4 tips for a perfect summer barbecue with friends

How beautiful summer is: long days, shining sun and... outdoor barbecues! There is nothing better than sharing a delicious meal with friends and family, surrounded by nature and joy. But how do you organize the perfect barbecue?

We have gathered for you a series of useful tips that cover every aspect of your summer party: from choosing the menu to drinks, from setting up to entertainment. And that's not all: we will also reveal how to make the best use of some essential appliances, such as the barbecue grill and the air fryer, to make everything easier and tastier.

Get ready to impress your guests with the perfect summer barbecue.

The food that cannot be missing at a barbecue

For a successful barbecue, it is important to plan ahead and carefully choose the foods that will delight all your guests. The first decision to make is whether to opt for a meat or fish barbecue, depending on the tastes of your guests.

If you choose the classic meat barbecue, choose cuts that are well suited for the grill, such as pork loin, ribs, steaks, ribs, bacon, sausages, skewers, veal ribeye or chicken wings. However, meat is not everything. Here are some other menu tips:

Advance preparation and marinating

To reduce work during the barbecue, prepare some dishes in advance, such as sides and any extra dishes, like rice or pasta salads.

Among the tasks you can do in advance is marinating the meat, essential to enhance its flavor and make it more tender. Here are some ideas for marinades:

Classic: olive oil, garlic, rosemary, and lemon.

Asian: soy sauce, fresh ginger, garlic, and honey.

Spicy: olive oil, chili, paprika, and lime.

Special: beer, sesame oil, and chopped garlic.

Original: Coca-Cola, bay leaf, fresh ginger, turmeric, paprika, coriander, pepper, oil.

Sauces and condiments

To make the meat even more appetizing and give an extra touch to the barbecue, a variety of sauces and condiments is what you need. Given the season, it's better to opt for fresh and light sauces, rather than the classic mayonnaise.

For example, you can prepare a Greek yogurt sauce (like Tzatziki) with grated cucumber, white vinegar, garlic, and salt.

Or you can be inspired by the Argentine asado preparing a tasty chimichurri with EVO oil, parsley, dried chili, thyme, salt, white vinegar, garlic, oregano, cumin, and pepper.

Finally, you can prepare the classic homemade barbecue sauce with chopped onion sautéed in oil, to which you will add garlic, butter, wine vinegar, tomato sauce or ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and Tabasco.

Vegetarian and gluten-free options

Do not forget your vegetarian or celiac guests, who have different dietary needs. For the former, you can prepare grilled vegetables, such as zucchini, eggplant and peppers, or you can get some vegetarian sausages or burgers.

Use a separate area of the grill to avoid cross-contamination, especially when grilling burgers or sausages, which may contain dangerous flours for those allergic to gluten. In this case, a great option is to get a second grill, maybe electric, to be reserved for special diets.

Children's Menu

Children will appreciate simple and tasty foods such as hot dogs and chicken slices, characterized by a tender texture and easy to eat. Some tasty cheese and ham burgers could also be to their liking, strictly accompanied by the inevitable French fries, which you can prepare on the spot with the air fryer.

A colorful pasta salad can be another always appreciated option for the little ones, even more so if to be composed as they like with pre-cut ingredients to combine as they prefer. A fun pastime that will make them feel like little chefs!

Cooking tools

Using multiple cooking tools can speed up the process, especially if you have to cook for a lot of people. If you don't like charcoal grills, a smokeless electric grill like the Girmi BQ90 with a non-stick plate can be a valid alternative that allows you to grill even at home. The FG97 multifunction Airfryer oven is also ideal for preparing some foods like rotisserie chicken, kebabs, and skewers, or spicy chicken wings, which with rapid hot air circulation cooking become perfectly crispy!

Fresh dessert

To end on a high note, offer a fresh fruit-based dessert perfect for warmer days. Some ideas? Fruit salad, homemade sorbet, or frozen fruit. Prepare it in no time with the FR23 blender: just cut the seasonal fruit into cubes in advance and put it in the freezer, then blend it until it becomes creamy.

What to bring to drink to a barbecue

The beverages chapter is very important for the success of a summer barbecue: make sure you have enough cold drinks and ice to keep everything refrigerated because, when the heat hits, those cold drinks will be even more welcome to guests than that red wine you were saving for special occasions! To never run out of ice cubes at hand, an ice maker can be useful, which can be recharged and produces ice non-stop.

Prepare a variety of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages for all tastes and, above all, make sure you have enough water for the whole day. A nice white or red sangria with fruit is a great idea to please those who prefer alcoholic drinks but in summer want something refreshing.

For the aperitif, prepare some classic cocktails for guests and their non-alcoholic versions (like these mocktail recipes).

The setup for your outdoor barbecue

To organize the perfect summer barbecue, remember to have plates, glasses, cutlery, knives, bottle openers, napkins, tablecloths, plates to serve the meat and various condiments available.

Keep a cool and shaded area for guests, setting up tents, umbrellas or gazebos and adding blankets or cushions to create a relaxing area.

For decorations, use decorative lights such as lanterns or string lights for a cozy atmosphere if the barbecue is in the evening, or prepare centerpieces with fresh flowers to decorate the table during the day.

Protect guests from insects with citronella candles, mosquito nets, and, if necessary, environmental repellent sprays that create a perimeter barrier around the area where the barbecue takes place. Keep a first aid kit on hand for any insect bites or minor accidents that may occur. Better to be prepared!

The entertainment to organize for guests

To ensure a lively and fun atmosphere, prepare a playlist that everyone will enjoy and use portable speakers to spread the music throughout the area. If you know the musical tastes of the guests, you can cater to them, otherwise it is better to opt for a playlist of ambient music such as lounge or chill-out, capable of creating the right atmosphere.

In addition to music, provide balls, bocce, rackets or other outdoor games for those who want to play. Do not forget to think about the little ones, preparing board games and other activities, such as colored paper and pencils or building blocks, that can engage and entertain them.

With a combination of good music and fun, your barbecue will be a success for guests of all ages.