20 BBQ Party Ideas With Cute Decor, Food and Backyard Fun

Looking for bbq party ideas that go beyond burgers on the grill? Think colorful bunting, a hot dog bar and little sauce bottles to send home with your guests.

There’s plenty to choose from here, whether you’re planning a backyard birthday or just getting everyone together for dinner.

You can keep things simple or go all out. I especially love the checked bows and the tiny grill desserts.

BBQ party ideas worth saving

colorful bunting and lights

How cute is this garden setup? I love the bright triangular flags hanging between the strings of lights.

There’s no need to stick to red and white if you want a little more color.

Try hanging bunting above your gathering area while leaving the table underneath fairly simple.

daisies and checked bows

I am obsessed with these daisy arrangements. The white petals and yellow centers look so pretty above those big red-and-white bows.

Try a row of decorated jars along your buffet instead of one large arrangement. Keep the flowers clear of the serving dishes so there’s still room to reach everything.

matching utensil jars

This is another cute way to bring checks onto your table. The forks and spoons sit in separate jars with corn kernels at the bottom, checked ties and little string bows.

If you’re already decorating flower jars, give your utensil holders matching bows too. You can skip the kernels for a simpler version.

wheelbarrow drink cooler

A wheelbarrow full of drinks? Honestly, such a fun idea for a backyard party!

Bottles sit tucked into a pile of ice, with the whole setup parked beside the wall.

For your own version, use a clean wheelbarrow in a stable spot. You could add a separate tub of sodas and sparkling water alongside it.

citrus drink station

If you are looking for a pretty drink-table idea, this one is for you. Yellow and orange drinks sit in dispensers raised on crates, with rows of clear cups below.

I love the checked lids and the little flower arrangements. Add labels to your own dispensers so guests know what’s in each one.

burger bar checklists

How cute are these burger bar cards? The little checkboxes cover buns, cheese, sauces and toppings, all inside a red checked border.

Make a version that matches what you’re actually serving. Then stand the cards in a little bucket beside your food trays.

hot dog topping bar

The tiny wagon full of buns is my favorite part of this hot dog bar. There are red baskets beside it and little bowls of toppings arranged over handwritten labels.

Try adding a small sign with a few topping combinations. Guacamole, onion and salsa is one of the suggestions shown here.

colorful vegetable skewers

Don’t want every platter to be burgers and hot dogs? No problem!

These skewers bring in yellow peppers, red tomatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, purple onion and chunky pieces of corn.

Read also: 20+ Genius Salad Ideas That Make Eating Healthy Addictive

I love how the colors alternate along each skewer. Use this as serving inspiration for your favorite grilled vegetable recipe.

barbecue sharing tray

If you want to go all out with the food, this tray gives you plenty of inspo. Glazed ribs sit beside sliced and shredded meat, with corn, slaw, pickles and pieces of cornbread tucked around them.

Keep the slaw in a little bowl like the one here rather than spreading everything together.

saucy sliders

These little sliders look so good! The browned buns are filled with saucy shredded meat and slaw, then lined up close together on a white platter.

Try serving your favorite barbecue filling this way if you’d rather offer smaller sandwiches. Don’t forget a stack of napkins beside the plate.

corn with toppings

I love this corn tray with its lime halves, red chilies and little bowls of toppings. Each short section of corn has its own stick, with a pale topping dotted over the kernels.

For your own spread, offer a seasoned butter and a few toppings on the side. Let everyone choose how much to add.

watermelon fruit bowl

Who needs a plain serving bowl when you have this? A watermelon half holds a colorful pile of fruit, including raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and melon.

Read also: 20 Cake Picnic Ideas With Pretty Cakes and Sweet Outdoor Setups

The mint leaves on top are such a pretty finishing touch. I’d keep the fruit piled high like this rather than adding any extra decorations.

pasta salad cups

If you’re looking for a different way to serve a side salad, go with little individual cups. These show off spiral pasta, halved tomatoes, dark olive slices and colorful chopped vegetables.

Read also: 30+ Fresh Summer Pasta Salads That Beat Any Potluck

Set yours out with forks nearby. You can keep the larger serving bowl behind them for refills, just like this setup.

tiny grill desserts

OMG, how adorable are these little grill-shaped desserts? I am obsessed with the colorful candy skewers and the red candy pieces with their tiny grill marks.

The round dark cakes even have little legs and wheels. Save this picture as decorating inspiration if you want your dessert table to match the barbecue theme.

patio snack spread

This is one of my favorite snack setups on the list. There’s so much to choose from, with breadsticks standing in tall glasses and bowls of dips, pretzels, chips and sliced vegetables spread across the table.

Try grouping your dips on a board like this. If you’re using a fire pit too, keep the food table and seating safely away from heat and drifting smoke.

tropical lawn games

Don’t want the whole party to revolve around the food table? Set aside a spot for lawn games.

I love the big green leaves and colorful fruit designs on these toss boards.

Read also: 20 1st Birthday Girl Themes and Sweet Party Details

Chairs sit nearby under string lights, with a play area off to the side. Leave a clear throwing lane when arranging your own game area.

ribbons above the buffet

This is such a pretty way to dress up a backyard birthday barbecue. Long colorful ribbons hang from the trees above a red-covered table, with a checked cloth layered over the middle.

I especially love the flower baskets on the white crates. Try that detail if you want decorations around the buffet without filling up the serving space.

personalized sauce favors

Last but definitely not least, we have this cute little sauce favor. The label says “Baby-Q” above a red checked border, with a thank-you message at the bottom.

You could use the same idea for a birthday or backyard get-together by changing the wording. Add a personalized tag to sealed sauce bottles without covering their original labels.