Summertime means easy living (usually!) School’s out, the neighborhood pool is open, and everyone wants to get together to celebrate long days and warm nights. A backyard BBQ is the perfect way to bring everyone together for food, games, and good times.
Summer holidays are a great excuse to put on your grilling apron and serve up fun to those you love most!
We’re breaking down how you can host the perfect backyard BBQ—one BBQ to rule them all.
The Recipe for A Perfect Backyard BBQ
The key to any backyard BBQ is the barbecue, of course! Smoky, sweet, and spicy ingredients combine to perfection with this recipe, brought to you courtesy of gimmesomeoven.com
Homemade BBQ Sauce
Ditch the packaged stuff and earn extra cool points with this 30-minute recipe.
Ingredients:
- 1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup honey or agave nectar
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 3 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp. liquid smoke
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. freshly-ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- (Optional: a few pinches of cayenne powder for extra heat, which I recommend)
Directions:
Whisk everything together in a medium saucepan and bring to simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce to medium-low heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, or until sauce has thickened.
Use sauce immediately or refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 1 week.
Play It Close to Home with Backyard Games
Why should the kids get to have all the fun? Grown-ups can get in on it too with the help of fun, all-ages backyard games. If you’re looking to set the bar high this summer, set up these games at your backyard BBQ:
Classic Cornhole: You don’t even need a real board to play!
Backyard Bowling: Create a fun “bowling alley” in the driveway or backyard with recycled bottles and any kind of ball!
I Spy: Kids play the traditional way for this one. Grown-ups can “spy” traits or details about other people in the group including jobs, personality traits, and more!
A Few More Helpful Tips:
Family and friends gather at the backyard BBQ to catch up, eat, and enjoy good times. We know that planning these kinds of gatherings can be a little stressful, especially when you want to go above and beyond the call of party.
You can keep the party going with less stress with a few helpful stress-reducing tips:
SET OUT FOOD IN DISPOSABLE CONTAINERS: Trust us, this is going to make after-hours cleanup so much easier.
BUILD A SELF-SERVE BAR: Whether for a BYOB or for your signature lemonade, the less your guests have to rely on you for refills on refreshments, the less stressed you’ll feel.
CURATE A PARTY PLAYLIST: Music keeps the party going, especially when guests are just getting warmed up. Handpick some of your guest’s favorites the day before or opt for a “party playlist” on iTunes or Spotify.
