I'm curating an epic recipe guide so your next backyard BBQ is a hit!
It's a long weekend so turn that grill on.
It’s a long weekend and officially the kick off to BBQ and camping season! Summer is literally around the corner and I’m making the transition from hibernating in this old house all winter, to dusting off the BBQ and stocking up the trailer for camping. I am so ready for warmer weather, longer days and meeting up with friends.
I asked a multitude of people on my socials what their go-to BBQ/potluck dishes were and wanted to share some of their responses with you. I’ve linked some recipes they sent me and added some of my own favourites.
Do you know, interestingly, not ONE SINGLE responder listed hotdogs or burgers? Yeah, I got the usual pasta salads and dip ideas but not one burger suggestion. I must say, I do like a good burger and an almost burnt weenie on a campfire is a must.
So, I’ve divided up and organized my findings in the best way possible so you can curate the perfect menu. Please make sure you scroll down the for French Butter Cake recipe I’ve posted. I can’t stop dreaming about it.
Happy backyard BBQ season!
The Main Event
Grilled Greek Chicken Kebabs, Foodie Crush. I can attest to the deliciousness of these. You’ve got some flavourful lean chicken with perfectly charred veggies all on a convenient grab and go skewer. Make extra for work Monday!
Grilled Sausage, Plays Well With Butter. This is a must read for perfectly grilled sausage and a plethora of condiments. Just looking at the photos has me convinced that this will be supper. Go to your local farmers market and get some locally made links!
Juicy Ground Lamb Burgers with Tzatziki, Well Seasoned Studio. People didn’t suggest burgers but here we are! One of the best burgers I’ve ever had in my life was lamb. It’s not gamey as people might be expecting. Look at the photos in this recipe and tell me your mouth is not watering!!
Outrageous Pulled Pork, Jamie Oliver. I got this suggestion a few times. Cook this low and slow and pull it out and shred at eating time. Guests will be oooing and ahhhing at the whole time. Also, this leaves the grill free for other things!
Grilled Shrimp, Feel Good Foodie. Shrimp takes longer to marinate than cook! Again, another quick main option that is conveniently served on a skewer.
Sides
Pesto Pasta Salad with Peas, Pine Nuts and Mozzarella Pearls, Once Upon a Chef. Jennifer’s recipes never let me down. This is not your average pasta salad but so so good. Especially for anyone who loves the freshness of pesto. Yum.
Classic Devilled Eggs, Downshiftology. I don’t know if I need to post a recipe for this but can you think of a potluck where someone doesn’t appear with that devilled egg tray fully loaded? And, it’s usually gone pretty fast.
Mexican Street Corn Salad, Love and Lemons. My friend Ashley swears by this recipe! I’ll actually be making this Monday for a pool party we are headed to.
Kale Slaw Spring Salad, Taste of Home. This is where those fresh local strawberries come into play. A unique twist on a slaw salad with fennel, cabbage, feta and strawberries
World’s Best Baked Beans, The Recipe Critic. Whether camping or backyard BBQ, baked beans are a must. This is a quick and easy version with super reviews. I can attest to the yum factor because I made them for a campfire just yesterday!
Old-Fashioned Potato Salad, Barefoot Contessa. This is one of the most highly searched potato salad recipes on the internet. Did you even have a BBQ if there wasn’t potato salad there?
Tony’s Ridiculously Easy Homemade Salsa, Ambitious Kitchen. Make a big batch of this, a day ahead, and serve it with a variety of corn chips. This recipe is made even more incredible by the fact that it’s all done in a food processor.
Desserts
I demand that you add this French Butter Cake to your potluck rotation. It’s an absolute dream when paired with fresh whipped cream and berries. Can you imagine how good this will be with fresh Ontario strawberries?! I can’t even. The texture of this cake is somewhere between a pound cake and a sponge. I’ve replaced some of the sugar with powdered sugar and some of the flour with cornstarch to give it a super spongy texture. It is rich and buttery, slightly sweet and perfect for enjoying with a cup of tea.
French Butter Cake {with fresh berries!}
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 c powdered sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, almost melted
3 eggs, room temperature
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 3/4 + 2 tbsp cups AP flour
2 tbsp cornstarch
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
⅔ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
3 tablespoons granulated sugar, for topping
fresh berries, for serving
whipped cream, for serving
Preheat oven to 350F and line a 9x9-inch baking dish with parchment; set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, add sugars and butter. Using a mixer, mix for a few minutes until airy.
Add eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla and almond extract.
In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add dry mixture to the wet ingredients until just combined.
Fold in sour cream.
Transfer batter to the prepared baking dish and sprinkle remaining granulated sugar on top.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Allow cake to cool before slicing. Serve with berries and whipped cream.
Peanut Butter Mousse Pie (No Bake), Crowded Kitchen. All I can say is….you better bring two! Wowza.
Peach Cobbler, Recipe Tin Eats. If your gathering is anything like ours there are more desserts than anything. You can’t beat a cobbler with fresh peaches and some locally made ice cream. Come on!
Classic Marshmallow Fruit Dip, Stay At Home Chef. Make a big old fruit platter and a yummy fluffy dip and I guarantee it will be gone quickly. BBQ desserts shouldn’t be too complicated in my opinion and kids will also dig into this. I love this dip.
Drinks
It’s wise to fill up a cooler with bottled waters and pops and such. But also a selection of local Kraft beers and maybe a bowl of sangria can be fun! We will often make a sangria when camping too, which is so yummy after a day at the beach.
Triple Berry Sangria, Heart’s Content Farmhouse. Check out the post and you’ll see why I love this one.
Watermelon Pitcher Margaritas, Simply Recipes. A classic summer fruit turned into a drink to share?! Yes please.
Got any more idea’s to share? I would love to hear from you!