These easy cookout food ideas are the best dishes to bring to a cookout, whether hosting the party or attending as a guest. See my favorite easy side salads, grilled meats and fruits, and more crowd-pleasing cookout recipes. Good friends and good food are the only ingredients for an awesome cookout, and I've got your food covered!
My BBQ grilling recipes and BBQ side dishes would be fabulous for any cookout, too.
Jump to:
- 1. Smoked Beer Can Chicken
- 2. Burger Bar
- 3. Hot Dog Bar
- 4. Grilled Pork Rib Tips
- 5. Grilled Baby Back Ribs
- 6. Grilled Pineapple
- 7. Smoked Corn on the Cob
- 8. Potato Salad
- 9. Greek Yogurt Fruit Salad
- 10. Deviled Eggs
- 11. Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
- 12. Baked Beans with Ground Beef and Bacon
- 13. Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
- 14. Creamed Corn Cornbread
- 15. Chocolate No-Bake Cookies
- 💭 Tips For Choosing What To Bring To A Cookout
- What Drinks Should I Bring To A Cookout?
- What Are Some Easy To Make Appetizers For A Cookout?
- What Are Good Desserts For A Cookout?
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Easy Cookout Food Ideas: 15+ Best Dishes To Bring To A Cookout!
- 💬 Comments & Reviews
A cookout is a casual outdoor gathering where friends and family enjoy food cooked outside. Smoked or grilled meats, cool salads, and refreshing beverages and sides are what it's all about!
With years of grilling and smoking under my belt, I've been able to fine-tune the perfect menu for a great cookout. Sharing my list of the best dishes to feed a crowd at cookouts only makes sense.
1. Smoked Beer Can Chicken
Beer can chicken is a cookout classic, and smoking it low and slow only makes the flavor that much better. With only 3 ingredients, this is a great introduction recipe for anyone entering into the world of smoking meats.
2. Burger Bar
Grill up some burger patties and arrange them buffet-style with burger toppings, cheese, and buns so guests can build their own burgers. Any of the easy cookout sides on this page will go great with burgers, or see what to serve with burgers for more ideas.
3. Hot Dog Bar
Cookouts are the perfect time to bulk grill hot dogs, especially if you expect a large crowd. Set up an assembly line with hot dogs, buns, condiments, and toppings for your friends to serve themselves. You could even set out a warm crockpot of chili for chili dogs.
4. Grilled Pork Rib Tips
Grilled pork rib tips are an excellent choice for any cookout because they have a perfect combination of juicy, tender meat and irresistible smoky flavor. They're basted in BBQ sauce for that extra punch of finger-licking-good flavor.
5. Grilled Baby Back Ribs
When my family knows I'm firing up the grill, baby back ribs are one of the most requested meals. It's a popular cookout recipe because the tender meat, infused with smoky flavor from the grill, makes an irresistible treat for meat lovers.
6. Grilled Pineapple
If I have pineapple on hand, throwing some rings on the grill isn't even a question. It's a great topping for burgers, and the juicy, sweet, tropical, smokey flavor makes it an easy side dish.
7. Smoked Corn on the Cob
Smoked or grilled corn on the cob is a cookout essential if you ask me, and it's easy to prepare right alongside the meat. If you're bringing corn from home to the cookout, I highly recommend milk butter-boiled corn cobs or air fryer corn if you're short on time.
Follow my easy guidelines on how to cook corn on the cob for flawless corn every time!
8. Potato Salad
Every cookout should have a big bowl of homemade potato salad perfected over years of potlucks and family gatherings. This is that potato salad recipe for me, with a balanced blend of mayo and mustard for just enough tang and richness.
>>>>See All Of My Recipes Here<<<<
9. Greek Yogurt Fruit Salad
Cool and creamy with just the right level of sweetness, my Greek yogurt fruit salad is a crowd favorite at warm summer cookouts. I used bananas, blueberries, raspberries, and cuties oranges here, but you can use whatever seasonal fruit is available.
10. Deviled Eggs
If I have any family gathering and there aren't deviled eggs, I'm guaranteed to hear about it. This is my no-fail recipe for classic deviled eggs, and you can always garnish them with hot sauce, bacon, or other toppings to make them your own!
11. Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
Chilled pasta salad is refreshing when spending the day outside, and I even recommend making it the night before to let the flavors marry in the fridge. It's an easy way to feed a large group of people, and the recipe is almost impossible to mess up.
12. Baked Beans with Ground Beef and Bacon
Baked beans with ground beef and bacon are hearty enough to be a main dish, although I typically serve them as a side at cookouts. The secret to the sweet, smokey flavor is in combining liquid smoke and brown sugar.
13. Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Hawaiian macaroni salad is made with creamy mayo, pineapple, and seasonings for a tropical twist on traditional pasta salad. Its sweet, refreshing taste gives a much-needed contrast to the smoky flavors of barbecue.
14. Creamed Corn Cornbread
Cornbread, biscuits, or rolls of some sort are perfect for wiping your plate clean and soaking up any extra sauce. Using creamed corn in cornbread gives it a subtle sweetness and keeps the bread soft and moist for the most delicious cornbread you'll ever try.
15. Chocolate No-Bake Cookies
Chocolate no-bake cookies are perfect for any theme or occasion, and not having to turn on your oven is a bonus. You can even make no-bake cookies ahead of time and freeze them for a quick last-minute dessert.
💭 Tips For Choosing What To Bring To A Cookout
I love hosting cookouts because it’s a smorgasbord of everyone’s favorite recipes coming together to enjoy, like an outdoor potluck. In general, you don’t want anything that needs a fork or knife, and here are a few more guidelines to keep in mind:
- Pick things you can eat outside: Most importantly, choose dishes that are easy to transport and serve outdoors. Things that can be served at room temperature or cold are great for cookouts since they don't need reheating (electricity).
- Try to have a well-rounded menu: If you know what others are bringing, balance the menu by bringing something that complements their recipes. For example, you could bring a side dish or salad if someone else is bringing a main dish like hamburgers or hot dogs.
- Self-serve: It's important to choose foods that people can easily serve themselves. In my experience, cookouts are pretty casual and everyone makes their own plate (also a good reason to plan on serving enough for seconds).
- Don't forger drinks: Beverages are an essential part of any quality cookout. I like to have options like lemonade, iced tea, or even fruity mocktails (or cocktails) to keep everyone refreshed.
What Drinks Should I Bring To A Cookout?
I like having water available always for anyone feeling parched, kids included. Sweet tea, lemonade, or even a half and half, aka Arnold Palmer, are my usual go-to's for cookouts and BBQs. If your friends and family are beer drinkers, beer is a must.
What Are Some Easy To Make Appetizers For A Cookout?
If you're looking for quick and easy finger foods that don't require firing up the grill, try a cheese platter, antipasto skewers, or pickle roll-ups. Cover them on a tray with plastic cling wrap for easy transport.
What Are Good Desserts For A Cookout?
I'm a huge fan of no-bake cookies for outdoor gatherings because they're much easier to transport and enjoy outside than cake or pie. Dessert bar recipes are another favorite for large crowds and can be sliced beforehand for convenience.
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📖 Recipe Card
Easy Cookout Food Ideas: 15+ Best Dishes To Bring To A Cookout!
Ingredients
- 3-5 lb whole chicken (giblets & neck removed)
- 2 tablespoon chicken seasoning (to taste, or use my BBQ chicken rub)
- 12 oz beer (half emptied 12-ounce can of beer, or root beer, Dr. Pepper, or Coke)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
Season & Prep
- Preheat your smoker according to 225°F (105°C) according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Pat dry a 3-5 lb whole chicken with paper towels and season generously on all sides with 2 tablespoon chicken seasoning (or BBQ chicken rub to taste).
- Pour out half a can of 12 oz beer so only 6 ounces remain in the can, and place it in a can holder.
- Place the seasoned chicken over the can (face the legs outward to help stabilize the chicken if necessary - the chicken should be stable on the can).
Smoke The Chicken
- Smoke at 225°F (105°C) for approximately 2 hours or until the chicken reaches 130-135°F (54-57℃).
- Then, increase the smoker temperature to 450℉ (230℃) and smoke until the chicken's internal temperature reaches 165-170℉ (74-77℃).
Rest & Serve
- Remove the chicken from the smoker and rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Set your beer out on the counter ahead of time to come to room temperature for the best results.
- Apple, cherry, mesquite, hickory, or pecan wood chips or pellets taste best with chicken. Soak the chips in water for at least 30 minutes before adding them to the smoker.
- If you don't have a can holder or chicken throne, you can wrap foil around the exterior of the can (not covering the opening). Ensure that the foil extends beyond the base of the can. Fold the extended foil into a stable base or make a small aluminum foil ring to support the can and chicken.
- Once cooled, refrigerate leftover chicken in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Remove the meat from the bones and slice or shred it. Transfer to a heavy-duty zip-top bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 4 months. Thaw frozen chicken in the fridge before reheating.
- To reheat, add the chicken to a baking dish with a splash of broth and cover with foil. Bake at 325°F (160°C/Gas Mark 3) for 15-20 minutes or until heated.
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