What to Buy for a Father’s Day Barbecue

A Father’s Day barbecue needs more than meat and charcoal. Use your guest count to plan food, cold drinks, tableware, serving equipment, coffee, and weather cover before shopping. Keep meat and salads refrigerated, chill drinks in advance, and check dietary requirements before you buy. This list also covers the items people often remember too late, such as a meat thermometer, ice packs, gas cylinders, serving utensils, and waste stations.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tent
Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 32
Buffet tablesqty 2

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 40
Reusable bowlsqty 20
Reusable glassesqty 50
Coffee cupsqty 30
Cutlery setsqty 40
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving tongsqty 6
Serving spoonsqty 6

Equipment

Barbecuesqty 2
Gas cylindersqty 2
Coolersqty 3
Ice packsqty 12
Coffee maker
Kettle
Meat thermometerqty 2
Igniter torchqty 2

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knivesqty 4
Mixing bowlsqty 4
Aluminum traysqty 8
Aluminum foilqty 2
Food storage containersqty 8
Kitchen tongsqty 4
Brushesqty 2

Decorations

Father's Day flagsqty 2
Tableclothsqty 6
Flower arrangementsqty 4

Lighting

String lightsqty 4
LED lampsqty 8

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Dishpanqty 2
Spongesqty 6
Dishclothsqty 8
Hand brush and dustpan
Mop and bucket

Catering

Groceries
- Hamburgers - 36 pieces
- Grilled sausages - 30 pieces
- Chicken skewers - 30 pieces
- Chicken satay - 2 kilogram
- Pork satay - 2 kilogram
- Vegetarian burgers - 12 pieces
- Vegetarian sausages - 12 pieces
- Hamburger buns - 40 pieces
- Hot dog buns - 36 pieces
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Herb butter - 4 tubs
- Red peppers - 10 pieces
- Yellow bell peppers - 8 pieces
- Zucchinis - 6 pieces
- Mushrooms - 1,5 kilogram
- Corn cobs - 18 pieces
- Red onions - 8 pieces
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Potatoes - 5 kilograms
- Pasta salad - 3 kilograms
- Raw vegetable salad - 2 kilograms
- Potato salad - 3 kilogram
- Salad seasoning mix - 4 sachets
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 2 bottles
- Satay sauce - 2 jars
- Chili sauce - 1 bottle
- Pickles - 2 jars
- Crispy fried onions - 2 bags
- Salt - 1 tin
- Pepper - 1 can
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Eggs - 12 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Strawberries - 2 kilograms
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Watermelons - 2 pieces
- Ice cream - 4 boxes
- Whipped cream - 4 cans
- Brownies - 40 pieces
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Peanuts - 3 bags
- Olives - 3 jars
- Cheese cubes - 1.5 kilograms
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 5 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 5 bottles
- Iced tea - 5 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Fruit juice - 5 cartons
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Pilsner - 48 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- White wine - 4 bottles
- Red wine - 4 bottles
- Lemons - 10 pieces
- Mint - 4 Bunches
- Sparkling water - 4 bottles
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 30 pieces
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Hand soap - 2 bottles
- Paper napkins - 100 pieces
- Wooden skewers - 100 pieces
- Barbecue gloves - 2 pairs

Tips

Plan about 250–350 g of meat per adult, plus vegetables, salads, and bread. Add separate options for every dietary requirement collected from guests.
Allow 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then about 1 drink per person per hour. Chill drinks in coolers with ice packs rather than relying on a household refrigerator.
Check gas cylinders before shopping and arrange a spare if the barbecue will run for several hours. Test the igniter torch before guests arrive so lighting the barbecue does not delay lunch.
Prepare salads, wash vegetables, and marinate the meat on the day before or earlier on the event day. Store meat and salads refrigerated until they are needed.
Count tableware and seating against the final guest number, then add at least 10% extra plates, glasses, and cutlery. Set up coffee cups, the coffee maker, kettle, and a separate drink station before serving food.

Frequently asked questions

How much meat do I need for a Father’s Day barbecue?: Buy around 250–350 g of meat per adult, depending on how many salads, bread, and vegetable skewers you serve. For 10 adults, that is roughly 2.5–3.5 kg of meat.
How many drinks should I buy for a Father’s Day barbecue?: Plan 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour and about 1 drink per person for each following hour. For a four-hour barbecue with 10 guests, allow approximately 50–60 drinks, including non-alcoholic choices.
When should I prepare food for a Father’s Day barbecue?: Wash vegetables, prepare salads, and marinate meat the day before or earlier on the event day. Keep meat and salads refrigerated until serving, and take only the next items outside at a time.
How many plates, glasses, and chairs do I need?: Provide one plate, bowl, glass, and cutlery set per guest, plus at least 10% extra. For 20 guests, prepare 22 of each reusable item and 20 chairs, with additional seating if guests may eat in shifts.

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