Welcome to Grillville, population: YOU!
It’s that time of year again! If your neighborhood is anything like mine, the grilling and backyard parties have already started up. If you’re planning to host a summer grilling party that makes your friends question if you moonlight as a pitmaster, you’ve come to the right place.
At Lane’s, our goal is to “Season the world with Goodness” and to help you do it too! (And make sure everyone is having fun and a good time, as well.) Whether it’s your first backyard BBQ or you’re a seasoned griller, here’s your step-by-step guide to throwing a grill party that absolutely rocks.
🔥 Start with the Guest List
A great party starts with great people. Invite your food-loving friends, that neighbor who always smells your brisket from two blocks away, and maybe your cousin who “accidentally” shows up hungry every weekend.
Pro Tip: Summer weekends fill up fast, so invite early…vacations are happening, and kids’ summer sports and practices are still going on. Be sure to list out any must-bring items in your message. (ie. Swim trunks, steaks, beers, games, etc.)
🎉 Pick a Grill Party Theme (Optional, But Oh-So Fun)
Themes add flavor (pun intended) to your party before the grill even gets hot. Some crowd-pleasers:
- Tropical Luau: Grilled pineapple, tiki drinks, maybe even a hula contest.
- Tex-Mex Fiesta: Think taco bar, street corn, and smoky margaritas.
- Classic American BBQ: Hot dogs, burgers, red checkered tablecloths, and baseball vibes.
- Meat & Greet: Bring-your-own-meat potluck. Maximum variety. Minimum pressure. We have done this several times in my neighborhood and have ended up having a blast! Plus, you get a wide variety of meats!
Listen, you don’t even need to have a theme, just a good time. Those chilled-out backyard gatherings are just as good as anything...BUT, as a planner, personally, I like to at least having an idea of what is going to be smoked or grilled ahead of time and plan stuff around that.
🔧 Prep That Grill Setup Like a Pro
You are the grill captain now. Make sure your ship is seaworthy:
- Clean your grill (seriously, your ribs deserve better).
- Fuel up—propane, charcoal, pellets, or your flavor of choice.
- Tools you must have: tongs, spatula, meat thermometer, and at least one “grill dad” apron. And, of course, you need to sport your Lane’s gear so they know you mean business.
- Beverage station within arm’s reach? You have to stay hydrated while grilling, right? That’s just smart hosting.
🧂 Be The Real MVP! (Use Lane’s Rubs & Sauces)
Okay, we might be biased, but hear me out—Lane’s seasonings and sauces are like cheat codes for legendary flavor. Here’s how to use 'em:
Appetizers to Impress:
While not expected, it is always nice to have something to snack on while talking, drinking, and playing games while the meat is smoking. Below are a few that I suggest:
- Lil’ Smokies - This is our version of Pigs in a Blanket. These are just so good. Just be sure not to fill up on them before the food is done.
- Smoked Queso - Everyone loves cheese, and then throw in some Mexican flavor…how could you go wrong? If you don’t have space to smoke it, a crockpot works great! Throw some cheese (personally, Velveeta works best), some Ro-tel, and some Fiesta seasoning, then you are good to go! You can add some ground beef, too.
- Bloomin’ Spam? Yeah, I know…sounds weird, right? But man, people out there love this stuff, and it is super easy to make, and you will probably be the talk of the neighborhood afterwards.
Main Event Meats:
- Burgers with Spellbound or even just SPG – bold, balanced, beefy brilliance.
- SUMMER FAVORITE: Smoked pulled pork with Sweet Heat – sticky, spicy, sensational. Check out our "How to Smoke a Pork Butt Guide".
- Ribeye steaks with Steak Supreme Rub –Everyone loves steak!
- Grilled Chicken - Everyone loves chicken, so throw some chicken breasts on the grill and season them with our Legendary Chicken Rub, and you will never look back!
Killer Sides:
- Corn the cob + butter + Chili Lime = mind blown.
- Mac & Cheese with some Signature Rub will change your world!
- Buffalo Blue Cheese Potato Salad - Yeah, it is as good as it sounds. Give it a try!
Sauce Bar Ideas:
Set out squeeze bottles of Kinda Sweet, Southbound, and Pineapple Chipotle - let your guests mix, match, and find their flavor soulmate.
🎶 Set the Mood: Music, Lights & Backyard Vibes
Good music is non-negotiable. Create a playlist filled with summer jams, classic rock, chill country, heavy metal, or whatever gets people smiling and sipping (and maybe dancing).
Add string lights for ambiance, and citronella candles so your party doesn’t turn into a mosquito buffet.
At my house and in my neighborhood, as the sun sets, even during the Summer, the fire pit becomes the central focal spot to hang out. Make sure you have plenty of firewood. Probably be a good idea to check on the amount of graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows you have in the pantry for s'mores! These are always a hit for us.
Having a few kiddie pools around, if you don't have a real pool, is an awesome plus as well!
🍹 Create a Drink Station That Pops
Cool drinks, happy guests. Keep it simple with:
- A big cooler of drinks (water, soda, beers…ok, probably a lot of beers).
- A batch cocktail - like margaritas, sweet tea vodka, or lemonade.
- Optional: DIY mocktail station for kids and non-drinkers.
Lane’s Hack: You can rim the glasses for margaritas (or other cocktails) with Spellbound Hot or Chili Lime and rock people’s worlds.
Pro tip: Have plenty of koozies. If it's like my neighborhood, people will probably bring their own koozies, but have them just in case. (Even better if they are Lane’s koozies!)
🎯 Backyard Games = Grill Party Gold
Games make mingling easy. Our go-tos:
- Cornhole (aka America’s unofficial backyard sport).
- Giant Jenga (watch the tower and the trash talk grow).
- Bucket Golf - trust us, it's taking the world by storm right now.
- Lawn darts, Kan Jam, ladder golf, bocce ball, or a water balloon toss if it’s blazing hot, are other good options as well.
Make sure to have a shady chill-out zone too. Blankets, hammocks, and lawn chairs are your best friends.
🍑 Grilled / Smoked Desserts? Yes, Chef.
Dessert doesn’t need an oven. Try:
- Apple Pie Monkey Bread - It’s easy and everyone loves a pull-apart dessert.
- Banana boats filled with chocolate and marshmallows. Sprinkle on some Lane’s Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel for some added flavor.
- Homemade Ice Cream - This is my personal favorite! You can experiment with flavors. Try crumbling up some mint Oreos and throwing those in about halfway through the churning process. Some other favs besides regular vanilla and chocolate ice cream are fruit-flavored and coffee-flavored ice cream. Whatever you want to try, give it a shot. Just save some for us!
Bonus points if someone brings cookies. Extra bonus points if they’re warm.
📸 Snap the Memories (But Keep It Real)
A couple of photos? Yes. A 17-minute TikTok tutorial? Maybe not. Get a few group shots, film your epic burger flip, and then just be there with your people.
“Capture memories and not things…” - This is huge. Really, it's not about the food (ok…yeah it is about the food), but the people you are spending time with are the most important thing! Be sure to capture those moments (especially before anyone hits up the drink area a little too much…haha!) This is what life is all about, and you get to celebrate and enjoy it around food!
💤 After the Fire: Leftovers & Bragging Rights
The party might end, but your grill glory lives on. Leftovers taste even better the next day, especially since you will probably be tied up with cleaning everything up.
Final Word: Don’t Overthink It—Just Grill & Chill
Backyard BBQs don’t need to be stressful or fancy. They just need good food, good people, and great seasoning (hint hint). At Lane’s, we’re here to help you throw a summer grilling party that’s bold, tasty, and unforgettable.
Make those flavor-packed memories all Summer long!
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