6 Ideas for Serving 20+ Guests at Your Next Summer BBQ

The season for big backyard bashes has returned. How do you cater for 20 or more people at your next BBQ? 

Although the task may seem daunting, it’s less complicated than you think with the right tricks. Here’s your definitive guide, including six easy ideas for keeping tummies full and lips happy at your next summer feast. 

How Do You Feed 20 Guests (or More)? 

It’s time to put your savings club card to the test as you discover what those supersized portions came to be. Buying in bulk is more sustainable, and saves cash and sites like Thrive Market, Azure Standards and Sun and Swell Foods stock your pantry with everything you need for less. You might not even have to drive to the store, especially if you already shop online — simply add to your typical order. 

Locating what you need is the first step. Deciding how to cater for a 20-person plus BBQ requires your knowledge of the crowd, the occasion and the overall theme and vibe you hope to create. While many backyard barbecues are casual, for example, you might decide against a potluck if hosting a formal engagement party or birthday. Then again, it might be fun to have everyone honour the special guest by bringing one of their favourite recipes! 

How to Cater for a 20+ Person Barbecue: 6 Ideas 

You need flexibility to plan your BBQ your way, but these ideas answer the question of how to feed 20 guests, letting you focus on the fun details.

1. Choose Large, Single-Dish Recipes 

Barbecuing individual steaks work when you have fewer than eight guests and can devote grill space and time to perfecting how each wants theirs done. However, it’s easier to feed 20 or more guests with large, single-dish entrees, such as: 

• Chili 

• Casserole

• Roasts

• Sheet-pan meals

• Lasagna

• Hot and cold pasta 

As a bonus, such meals make cleanup easy, and you can make most of them on the grill with the right accessories. Heating it up to the correct temperature and using it like an oven imparts a slightly smoky flavour that makes mouths water. 

Single-dish sides also reign supreme — it’s simple to slide a tray of veggies on the grill to roast while the meat rests. Salads require no cooking time at all. Simply place them in your fridge until serving time arrives. 

Finally, you need drinks, and a punch bowl is far easier than mixing individual cocktails. Consider something elegant, slightly exotic and refreshing like a peach sake spritz that blends peach and sparkling sake, club soda and lemon juice for a summertime “mama juice” the adults will love. Substitute some organic white grape and peach juice to equally delight the NA and under-21 set. 

2. Include Something for Everyone 

You should always ask about food sensitivities when hosting a summer barbecue, especially when you have a large group. One out of ten adults has a sensitivity, often to common foods.

“Great,” you think, “And what do I do when this guest can’t consume gluten, this one doesn’t eat meat, and half of them are on special diets?” Seek meals that do double duty. For example, many paleo-vegan dishes suit the meat-free, gluten-free and low-carb crowd simultaneously. 

Be careful and ask questions if you’re unsure or unfamiliar with certain foods. For example, it’s easy for a novice to confuse seitan with tofu or tempeh, but serving up the former could harm a guest. Tofu and tempeh come from soy, but seitan is pure wheat gluten, a nightmare for those with celiac disease. 

3. Test Your (Pot)luck

Potlucks ease your cooking burden and ensure every guest has at least one dish they love. Make it even more fun by creating a theme — and think outside the Fourth of July box. 

Why not get a little spooky with a “Halloween in July” fest, dressing up in fun costumes you won’t have to cover with a coat due to inclement weather? If you love this season for one reason — baseball — you could provide the hotdogs and let everyone else bring a ballpark-themed treat. Even special occasions become more festive with a theme, such as a disco or casino-focused engagement party. 

4. Bring Oodles of Extra Utensils

Although this detail might seem small, it’s essential to maintaining food safety and avoiding cross-contamination. Even guests who don’t have outright allergies may have sensitivities to certain ingredients. Placing several serving utensils in each dish decreases the risk that a guest will rook one from another entree, introducing the problematic substance into a previously safe dish. 

5. Forget Four or Five Courses 

The more courses you have, the more complicated serving — and cleanup — become. Instead of having several courses as you might at a sit-down event, stick to no more than three: 

• An appetizer course

• The main dishes

• Dessert

You can set out simple snacks like nuts and chips, bringing out perishable finger foods once half or more of your expected guests arrive. Allow plenty of time and don’t rush — the overall vibe for nearly any summer BBQ should be laid back. 

6. Master Clean Up With Ease 

Finally, use the following tips to make cleaning up after your 20+ guest summer barbecue easier: 

• Place trash and recycling bins everywhere and label them clearly so you don’t end up sorting bottles and cans out of a pile of barbecue sauce-laden napkins.

• Fill your sink or a large bin with soapy water where guests can deposit their plates to keep food from sticking. A quick rinse and pop in the dishwasher is all you need afterward. 

• Use markers or wine charms to put a name on cups to prevent guests from grabbing a clean one when unsure if the one on the table belongs to them. 

• Cover your tables with compostable brown paper painter’s cloths — available at hardware stores — for super easy, sustainable cleanup. They dress up perfectly to meet any theme. If choosing disposable cups and plates, opt for those made from hemp or bamboo to minimize your footprint. 

Serving 20+ Guests at Your Next BBQ

Learning how to cater for 20 or more people at a BBQ sounds intimidating, but people have done so for decades. You’re plenty savvy enough to pull it off with grace and style. Use this guide to easily feed 20 guests while saving plenty of time to mix, mingle and enjoy a little entertainment at your next summer get-together.

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Beth, the Managing Editor and content manager at Body+Mind, is well-respected in the mental health, nutrition and fitness spaces. In her spare time, Beth enjoys cooking and going for runs with her dog.