17 cookout recipes that’ll make your next backyard party a hit

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A backyard party gets harder to plan when one grilled main has to do all the work. These 17 recipes cover handheld burgers, wings, skewers, chilled sides, homemade sauce, a cold drink, and chocolate or fruit desserts, giving the table more range than the usual stack of patties. Some come together quickly near the grill, while others can be finished earlier and brought out as guests arrive. That mix makes it easier to keep plates moving from the first bite through dessert without turning the afternoon into one long kitchen shift.

Four grilled chicken breasts with dark char marks are arranged on a white plate, garnished with fresh cilantro.
Tender Lemon Chicken. Photo credit: Best Clean Eating.

Blueberry Pie

A close-up of a baked pie with a golden-brown lattice crust and dark fruit filling, viewed from above.
Blueberry Pie. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

With a flaky almond and coconut flour crust, Blueberry Pie holds four cups of berries thickened with lemon juice and xanthan gum. The recipe needs 30 minutes of prep, 45 minutes in the oven, and an hour to chill, yielding 10 slices. Let it cool before cutting so the filling stays in place. Add it to the dessert table with coffee or a scoop of ice cream.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Pie

Bunless Bacon Burger

Burger without a bun with green sauce.
Bunless Bacon Burger. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Built around ground beef, chopped bacon, caramelized onion, and garlic, Bunless Bacon Burger brings herbs and turmeric into a smoky grilled patty. The recipe lists 40 minutes total and six servings, with 10 bacon slices mixed across the batch. Shape the patties before guests arrive, then move them to the grill when the party starts. Lettuce wraps or a simple salad keep the plate easy to handle.
Get the Recipe: Bunless Bacon Burger

Juicy Portobello Mushroom Burger

Portobello mushrooms buns with burger in between.
Juicy Portobello Mushroom Burger. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Using grilled portobello caps in place of bread, Juicy Portobello Mushroom Burger stacks a beef patty with basil pesto, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and sesame seeds. It comes together in 15 minutes, and the recipe yields one burger. The mushrooms soften on the grill while staying firm enough to hold the fillings. Scale the ingredients for the guest count and assemble each burger close to mealtime.
Get the Recipe: Juicy Portobello Mushroom Burger

Burger Mini Bites

Mini burgers with parsley.
Burger Mini Bites. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Packed with grated zucchini, eggplant, cauliflower, carrots, onion, and minced meat, Burger Mini Bites turns a burger mixture into small baked portions. The recipe lists 50 minutes total and a yield of 40, with eggs and almond flour binding everything together. Their handheld size works well beside larger grilled dishes. Arrange them on a wide platter and keep napkins nearby so guests can pick one up while moving around.
Get the Recipe: Burger Mini Bites

Cold Green Bean Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette

A bowl of green bean salad with feta cheese, sliced almonds, red onions, and lettuce, served with a fork and spoon.
Cold Green Bean Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Crisp-tender green beans give Cold Green Bean Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette a sturdy base with romaine, basil, red onion, goat cheese, almonds, and walnuts. The beans need only a 2-minute blanch, while the recipe yields four servings. Olive oil, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, honey, and garlic powder form the dressing. Keep it chilled until the main dishes are ready, then toss gently before setting it out.
Get the Recipe: Cold Green Bean Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette

Fudgy Brownies

Best Fudgy Keto Brownies on top of each other with cupsicum on top.
Fudgy Brownies. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Dark chocolate and coffee deepen Fudgy Brownies, while almond flour, eggs, butter, vanilla, and sweetener build the batter. A tablespoon of Tabasco adds a mild heat at the end of each bite. The batch takes 30 minutes and yields 24 portions, including a 20-minute bake. Cool the pan fully before cutting, then stack the squares on the dessert table once the savory food is cleared.
Get the Recipe: Fudgy Brownies

Avocado Bacon Burger

A burger stuck in between avocado as buns.
Avocado Bacon Burger. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Instead of a bread bun, Avocado Bacon Burger uses two avocado halves around a prepared burger, bacon, tomato, radish, cucumber, lettuce, and cheese. The recipe lists 20 minutes and one serving, with sesame seeds scattered over the top. A barbecue skewer can hold the tall stack steady. Put this together just before it is needed so the avocado keeps its shape and fresh color.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Bacon Burger

Korean BBQ Chicken Wings

Grilled chicken wings glazed with sauce, topped with sesame seeds and green onions, served on a patterned blue plate with black chopsticks.
Korean BBQ Chicken Wings. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Coated in Korean barbecue sauce, Korean BBQ Chicken Wings bake with sesame seeds and chopped green onion for a sweet, salty, and lightly spicy party main. The recipe uses four wings, a half cup of sauce, a 30-minute marinade, and a 40-minute bake. Flip them halfway through so both sides cook evenly. Increase the batch for a crowd and keep extra sauce separate for brushing after the wings leave the oven.
Get the Recipe: Korean BBQ Chicken Wings

Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts

Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts cut into half.
Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Wrapped one by one, Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts pairs 12 sprouts with 12 slices of bacon or prosciutto and a layer of shredded cheese. The tray takes 40 minutes total, including a 30-minute bake at 400°F, and yields 12 portions. The bacon crisps as the sprouts turn tender in the center. Add small picks after baking so guests can take one without needing a plate.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts

Lavender Lemonade Recipe

Lemonade garnished with a lemon slice and lavender.
Lavender Lemonade Recipe. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Floral without becoming heavy, Lavender Lemonade Recipe combines four cups of water with lemon juice, lavender syrup, and three tablespoons of lavender. The recipe lists 10 minutes of prep and eight portions, followed by a 2-hour steep before straining. Pour it over ice and add lemon slices to the glasses. A chilled pitcher gives guests a cold drink between smoky, salty, and rich dishes.
Get the Recipe: Lavender Lemonade Recipe

Sauerkraut and Sausage

A cooked sausage on a sauerkraut plate.
Sauerkraut and Sausage. Photo credit: Tiny Batch Cooking.

Browned in a skillet before going into the oven, Sauerkraut and Sausage combines two sausages with three cups of sauerkraut. The recipe lists five minutes of prep, 50 minutes of cooking, and two portions. A covered 40-minute bake softens the kraut while it absorbs the sausage juices. Set it out as a warm side or double the recipe when the backyard table needs a more substantial option.
Get the Recipe: Sauerkraut and Sausage

Skewered Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Bacon wrapped brussels sprouts on skewers.
Skewered Brussels Sprouts with Bacon. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Threaded in alternating folds, Skewered Brussels Sprouts with Bacon uses nine sprouts and three slices of bacon or prosciutto across three servings. The skewers take 35 minutes total, with 30 minutes in a 400°F oven until the bacon crisps and the sprouts brown. Their built-in handles make them easy to pass around. Bring them out hot, since the bacon and vegetables are at their best straight from the tray.
Get the Recipe: Skewered Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Stuffed Mushrooms

Stuffed Mushrooms on a platter.
Stuffed Mushrooms. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Filled with a beef and bacon sauce, Stuffed Mushrooms combine 20 small mushrooms with celery, onion, garlic, tomato sauce, heavy cream, herbs, and grated cheese. Once filled, they bake for 20 minutes at 400°F, and the recipe yields 20 pieces. The small caps work as a substantial appetizer without taking over the plate. Arrange them in one layer so the cheese stays intact while guests help themselves.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Mushrooms

BBQ Sauce Recipe

BBQ sauce in a white bowl with a spoon.
BBQ Sauce Recipe. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Smoky paprika and Tabasco give BBQ Sauce Recipe extra depth alongside sugar-free ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sweetener, vinegar, and mustard. The sauce needs 10 minutes of prep and 10 minutes on the stove, with the recipe listing 10 servings. Simmer until the mixture is evenly combined. Keep a jar near the burgers, wings, and shrimp so guests can add as much as they like.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Sauce Recipe

Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Skewers of vegetables and shrimp on a grill.
Grilled Shrimp Skewers. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Alternating jumbo shrimp with red pepper, zucchini, and button mushrooms, Grilled Shrimp Skewers put 24 shrimp across eight servings. An optional olive oil, lemon juice, and lemon zest marinade adds another layer before grilling. Each side needs about 2 to 3 minutes over a fully heated grill. Move them to a platter as soon as the shrimp turn pink so they stay tender for the first round of plates.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Skewers

Tender Lemon Chicken

Four grilled chicken breasts with dark char marks are arranged on a white plate, garnished with fresh cilantro.
Tender Lemon Chicken. Photo credit: Best Clean Eating.

After a four-hour lemon and herb marinade, Tender Lemon Chicken cooks four boneless chicken breasts in a skillet for 14 minutes. Olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, oregano, and thyme season the meat from the start. The recipe yields four pieces, which can be sliced after resting. Fan the slices across a serving platter so guests can add chicken without handling a whole breast.
Get the Recipe: Tender Lemon Chicken

Chocolate Fudge Brownies

Chocolate Fudge Brownies sprinkled with sweetener.
Chocolate Fudge Brownies. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

More fudge than baked brownie, Chocolate Fudge Brownies combine butter, sweetener, sugar-free caramel sauce, cocoa, and vanilla in a stovetop mixture. The recipe lists 3 hours 25 minutes total and eight servings, with most of that time used for chilling. Once firm, the slab cuts into small squares with a long knife. Keep the pieces cool until dessert so they hold their shape on the backyard table.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Fudge Brownies

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