BBQ Foods

DH and I were just having a debate about the food offered at BBQs. When I have a BBQ, I have all the usuals- burgers, hot dogs, chicken, sausage and for big parties I'll throw in some steak or shrimp skewers, grilled veggies, etc.

I also have a large variety of salads- pasta, potato, garden, corn/black bean, sometimes multiple pasta and potato salads depending on how many people.

He has a family member and I have a friend who will make 2-3 types of meat and have a garden salad and maybe another veggie. My friend will actually only make 2 kinds of meat, tops (once she had only sausage).

I don't eat much meat besides chicken so that normally leaves me very little. DH says I am not the norm and that most people eat meat (I agree on the meat part). Do I just make too much food or is the lack of variety unusual?

Re: BBQ Foods

Most of my family and friends go all out and have tons of variety.

My ILs had a BBQ over the weekend....they had hot dogs and wings as an appetizer, pork sliders, shrimp tacos, steamers, lobsters and a whole bunch of salads and sides as the main course.

Re: BBQ Foods

50/50.
You have the people that have the 1 or 2 options and that's it or the people who have a ton of variety.

Re: BBQ Foods

I always appreciate a large variety of meats, but if I go to a BBQ, I only expect 1 or 2 types of meats. Even bigger BBQs I've been to often only have 3 types.
These BBQs usually have two side salads (macaroni and potato. Sometimes coleslaw.)

BBQ Foods

My family is crazy. They usually have 5 different types of meats and tons of sides. My cousin went to her future Inlaws this weekend and everyone had their own lobster.
Then I've gone to friends that only do skewers and maybe a single salad. Depends on what the host can afford for the amount of people coming I would assume.

BBQ Foods

My family is crazy. They usually have 5 different types of meats and tons of sides. My cousin went to her future Inlaws this weekend and everyone had their own lobster.
Then I've gone to friends that only do skewers and maybe a single salad. Depends on the host.

Re: BBQ Foods

If we're having one or two couples over for dinner we may do skirt steaks and make tacos with all the fixings- pico de gallo, guacamole, chips, salsa, cheese and for drinks Coronas and a pitcher of margaritas.
If we are having a bunch of friends then we always have a variety if food- hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, and sausage. Sometimes we substitute with pork tenderloin, or shrimp, or steak. Then there's always chips and dips, appetizers, pasta salad, regular salad, macaroni or potato salad.

BBQ Foods

We usually do burgers, grilled chicken, sausage. For the sides it's generally a pasta salad, potato salad, peppers & onions (for the sausage), maybe a green salad, corn on the cob.

BBQ Foods

I never do just hamburgers and Hot dogs but I also don't eat that either so I always also do chicken and maybe turkey burgers or sausage. For sides I usually do a pasta salad and either corn or grilled vegetables

Re: BBQ Foods

I usually do a large variety of apps -

and then burgers/hot dogs/chicken w a bunch of diefferent salads and mac & cheese (DH doesn't eat any salads) for a large group -

I don't like being stuck @ the BBQ cooking for the whole party - and I LOATHE leftovers.

I also like to host things very laid back and relaxed.

Re: BBQ Foods

For a plain old BBQ? Just burgers and dogs. (with sides- salads, maybe corn on the cob etc)
SOMETIMES I will add in chicken
I don't like to go too overboard.

Message edited 9/5/2014 4:04:55 PM.

Re: BBQ Foods

We BBQ with friends every Sunday afternoon...I do Italian sausage, steamers, kielbasa, and skirt steak as an appetizer, then usually hot dogs and sliders (various beef - portobello and Swiss, bacon and cheddar, and various chicken - buffalo, spinach and feta) later on. I try to stick to 3-4 sides (corn, pasta salad, green salad, cucumber/tomato salad).

Re: BBQ Foods

When we barbeque, we usually have only hamburgers and hot dogs together. Otherwise it's just one main entree ( London broil, skirt steaks, pork chops, chicken or sausages) with side dishes.

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I want to be friends with all these people who have lobsters at their BBQs!!

Ok, I'm glad I'm not crazy. I went to a BBQ last week and ate string beans because all they had was beef and string beans! I completely understand that people have different tastes and budgets but I just wanted some carbs!

Re: BBQ Foods

Growing up in Maine, a Cook out meant lobsters, red hot dogs, hamburgers, bbq chicken, steaks. Sometimes steamers/clams were involved.

BBQ meant pulled pork, brisket, ribs - lots of meat.

Grilling out typically meant hot dogs, hamburgers, steak, etc.

All of them usually included some of the following: slaw, potato salad, pasta salad, garden salad, baked beans

In the end I say make it so there are a few choices, but don't go overboard or crazy with it. Have one or two meats and a veggie or garden salad and a potato or pasta salad and maybe beans. Two meats and three sides should suffice. If you want to do more sides, go for it!

Message edited 9/10/2014 11:10:52 AM.