Once you have an idea of how many people are coming, you can figure out your barbeque menu. Keep in mind that you most likely won’t have access to a kitchen for most of the party and the food will be sitting out. So avoid picking dishes that will need to be refrigerated (and bring lots of ice coolers) or that can’t be mostly prepared beforehand. Make it easy on yourself; if you can do most of the work before the party then you’ll be able to relax and enjoy it as much as your guests. You can also go easy and cook up hot dogs and hamburgers, but why not try something no one’s ever seen at a barbecue before? All of our recipes below fit the bill for easy barbecue treats.

For appetizers, try Lobster Bites and Olive and Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade. For your main dish, a pairing of Tropical Coleslaw and Can ‘Em Chicken will be a crowd-pleaser. For dessert, these Espresso-Chocolate-Walnut Brownies can be made ahead of time and taste delicious. And everyone needs a fun cocktail, so how about Flaming Lips Party Punch?