Family barbecue shopping list
A family barbecue needs more than meat, buns and charcoal. This shopping list covers the food service, cold storage, table setup and grill equipment that are easy to overlook. Plan quantities from your confirmed guest count, including children, vegetarians and dietary requirements. Buy chilled food close to the event, and give yourself enough time to wash vegetables, prepare salads, marinate meat and cool the drinks before guests arrive.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Party tent
- Foldable tablesqty 5
- Chairsqty 32
- Buffet tableqty 2
- Tableclothsqty 5
Tableware
- Dinner platesqty 36
- Dessert platesqty 36
- Drinking glassesqty 40
- Wine glassesqty 24
- Cutlery setsqty 36
- Serving bowlsqty 8
Equipment
- Barbecueqty 2
- Barbecue tongsqty 4
- Barbecue spatulasqty 2
- Meat thermometer
- Coolersqty 3
- Extension cordsqty 2
Kitchen
- Cutting boardsqty 4
- Chef's knifeqty 3
- Mixing bowlsqty 4
- Measuring cupsqty 2
- Serving plattersqty 8
- Storage binsqty 8
- Corkscrewsqty 2
Decorations
- Table décorqty 6
- Buntingqty 4
- Flower arrangementsqty 5
Lighting
- String lightsqty 4
- LED lampsqty 8
Cleaning
- Dishpanqty 2
- Reusable cleaning clothsqty 8
- Bucketsqty 2
Catering
- Groceries
- Beef burgers - 36 pieces
- Pork satay - 36 skewers
- Chicken thigh fillet - 3 kilograms
- Grill sausage - 2 kilograms
- Vegetarian burgers - 12 pieces
- Vegetarian skewers - 12 pieces
- Hamburger buns - 40 pieces
- Baguettes - 6 pieces
- Herb butter - 500 grams
- Potatoes - 4 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Red onions - 8 pieces
- Corn - 12 ears
- Mixed salad - 1.5 kilograms
- Arugula - 500 grams
- Feta - 500 grams
- Olives - 2 jars
- Potato salad - 2 kilogram
- Pasta salad - 2 kilogram
- Raw vegetable salad - 1,5 kilogram
- Mayonnaise - 1 jar
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 1 bottle
- Satay sauce - 2 jars
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Lemons - 8 pieces
- Still water - 24 bottles
- Sparkling water - 12 bottles
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Ice tea - 4 bottles
- Beer - 48 bottles
- Alcohol-free pilsner - 12 bottles
- Rosé - 4 bottles
- White wine - 3 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 1 box
- Milk - 4 liters
- Sugar - 1 pack
- Ice cubes - 8 kilograms
- Ice pops - 36 pieces
- Vanilla ice cream - 3 liters
- Strawberries - 2 kilograms
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Chocolate cookies - 4 packs
- Paprika chips - 3 bags
- Plain chips - 3 bags
- Mixed nuts - 2 bags
- Charcoal - 12 kilograms
- Firelighters - 2 boxes
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 1 roll
- Parchment paper - 1 roll
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Napkins - 100 pieces
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 30 pieces
- All-purpose cleaner - 1 bottle
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
Tips
- Plan around 300–400 g of main food per adult, including meat, vegetarian grill products and substantial sides; allow about 200–250 g per child. Confirm dietary requirements before buying so vegetarian and allergen-safe food is not an afterthought.
- Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one drink per hour. Chill drinks in coolers several hours ahead and keep a separate supply of water available throughout the barbecue.
- Count tableware against the final guest list: one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one drinking glass and one cutlery set per guest, plus at least 10% extra for dropped or misplaced items.
- Buy or check the items needed for safe grilling, including barbecue tongs, spatulas and a meat thermometer. Keep raw meat refrigerated until preparation and use separate cutting boards for raw meat and vegetables.
- Do not leave weather-dependent purchases until the day itself. Check the forecast two to three days ahead, then confirm the party tent, tables, chairs, lighting and extension cords are available and usable.
Frequently asked questions
- How much food do I need for a family barbecue?
- Plan roughly 300–400 g of main food per adult and 200–250 g per child, counting meat, vegetarian grill products and filling sides. Add about 10% extra if guests may arrive hungry or stay for several hours.
- How many drinks should I buy for a barbecue?
- Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, followed by one drink per hour. For a four-hour barbecue, that means around five to six drinks per adult, with extra water and alcohol-free options.
- When should I buy meat for a family barbecue?
- Buy fresh meat no earlier than one day before the barbecue and keep it refrigerated. Marinate it on the day or the evening before, depending on the recipe, and keep it chilled until it goes onto the grill.
- How many plates and glasses do I need for a barbecue?
- Start with one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one drinking glass and one cutlery set per guest. Add at least 10% extra, so a group of 20 needs 22 of each item where practical.
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