I have seriously overstretched with a barbecue and I am panicking.

[Theresip]

I decided to have a barbecue next weekend because I’ve got my garden looking the way I want it and I do enjoy hosting. I’ve been inviting people for the last couple of weeks or so. I thought I’d invited around 10 people but I haven’t. I’ve invited almost 20. I’ve only just counted them up and now I am seriously panicking.

I’m not a particularly good cook, never mind on a barbecue. How on earth can I do 20 burgers and sausages and time it so people aren’t sitting starving? It’s a charcoal barbecue so putting more charcoal on after one batch would mean some people waiting another 40 minutes whilst the coals cook and I cook again?? What can I do?

And also, my garden isn’t tiny, but it’s not particularly big. I have a garden sofa and stools that could fit around six people near the kitchen door, and then on the upper decking I’ve got a high dining table that would seat another six. I do have additional small stools but they’re too little for the high table and it would be very squashed round the other table because it’s right in front of the kitchen where everyone will be getting their drinks.

Any advice gratefully received. I have never hosted for this number.

I’ve posted a list of what I’m thinking of serving further up, although haven’t finalised it yet.

stop part cooking things 🤮

We regularly barbecue for around 18 people, and honestly it is all in the planning and preparation. Do as much as possible the day before. I usually make several large salads, although I do tend to go wildly overboard, plus bread or focaccia, dips and nibbles. That way people have plenty to eat while the barbecue food comes out in batches. You do not need twenty burgers and sausages ready at once. A barbecue works really well as a rolling meal. Start with burgers and sausages, then bring out chicken, chops or sliced steak as they are ready. Just tell people food will be coming out gradually rather than all at once.

You've mentioned a vegan guest, cook their food first on the clean barbecue and use separate utensils. Grilled vegetables and sweetcorn are easy crowd-pleasers too for everyone - we tend to do a mix of tenderstem broccoloi, asparagus, mini peppers - pick those veg packs from the supermarket - they're perfect. Use the oven to help. I sometimes sous vide chicken beforehand, but you can get a similar result by cooking it gently in a covered roasting tin with a little water or stock until fully cooked, then finishing it on the barbecue with sauce for colour and flavour. Large steaks can also be cooked gently in the oven first, then seared and sliced to share (par cooking and reverse searing is how restaurants get some of these meals ready to order - think any mainstream restuarant that gets barbecued chicken to order on your plate in 30 minutes or less).

For pudding, grilled peaches or pineapple are brilliant. You can cook them earlier, keep them warm in a low oven and serve with ice cream. You're going to be fine - have a fantastic time!

All this nonsense about precooking is ridiculous.

The reason many are giving advice to pre cook some things is because OP is catering for larger numbers on her own, hosting and wanting to socialise - you absolutely can cook everything on a BBQ from start to finish but it's tricky if it's an open BBQ with no lid (which hers is) and if she wants to spend time actually chatting with her guests at some point.

There is almost always at least one man who will be more than willing to do the actual barbecuing for you. People don't expect to all be served at once at a barbecue in someone's garden anyway.

I really don’t think any man invited to this one will feel any attraction to the barbecue.

Do a buffet as well - picky bits, salad , French bread etc.

Thank you.

I think that’s what I’ve decided. A cheeseboard, charcuterie, crackers, olives, sweets, maybe a hedgehog and crisps and dips for people to graze whilst the barbecue gets going, then along with the burgers, sausages and halloumi I’ll out our cold gammon and chicken drumsticks, potatoes, coleslaw, crusty bread, buns.

I’ll have to do a customary salad too despite feeling it won’t get eaten.

Bring own chairs. Provide plenty to drink and they won't notice your cooking!

You said you barely knew some of the people coming though?

Cook stuff in the oven and under the grill, then transfer to the BBQ in shifts.

And who sits at the table to eat at a BBQ?
Calm down, it will be fine, so long as you have enough food.
And get people to help!

Pre cook burgers and sausages and finish them off on the BBQ when people arrive. It’s unlikely they will all turn up at the same time so you can cook some fresh at that time. 😀

I’m a South African and this is a usual weekend casual get together. Find yourself a South African friend to do the bbqing.

But seriously we do things a little different. Everyone brings and braais their own meat and you just have to sort out the sides. But even if the host supplies, standing around a fire and or bbq and cooking the meat is part of the day. It would be weird for us to arrive at a braai (bbq) to precooked meat.

You could make it a bit fun and let everyone cook their own burgers as and when they want to.

Good luck!

Well it’s not tiny It’s big enough for three tables and seating areas spread out, just that the size of the dining table I’ve got is high so normal sized stools don’t fit around it.

I am sure they’ll offer help on the day.

I’m sure they will. I never said they wouldn’t.

Yes, that’s it 👍

Delegate the cooking to a man. Men love barbecuing. It makes them feel like hunter/gatherers.

Most of them have offered to bring something, of course. Why wouldn’t you think they wouldn’t?

No, none of them have suggested they arrive early and given I’ll be running around last minute getting ready I wouldn’t want them to.

Attached. The back gardens back on to the street behind’s back gardens.