this salad. It has three main ingredients: cucumbers, tomatoes and thinly sliced onion. The homemade dressing is what makes the flavors pop. Serve it alongside burgers or grilled chicken for a tasty side dish everyone will enjoy.
17. Spinach Dip in a Bread Bowl
Every cookout needs appetizers, and dip is always a good choice. This recipe uses a bread bowl to make the entire dish edible. Serve with raw veggies for a healthy choice, or you can add tortilla chips to the mix to please everyone.
18. Grilled Veggie Skewers
Veggies on a skewer are easy to make and you can add anything you like. These skewers are packed with peppers, cilantro, garlic, green bell peppers, parsley, zucchini, yellow peppers and covered in spices.
19. Greek Cabbage Salad
In ten minutes, you and your guests will be eating Greek cabbage salad. Shred at least six cups of cabbage, add to a large bowl and sprinkle salt on top. Massage the salt into the cabbage and then incorporate the rest of the ingredients:
- Pepper
- Feta
- Dill
- Olives
- Olive oil
- Red wine vinegar
- Spices
20. Chicken Harissa
Harissa has a kick to it, and this recipe mixes exotic flavors together that are nutty, savory and smoky all at the same time. Prep time is four hours, so you’ll need to make this dish ahead of time.
You’ll also make a cilantro yogurt salad from Greek yogurt.
I do recommend an instant-read thermometer to make sure that the chicken is tender.
21. Spicy Honey-Lime Grilled Shrimp
Spicy grilled shrimp is one of the cookout food ideas I didn’t expect to add to the list. But it’s a delish recipe with honey-grilled shrimp and chili flakes that offer a unique taste. Each bite is a mix of spicy and sweet, and the flavors pair together so well.
22. Tuscan Artichoke Tomato Salad
My mouth is watering just looking at this salad. Prep time is just two minutes because the recipe only requires a quick assembly. You’ll mix marinated artichoke hearts with cherry tomatoes and thinly sliced red onions. A can of cooked chickpeas provides the protein, while the basil, chives and capers add an abundance of flavor to the salad.
You’ll even make a Tuscan vinaigrette to the salad to complete the taste.
23. Grilled Romaine and Corn Salad
Salads like these are perfect on a warm spring or summer day. You’ll need pickled cherries, shallots, red wine vinegar, sugar, pitted cherries, red chili, salt, Romaine lettuce, corn and a few other ingredients.
You’ll start by simmering your sugar and red wine vinegar together. Combine your shallots, chilis, cherries and the sugar and vinegar together before covering.
And the rest is as simple as grilling the romaine hearts and corn.
24. Easy Blackened Chicken
Blackened chicken tastes great and only requires chicken breast, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, pepper, cayenne pepper, salt, cumin and paprika. Your seasoning is the most important part of the recipe.
Add the spices into a bowl and mix well. Brush the olive oil on the chicken breast, put them in the bowl with the spices and make sure that they’re completely covered before baking on a cast iron skillet.
25. Peach Feta Salad
Peaches are delectable and if you haven’t tried it already, adding fresh basil leaves makes the taste even better. Your salad will also include red onions, honey, lemon juice, salt and pepper, olive oil and feta cheese.
Related: 25 Summer Appetizer Ideas Perfect for Kicking Off Parties, BBQs, & More
26. Loaded Potato Salad
Baked potato salad is always tasty and one of the easier options for a crowd-pleasing cookout. But the chill time and cook time bring the total time to serve up to over four hours. You’ll bake four russet potatoes with a light coat of olive oil and salt on top.
Let cool until you can peel them and cut them into chunks, put in a bowl and mix in apple cider vinegar.
Cook up the bacon in a skillet, mix mayo and sour cream in a small bowl, add salt and pepper and then start adding everyone together: cheddar cheese, bacon, mayo mix and green onions.
