Serve up a backyard barbecue with your family this summer and enjoy the warmer summer weather! By planning and preparing ahead, you can spend time with your loved ones and experience a stressed-free meal.

What to Make

The best summer barbecue recipes are ones that use common ingredients found in your kitchen and can be made in advance so you can spend more time with your loved ones.

When it comes to making a refreshing beverage, try this Make-Ahead Summer Punch from Brit + Co for an easy to put together pitcher of drinks. No need to individually assemble! For a summer-inspired non-alcoholic option, try The Busy Baker’s recipe for Sparkling Mojito Lemonade made with healthy ingredients. The ingredients for this recipe can be made ahead of time for a quick mix together when the meal is about to begin.

Having a simple but delicious appetizer is a must to keep you and your family satisfied while you’re all waiting for the grill to heat up. This Tuscan White Bean Bruschetta from Whatcha Cooking Good Looking can easily be made a day or two before your barbecue and stored in the refrigerator. Pair it with fresh bed from a local bakery – to stay safe and make sure you don’t run out the day of, place an order online or over the phone ahead of time so it can quickly be picked up before supper.

 A side dish is a must – whether you go with simple grilled vegetables or a salad, make sure you find a recipe that doesn’t take up too much time and can also be made the day before or earlier that morning to cut down time spent in the kitchen before and during the meal. Recipes like this Mediterranean Pasta Salad from Becky’s Best Bites can be prepped and put together well in advance so all you need to do is place it on the table before eating!

Whatever you’re cooking on the barbecue will be the main event of the evening – so make sure you choose something that is not only tasty but doesn’t take you hours to put together! Consider grilling up a recipe like these Prize-Winning Baby Back Ribs from Allrecipes. With an easy-to-put together rub that doesn’t need to marinade or sit for hours ahead of time, this can easily be mixed together the morning of so it’s ready to rub on the ribs with some barbecue sauce right before grilling.

For the grand finale, serve up a dessert that is perfect for a warm summer evening! This Rasperry Summer Sensation Dessert from Food needs time to freeze and put together, but you’ll be happy it is done and ready to eat when you need it!

What to Prepare

Besides the meal itself, there are still a few other items you’ll want to make sure you have ready to use before the barbecue. Don’t forget to take some time before the meal to wipe down outdoor furniture and make sure other drinks are stored in a cooler or the fridge. With mosquitos flying around, it’s important to make sure you have plenty of bug spray and other equipment like Off Lanterns or candles to keep them from disrupting your meal. Umbrellas to block out intense sun rays are also helpful and consider bringing out a lawn game or frisbee to play together after the meal is over.