Linda's Lunacy

Faith, Home, & Family

  • Home
  • ABC’s
  • Childhood Cancer Awareness Resources
  • Giveaway Linky List
  • Gluten Free
  • Farm & Garden
  • Homeschool
  • In the Kitchen with Linda
  • Instagram
  • Home
  • About Linda
  • Disclosure & Privacy Policy
  • PR Friendly
  • Get My Button
  • Social Media

How to Prepare For a Large Cookout or Picnic

May 26, 2011 by Linda @ Linda's Lunacy 46 Comments

*This post contains affiliate links

 

We love to host large cook outs. It is so much fun to have friends and family over.  Since we do our cooking over our fire pit, its very relaxing to sit around the fire with them. No need to stress about having everyone over, here’s how to prepare for a large cookout so I can enjoy the cook out, too.

 

How to Prepare For a Large Cookout

How to Prepare for a Large Cookout or Picnic

 

1. Plan the Menu for your Large Cookout or Picnic:


The fun part! If your having a lot of people over, it’s better to stick with tried and true recipes, instead of trying lots of new recipes. To keep things simple, I’m using the same menu for both cook-outs. My family doesn’t care, and the guest list is different for the cook-outs, so the guests won’t know.  🙂

 

We’re having:

  • Hamburgers w/ lettuce, tomatoes, onions,
  • Hot Dogs,
  • Brats,
  • Potato Salad,
  • Macaroni Salad,
  • Baked Beans,
  • Carrot Sticks,
  • Watermelon,
  • S’mores.
  • Drinks: Water, Lemonade, Ice Tea.

 

Check out my post on How to Pick the Perfect Watermelon

 

A pretty simple, but crowd pleasing menu.



2. Gather Supplies


Now it’s time to check your supplies. Are you using real or paper plates, cups, silverware, etc.? Do you have enough? What about napkins, serving trays and the like? Start counting and add needed items to your grocery list.

 

3. Make a Grocery List


Check your menu against your pantry. This way, you won’t over buy. It will help you keep the cost of your cook-out down, if you shop your pantry first. Make sure you check your condiments, too.  You don’t want to run out of ketchup or mustard.


4. Cook as Much as Possible Ahead of Time


I am a huge plan ahead and make ahead fan. Potato salad and macaroni salad actually taste better made the day before. The flavors have plenty of time to mingle. Once you figure out what you want to make ahead, it’s time to make a detailed cooking lists.


5. Make a Detail Cooking List


Here’s mine:

  1. Thursday night – Start beans in slow cooker
  2. Friday morning –
  3. Turn off slow cooker
  4. Boil eggs
  5. Boil macaroni
  6. Peel, dice & boil potatoes
  7. Grate carrots, peel and “stick” others
  8. Peel eggs, dice
  9. Assemble Macaroni Salad
  10. Assemble Potato Salad
  11. Make sauce for baked beans
  12. Assemble baked beans
  13. Slice tomatoes
  14. Prepare lettuce
  15. Slice onions
  16. Make lemonade
  17. Make tea



6. Make a Set-up List


Making this list ahead of time will help save you time. It will also save you headaches from trying to think of everything and forget nothing right before the guests arrive.  Here’s mine:

 

    1. Move tables, cover with tablecloths
    2. Move chairs
    3. Build the fire, don’t start it yet, just get it ready to at appropriate time
    4. Place non-food items on tables: plates, cups, napkins, utensils, BBQ forks, tongs, spatula, plates for cooked meat, knife & tray for watermelon
    5. Place non-refrigerated food items on tables: buns, chips, marshmallows, graham crackers, etc.
    6. Bring out meats and start cooking
    7. Bring out refrigerated food, do this right before you eat, so you don’t have to worry about anything going bad.
    8. Refrigerate leftovers promptly.

 

 

7. Enjoy Your Cook-out or Picnic!


If you take the time to plan ahead and make these lists, your cook-out will go smoothly.

Enjoy your guests, and the great food you prepared!

 

 

Here are a few of my favorite things to make having a cook out easier, and more comfortable for your guests.

 

       

 

*This post contains affiliate links. If you click the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission.

Be Sociable, Share!
  • LinkedIn

Filed Under: In The Kitchen With Linda

Next PostThis Weeks Favorites
Previous PostThursday’s Giveaways

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Comments

  1. vickie couturier says

    February 23, 2015 at 8:47 am

    good tips,,we are planning a big outdoor event as soon as the weather is warmer

    Reply
  2. Linda Manns Linneman says

    February 23, 2015 at 9:40 am

    We love having friends and family over for cookouts. These are some great tips. Thank you for sharing

    Reply
  3. Elizabeth Stacy says

    February 23, 2015 at 12:08 pm

    This would be great have cookout

    Reply
  4. Melissa Douglass says

    February 23, 2015 at 1:16 pm

    Love these tips! Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
  5. lisa says

    February 23, 2015 at 8:30 pm

    Wow, can I come over for a cook out? You’ve got it all down. I’m not that organized.

    Reply
  6. Cheryl Fulton says

    February 23, 2015 at 9:26 pm

    I enjoyed the tips you give:) Planning by cooking ahead really helps.

    Reply
  7. Lisa Coomer Queen says

    February 23, 2015 at 9:37 pm

    These are some great tips for a cook-out. I like to plan ahead too. Thanks!

    Reply
  8. Jane Ritz says

    February 24, 2015 at 10:34 am

    These are great ideas. We have about 18in our extended family. We have the big meals down. They go smoothly,

    Reply
  9. lisa says

    February 24, 2015 at 11:04 am

    Potato and macaroni salad do taste better the next day. I’m looking for a good potato salad recipe. I love it, just not the way I make it. It’s also nice if guests chip in by bringing a side dish, burger buns. Just something to help out.

    Reply
  10. Linda Manns Linneman says

    February 24, 2015 at 12:25 pm

    Planning the menu and fixing things ahead of time is the key thing for me. I need to not do everything at the last minute. I miss out on some of the fun

    Reply
  11. terry myers says

    February 24, 2015 at 5:42 pm

    Make a list get your supplies cook ahead good ideas

    Reply
  12. lisa says

    February 25, 2015 at 11:33 am

    I love cooking outdoors in the fire pit. We take an empty can and put in a potato stuffed with cheese and bacon bits. Of course it’s foil wrapped. Then we just toss it in the fire and let it cook.

    Reply
    • Anonymous says

      September 14, 2016 at 10:42 pm

      Reply
    • Anonymous says

      October 26, 2016 at 8:21 am

      Reply
  13. Linda Manns Linneman says

    February 25, 2015 at 11:34 am

    I love having large cook outs. You have some great suggestions on your menu. Thank you for sharing

    Reply
  14. latanya says

    February 25, 2015 at 2:15 pm

    this list is perfect for parties and get togethers too

    Reply
  15. Brenda says

    February 25, 2015 at 2:32 pm

    Note to self, do not read about food when you are starving.

    Reply
  16. Linda Manns Linneman says

    February 26, 2015 at 11:19 am

    Large picnics with family and friends is something we really enjoy. I love all of your great suggestions. These will really help us for future get togethers.

    Reply
  17. lisa says

    February 26, 2015 at 11:22 am

    These are all excellent suggestions. There’s so much to do before and during. Often, the host is so busy they can’t enjoy themselves. That’s the point of a get together. To relax and have fun.

    Reply
  18. Leah says

    February 26, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    I’d love to have a big cookout, but with both sides of my husband’s family having lakehouses, we will probably never have the chance to host one!

    Reply
  19. Sarah S says

    February 27, 2015 at 1:55 am

    Wonderful tips!

    Reply
  20. Linda Manns Linneman says

    February 27, 2015 at 10:14 am

    Macoroni salad and potato salad sound so good right now. Thank you so much for sharing

    Reply
  21. lisa says

    February 27, 2015 at 11:55 am

    We cook out year round, no matter what the weather is like. There’s just something about the taste of food prepared on the grill. It’s better than frying or baking.

    Reply
  22. M.Clark says

    February 28, 2015 at 12:44 am

    There’s a lot to do when planning a large cookout, this list is very helpful. Thank you for sharing this post.

    Reply
  23. Vanessa E says

    February 28, 2015 at 5:18 am

    Lists are smart way to keep organized and not overwhelm yourself. It can be very satisfying crossing things off the list too 🙂

    Reply
  24. Linda Manns Linneman says

    February 28, 2015 at 8:54 am

    I really enjoy having alot of people over for a cookout. These great tips on what you can make ahead of time really helps. Thank you for sharing

    Reply
  25. lisa says

    February 28, 2015 at 12:42 pm

    Another thing to remember is to keep the food properly chilled. I recently had food poisoning. I honestly felt like I was going to die, I was so sick.

    Reply
  26. Coco says

    February 28, 2015 at 8:49 pm

    Thanks for all your great tips. You sound very detailed and organized, which is wonderful. I am an event planner, so my brain works the same way. I use and love organized detailed lists. Thanks again for sharing.

    Reply
  27. Diana C says

    February 28, 2015 at 10:47 pm

    Hard thinking of a cook out now, it snowing out. But sounds wonderful right now.

    Diana C

    Reply
  28. Linda Manns Linneman says

    March 1, 2015 at 9:44 am

    Your menu for your BBQ party sounds great. I will be making some of these things for my next party. Thank you for sharing

    Reply
  29. lisa says

    March 1, 2015 at 12:30 pm

    A cook out is always fun. Once a year they close off the street and have a big block party cookout.

    Reply
  30. margaret peg m says

    March 1, 2015 at 7:08 pm

    hi, i have 5 grown children now, 2 sons-in-law, 1 daughter-in-law, a husband and 3 grandchildren. all of our cookouts are large, what super tips to help me out!

    Reply
  31. Betty B. says

    March 1, 2015 at 9:23 pm

    Great tips! Especially the Make a Detail Cooking List I usually run into issues with food not coming out at once i think making a cooking list would help me better plan!

    Reply
  32. Diana C says

    March 2, 2015 at 1:37 am

    Just looking at this prep list, makes me want to get a cookout together.

    Diana C

    Reply
  33. Linda Manns Linneman says

    March 2, 2015 at 8:41 am

    I love cook outs. It is so much fun to spend time sharing and eating good food. Thank you so much for sharing

    Reply
  34. Brigid OHara Koshko says

    April 22, 2016 at 5:59 am

    Great advice and very helpful especially now that the weather is getting warmer and we are able to eat outside!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. What’s For Dinner? says:
    July 4, 2011 at 9:07 am

    […] Having a cook-out for the 4th? Need Help? Let me help you Prepare for a Large Cookout! […]

    Reply
  2. What’s For Dinner? says:
    September 5, 2011 at 7:57 am

    […] Are you having one? Let me help you Prepare for a Large Cook-out! […]

    Reply
  3. What’s For Dinner? says:
    May 28, 2012 at 8:03 am

    […] having a cook-out today for Memorial Day. I no longer stress over big cook-outs. See my Preparing for a Large Cook-out to relieve some of your stress and have a great […]

    Reply
  4. Making a Home – Homemaking Linky says:
    July 3, 2012 at 7:03 am

    […] my mother. Only 10 people. lol Are you having a cook out for the 4th of July? Let me help! See my Preparing for a Large Cook Out post for lots of great help whether your having 10 or 20 or more […]

    Reply
  5. In the Kitchen with Linda - Dinner Menu & More! - Linda's Lunacy says:
    May 6, 2013 at 12:44 pm

    […] he’ll get some linguica at our Memorial Day cook out, Labor Day cook out, and a couple of other times over the summer. At least one time, he’ll […]

    Reply
  6. In the Kitchen with Linda - Linda's Lunacy says:
    May 27, 2013 at 11:39 am

    […] We’re having a family cookout today, Memorial Day. If you’re having a cookout, too, let me help you get ready. See my post How to Prepare for a Large Cookout. […]

    Reply
  7. What's For Dinner? - Linda's Lunacy says:
    June 27, 2013 at 4:48 pm

    […] Having a cook-out for Memorial Day? Need help? Let me help you prepare for a large cook-out! […]

    Reply
  8. In the Kitchen with Linda - Dinner Menu - Linda's Lunacy says:
    July 1, 2013 at 8:05 pm

    […] my post How to Prepare for a Large Cookout. I offer lots of ideas and help to help you prepare so you can enjoy the cookout, […]

    Reply
  9. In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu - Linda's Lunacy says:
    June 1, 2015 at 5:05 pm

    […] with the family. This was just some of the food. If you need help planning a cookout, check out my Planning a Large Cookout.  Don’t let the large deter you, you will be able to adjust my tips to fit any size […]

    Reply
  10. In the Kitchen with Linda & Dinner Menu - Linda's Lunacy says:
    September 26, 2016 at 9:23 pm

    […] basket idea worked great! If you are having a cookout, check out my post How to Prepare for a Large Cookout. You’ll find ideas, tips, and recipes to help you get ready for your next cookout. Whether […]

    Reply
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:16-17 NKJV



Keep Connected

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Subscribe Via Email:

<

Enter My Current Giveaway!

$50 Cash Giveaway! - ends 1/22 US

Plexus Breast Chek Kit

Take charge of your health! The Plexus Breast Chek Kit is designed for women to easily perform monthly self-examinations to help detect changes in their breasts.

Search



Archives

Categories

Designed By: Wacky Jacquis Designs