What to buy for a summer barbecue

A summer barbecue needs more than meat, bread and charcoal. Use this shopping list to cover the food, drinks, serving equipment and outdoor essentials for your guest count. Plan separate ingredients and serving dishes for dietary requirements, and leave time to chill drinks, marinate chicken and prepare salads. The items people most often forget are ice, sauces, foil, waste bins and enough serving utensils for the buffet.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tent
Foldable tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 45
High tablesqty 3
Tableclothsqty 6

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 50
Reusable bowlsqty 50
Reusable cupsqty 80
Wine glassesqty 40
Cutlery setsqty 50
Serving plattersqty 10
Serving plattersqty 8
Serving spoonsqty 8
Barbecue tongsqty 4

Equipment

Charcoal barbecueqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Digital meat thermometersqty 2
Bluetooth speaker

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knivesqty 4
Mixing bowlsqty 4
Meat plattersqty 4
Aluminum foilqty 2

Decorations

Party garlandqty 4
Table decorationsqty 6

Lighting

String lightsqty 4
Outdoor lightsqty 4

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Washing-up tubsqty 3
Dish brushesqty 3
Cleaning clothsqty 10
Broomqty 2
Dustpan and brushqty 2

Safety

Fire extinguisherqty 2
First aid kit

Catering

Groceries
- Hamburgers - 40 pieces
- Sausages - 40 pieces
- Chicken skewers - 40 pieces
- Veggie burgers - 12 pieces
- Halloumi - 1.5 kilograms
- Hamburger buns - 50 pieces
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Potato salad - 4 kilogram
- Pasta salad - 4 kilograms
- Coleslaw - 3 kilograms
- Iceberg lettuce - 4 heads
- Tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 2 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 2 kilograms
- Red onions - 1 kilogram
- Mushrooms - 2 kilogram
- Corn cobs - 20 pieces
- Potatoes for foil - 6 kilogram
- Watermelons - 3 pieces
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Apples - 3 kilograms
- Vanilla ice cream - 4 liters
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Mustard - 2 bottles
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 2 bottles
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Salt - 1 tin
- Black pepper - 1 canister
- Paprika powder - 1 can
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Garlic - 4 bulbs
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Lemonade - 12 bottles
- Sparkling water - 24 bottles
- Still Water - 48 bottles
- Beer - 96 cans
- Alcohol-free beer - 24 cans
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Fruit juice - 8 liters
- Coffee - 500 grams
- Tea - 1 box
- Milk - 4 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Ice cubes - 20 kilograms
- Charcoal - 3 bags
- Firelighters - 2 packs
- Paper napkins - 100 pieces
- Trash bags - 50 pieces
- Recycling bags - 20 pieces
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 2 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 2 bottles

Tips

Plan around 250–350 g of main food per adult, including meat, fish or vegetarian options, then add salads, bread and vegetables. Buy separate ingredients for dietary requirements rather than trying to adapt dishes at the last minute.
Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one drink per person per hour. Chill drinks in coolers several hours ahead and keep extra ice available for the drinks station.
Buy at least one serving utensil for each buffet dish, plus separate barbecue tongs for raw and cooked food. Keep meat platters separate from salad and bread platters to reduce cross-contamination.
Allow roughly 1.5 plates, cups and sets of cutlery per guest if washing up during the barbecue is unlikely. Add extra reusable cups for children and guests who switch between soft drinks and alcoholic drinks.
Check the barbecue, charcoal or gas, party tent and outdoor lighting at least one day before the event. Put foil, cutting boards, sharp knives, meat thermometers and waste bins on the shopping checklist instead of assuming they are already available.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a summer barbecue per person?: Allow about 250–350 g of main food per adult, depending on how many salads, vegetables and bread options you serve. Add a separate portion for each vegetarian or dietary requirement rather than relying on leftovers from the main dishes.
How many drinks should I buy for a summer barbecue?: Plan for two to three drinks per person during the first hour, followed by one drink per person for every additional hour. Include water and soft drinks, and chill the first batch at least 3–4 hours before guests arrive.
How much charcoal do I need for a barbecue?: For a standard charcoal barbecue, allow roughly 1–1.5 kg of charcoal per hour, depending on the grill size and how much food you cook. Buy enough for the full cooking time plus one extra hour so you do not run out during the main course.
What barbecue supplies do people usually forget?: Ice, foil, sauces, serving spoons, waste bins and a meat thermometer are commonly missed. Check these items at least 24 hours beforehand, and pick up borrowed tables, chairs or coolers before the day of the barbecue.

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