Here's everything you need for a backyard barbecue
Add these essentials to your cart before inviting guests.
Credit:
Reviewed / OXO / Ooni / Yeti / Spicewalla
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The major celebrations of the summer season—like the 4th of July—call for celebration. Traditionally, these consist of firing up the grill (or pizza oven), cracking open a cold one, and taking advantage of warm weather with loved ones.
If you're hosting the get-togethers this summer, you definitely won't want to mess up those good summer vibes. That means you'll want to have all the essentials on hand before sending out the invites. Here are some of our tested-and-approved go-tos for a backyard barbecue that will keep partiers happy.
1. A winning grill
Whether your party calls for gas, charcoal, or electric, we have plenty of grill recommendations.
Whether you like cooking with gas or stoking charcoal flames, a good grill is essential for the best summer party. We’ve tested every type of grill so you can find the right one for your backyard barbecue.
Our favorite gas grill, the Weber Spirit II, produces perfect sear marks and can fit up to 18 burgers at once—perfect for feeding a crowd. It's also easy to use and has some handy features, like sturdy side tables and built-in hooks for accessories.
If charcoal grills—and extra-smoky flavor—are more your speed, we recommend the Napoleon Charcoal Kettle Grill. We love it because it features a sturdy build, large ash bucket, and a decent capacity for grilling lots of food at once.
Feel like splurging this year? The Traeger Ironwood Pellet Grill can do it all—from grilling and smoking to baking and braising. And during our tests, it exceeded expectations. This smoker heats evenly and consistently, with convenient features like Wi-Fi capability and a fully functional touchscreen for an optimal user experience. Not to mention the mouthwateringly smokey, flavorful briskets it can churn out.
And if you prefer not to play with fire (literally), the Weber Lumin Electric Grill is a stellar choice that will give you the sear-marked steaks of your dreams without a space-hogging grill.
This electric grill surprised us during testing with its versatility (it can smoke and steam too!) and its ability to reach high temperatures with impressive speed. If you're an apartment dweller or short on outdoor space, this one's a no-brainer.
2. The best grilling tools
From cleaning grates to flipping burgers, these barbecue tools are essential.
Once your cooking source is secured, you need to make sure you have the right tools on hand. And, no, that 10-year-old rusty grill brush isn't going to cut it.
Be the best barbecue pitmaster with our favorite grilling tools. That list may seem overwhelming, but just stick to the essentials. A bristle-free grill brush that will get the job done while keeping your food safe and a sturdy tongs-spatula-duo are a good place to start.
3. Sustainable serveware
Low-maintenance dishware doesn't have to negatively impact your carbon footprint!
No one wants to wash a pile of dirty dishes after a long day in the sun. But most single-use dishware is wasteful and bad for the environment.
There are some low-waste options, though. These fully compostable paper plates and wooden utensils are highly rated by consumers and can be tossed right in the compost bin after the party's over. Plus, they come in large packs so there will be plenty for everyone.
4. Delicious meats (and spices), delivered
Ordering meat, seafood, and spices online will save you the headache of the grocery store rush.
When it comes to the star of the barbecue—AKA the meats—you don't want to skimp on this holiday weekend.
For special occasions, we recommend splurging on high-quality meats from Crowd Cow. Our favorite meat delivery service is a one-stop-shop for BBQ shopping, with plenty of burgers, dogs, seafood, and wings to choose from.
We also love turning to Good Chop for easy and high-quality meat delivery. All of the products on its website are sourced from family farms in the U.S. and everything is free from artificial ingredients, added hormones, antibiotics, and preservatives. Good Chop also offers a wide variety of meat cuts and seafood types to satisfy all guests.
And while half the battle of a successful barbecue is high-quality meat, the other half is high-quality seasoning. We love Spicewalla for its fresh, small-batch sourcing and wide variety of flavors. The brand's BBQ gift set has everything you need to take your meat and veggies to the next level.
5. The best cooler
Keep those cans and bottles cold with one of the best coolers we've ever tested.
When it comes to spacious, sturdy coolers that will keep your drinks cold for hours in the hot sun, Yeti is an industry favorite for a reason.
Our winning cooler is the Yeti Tundra 45, because it blew the competition away during testing with its ability to maintain a 40-degree temperature for 97 hours (nope, that's not a typo). It also has convenient handles for easy transportation all summer long.
For a more affordable option, the Rtic 52 Qt Ultra-Light Cooler also performed well during testing. It can maintain chilly temperatures for up to three days and promises a much lighter build for easy carrying.
6. Mocktails and cocktails to fill that cooler
When stocking your cooler, be sure there's something for everyone—including boozy and zero-proof options.
We probably don't have to tell you to stock up on a variety of beers, hard seltzers, and canned cocktails for the crowd to enjoy while you're grilling (it's a holiday, after all!).
But you can't forget about stocking up on good mocktails. For all the designated drivers, expecting moms, or folks who are just skipping out on booze, zero-proof options are a must. (And we're not just talking about bottled water and soda.)
We've tested and rounded up a variety of canned mocktails that are tasty enough to serve to sober and booze-loving friends alike. (We especially love Mixoloshe for its deliciously accurate rendition of classic cocktails.)
7. An outdoor pizza oven
Grilling meat not your thing? Opt for outdoor pizza making this Memorial Day Weekend.
Summertime may be known for backyard barbecues, but if you’re not a burgers-n-dogs kind of chef, maybe an outdoor oven is more your speed?
Whether you build on to your Solo Stove fire pit with the Pi Fire (from the winners of our favorite pizza oven) or go compact and portable with the 12-inch Ooni Koda oven (our Best Value pick), you can easily cook up pizzas, steaks, and other gourmet options for your backyard party.
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