Whether you are the proud owner of a gas or pellet grill or just someone who enjoys good food, nice weather, and spending time with friends and family, there is nothing better than a summer barbeque for everyone to enjoy. As such, it is important to have a variety of items on the menu to accommodate different tastes and diets. 

Here are 5 delicious foods to serve at your barbeque: 

1. BBQ chicken

BBQ chicken is a classic cookout recipe. Unlike grilled foods, however, barbecuing involves cooking food for a long time, usually an hour or more, at low temperatures, so make sure you have your chicken prepared and cooking by the time your guests arrive. To make, coat chicken legs, thighs, or wings with olive oil and salt before searing them on the grill. When prepping the grill, be sure there is a hot side and a cool side. After searing the chicken, transfer it to the cool side, with the temperature reduced to low or medium low, and leave for 20-30 minutes. Next, baste the chicken with your favorite barbeque sauce twice, with 15-20 minutes in between. The chicken should be done when the internal temperature is 170 degrees fahrenheit or the juices run clear. Finally, sear the chicken again and serve. 

2. Grilled potatoes

Nothing goes together quite like meat and potatoes. Moreover, they’re a filling side or main dish for vegetarian or vegan attendees. However, there is no agreed upon “best way” to grill potatoes. For example, you may or may not choose to partially cook the potatoes before putting them on the grill. Otherwise, you can cook the potatoes entirely on the grill or wrap the potatoes in foil to increase their moisture and flavor. Either way, make sure your potatoes are well-seasoned and cooked through to ensure that your most versatile side dish is perfect. 

3. Grilled mushroom burgers

If you have vegetarian or vegan guests at your summer barbecue, it might be considerate to include a plant-based alternative on your menu. Grilled mushroom burgers, made from portobello mushroom caps, have a similar juicy, meaty texture to a good burger and, when seasoned and cooked properly, are just as tasty as anything else you might make on the grill. Most recipes for grilled mushroom burgers call for the caps to be marinated (you can find any number of appropriate marinade recipes online) and then cooked on a grill that has been greased with olive oil. When the burgers are done, serve them on a bun with the toppings of your choice and enjoy!

4. BBQ sticky ribs

Smoky, sticky, and delicious, this dish is classic barbecue food and particularly good if you want to make good use of a smoker, which is better than a grill for cooking large cuts of meat, such as ribs. There are a lot of different recipes for BBQ sticky ribs, especially for different dry rubs and sauces, but the basics are generally the same. Mix together the dry rub and apply it to the ribs before you cover them with foil and bake them. While the ribs are in the oven, make your sticky sauce, which you will then coat the ribs with before finishing them on the grill.    

5. Grilled veggie skewers

As much as an old-fashioned cookout is all about the meat, everyone can use some veggies as a side—not just your plant-based friends. Potatoes and corn-on-the-cob are great standbys, but if you want to get fancy, try some grilled veggie skewers. After soaking the skewers in water for 10 to 20 minutes, alternate veggies of your choice, such as zucchini, mushrooms, yellow squash, bell peppers, tomatoes, pineapple, or onions, on the skewer, brush them a mixture of olive oil and herbs, and then cook the skewers on a lightly oiled grill until the vegetables are tender.