Planning a beach BBQ for 40+. Difficulty level: Beach is an hour away.
May 1, 2018 11:06 AM Subscribe
I'm having a Big Birthday soon, and we're celebrating with a bbq at the beach. Seeking suggestions for food for a crowd that travels well with minimal prep.
We'll have a covered pavilion and a charcoal grill. For ease of travel, prep, and cooking, I prefer to avoid bringing raw meat, or foods that spoil easily - but it's not a dealbreaker.
I'm currently thinking about pre-cooking a mess of ribs the night before and heating them on the grill. Pulled pork is also an option but less fun on the grill. Also: sausages, corn, and pineapple for the grill.
Please suggest more delicious ideas!
We'll have a covered pavilion and a charcoal grill. For ease of travel, prep, and cooking, I prefer to avoid bringing raw meat, or foods that spoil easily - but it's not a dealbreaker.
I'm currently thinking about pre-cooking a mess of ribs the night before and heating them on the grill. Pulled pork is also an option but less fun on the grill. Also: sausages, corn, and pineapple for the grill.
Please suggest more delicious ideas!
Pulled pork would let you leave the grill for all the other stuff though - toasting buns and vegetables (corn, zucchini, mushrooms, pineapple, sweet peppers, cabbage quarters (seriously), and you can microwave or par-roast modest-sized potatoes in advance and then halve and finish on the grill) for sandwiches or pork plates. I think this is the easy way to make sure you truly have enough protein to feed everyone.
If I'm cooking out for a group, I usually go with uncooked but frozen hamburger patties, cooked from frozen on the grill so they're never sitting around in the danger zone.
posted by Lyn Never at 11:14 AM on May 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
If I'm cooking out for a group, I usually go with uncooked but frozen hamburger patties, cooked from frozen on the grill so they're never sitting around in the danger zone.
posted by Lyn Never at 11:14 AM on May 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
My family recipe for ribs involves marinating them in a mixture of sherry, lemon juice, worcestershire sauce, onion, garlic and oregano, then roasting them in the oven in the marinade for about an hour. They are then taken out of the marinade and thrown briefly onto the grill to char a little and to add BBQ sauce. They would be perfect for your cook-ahead and throw on the grill scenario.
Also that corn on the cob in the cooler that hydra77 linked to makes excellent corn on the cob.
For a great big crowd, I'll sometimes make 2 different proteins, say BBQ chicken and sausages, just for variety's sake.
posted by sarajane at 11:41 AM on May 1, 2018
Also that corn on the cob in the cooler that hydra77 linked to makes excellent corn on the cob.
For a great big crowd, I'll sometimes make 2 different proteins, say BBQ chicken and sausages, just for variety's sake.
posted by sarajane at 11:41 AM on May 1, 2018
Bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with jalapeno-stuffed olives. That's both the title and the recipe. Can roast these ahead of time until the bacon is crispy and can be served al crudo.
posted by cross_impact at 11:59 AM on May 1, 2018
posted by cross_impact at 11:59 AM on May 1, 2018
I previously asked about omnivore-friendly vegan dishes good at room temperature for potlucks. I think some of these ideas would be useful for you.
posted by FencingGal at 12:02 PM on May 1, 2018
posted by FencingGal at 12:02 PM on May 1, 2018
Potato salad. Better yet, a potato salad bar where you have cooked potatoes, added some vinaigrette to hot potatoes, allowed it to absorb, then added some mayo. Mix-ins - green olives, celery, red onion, hard-boiled eggs, dill pickles, sweet pickles, bacon, chives, snow peas, green beans, red peppers, arugula, parsley, cilantro, dill, basil, vinegar, more mayo, even the dreaded Miracle Whip.
Last summer, for a picnic, I made giant meringues, layered with whipped cream and local strawberries. It was so good and I made everything the day before except for whipping the cream and slicing the trimmed berries.
Ribs and chicken can be partially cooked in a pressure cooker (my Mom added beer for extra taste), then finished on the grill onsite with sauce. This avoids the dreaded under-cooked grilled chicken problem.
sounds like a great party.
posted by theora55 at 1:00 PM on May 1, 2018
Last summer, for a picnic, I made giant meringues, layered with whipped cream and local strawberries. It was so good and I made everything the day before except for whipping the cream and slicing the trimmed berries.
Ribs and chicken can be partially cooked in a pressure cooker (my Mom added beer for extra taste), then finished on the grill onsite with sauce. This avoids the dreaded under-cooked grilled chicken problem.
sounds like a great party.
posted by theora55 at 1:00 PM on May 1, 2018
Do you know how big a grill you will have? And how does that compare to the number of people going?
I'd probably go with cooked ribs/chicken/sausage that are then warmed on the grill. I personally love hot dogs on charcoal. You could get fancy and do chicken skewers.
Couscous salad is easy, and vinegar coleslaw. Some really good buns, with fresh soft butter.
Finish off with fresh fruit, and some great cookies. Maybe some marshmallows.
posted by Ftsqg at 1:37 PM on May 1, 2018
I'd probably go with cooked ribs/chicken/sausage that are then warmed on the grill. I personally love hot dogs on charcoal. You could get fancy and do chicken skewers.
Couscous salad is easy, and vinegar coleslaw. Some really good buns, with fresh soft butter.
Finish off with fresh fruit, and some great cookies. Maybe some marshmallows.
posted by Ftsqg at 1:37 PM on May 1, 2018
Fried chicken, ham, and quiches do not have to be hot. Nor does cheesecake. Traditional picnic fare includes potato salad, macaroni salad, Cole slaw, and baked beans.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:48 PM on May 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by SemiSalt at 5:48 PM on May 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by hydra77 at 11:11 AM on May 1, 2018 [2 favorites]