What you need for a barbecue

A barbecue shopping list is more than meat, buns and drinks. You also need serving dishes, utensils, chilled storage and enough tableware for the final guest count. Plan food after collecting dietary requirements, then check whether the barbecue area, grills and coolers are ready before you shop. This plan covers the practical details that are easy to forget, including charcoal tools, waste stations, lighting and weather cover.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tent
Beer tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 36
Buffet tablesqty 3
Tableclothqty 6
Stoolsqty 4

Equipment

Barbecueqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Extension cordsqty 3
Bluetooth speaker
Thermos flasksqty 3

Kitchen

Charcoal barbecue tongsqty 4
Meat thermometerqty 2
Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knivesqty 4
Mixing bowlsqty 6
Serving plattersqty 10
Serving tongsqty 6
Serving spoonsqty 6
Aluminum traysqty 10

Tableware

Platesqty 50
Dessert platesqty 40
Glassesqty 50
Coffee cupsqty 30
Cutlery setsqty 50
Coffee spoonsqty 30

Lighting

String lightsqty 4
LED lampsqty 6

Decorations

Table décorqty 6
Lanternsqty 8

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Washing-up basinsqty 2
Spongesqty 6

Catering

Groceries
- Beef burgers - 40 pieces
- Chicken skewers - 40 pieces
- Pork satay - 30 pieces
- Sausages - 40 pieces
- Pork chops - 30 pieces
- Vegetarian burgers - 12 pieces
- Vegetarian skewers - 12 pieces
- Hamburger buns - 40 pieces
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Garlic butter - 4 tubs
- Potato salad - 4 kilogram
- Pasta salad - 4 kilograms
- Mixed green salad - 3 kilograms
- Tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Red onions - 2 kilograms
- Corn cobs - 30 pieces
- Mushrooms - 2 kilogram
- Arugula - 6 bags
- Feta - 1 kilogram
- Shredded cheese - 1 kilogram
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 2 bottles
- Satay sauce - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Salt - 1 tin
- Black pepper - 1 canister
- Paprika powder - 1 can
- Barbecue seasoning - 2 jars
- Chili sauce - 2 bottles
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Salted peanuts - 3 bags
- Water - 12 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 12 bottles
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Ice tea - 4 bottles
- Lemonade syrup - 2 bottles
- Beer - 5 crates
- Alcohol-free beer - 2 crates
- White wine - 8 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- Red wine - 4 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Lemons - 2 kilograms
- Ice cubes - 12 bags
- Ice lollies - 40 pieces
- Brownies - 40 pieces
- Strawberries - 3 kilograms
- Whipped cream - 4 cans
- Napkins - 150 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 3 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Hand soap - 3 bottles
- Hand gel - 3 bottles
- Firelighters - 2 boxes
- Charcoal - 4 bags

Tips

Plan around the confirmed guest count, including children and vegetarians. As a starting point, allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then about one drink per person per hour.
Buy or prepare food only after collecting dietary requirements. Keep meat refrigerated until it goes on the barbecue, and use separate cutting boards and serving tongs for vegetarian food.
Chill drinks several hours before guests arrive. Use coolers with ice rather than relying on a refrigerator for a large group, and keep a separate cooler available for raw meat if needed.
Count tableware against the final number of guests, then add roughly 10 percent extra plates, glasses and cutlery. Disposable or reusable items are easy to overlook when the guest list changes late.
Check the barbecue area and weather forecast at least one day ahead. Arrange the party tent, lighting, extension cords and lanterns before the day itself, not while guests are arriving.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a barbecue per person?: Allow about 300–400 g of raw barbecue food per adult, including meat, vegetarian products and side dishes. Add more if the barbecue is the main meal and there are few salads or bread options.
How many drinks should I buy for a barbecue?: Plan for two to three drinks per person during the first hour, followed by roughly one drink per person for each additional hour. Include water and non-alcoholic drinks, and chill them several hours before the event.
How much tableware do I need for a barbecue?: Provide one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one glass and one cutlery set per guest, plus about 10 percent extra. For 20 guests, that means at least 22 of each main item.
When should I buy barbecue meat and vegetarian products?: Buy fresh meat and vegetarian products on the day before or the day of the barbecue, depending on the product and storage available. Keep everything refrigerated until preparation and serving.

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