What to buy for a barbecue picnic
A barbecue picnic needs more than meat, charcoal and drinks. Plan food and serving quantities around your confirmed guest count, then pack the equipment that is easy to overlook: coolers, ice packs, serving utensils, food labels and cleaning supplies. If you are using a public picnic area, arrange tables, chairs, blankets and party tents before shopping day. Keep vegetarian options and dietary requirements separate from the start so nothing gets mixed up at the buffet.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Party tentsqty 2
- Folding tablesqty 6
- Folding chairsqty 45
- Picnic blanketsqty 8
- Tablecloth setsqty 6
Tableware
- Reusable platesqty 60
- Reusable bowlsqty 50
- Reusable cupsqty 60
- Cutlery setsqty 60
- Serving plattersqty 8
- Serving tongsqty 6
- Serving spoonsqty 4
Equipment
- Charcoal barbecuesqty 2
- Coolersqty 4
- Portable speaker
- Meat thermometersqty 2
- Table lanternsqty 8
Kitchen
- Cutting boardsqty 4
- Chef's knivesqty 6
- Mixing bowlsqty 6
- BBQ tongsqty 6
- BBQ spatulasqty 4
- Oven mittsqty 4
- Ice packsqty 16
Catering
- Drink dispensersqty 2
- Chillable food traysqty 12
- Label holdersqty 12
- Water jugsqty 6
- Thermos flasksqty 4
- Reusable serving traysqty 4
- Groceries
- Beef burgers - 40 pieces
- Grill sausages - 40 pieces
- Chicken skewers - 40 pieces
- Vegetarian burgers - 12 pieces
- Halloumi - 8 packs
- Hamburger buns - 50 pieces
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Herb butter - 4 tubs
- Iceberg lettuce - 8 heads
- Tomatoes - 5 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Peppers - 3 kilograms
- Red onions - 2 kilograms
- Corn cobs - 40 pieces
- Potatoes - 6 kilograms
- Feta - 1 kilogram
- Pasta salad - 4 kilograms
- Potato salad - 4 kilogram
- Garlic sauce - 3 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 3 bottles
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 3 jars
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Garlic powder - 1 jar
- Plain potato chips - 6 bags
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Salted peanuts - 4 bags
- Watermelons - 3 pieces
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Grapes - 4 kilograms
- Brownies - 48 pieces
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Lemonade - 8 liters
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Flat mineral water - 48 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 24 bottles
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Ice cubes - 12 kilograms
- Charcoal - 3 bags
- Firelighters - 2 boxes
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Reusable storage containers - 10 pieces
- Paper napkins - 120 pcs
- Garbage bags - 30 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Hand soap - 3 bottles
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Disinfectant spray - 3 bottles
Decorations
- Buntingqty 4
- Table decorationsqty 6
Cleaning
- Cleaning clothsqty 8
- Cleaning bucketsqty 2
- Dish brushesqty 3
- Hand sanitizer bottlesqty 3
Tips
- Plan about 250–350 g of raw meat or vegetarian barbecue food per adult, plus salads, bread or other sides. For children, allow roughly half that amount and add a small buffer for seconds.
- Buy two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one drink per person for each additional hour. Chill them in coolers with ice packs before leaving; drink dispensers are useful for water or homemade drinks.
- Count reusable plates, bowls, cups and cutlery against the guest list, then pack at least 10% extra. Serving platters, tongs and spoons are separate from personal tableware and are easy to miss when checking quantities.
- Allow one charcoal barbecue for roughly 10–12 guests, depending on how quickly you want to serve. Bring BBQ tongs, spatulas, oven mitts and a meat thermometer; pack separate cutting boards and knives for raw and ready-to-eat food.
- Pack cleaning cloths, a cleaning bucket and dish brushes with the food and equipment, not as an afterthought. Put food labels on the vegetarian dishes and items containing common allergens before the buffet opens.
Frequently asked questions
- How much food do I need for a barbecue picnic?
- Allow 250–350 g of raw meat or vegetarian barbecue food per adult, plus sides such as salads and bread. Children usually need about half an adult portion; add 10% if guests are likely to stay for several hours.
- How many drinks should I buy for a barbecue picnic?
- Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour and one more per person for every additional hour. Buy extra water in warm weather and chill drinks at least 4 hours before serving.
- How many barbecues do I need for 20 guests?
- Two charcoal barbecues are a practical starting point for 20 guests, especially when meat and vegetables need separate cooking space. Check that the picnic area permits charcoal barbecues before the event.
- What should I bring to keep a picnic barbecue clean?
- Pack cleaning cloths, a cleaning bucket, dish brushes, rubbish bags and enough water for wiping and washing. Start cleanup as soon as food service ends and allow at least 30 minutes to leave the area clear.
Plans a lot like this one
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!