Casual Cookout Ideas
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With the summer months almost here, I want to share some casual cookout ideas with you. Memorial Day, Father’s Day and the Fourth of July are right around the corner and I want to make them special!
If you love spending time with family and friends and sharing a meal together, here are some casual cookout ideas to make your celebration special!
I shared an elegant backyard barbecue with you a few weeks ago, and I’m excited to share these casual cookout ideas with you now – just in time for summertime celebrations.
What are some good casual cookout menu ideas?
Table of Contents
Great items to include on your cookout menu are smoked chicken, baked beans, and potato salad. I’m sharing a homemade barbecue sauce recipe to make your casual cookout extra special!
In the South, iced tea is a must-have drink at a casual cookout. I add a new spin on a classic with my Strawberry Iced Tea recipe.
Why I love this Barbecue Sauce Recipe
This barbecue sauce is the perfect marinade for chicken. It uses simple ingredients and creates so much flavor!
How to Marinate Chicken
Marinate chicken with the barbecue sauce for up to 12 hours in the refrigerator. Cover the chicken with the marinade and cover the dish with plastic wrap.
How to Cook Chicken
Using hickory wood chips provides a strong smoky flavor to meats and is perfect for your casual cookout! Hickory burns slow and hot so it’s perfect for chicken.
Add your own favorite spice rub and then smoke the meat for four hours on 220 degrees Fahrenheit. Baste the chicken with the barbecue sauce every hour or so during the smoking process.
Casual Cookout Decor
For the table, I used a white tablecloth with burlap and red gingham cloths as an overlay. Large sunflowers give a casual cookout a special summery feel!
I used little jars for displaying the potato salad. I also used a mix of white, natural and silver serving pieces. The combination makes a festive table for a casual cookout.
Side Dish Suggestions
For the sides, we served baked beans, fruit salad, and potato salad. These sides can be homemade or you can pick them up at your local grocery store.
Homemade Barbecue Sauce
This is hands down the best homemade barbecue sauce we've had!
Ingredients
- 1 packet Lipton Onion Soup Mix
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 tbsp worcestershire
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp oregano
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients and rub into meat.
- Allow meat to marinate before cooking.
Why I love this Strawberry Tea Recipe
This Strawberry Sweet Tea recipe is a fun way to add fruity flavor to your iced tea! It’s an easy casual cookout idea to make your event feel unique.
Strawberry Sweet Tea
This Strawberry Sweet Tea is refreshing and fruity! The perfect alternative to your traditional sweet tea.
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh strawberries
- 3 cups sugar
- 4 Lipton Iced Tea Bags
Instructions
- Boil 2 cups of water and remove from heat.
- Add the tea bags and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
- Dice strawberries and place in food processor until liquified.
- Strain pulp from liquid and add liquid into glass pitcher.
- Add sugar and tea to the liquid and combine well.
- Add 6 cups of cold water and ice, and it's ready to serve!
Strawberry Sweet Tea
This Strawberry Sweet Tea is refreshing and fruity! The perfect alternative to your traditional sweet tea.
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh strawberries
- 3 cups sugar
- 4 Lipton Iced Tea Bags
Instructions
- Boil 2 cups of water and remove from heat.
- Add the tea bags and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
- Dice strawberries and place in food processor until liquified.
- Strain pulp from liquid and add liquid into glass pitcher.
- Add sugar and tea to the liquid and combine well.
- Add 6 cups of cold water and ice, and it's ready to serve!
I hope these casual cookout ideas help create wonderful get-togethers this summer season.
This post was updated on May 17, 2024.
What a perfect and gorgeous cook out! love it all. Such a cute tablecloth and that chicken look so tasty!
xo, Miss Pettigrew
Thank you! We really enjoyed it!
I’ve never had strawberry sweet tea before. This looks so good I need to try it!
It is absolutely delicious!!
I am certainly not the type to host any kind of event or gathering, but this would be such a lovely way to spend a weekend afternoon with my other half! Fruit salad and potato/pasta salad are MUSTS in an event like this, in my eyes. They’re super easy to whip up, and even easier to eat 😉 It looks like you two hold lovely backyard parties! ☺️
I absolutely love your set up! I have to try that Strawberry Sweet Tea for sure!!! I can’t wait to start planning our next backyard party! Thanks for the tips!
I am loving this setup!