21 backyard BBQ ideas to try for your next summer get-together

Thomas says pellet grills with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth technology are the perfect options when cooking for a crowd. “Once upon a time, I was a charcoal snob and thought pellet grills were just outdoor ovens,” he says. “Then I had kids. And with so much less time to adjust vents and add fuel, I found being able to set it and forget it is a godsend. I can put my protein on the pellet cooker, set my temp, insert my probe thermometer and check my progress from my phone while cleaning up and preparing the house and the backyard for the crowd.”

This Traeger Ironwood 885 can manage temperature precisely, letting detail-oriented cooks do everything from perfectionist convection cooking to smoking — all with precision control via a connected app. Plus, it's one of our top picks for the best grills for your backyard.

Insulated carriers are often used by restaurants and caterers to keep food hot (or cold) for hours. “Remove your pork shoulder, brisket or ribs from the grill still wrapped in peach butcher paper or foil, wrap the meat in a towel and drop it in a Cambro or an empty cooler and the meat will be fine for hours,” Thomas says. “One year, my Thanksgiving turkey was done three hours early. I used foil, a towel and an empty cooler and it was the best turkey I’d ever had.”

Grilling can get messy, so save your kitchen towels from getting covered in charcoal and sauce by having towels for your grill. This dark colored set from Williams Sonoma is made of durable cotton terry and is perfect to hang on a grill hook, stuff in an apron or just have on hand to keep everything tidy.

When grilling for a group, Thomas recommends brisket and pulled pork, which can be made in large quantities at a relatively low cost.

“Ribs are a little harder because of the amount of space needed to cook for a large crowd, but otherwise are a great option if you have the space,” he adds. “And they can be done in shifts if using the Cambro method. When the second batch is done, serve the ones staying hot in the cooler or Cambro. Chicken is great too and can be kept warm while a second or third batch is cooked on the grill. And don’t forget the old standbys: burgers, dogs and sausages.”

Porter Road’s dry-aged brisket is antibiotic- and hormone-free and pasture-raised, and it serves more than a dozen people.

“Probably the most important item other than the grill is a Thermapen,” Thomas says. “When cooking for a crowd, whether chicken, hamburgers or bratwursts, don’t guess. … It is quite humiliating to have to throw the meat back on the grill because it is undercooked or dry it out because it is overcooked.” The Thermapen One offers digital temp readings in one second or less and is our pick for best meat thermometer too.

“If you don’t have a smoker and are using a traditional or gas grill, tossing burgers or wings to come off the grill at the same time is a huge stress saver,” Roberts says. “On average, wings take 45 minutes to grill. Burgers tend to only take 15 minutes from start to finish. Pop the wings on the grill and at the 30-minute marker, when you’re checking the wings to make sure they aren’t burning, toss the burgers on so everything comes off the grill at the same time.”

Take even more guesswork out of your barbecue with these precooked wings from Omaha Steaks (serves four) that can be warmed on the grill for 15 to 20 minutes.

Every barbecuer needs a cutting board to carve all that delicious grilled food, and this Teakhaus cutting board earned the top pick in our testing. Durable, stain-resistant, and easy to care for it's also a board beautiful enough to leave out on your counter too.

Among Roberts’ top picks for at-home barbecue parties are two pairs of long tongs, “so you can go from raw to cooked without the worry of cross-contamination and reach across the entire grill area without singeing your arm hairs.” With over 12,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, she likes Oxo’s tongs, which are also nonslip and dishwasher-safe.

Roberts also recommends heat-resistant grilling gloves, a charcoal chimney starter “so you never have to use lighter fluid again” and Western Wood BBQ smoking wood chips or chunks that, she says, will leave your guests “guessing how you locked in classic smoked barbecue flavor on any grill.”

This 100% cotton twill apron is midweight to protect your clothes from unexpected spills and stains. Plus, it's got plenty of pockets to hold your grilling tools and built-in pot holders to so you reach for hot plates and pans without having to hunt down a dry, spare towel or pot holder.

Keep the party going long after the sun goes down and the cool evening air sets in with this editor favorite Solo Stove. This sleek, stainless steel fire pit burns with practically no smoke, so your clothes won’t smell after sitting around the fire all night. It’s the perfect size for pretty much any patio or yard (and easy to take camping) and requires no assembly. Bonus: Consider dessert served when you use it to make s’mores after your barbecue. Just don’t be surprised if you have trouble getting your guests to leave at the end of the night.

What’s a backyard barbecue without a few fun lawn games? Scatter is a Finnish lawn game that you can enjoy with a drink in your hand. Players try to score points by throwing a baton at the numbered pins to score points. Just don't go over 50 points or you'll get knocked back down to 25. This set comes with everything you need, including a dry-erase board for score keeping and a canvas tote for easy storage.

Set a festive mood at your evening barbecue with these bulb string lights strewn across your patio. Waterproof, windproof and temperature resistant, these bulbs have a 20,000 hour run time and heavy duty cables so they can last on your patio all year round.

Short on chairs? Toss a festive blanket on the ground for picnic-style seating. This Nomadix version features a weather-resistant bottom and spill-resistant top that keeps the elements where they belong — outdoors. Plus, it's easy to clean and packs down small, which makes it great for taking to the beach or to your next campsite.

These mason jar lights are great for overhead lighting or for hanging closer to the ground to keep pathways lit. As a plus, these light jars are solar-charged and made to withstand all sorts of weather so you don't have to hassle with wires and cords to create your dream outdoor space.

Yes, yes, paper plates are perfectly acceptable during a backyard barbecue, but if you’re looking to elevate your dishware, opt for this melamine set from West Elm. You can go for this complete set of 16 pieces or mix and match different color styles to create your own perfect set.

Even if your outdoor table is made to stand up to the the elements, adding a tablecloth for extra protection for scratches and stains — as well as for decoration— never hurts. The bright yellows and blues in this floral tablecloth are perfect for setting a warm-weather mood, and the stain-resistant cloth is machine-washable for quick cleanup too.

Enjoy your favorite beverages without fear of shattered glass. These Tossware stemless wine glasses are made of durable, shatter-proof Tritan Copolyester, and happen to be dishwasher-safe. Plus, they can help you cut back on all those plastic cups in your trash can.

There’s no denying it: Barbecues are messy. And you’re going to need napkins. While you could opt for the traditional paper napkins, designating each guest their own napkin can cut back on party waste and prevent napkin mix-ups. This multi-colored set is great for designating as your go-to entertaining set. And once everyone leaves, just toss them in the laundry to get clean.

You never know how long your BBQ is going to last, so make sure your drinks stay ice cold all day long with this Yeti Tundra cooler. Our pick for best hard cooler, it's durable enough to stand up to serious abuse and has enough room to hold 28 cans with plenty of ice.

Keep pesky mosquitos and insects from ruining your cookout with these citronella tea light candles, which also look great as part of your tabletop decor. If you've got a smaller get together, you can also opt for fewer candles in a slightly larger size too.