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5 Tips for an Easy Summer Cookout

May 14, 2015 by A Savory Feast 50 Comments

I’ve had a lot of practice throwing cookouts lately! My friends and I have been getting together just about every weekend to grill out. We’ve pretty much got planning these events down to a science, so today I’m sharing some of my cookout tips with you.
5 Tips for an Easy Summer Cookout

Summer is almost here, and that means it’s time for cookout season! Whether you prefer burgers, BBQ chicken or ribs, this is always a fun party idea. It’s a great way to spend family time or get together with friends.

Don’t stress about planning a cookout. It’s such a laid back, simple way to get together. Enjoy the warm weather and great food with these tips.

Suddenly Salad Cookout Inspiration

Pick the Right Date and Time

Planning your cookout on a Friday at 5:30 when you get off at 5 can cause a lot of stress! Instead, pick a date and time when you know you can have the time to get everything ready beforehand.

We usually plan our cookouts for Saturday so we will have plenty of time to get ready. It’s also a great day because we don’t mind being up late. If we end up holding our cookout on Sunday, we schedule it for an earlier time so we won’t be too tired at work the next day.

Keep it Small

One of the best ways to make sure your cookout will be stress-free is to keep your guest list small! By just inviting a few people, you can save money and time on food, as well as be able to enjoy a more intimate time.

Sudden Salad Cookout Tips

Enlist the Help of Your Guests

I’ve found that almost every time, my guests will ask what they can bring or what they can do to help. For our cookouts, one person will bring the main dish and we will ask everyone else to bring a side dish, drinks or dessert.

For our cookout last weekend, we enlisted our friend David from Strength and Movement to help us grill up some BBQ Chicken! Don’t try to do everything yourself. Save time and don’t stress by letting people help when they volunteer.

Suddenly Salad

Make an Easy Side Dish

Grabbing an easy-to-make side while you are at the store can make your cookout even easier! I picked up a box of Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad at Publix.  I couldn’t believe how easy it was to make! I added some sautéed asparagus to give this pasta salad a homemade touch.

You can save on Suddenly Salad with these coupons from Publix!

Use Paper and Plastic for Easy Clean Up

After relaxing outside during your cookout, the last thing you will want to do is clean up after everyone leaves. We like to keep a stock of paper plates and plastic silverware and cups in the house for our cookouts.

When your cookout is over, all you have to do is throw all the plates, cups and silverware in the trash!

Sudden Salad Cookout Ideas

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What are your Summer cookout tips?

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Filed Under: How to... Tagged With: cookout, cookout tips and tricks, easy cookout ideas, easy cookout recipes, giveaway, PayPal gift card giveaway, side dish for cookouts, summer cookout, summer party ideas

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jaelan @ Making Mrs. M says

    May 14, 2015 at 8:14 am

    PERFECT tips. Man I cannot WAIT to start cookout “season”!

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 16, 2015 at 11:09 am

      It’s the best! We set up a misting system in my fiancé’s backyard so we can enjoy cookouts even once the Florida heat hits.

      Reply
  2. Paige Allison says

    May 14, 2015 at 8:29 am

    So, wanna know something funny abuout me that this post made me remember? When I was in high school, and a three season athlete, I would make a box of suddenly salad and eat the ENTIRE thing. For an after school snack. Yup.

    Great tips for an easy cookout! If it ever stops raining in Texas, I can’t wait to use them! And oh, how I miss Publix. Those need to come to Texas too! 🙂

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 16, 2015 at 11:09 am

      Haha, that’s pretty funny! You will love Suddenly Salad for cookouts, too.

      Reply
  3. Kristin C says

    May 14, 2015 at 8:39 am

    I am so excited to do a cookout soon. Thanks for hosting the giveaway!

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 16, 2015 at 11:10 am

      Cookout season is so much fun! I’m really enjoying it this year.

      Reply
  4. Karen says

    May 14, 2015 at 8:41 am

    looks like a great cookout and wonderful bbq! Found you on Full Plate Thursday

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 16, 2015 at 11:10 am

      Thanks, Karen! It was a lot of fun. I hope you can use some of these tips for your next cookout.

      Reply
  5. Brittany Bergman says

    May 14, 2015 at 9:30 am

    I couldn’t agree more with asking for help — people love to contribute, and I love having a little bit of everyone’s favorite dishes at the barbecue. Also, cookouts were just made for paper plates and shorts and relaxing. My favorite kind of dinner party. 🙂

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 16, 2015 at 11:10 am

      Exactly! These things just make it a little easier.

      Reply
  6. Ashley @ 3 Little Greenwoods says

    May 14, 2015 at 1:24 pm

    Paper products for a cookout ROCK! Great tips and yummy pasta salad!

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 16, 2015 at 11:11 am

      Yes! Who wants to clean up after having a nice relaxing cookout?

      Reply
  7. Anna @ The Beauty Section says

    May 14, 2015 at 2:21 pm

    I LOVE Suddenly Salad Pasta Salads… there are so many yummy ones to pick from! In fact I actually some today for lunch! Your cookouts look so fun!! 🙂

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 16, 2015 at 11:11 am

      Suddenly Salad is so awesome for an easy side or lunch. It would be a great item to keep in the pantry all the time.

      Reply
  8. HS kraftmaking says

    May 14, 2015 at 2:58 pm

    To keep the bugs out of side dishes by serving them in large glass canisters.

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 16, 2015 at 11:12 am

      That’s smart! We’ve been having a lot of bugs lately. Definitely one of the downsides of Florida summers.

      Reply
  9. Natalie says

    May 14, 2015 at 7:58 pm

    My tip is to grill quick cooking foods and to make a lot of the food ahead of time.

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 16, 2015 at 11:13 am

      That’s a great idea! I liked Suddenly Salad because I was able to make it earlier in the day and just keep it in the fridge until our cookout started.

      Reply
  10. Lori Boutelle says

    May 15, 2015 at 7:41 am

    Great tips! I can’t wait to have summer cookouts!

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 16, 2015 at 11:13 am

      I’m having a lot of fun with them this year.

      Reply
  11. melissa newell says

    May 15, 2015 at 8:24 am

    My best cookout tip – make a drink station where guests can help themselves!

    Melissa newell

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 16, 2015 at 11:14 am

      Great idea! I love having lemonade or other fruity drinks at a cookout.

      Reply
  12. Jenna Brussee says

    May 16, 2015 at 11:14 am

    You should use it for your next cookout! I really liked how the asparagus just added a little bit of flavor to this mix.

    Reply
  13. Livivua Ramsey says

    May 16, 2015 at 2:37 pm

    make sure coals are ready

    Reply
  14. Elena says

    May 17, 2015 at 10:21 pm

    I would make the Grilled Caesar Pasta salad

    Reply
  15. shellypeterson says

    May 17, 2015 at 11:28 pm

    I want to try the California Chicken BLT Salad

    Reply
  16. Stacey B says

    May 17, 2015 at 11:55 pm

    My best tip is check the weather first, lol

    Reply
  17. Brooke Knipp says

    May 18, 2015 at 12:56 am

    One of my favorite parts of cookouts is tasting all the different foods people bring. And pasta salad is so ingrained as SUMMER food to me, and I haven’t made it for so long. Thanks for reminding me. It’s time for a cookout! 🙂

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 18, 2015 at 3:50 pm

      It’s so much fun when everyone brings a different dish! Pasta salad is a MUST!

      Reply
  18. Natalie says

    May 18, 2015 at 1:51 pm

    I would love to try the
    Tuscan Style Tomato Pasta Salad

    Reply
  19. Miz Helen says

    May 18, 2015 at 2:30 pm

    I am so excited that it is cookout time again and these are great tips! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday this week.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 18, 2015 at 3:51 pm

      Thank you, Miz Helen! Have a great day.

      Reply
  20. Cheryl says

    May 19, 2015 at 5:20 pm

    Preheat your grill at least 20 minutes before using it.
    Not only does this warm up the grill – it kills germs lingering
    from last week’s barbecue.

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 22, 2015 at 7:56 am

      Great tip! I always preheat it, but never pay attention to how long. I should make sure it’s at least 20 minutes next time.

      Reply
  21. Laurajj Jacobson says

    May 20, 2015 at 5:26 pm

    Oh all the recipes look so good, I would have to make the Quick Antipasto Pasta Salad first!

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 22, 2015 at 8:00 am

      Mmmm, that one sounds great! I love how easy it is to dress up a box of Suddenly Salad.

      Reply
  22. Laurajj Jacobson says

    May 20, 2015 at 5:29 pm

    My tip is to keep your grill far enough away from the house and grass

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 22, 2015 at 8:00 am

      Yes! Where you place it is so important. Thanks for the reminder.

      Reply
  23. jalapenomama says

    May 21, 2015 at 10:12 pm

    I just have to make the Layered Mexican Party Salad!
    form name Barbara Montag
    thank you

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 22, 2015 at 8:04 am

      That sounds delicious! Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  24. Birdiebee says

    May 22, 2015 at 12:56 am

    I am going to try the California Chicken BLT Salad first as it looks so delicious.

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 22, 2015 at 8:04 am

      Oooh, that does sound good! They had so many great ideas for dressing up the boxed mix.

      Reply
  25. Lauren says

    May 22, 2015 at 9:19 am

    I want to try the Chicken Pesto Salad.

    Reply
  26. Lauren says

    May 22, 2015 at 9:20 am

    Always make it a potluck to reduce stress for the hostess.

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 26, 2015 at 7:56 am

      I love potluck-style parties! They make life so much easier.

      Reply
  27. AmandaSakovitz says

    May 26, 2015 at 1:20 pm

    I have everyone bring a side dish just so we have a nice variety of food

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 29, 2015 at 3:45 pm

      We love doing that for cookouts! We provide the meat or main dish, and everyone brings their favorite side. It helps cut back on the cost and time for me, too.

      Reply
  28. AmandaSakovitz says

    May 26, 2015 at 1:21 pm

    I want to try the layered summer pasta salad

    Reply
  29. steve weber says

    May 26, 2015 at 10:26 pm

    You have to marinade your meat for at least 24 hours

    Reply
    • Jenna Brussee says

      May 29, 2015 at 3:46 pm

      It definitely tastes much better if you have the time to do that! I need to plan ahead more often.

      Reply

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