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

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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.

Have you got room to put down a picnic blanket or two?

My friends hosted a BBQ recently and she invited loads of people. We went and it was brilliant. There were plenty of salad bowls, there was garlic bread and crisps. The real secret to everything, as I found out after, was that she cooked chicken, sausages, burgers, chops, corn on the cobs beforehand and her DH just charred everything a bit on the BBQ. No one knew or cared and the food was all cooked through. Oh and there was plenty of booze.

Have you invited any men? (Assuming you are female OP). Men tend to take over the BBQ anyway because caveman thing. They love BBQs so I'd just find a willing gent and then you can chill out!!

I haven’t. It’s all decked so it would be uncomfortable anyway, but there’s not much space left after the garden furniture and plants.

Yes there are a few men invited, but I wouldn’t let any of them take over the barbecue.

Sorry but that sounds dreadful. Twice cooked sausages and burgers are going to be horribly rubbery, fully done through and chewy. Not something any guest will go home fondly remembering.

Do Loads of them in the oven and whack them on for a quick crisp at the end

Easier than chips is baby potatoes boiled in skins then put in the slow cooker with lots of butter and leave on warm

Don’t worry about tables. You need an elaborate condiment bar - mustard, ketchup, (flavored) mayo, chilli oil, jalapeños, hot honey, crispy onions, cheese slices, peanut rayu etc etc. And brioche rolls. Then all you’re doing is cooking burgers, halloumi and sausages and it’ll feel very gourmet. Frankfurters only really need charring as they’re already cooked.

Maybe do a couple of salads ahead of time too.

Buy deserts.

Thank you. I’ve o my for a tiny slow cooker and ideally don’t want to have to keep going between the kitchen and barbecue because the kitchen is only small and I don’t want it to get crowded.

This is the correct answer

My brother regularly throws bbqs for 30 people (at least 2x a year). He does have a decent size gas bbq so that takes away that pressure but in terms of food - he literally just does hotdogs and burgers, maybe a couple of tubs of ready made coleslaw ans potato salad, and a few baga of crisps and dips, but doesn't faff with sides.

Seats - nowhere near enough although we take a few camping chairs with us. Most people tend to stand around eating, drinking and talking.

It's basic, but it is something everyone looks forward to!

Where's your husband in this scenario OP?

You're not seriously thinking of having a barbie in your garden without his help??!
Can you get some friends into help?

Does it have to be a BBQ? I find them such a huge faff. Could you just get a pizza delivery?

Not everyone has a husband…

Do pulled pork in the slow cooker and bring it out when the bbq is just about done, that, some sausages or chicken on the bbq and a couple of big salads will be grand

That is comforting.

You don't need to watch sausage in the oven or air fryer. Just set timer in oven to 30 mins or air fryer to 28 mins and leave to cook. Borrow garden chairs if you can. Lots of salad stuff in bowls, bread fingers and round bread rolls for burgers. Bowls of hot chips or jacket potatoes and grated cheese.

Er, I don’t have a husband Some of us don’t. I don’t live with my DP and he is not invited to this barbecue.

I have no doubt my friends would help but I’m not sure what they can help with. They can’t make the food cook any quicker or make the garden bigger.

You will need more than 20 burgers.

Have some food out that’s not cooked on the BBQ. Have some that is cooked on the BBQ already done and warm so you can give people something to eat while rest of cooking. It’s likely that a guest may be happy to ‘mind’ the BBQ once it’s going. Have some big salads with substance. Maybe a quiche or two?

Great advice ,plenty of kitchen towel and napkins. And yes somewhre to put rubbish

They are a faff! I’ve told people a barbecue now though.

OP I did this recently too and it was fine.

Eski with ice and a load of drinks in it so people can just help themselves without asking you.

Then I pre made:
Garlic bread
Garlic bread with sun-dried tomato paste
Greek Salad
Coleslaw
Potatoe Salad
Mixed veg skewers (did them in the oven).
Couscous with raisins
Mezze (did two dips and veg sticks)
Cold chicken bits in two marinades

BBQ on the day was

Corn with lime and salt
Sausages
marinated pork fillet
Homemade burgers (again made the day before)
Steak

(I ended up with 30ish people cos I forgot some people had partners!)

If you are a solo woman than lots of the men will offer to help with the BBQ for sure.

Ooo that’s an idea! Pulled pork.