10 Irresistible Barbecue Menu Ideas

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Have you had your first barbecue of the year yet? As National BBQ Week runs from 27th May – 2nd June, many of us will be thinking about throwing our first barbecue of the year very soon. In fact, after the unusually warm, dry climate the UK’s been experiencing recently, perhaps you already have! With this in mind, I’m sharing my favourite barbecue menu ideas. Read on for all your summer BBQ party inspo!

Barbecue food ideas to wow your guests

Chicken

Chicken tastes ten times better cooked over a charcoal barbecue. The combination of charred, brittle skin and juicy, tender meat is irresistible, to say the least.

For added flavour, season your chicken with a dry rub or marinade before placing it onto the barbecue. I love making my own Cajun seasoning or experimenting with one of the rubs from the Hangfire Smokehouse cookbook.

Fish

It might not seem like the most obvious option, but fish is one of the best barbecue menu ideas you could possibly come up with. Like chicken, fish tastes exceptionally scrumptious when grilled over a charcoal flame. The skin becomes delicately crisp, while the flesh inside is tender and flaky.

Leave the head on and grill the fish whole, or grill the fish in fillets. Either way, you’ll need to brush both sides with a little oil and place the fish onto the BBQ skin side down. Make sure you oil the grate beforehand so the fish skin doesn’t get stuck to it. After a few minutes, flip the fish carefully using a spatula and continue grilling for a further 2-3 minutes, or until cooked throughout.

Proper burgers

There’s a noticeable difference between the shoddy, pathetic burgers you find in the frozen aisle at the supermarket – often packed full of preservatives – and the quality burgers available for sale in supermarket chilled aisles from the likes of Edwards of Conwy and Marks and Spencer.

Sky-high burgers stacked with every filling you could possibly imagine seem to be all the rage at the moment, but that’s not how I like to do things. I prefer to keep my burgers simple with a handful of iceberg lettuce, cheese, onion and relish, with optional gherkins on the side.

For a personal touch, you could even personalize your food with a branding iron; many restaurants use this technique to add their brand stamp or logo to burger patties and even steaks.

The bun is more important than you realise. When considering barbecue menu ideas, consider the size of the burgers when buying buns, as well as what kind of taste and texture will suit your burger best; a soft, golden brioche roll or a traditional sesame-seeded bap, for example?

Veggie or vegan burgers

As well as ensuring your meat-loving friends are catered for, you’ll want to ensure your veggie and vegan pals have a burger to bite into too.

Mass-produced veggie food can be a bit beige, but thanks to new ranges like Marks and Spencer’s Plant Kitchen, plant-based cuisine is becoming increasingly appealing and accessible. Take a look at the meat-free section in your local supermarket and you might be surprised at the variety of veggie and vegan-friendly burgers and products available.

Corn on the cob

Golden corn-on-the-cob never tastes as good as it does when it’s cooked on the barbecue. Fact. This has to be one of the most popular foods that springs to mind when you’re thinking about barbecue menu ideas.

Leaving the husks intact, wrap the corn in kitchen foil and place on the BBQ grill for 30-40 minutes, until slightly charred. Don’t worry if the leaves get burnt, as they’ll be removed prior to eating.

Serve the corn on the cob with a knob of salted butter or make your own flavoured butter with ingredients like chilli, garlic and Parmesan.

Halloumi

Dishing up hot, chargrilled halloumi at your barbecue is a sure-fire way to make all your guests fall in love with you.

Halloumi can be a delicious alternative to meat, chicken or fish in a burger. However, my favourite way to eat halloumi is when its cut into slices and grilled; even on its own, it tastes simply wonderful.

Frankfurters

Sausages are a given at any barbecue, but when I see Frankfurters going around, I get excited!

These long, thick sausages taste great served up as a hot dog in a soft finger roll, with a squirt of ketchup or mustard. The casing is thicker than that of a regular sausage so they’re less prone to splitting open, while the meat is firmer and more flavoursome. Serve them in a golden brioche roll for a hot dog with a difference!

Prawns

There’s no denying that prawns taste particularly special when cooked over a charcoal flame; the bigger, the better!

Remove the prawns from their shells and devein them before sliding them onto a wooden skewer. Brush them with a little olive oil and perhaps some flavouring – garlic butter or chilli, lime and coriander are my usual go-tos – then grill them on the BBQ for a few minutes each side.

Portobello mushrooms

Portobello mushrooms taste rather special cooked on the barbecue, especially if you soak them in red wine and thyme for several hours beforehand. Just a little tip I picked up from a restaurant review at Cardiff’s Trade Street Cafe back in the day!

Asparagus

Fresh British asparagus really comes into its own when drizzled with olive oil and a little salt and pepper, and grilled over a flaming barbecue for a couple of minutes.

Don’t overdo it; ideally, you want it to be slightly charred without being too burnt.

Throwing a barbecue or garden party anytime soon? You might want to read these posts for more barbecue menu ideas:

5 Unusual Foods to Add to Your Garden Party Menu
20 Spring Recipes for a Crowd
22 Tips for Hosting the Ultimate Summer Party in Your Garden
Getting Your Garden Ready for a Summer BBQ Party
How to Pull Off an Anytime BBQ

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