Help me plan a birthday BBQ

[Blablabla1984]

We are having 9 people (6 adults and 3 kids) over for DH's birthday in 2 weeks. Hoping for good weather so we can do a BBQ.
People are coming around 11 so I am thinking we'll do burgers and then the following sides:

• pasta salad
• grilled potatoes on the BBQ
• grilled courgettes on the BBQ
• Mexican corn salad
• Greek salad

For pudding I am doing cake and I've ordered some brownies and cupcakes.

Is this enough? I know it's good for lunch but fearing if people stay later (like 4pm, 5pm....) they might start to get peckish. If so, what would you suggest I put out for the evening?

Thank you.

That's definitely enough if you have enough of each salad, I would think.

For the later part of the afternoon I'd have some bags of tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole if people want a snack. If people get properly stuck in for the evening and drink too much they'll just want to order pizza anyway...

Sounds lovely, if you are worried about people staying longer I’d do a cheese board for the evening. A few good cheeses, selection of crackers, a couple of chutneys, grapes and celery.

I might add a green salad just to lighten it up a bit or alternatively watermelon with cucumber, finely sliced red onion and mint is light and refreshing.

Good ice cream / lollies selection
I'd wait and see how the mood is and have stuff in the freezer that cooks quite quickly too, if necessary.
Eg - Chicken drumsticks, poppers or whatever.
Sausage rolls, cocktail sausages
Chinese mini selection
Plus any other frozen bits and bobs that need using up!

Cheese board and crisps- voila

Any vegetarians who may need a veggie burger?

No vegetarians.
Do we make the burgers ourselves or buy them?

Chips and dips for the evening. Normally I would say make your own burgers but you don’t need to put that pressure on yourselves, go to a butcher to get decent ready made or M&S do good ones. Get the brioche rolls - they are much nicer.

Cheeseboard is a perfect evening option.

If you're not sure whether people will stay and don't want to be lumbered with a lot of cheese, you could do bacon or sausage butties with sides leftover from lunch. Unused Uncooked bacon/sausages could then be frozen for later use.

Buy em

I'd much prefer some none burger options, some chicken given a choice.

Any other veg we can do on the BBQ to take advantage while it's on? Or any other salad I can prep in advance?

Asparagus is lovely on the bbq
Marinated cauliflower steaks
Veg skewers, I usually do a mix of peppers, red onion, button mushrooms and aubergine
Field mushrooms brushed with garlic butter

Water melon, thinly sliced red onion, mint and feta is a nice salad

I’d do. chicken drumsticks or lamb kebabs alongside the burgers, Oooh then pineapple sprinkled with cinnamon for dessert cooked on the bbq served with ice cream.
Google smashed burgers, really simple to make and cook

I’m not a big burger fan - whenever we do a BBQ, I also throw on some decent sausages (especially if there are kids), and marinated chicken strips.

I also do garlic bread (for the kids, but everyone wants it), and some loaves of sourdough and/or something else.

A green salad is also easy, and often a bit more kid-friendly, too.

There’s always tons left over if/when people get hungry later on.

Your plan sounds good, but I would have a plan B just in case of the bad weather and also some activities for kiddos, no sure what their age is.

As the heat from the BBQ is dying down, pop on some bananas with chocolate poked through and wrapped in tin foil. Messy to eat but so good with a scoop of ice cream

Field mushrooms marinaded in Szechuan pepper, soy and sweet chilli sauce, corn on the cob, mini peppers stuffed with cream cheese & chilli. Im another who doesn't really like beef burgers and would appreciate sausages or chicken strips.
Definitely buy the burgers as homemade ones can fall apart easily, but get decent ones from the butchers.

I would do more than one meat option - maybe sausages or chicken kebabs. We always overdo it when we barbecue but Dh loves it.
Maybe coleslaw, and a green salad. Plenty of bread. Plenty of sauces / relishes.
For the evening I wouldn't put pressure on to cook anything else. Cheese board might be good, or just crisps, olives, dips, crackers etc.

Make a cake
Plenty of wine
Tissue roll in case
A platter of fruit and cheese
Sausage rolls

I've ordered a huge tray of chocolate brownies (my DH's favourites) and was hoping to have that as cake.
Yay or nay?
If I need to do a cake what would go nicely next to brownies?

I think I’d do more meat than just burgers too. If someone invites me to a BBQ I’m expecting meat!

What about grilled Halloumi too? We usually have a range of meats, salad, Halloumi, corn cobs and either garlic potatoes, Cajun wedges or jacket potatoes.

What about a few tubs of ice cream and some different toppings to make ice cream sundaes, or fresh fruit skewers?

I wouldn’t worry about a cake, how about a big bowl of strawberries and raspberries as they would be nice eaten either with the brownies or on their own.

Agree, no cake as brownies will be great. Add fresh berries, tropical fruit, whipped cream, ice-cream and mini meringues. People can then mix and match their own dessert platter.
Maybe some choc sauce, berry purée and toasted nuts too, with some sprinkles/mini marshmallows etc if children around