What to Buy for a Mother’s Day Barbecue

This Mother’s Day barbecue shopping list covers the items that are easy to overlook: enough plates and glasses, serving dishes, chilled drinks, barbecue tools and equipment for coffee afterward. Confirm the final guest count before shopping, then adjust food and drink quantities to match. Keep meat refrigerated until it is needed, and check whether you need extra tables, chairs or a party tent before the day itself. The list also includes practical kitchen and lighting items for serving outdoors.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tent
Tablesqty 5
Chairsqty 35
Buffet tableqty 2
Tableclothqty 7

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 40
Dessert platesqty 40
Drinking glassesqty 45
Wine glassesqty 35
Coffee cupsqty 35
Cutlery setsqty 40
Serving spoonsqty 12
Serving plattersqty 10
Small bowlsqty 8

Equipment

Barbecueqty 2
BBQ toolsqty 3
Coolersqty 3
Coffee maker
Kettle
Extension cordsqty 2

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 3
Mixing bowlsqty 5
Measuring cupsqty 2
Pliersqty 4
Aluminum traysqty 30

Decorations

Flower arrangementsqty 5
Buntingqty 3
Napkin holdersqty 5

Lighting

String lightsqty 3
Lanternsqty 6

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Waste sorting binsqty 2
Cleaning bucketsqty 2
Dishwashing tubqty 2
Hand soap dispensersqty 2
Kitchen towelsqty 8

Catering

Groceries
- Hamburgers - 35 pieces
- Chicken skewers - 35 pieces
- Sausages - 35 pieces
- Salmon fillets - 2,5 kilogram
- Vegetarian burgers - 10 pieces
- Vegetarian skewers - 10 pieces
- Hamburger buns - 40 pieces
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Herb butter - 4 tubs
- Baby potatoes - 4 kilogram
- Corn cobs - 20 pieces
- Zucchini - 8 pieces
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Mushrooms - 1,5 kilogram
- Red onions - 8 pieces
- Cucumbers - 5 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Mixed salad - 1.5 kilograms
- Feta - 600 gram
- Potato salad - 2 kilogram
- Pasta salad - 2 kilogram
- Coleslaw - 1,5 kilogram
- Herb cream cheese - 3 tubs
- Olives - 3 jars
- Paprika chips - 3 bags
- Plain chips - 3 bags
- Peanuts - 2 bags
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Satay sauce - 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
- Lemons - 10 pieces
- Strawberries - 2 kilograms
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Melons - 3 pieces
- Whipped cream - 6 cans
- Vanilla ice cream - 3 liters
- Brownies - 40 pieces
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Iced tea - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Beer - 48 bottles
- Alcohol-free beer - 12 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- White wine - 4 bottles
- Red wine - 3 bottles
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 5 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Honey - 1 jar
- Ice cubes - 10 kilograms
- Charcoal - 3 bags
- Firelighters - 2 boxes
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dishwasher tablets - 1 box
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Paper napkins - 5 packs

Tips

Plan around 250–300 g of raw meat or other barbecue food per adult, plus about 200 g of salad or side dishes each. Add a little extra if the barbecue is the main meal.
Allow 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then about 1 drink per hour. Buy ice or use coolers early enough to chill everything before guests arrive.
Count one dinner plate, dessert plate, glass and cutlery set per guest, then add at least 10% extra. Small bowls and serving spoons are often forgotten until the buffet is ready.
Check the barbecue, BBQ tools and fuel at least 2 days beforehand. Put the barbecue on a safe, stable spot and keep aluminum trays ready for cooked food.
Prepare coffee and tea supplies for the final part of the meal: allow roughly 1 coffee cup per guest, and check the coffee maker, kettle, extension cords and string lights before setup.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a Mother’s Day barbecue?: Plan around 250–300 g of raw barbecue food per adult, plus approximately 200 g of salads or side dishes. For children, 150–200 g of barbecue food is usually enough, depending on age and appetite.
How many drinks should I buy for a Mother’s Day barbecue?: Allow 2–3 drinks per person during the first hour and about 1 drink per hour after that. Include water and non-alcoholic options, and chill the drinks several hours before guests arrive.
How many plates and glasses do I need for a barbecue?: Start with one dinner plate, dessert plate, drinking glass and cutlery set per guest, then add 10% extra. For 20 guests, that means at least 22 of each basic item.
When should I buy and prepare the barbecue food?: Buy fresh meat no more than 1–2 days before the barbecue and keep it refrigerated. Wash vegetables and prepare salads on the day, while marinades and desserts can usually be prepared the day before.

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