No backyard barbeque is
complete without the perfect barbeque foods.
From hotdogs and hamburgers to potato salad and corn bread, the menu is
what defines a successful barbeque.
However, if guests expect a certain type of food, what room is left for
experimentation? For those who are
barbeque menu purists, there are still ways to surprise your friends and family
with fun twists on the traditional barbeque menu.
I recently made these watermelon stars using a cookie cutter for a family barbeque. While stars work well for patriotic holidays, you could easily use different shaped cookie cutters, say a palm tree for a luau party or a football helmet for a season opener, to achieve the same result. Try these ten fun twists on food at your next backyard barbeque, and check out some of our other Backyard Barbeque Party Ideas, too:
- Bacon Wrapped Corn: Wrap a cob of corn in two strips of bacon before throwing it on the grill. Guests will appreciate the addition of a caloric breakfast favorite!
- Burger Toppings Station: Along with the traditional burger toppings (lettuce, tomato, pickle, and onions), try some of these toppings that will surprise your guests and encourage them to create some new burger combinations – guacamole, shoestring fries or onion rings, fried eggs, spinach, grilled pineapple, fried pierogies, coleslaw, blue or goat cheese crumbles.
- BBQ Chicken Cornbread: Bake traditional cornbread in a 9-inch round pan. After the cornbread is made, spread a mixture of shredding chicken, barbeque sauce, shredded pepper jack cheese, bacon bits, and chopped onions and red/green peppers. Family and friends will enjoy the “loaded” version of this barbeque classic.
- Hotdog Cornbread: Cut up three hotdogs into fourths. Bake traditional cornbread in a muffin tin, and before baking, add a piece of hotdog to each muffin. Bake the prescribed amount of time and enjoy! (Makes 12)
- Hotdogs in a Blanket: Try a full-sized version of pigs-in-a-blanket by wrapping a hotdog in a crescent roll. (Pillsbury will work.) Cook in the oven for the amount of time suggested on the crescent roll can, and voila! A family favorite.
- Barbeque Meatball Sliders: On a slider, place two small cooked meatballs and top with barbeque sauce and pepper jack cheese instead of marinara and mozzarella.
- Pulled Pork Egg Rolls: This fun twist on pulled pork gives an Asian twist to your cuisine. You can purchase egg roll wrappers from your local grocery story, and fill them with a mixture of BBQ shredded pork and shredded cabbage. You’ll want to fry these in a high-sided wok until the egg rolls are nice and crispy!
- Grilled Strawberry and Pineapple Shortcake: This grilled version of shortcake makes this recipe perfect for a BBQ! On a wooden skewer, grill chunks of pineapple and strawberries, and serve with whipped cream and pound cake.
- Sherbet Fruit Cups: Instead of serving sherbet in glass bowls, serve a heaping scoop of your favorite in halved and hollowed oranges. Family and friends will enjoy the extra citrus kick!
- All-Natural Fruit Pops: Purchase plastic popsicle forms and fill with an assortment of chopped fresh fruits (strawberries, banana, pineapple, kiwi, blueberries, peach, etc.). Add water or a fruit juice until filled and freeze. Serve this healthy dessert on a hot afternoon after the kiddos plow through the burgers and hotdogs!
Have fun celebrating at your backyard barbeque with these soon-to-be family favorite recipes! Bon Appetite!
Comments