BBQs - love or hate?

[FridgeJenga]

Family coming over today so we’re doing a BBQ.
For us, it’s the easy option, there’s something for everyone, and people can eat as and when they’re hungry.
Husband has marinated all the meat and made his salads (potato and pasta).
I will make a Greek salad, a fruit salad and a pavlova later.

What are your must haves for a BBQ? (Hoping to get inspiration as still need to go to the supermarket)

Potato salad
Coleslaw

I love a burger, with cheese and coleslaw, and bacon if we're really pushing the boat out!

We had one yesterday with friends.

My favourite is lightly spiced chicken skewers with halloumi and peppers with a potato salad on the side.

Enjoy!

Burgers.
Corn on the cob.

Or if you ask DH, lots of salads that involve charring things on the BBQ and a spatchcocked chicken.

I absolutely love a bbq (it’s a braai here, I’m married to a Zimbabwean) One of the best things about summer.

For me, the trick is only one type of meat, beautifully marinaded and with a few fresh, simple sides. A world away from a burger in a bun at the school fete.

On Friday we had friends over and did sausages (46 purchased from
the local farm shop- there were teenagers and Labradors) with sourdough baguettes, grilled asparagus for starter and strawberries and cream for dessert.

Today we have friends coming over and are having Greek lamb skewers (again from the farm shop) with Greek salad, tabbouleh, vine leaves and garlic flatbreads. Roast peaches with honey for dessert.

Next week we have a big supper party and plan to bbq two marinated butterflied legs of lamb. Will serve with gunpowder potatoes, couscous royale, veg skewers, green salad.

Another big favourite here is chimichurri baguette steak, rocket salad, tomato salad and chips. That goes down very well with teens (and Labradors) on a Saturday night.

I'm that pain in the ass person who doesn't like BBQs
I'm veggie but even before that I didn't like meat that I didn't fully trust was cooked properly, don't like fighting insects for my food, and would generally prefer food inside. Oh and not keen on burger buns!

I dislike that the second the sun is out all you can smell is charring flesh!

However if I have to... corn on the cob and Hallumi is nice, and plenty of salad and coleslaw!

I am not a burger and sausage person. Obviously easy for a large group though.

When it is just us or with a small group I prefer pork or chicken skewers, salmon, roast vegetable and potatoes (done in the oven or frying pan and when the BBQ is on, reheat in a BBQ frying pan).

Halloumi is nice but I am a bit over it.

Corn on the cob.

Some yoghurt based dib, fresh bread.

I'm paranoid about marinated meat touching mine and about ketchup splashing everywhere. I like BBQ food but very allergic to tomato.

In my experience people who hate them are doing them wrong.
We BBQ very regularly and have never had burnt anything, greasy anything, raw anything and its never a lot of faff or involves burgers/sausages

I love a bbq. I'm not a huge burger or hotdog fan so I like either marinated chicken or I buy these thin sizzler steaks from the butchers. I have it with salad, coleslaw and I make garlic baby potatoes.

Banana spiked with rum!

Big fan of the sides, so potato salads, coleslaws, roasted corn and peppers etc

I love a BBQ. I just love simple, a good burger with all the fixings. Lettuce, tomatoes,cheese,ketchup mustard & pickles. Potato salad & corn.

I like going to other people's BBQs as I don't have to do anything except rock up with wine and sometimes a dessert.

My friend's husband is an expert at barbecues, me, not so much, the occasional invite to theirs is very welcome.

To answer your question, I hate barbecues. And no to the pp, it's not because I'm "doing them wrong", I'm not doing them at all because I don't like them. I don't like eating outside, I really don't like paper plates, I don't like minibeasts, I don't like garden furniture, I just don't want to socialise in a garden. It's all unnecessary.

Charred onion salad (we stick it on skewers and BBQ rather than grill), chilli and garlic prawn skewers, mackerel fillets, corn in its husk, a green salad and a grain salad (I like bulgur wheat)

The only thing in your list that applies to BBQ's done right is the eating outside bit and you can actually BBQ food but eat inside

Got to have potato salad.
I'm not a massive fan of a burger - would rather have a sausage in french bread.
Bowl of radishes is nice and plenty of chutney/pickle options.

I like salad (ie tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, carrot etc) but WITHOUT a dressing on. So a separate bowl with that would be great.
Cheese slices for the burgers - like Dairylea but not Dairylea because they are the tasteless of that type.
A more interesting selection of non alcoholic drinks than some cola and lemonade (so cherryade, limeade, strawberryade etc - Barrs do a good selection).
Big bowls of crisps to munch on.
I realise this makes me sound like I am 9 years old 😂😂😂

I agree about the selection of soft drinks. I love a bit of alcohol normally, but if its hot I'd always choose a soft drink.

I love a burger and a good sausage in a bun with a meat and veg kebab. If I'm hosting a lot of people I ask them all to bring a dish so the sides are always completely hit and miss which I also love. I will hand in my Mumsnet membership card now because none of it is from Waitrose or farmers markets and the meat has seen a butcher at some point in it's life before hitting a supermarket shelf. But you're always well fed and I refuse to let people go home hungry.

I agree with needing a good selection of soft drinks, fizzy and still.

We're having a bbq later.

We've got minted lamb skewers, chorizo and chicken skewers, a couple of lovely rump steaks, baby new potatoes which will be wrapped in foil with butter and done on the bbq. To be served with salad and coleslaw.

I love bbqs because DH does the cooking and I only have to chuck a salad together!

Chicken souvlaki
A version of grilled Pimientos de Padrón
Corn on the cob

Salads either :
Potato salad
Greek salad
Tomato mozzarella and basil
Green bean in vinegarette

Tonnes of Tzatziki
Flatbreads or pittas

Like a pp, I don't like bbq's. I honestly don't see the point of cooking outside, at all. I have a lovely range cooker, a large cool kitchen, cool dining room. Just cook and eat inside in comfort. Eat at a table, with proper chairs. Eat out of the sunshine and away from bugs. Oh, and don't, piss the neighbours off with your smelly smoke and food.

☑️ Crisps and dips whilst meat cooks is a must

☑️ coleslaw

☑️ big colourful salad with lettuce tomato etc

☑️ sausages

☑️ ice lollies/ ice creams