Memorial Day. It’s the unofficial start of summer festivities. And with this sunny, happy season comes awesome outdoor parties. And with outdoor parties come delicious fare. Whether you plan to grill sausage meats or barbecue, serve an epic menu that will make your outdoor party memorable.

Here Comes the Sun

Preparing seasonal, flavorful food for your friends and family outside signals the arrival of summer. However, there’s no need to break the bank just to throw a fun outdoor party. And you definitely don’t need a fancy, elaborate grill that comes with all the bells and whistles or access to a big venue.

All you need is your trusty grill and your own backyard. As long as you can grill sausage recipes and other meats and your backyard is big enough for your guests, then you’re good to go.

The best outdoor celebrations are all about having fun, not showing off.

Get in the Festive Mood

Your Memorial Day, 4th of July, or any other outdoor celebration could be a potluck-style cookout or a festive picnic with your friends and family. If you don’t have a big enough yard to accommodate your guests, you can even throw your party at your local neighborhood park. However, be mindful of any restrictions public places may have.

Be One with the Grill

After being stored throughout winter, it’s time to take out that miraculous metal orb that turns ordinary ingredients into sumptuous culinary fare. Whether it’s meat, seafood, or vegetables, grilling food takes it to a whole ‘nother level of delectableness. And with the weather warming, grilling is the prime cooking method of the season.

Shake the rust off your grill with these outdoor grilling recipes and outdoor party ideas we’ve prepared for you – guaranteed to blow your guests away.

Drinks

An extremely popular drink to serve at an outdoor summer cookout is Sangria. However, when you’re throwing a Memorial Day party on a budget, you can’t just spend all your budget on drinks.

A good rule of thumb to follow is to serve at least one seasonally-themed drink. You can then supplement this by having bottles of beer and wine ready; they are the inexpensive drink options. Additionally, guests usually would bring over a bottle of wine or cases of beer to show appreciation – so you can use those to supplement your party drinks supply.

Appetizers

Small and simple. Keep those words in mind when preparing your outdoor party appetizers. Apps should serve as tiny nibbles for guests to enjoy. Whether it’s chips or pita bread with dips, getting generic brand shouldn’t be an issue. Usually, the generic brands are way tastier than their name-brand counterparts.

Appetizers usually take a day to prepare, so set aside a time (usually a day ahead or the morning of the party) to prepare them if you’re making them at home. Whether you decide to grill sausage for starters or make homemade salsa, prep your apps a day before, so they are one less thing to worry about on the day of your party.

Side Dishes

The sky’s the limit when it comes to side dishes. And even if you’re not doing a full-on potluck cookout, it’s okay to ask friends or family to bring over small side dishes to your party. They’re an excellent option for your guests to bring so you wouldn’t have to worry about filling up your refrigerator with meals you’re serving at the party.

Classic sides like macaroni salads or mashed potatoes are easy to get – whether you’re making them at home or buying at a grocery store. They’re usually inexpensive too especially if you use ingredients that are in season.

If you’re serving vegetables, you can either just roast or bake them and season with a little bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Side dishes are ideally served at room temperature. You can get the items out of the refrigerators and onto your serving table when your guests start arriving. This way, you can store any drinks, side dishes, or desserts your guests have brought over.

Main Course

For any cookouts, barbecues, lunches, or potlucks, the party thrower is always in charge of the main dishes. It’s usually a good idea to offer two meat options. Buy your meats at your trusted local butcher shop. Whether you want to grill sausages, chicken, or beef – make sure that there are at least two choices of proteins that your guests can choose from.

While meat can get expensive, it’s safe to anticipate that that’s where most of your party budget will be allotted.

Desserts

Round off the evening of delectable food with something sweet. For your summer cookout desserts, go for something refreshing like watermelon or fruit salad. For other options, you can serve chocolate-covered strawberries or baked peaches.