BBQ Party Ideas

Compensation was provided by Hebrew National via Mode Media.Does your heart race a little when you get invited to a BBQ? Mine totally does. Barbecue parties are the ultimate in afternoon hang outs. You need three things for a good BBQ: good food, rad friends and (hopefully) warm weather. And while being invited to one is awesome, I love to host them even more! Today I’ve partnered with Hebrew National to share my favorite BBQ party ideas. There’s nothing I love more than a grilled hot dog and a stress-free menu that will let you enjoy your own party. 

Hebrew National® All-Beef Franks are my go-to hot dogs. I used to buy whatever brand was on sale. And they were fine. But my neighbor, who often cooks for my kids, served us Hebrew National® All-Beef Franks one night and we were hooked. My kids devoured them (they were pretty indifferent to other hot dogs they’d eaten) and I loved the flavor. The all-beef hot dogs cost a little bit more than others out there, but the quality is worth paying for. And I feel really good about serving these to my guests. Throwing a party is more than just giving your friends a nice afternoon. As the host, you are responsible for caring for your guests from the moment they arrive, until they walk back out the door. Dinner is the perfect time to show them you care by serving them a quality meal. But that doesn’t mean it needs to stress you out! Hebrew National has your main course covered so you are free to focus on your other BBQ party ideas. Is it just me or is lemonade something that people don’t make for themselves very often? Homemade can be super delicious but who has time to squeeze all those lemons? Instead I opt for a pre-made version that uses natural ingredients. Then I add sliced cucumber to infuse it with a little extra flavor. The cucumber is pretty subtle but adds a special touch that your guests will really enjoy. You can absolutely make your own lemonade from scratch if that appeals to you. But don’t say I didn’t warn you when you get sick of squeezing halfway through your bazillion lemons.
A simple side salad is always a great BBQ party side dish. There are so many varieties to choose from but I usually stick with a basic romaine and iceberg mix. It appeals to all guests thanks to its mild flavors and ease of eating. I once overheard someone at a party complain about a spring salad mix because it had “hard” lettuce in it. I think they meant it was hard to eat but now that’s all I can think when I see a spring salad. Offer a few types of dressing options and you’ve provided a healthy option if any of your friends are concerned about their diet. I’m only concerned about getting seconds. There isn’t usually a lot of decor at a BBQ party unless it has a theme. An easy way to make guests feel special is by having some fresh flowers around. But you don’t need to get crazy with dramatic arrangements. Check your yard to see if you have anything growing wild that you can cut and place in jars. Or grab a few bunches of baby’s breath for your grocery store. Adding something living to your food table is a nice touch and makes the table feel like you put some thought in to it. Trust me, this is key for when you really decided to keep the menu simple and are serving chips straight out of the bag. (Which isn’t wrong, you just don’t want your guests to know you were being lazy). A delicious main course will keep everyone coming back to any party you throw. The smell of grilling meat is a sure-fire crowd pleaser. When you start with great quality Hebrew National® All-Beef Franks, your hosting job becomes that much easier. Because of their great flavor, you don’t need to worry about what to serve on them. They are great plain or with the old standbys: ketchup, mustard and relish. But what sets a great party host apart from the rest, is their creativity. People love to try things they haven’t thought of before. Set out some hot dog toppings and let them create their own hot dog masterpiece. One of my favorite flavor combinations is the BBQ chicken pizza (or tacos, or sandwich – I eat these flavors all kinds of different ways!). For this party I decided to skip the chicken in favor of Hebrew National® All-Beef Franks. I set out Hunt’s BBQ sauce, diced fresh pineapple, chopped red onion and fresh cilantro. You guys! So good. Your guests totally won’t be expecting this but they’re going to love it! The cilantro totally makes this! You can also add some red onion but as a host, you may want to steer clear of the onion breath…If they don’t want to be adventurous, that’s ok. They can eat their hot dog however they want. As their host, you’ll know that the are still getting a quality, flavorful hot dog. What are your BBQ party ideas? How do you take your hot dog?

What makes a Hebrew National kosher hot dog premium? It’s all about what make the cut (And what doesn’t). We’re choosy about what goes into our franks – we use only premium cuts of 100% kosher beef from the front half of the cow and then choose the best from that. No artificial flavors, colors, fillers or by-products. When your hot dog is Kosher, that’s a hot dog you can trust! For more summer fun with Hebrew National, visit facebook.com/hebrewnational.