7 Dishes That’ll Turn Your Backyard BBQ Into A Gourmet Spread

Don’t believe anyone who tells you that a BBQ cannot be a gourmet affair. You don’t need perfect, white starch tablecloths or a candlelit evening to achieve a gourmet experience. In fact, you might actually be able to blow the minds of your dining guests with a few simple BBQ dishes. 

If you don’t believe us, here are 7 dishes that will undoubtedly turn your backyard barbecue into a gourmet spread, and the perfect menu to enjoy with champagne or a full-bodied Australian shiraz wine. Now, let’s preheat that BBQ.

1. Barbecued prawns

Prawns can be enjoyed any which way, but our favourite way is to barbecue them. All you need is to get a great local supplier of prawns and coat them in butter garlic and a tiny bit of chilli before you throw them on the grill.

Remember, you are not buying pink prawns, but actually cooked prawns that will be grey or green in colour. Put a couple of bowls on the table so your guests can put the prawn shells in them, and scatter a few bowls of water around your backyard space so that your guests can wash their hands. Once all these helpful aids are in place, this dish is sure to be a party favourite.

Also See:

Chef Ashish Massey’s Hot & Spicy BBQ Sauce Recipe

Fire up your grill and get ready for a flavor explosion! This Hot & Spicy BBQ Sauce recipe, courtesy of Chef Ashish Massey, co-owner of “The Ancient Barbeque” Restaurant, is a game-changer. It’s the perfect blend of smoky sweetness and fiery heat, designed to elevate your grilled meats and vegetables to new heights.

Chef Massey’s signature sauce is easy to make, using readily available ingredients. Prepare to impress your friends and family with this restaurant-quality BBQ sauce that’s surprisingly simple to create at home.

Get ready to experience the bold flavors of The Ancient Barbeque in your own kitchen! This recipe is perfect for both experienced grill masters and beginner cooks alike.

View Recipe

~ 1878kcal

2. Toasted Turkish bread

We all love going to a restaurant that has a breadbasket on the table. So why can’t you do the same at your barbecue? Find some fresh Turkish bread or even bake some yourself! Once your bread is ready to plate, give it a light toast so that all your butter can melt into the fluffy bread.

Turkish bread is also a fantastic addition to any table with a wide spread of different slow cooked meats and dips, as your guests can use the bread to mop up those sauces, dip it in some tzatziki, or enjoy it however else they would like to.

Doesn’t that sound fabulous? If you want to level up again, consider drizzling olive oil over the bread instead of butter and a few rosemary leaves or even some minced garlic for good measure.

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Turkish Stuffed Pide

Pide, often celebrated as the “Turkish pizza,” is a beloved bakery staple found throughout Turkey. Unlike typical pizza, this savory delight is uniquely shaped like a boat, featuring a soft, pillowy flatbread base reminiscent of pita, chapati, or classic pizza crust. Its versatility and inviting aroma make it perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dinner.

The real allure of Turkish Stuffed Pide lies in its diverse toppings, which range from melty cheeses and vibrant peppers to rich minced meat, fresh tomatoes, earthy mushrooms, and fragrant parsley. Whether you enjoy it with a runny egg or a medley of vegetables, every bite bursts with authentic Turkish flavors and homemade comfort. This recipe brings the tradition of Turkish bakeries to your kitchen, inviting you to customize and savor your own delicious creation.

View Recipe

~ 159kcal

3. Seasonal salad

Salads are so much more than throwing a few greens and vegetables together. A beautiful seasonal salad should be curated to include different textures, flavours and colours to attract the eyes and tantalise the taste buds.

We love using fruit and nuts in our salad, as it can really surprise people. Some of our favourite seasonal salad ingredients to get you inspired are pomegranate seeds, walnuts, sweet potato, goat’s cheese and even watermelon. Yum!

4. An incredible cheese platter

If your family is anything like mine, the cheese platter really does turn into its own course. There are so many delicious cheeses out there to choose from, but a good rule of thumb for any backyard party is to make sure that you have a hard cheese, a soft cheese, a gooey cheese and then a stronger, smelly cheese. 

If you really want to delight your guests, why not try some baked cheese recipes? All you need to do is wrap your cheese, for example, a wheel of camembert, and put it in the oven for a few minutes with herbs and other garnishes to really bed into the flavour of that baked, gooey cheese.

Then all you need is some crunchy bread or crackers to enjoy all that warmth and gooey-ness. A well-baked cheese is truly the perfect dish for a winter get-together.

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5. Gourmet sausages

Why not put a fancy spin on a classic and bring some gourmet sausages to your barbecue? You don’t need to go overboard, and you might find that even choosing a different cut of meat may just be enough to wow your guests.

You can find chicken sausages, lamb sausages, vegan sausages and a whole host of other variations which are sure to please your hungry guests. Remember to label them all to ensure that your gathering is considerate of dietary restrictions or special dietary requirements.

6. The humble fruit salad

You might think you’ve seen it all with the fruit salad, but there are some seriously decadent ways you can display fruit at your next barbecue. Go beyond the standard fruit that you see on a platter, and choose something that is bright, sweet, flavoursome and fresh.

Fruits like mango, rockmelon, and even some grilled pineapple can never go amiss at an outdoor BBQ. If you want to be extra fancy, however, then look no further than a fondue stand or two. This will be enjoyed by parents and children and can be enjoyed with a cheese platter, entrees, mains and desserts. 

7. A crusty, seasonal pie

We truly cannot get enough of seasonal produce, and it can bring such a gourmet spin to an otherwise ordinary barbecue. It’s always recommended that you find some very ripe seasonal fruit and make a crusty pie for dessert.

The cherry pie can be a really beautiful thing to make in summer, but a traditional apple pie is hard to go past too. There are so many different types of pie dishes out there, so it definitely helps to do a little independent research in order to find a dish that best compliments your existing spread.

Whatever kind of pie you do decide on, be sure to also put out some simple but delicious ice cream to accompany your fruit pie!

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Irresistible Baked Apple Hand Pies with a Flaky Crust

Imagine biting into a warm, crisp pastry, sprinkled with sugar and bursting with sweet-tart apple cinnamon filling. These individual apple hand pies offer a delightful twist on a classic American dessert, perfect for satisfying your sweet cravings.

Each hand pie is a symphony of textures and flavors, from the delicate, flaky crust to the tender, spiced apples within. They’re the perfect cozy treat for a quiet night in or a show-stopping addition to any festive gathering.

View Recipe

~ 878kcal

We hope this article has both helped you tick off a few items on your barbecue party planning checklist, as well as proved to you that any dish can have a gourmet angle to it.

Just like the barbecue itself, a typical dish can be infused with different flavours and preparation styles to have your guests wondering why they haven’t tried to make these dishes themselves.

Also Read:

• Learn To Barbecue From The Barbecue Expert Chef Ashish Massey
• 15 Best Vegetables For Grilling
• How Lump Charcoal Make The Best Grilled Meals