What to Buy for a Barbecue Party
A barbecue shopping list covers more than meat and charcoal. You also need enough cold storage, servingware, prep equipment and drinks for the way guests will arrive and eat. Plan the food around your guest count, then add separate supplies for salads, marinades, desserts and coffee. Check dietary requirements before shopping, chill drinks ahead of time and keep meat refrigerated until it goes on the barbecue.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Party tent
- Tablesqty 6
- Chairsqty 45
- Buffet tablesqty 2
- High tablesqty 3
- Tableclothsqty 8
Tableware
- Platesqty 50
- Dessert platesqty 50
- Glassesqty 60
- Coffee cupsqty 40
- Forksqty 50
- Knivesqty 50
- Spoonsqty 50
- Serving spoonsqty 8
Equipment
- Barbecueqty 2
- Gas cylindersqty 2
- Coolersqty 4
- Extension cordsqty 3
- Bluetooth speaker
Kitchen
- Cutting boardsqty 4
- Chef's knivesqty 4
- Mixing bowlsqty 5
- Aluminum traysqty 10
- Meat Tongsqty 3
- Barbecue tongsqty 4
- Oven mittsqty 3
- Serving plattersqty 10
Decorations
- Buntingqty 8
- Table décorqty 8
Lighting
- String lightsqty 4
- Lanternsqty 6
Cleaning
- Waste binsqty 4
- Washing-up tubsqty 3
- Spongesqty 6
- Tea towelsqty 12
- Towelsqty 6
- Broom
- Dustpan and brush
Catering
- Groceries
- Beef burgers - 45 pieces
- Chicken skewers - 45 pieces
- Pork satay - 40 pieces
- Fresh sausages - 30 pieces
- Vegetarian burgers - 10 pieces
- Vegetarian skewers - 10 pieces
- Hamburger buns - 50 pieces
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Herb butter - 6 tubs
- Potatoes - 5 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 4 kilogram
- Peppers - 3 kilograms
- Zucchini - 2 kilogram
- Mushrooms - 2 kilogram
- Corn cobs - 25 pieces
- Red onions - 2 kilograms
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Arugula - 4 bags
- Feta cheese - 1 kilogram
- Shredded cheese - 1 kilogram
- Potato salad - 4 kilogram
- Pasta salad - 4 kilograms
- Garlic sauce - 3 bottles
- Satay sauce - 3 jars
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 3 jars
- Mustard - 2 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 3 bottles
- Chili sauce - 2 bottles
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Garlic powder - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Lemons - 10 pieces
- Water - 36 bottles
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Iced tea - 6 bottles
- Beer - 6 crates
- Alcohol-free beer - 2 crates
- Rosé - 8 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Red wine - 4 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Ice cubes - 15 kilograms
- Ice lollies - 50 pieces
- Brownies - 50 pieces
- Strawberries - 3 kilograms
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Peanuts - 3 bags
- Coffee filters - 1 pack
- Barbecue charcoal - 3 bags
- Firelighters - 2 boxes
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Napkins - 150 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 50 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 3 bottles
Tips
- Plan roughly 250–350 g of meat or vegetarian alternatives per adult, depending on how many salads, bread and desserts you serve. Keep separate options for the dietary requirements collected from your guests.
- Allow 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then about 1 drink per person per hour. Chill drinks in coolers before guests arrive; a small fridge is rarely enough for a full barbecue group.
- Buy servingware for every guest plus 10% extra: plates, glasses, cutlery and dessert plates. Serving spoons, platters and aluminum trays are easy to overlook when the shopping list focuses only on ingredients.
- Prepare vegetables, salads and marinades before the barbecue starts, using separate cutting boards and utensils for raw meat and ready-to-eat food. Keep raw meat refrigerated until you are ready to cook it.
- Check the barbecue and its fuel at least 2 days before the party. If it uses gas, confirm that the cylinder is full and arrange a replacement early rather than discovering the problem when guests arrive.
Frequently asked questions
- How much food do I need for a barbecue party?
- Allow about 250–350 g of meat or vegetarian alternatives per adult, plus salads, bread and dessert. For children, plan roughly 125–200 g, depending on their age and the rest of the menu.
- How many drinks should I buy for a barbecue?
- Plan 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour and about 1 drink per person for each hour after that. Add extra water and non-alcoholic drinks, and chill everything several hours before guests arrive.
- When should I buy meat for a barbecue party?
- Buy fresh meat no more than 1 day before the barbecue and store it refrigerated. Marinate it on the day before or the morning of the party, following the storage instructions for the product.
- How many plates and glasses do I need for a barbecue?
- Prepare one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one glass and one full set of cutlery per guest, then add about 10% extra. For 20 guests, that means at least 22 of each item that guests are likely to use.
Start this plan in Lizzt
Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.
Organize this event for free with LizztOrganize for free and invite your contacts!