Start with your guests
The best barbecue menu depends on who’s coming. Children usually want burgers and sausages. Adults at a wedding or a work event appreciate something slower-cooked, such as pulled pork or brisket. A group with several people who don’t eat pork needs chicken, beef and good meat-free options. Ask about diets when people reply, and give your caterer the numbers.
A simple garden party menu
For a birthday or summer party at home, keep it relaxed: beef burgers, sausages and chicken skewers, with halloumi and vegetable skewers and a vegan sausage, plus coleslaw and a salad. Everything is easy to eat standing up, and children are well looked after. Add jacket potatoes if the party runs through a mealtime.
A wedding or evening reception menu
For a wedding, a barbecue works best as relaxed evening food or as the main meal at an informal, outdoor wedding. Pulled pork in rolls and sliced brisket feel more substantial than burgers alone, with chicken skewers for anyone who prefers something lighter, and the vegetarian and vegan options. New potatoes and salads turn it into a proper plated meal if you want guests to sit down. Our evening wedding food ideas have more suggestions.
A staff day or work event menu
At work, time is usually the constraint. Choose items that serve quickly, such as pulled pork and brisket, which are ready before service starts, plus burgers or chicken from the grill. Make sure the meat-free options are clearly labelled, and tell us your break times so food is ready when people are. See our guide to catering a staff day.
Sports clubs, fêtes and street parties
For a club day, fête or street party, the menu needs to be simple, filling and easy to eat on the move: burgers and sausages in rolls, with a vegetarian option. If visitors are paying, keep the choice small so the queue moves. Check what permissions the venue or council needs before the day; our street party guide covers road closures.
How much choice do you need?
More isn’t always better. Three or four meats plus the vegetarian and vegan options covers most groups, and fewer items means faster service. As a rough guide:
- Small, relaxed parties: two or three meats and one meat-free option
- Mixed groups and weddings: three or four meats, both meat-free options and two sides
- Big crowds with a time limit: fewer items, with slow-cooked meats that are ready to serve
Sides that work
Barbecue sides should be easy to serve and to eat. Coleslaw and salads add freshness; new potatoes or jacket potatoes make it a full meal. Two sides is usually enough. Gluten-free rolls are available on request.
Barbecue or hog roast?
If you want one dish that feeds everyone at once and becomes the centrepiece of the day, look at a hog roast. If you want variety, a barbecue wins. For bigger events, having both gives you the best of each. Read hog roast or BBQ? for a full comparison.
Quick answers
What’s on your BBQ menu?
Beef burgers, sausages, chicken skewers, BBQ ribs, pulled pork and beef brisket, with halloumi and vegetable skewers, a vegan burger or sausage, salads, coleslaw and potatoes.
What’s best for children?
Burgers and sausages, with a vegan sausage for anyone who doesn’t eat meat.
Can we mix BBQ and hog roast?
Yes. Ask and we’ll quote for both.
Do you do gluten-free?
Gluten-free rolls are available on request; we’ll give you allergen information for every dish.
Planning an event? Tell us about it and we’ll check the date and send a quote.