19 Great Ideas For Big Summer Food Parties

1. Shrimp Boil

tastingtable.com

A one (big) pot dinner party! Corn, shellfish, and potatoes means you cover all the food groups, too. Instructions here.

2. Fish Fry

Iain Bagwell / myrecipes.com

Fried anything is a crowd pleaser, and fish is quicker than chicken!

3. Smoked Brisket Sandwiches

spicedblog.com

Recipe here.

4. DIY Hot Dog Bar

Jennifer Sbranti / blog.hwtm.com

Be as crazy (or as conservative) with the toppings as you'd like. Instructions here.

5. Pulled Pork Sandwiches

sharedappetite.com

Sure, you could make it in a slow-cooker. But, it's summer. Why not fire up the grill and get some of that delicious flavor? Recipe here.

6. Build-Your-Own Burger Bar

theseasidebaker.com

Instructions here (and, a good, classic burger recipe here).

7. Paella

Todd Coleman / saveur.com

Recipe here.

8. Whole Pig Roast

J. Kenji Alt-Lopez / seriouseats.com

Yes, you can do it at home! Instructions here.

9. Rotisserie Leg of Lamb with Potatoes, Fennel, and Olives

chow.com

If you don't want to go whole hog, this is another similar option. Recipe here.

10. Bo Ssam (Asian Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder)

kitchen72.com

Instead of turning on your oven, cook your bo ssam in a 300°F grill. Recipe here.

11. Bourbon-Glazed Baby Back Ribs

honestlyyum.com

A face full of barbecue sauce is the great equalizer. Recipe here.

12. Clambake

Jereme Liebman / bonappetit.com

Recipe and instructions here.

13. Tacos Al Pastor

J. Kenji Alt-Lopez / seriouseats.com

The greatest taco of all takes time, but it's so worth it. Recipe here.

14. Grilled Pizza

Faith Durand / thekitchn.com

Large-format summer mains are generally pretty meat-centric—because, face it, throwing a big piece of meat on the grill is just so obvious. But, vegetarians and carnivores alike always appreciate a pizza party. Instructions here.

15. Grilled Steak Fajitas

J. Kenji Lopez-Alt / seriouseats.com

Recipe here.

16. Steamed Mussels

rasamalaysia.com

Steam your mussels in a couple of batches (they only take a few minutes), and keep in mind that you'll need about a pound per person. Recipe here.

17. New England Clam Chowder

Todd Coleman / saveur.com

Even people who "don't like shellfish" will love clam chowder. Recipe here.

18. Grilled Whole Arctic Char

marthastewart.com

Perfect for a more sophisticated dinner party. Recipe here.

19. Veggie Kebabs

Paige Green / foodrepublic.com

A big hunk of meat won't feed every type of crowd. Recipe here.

19 Great Ideas For Big Summer Food Parties

1. Shrimp Boil

2. Fish Fry

3. Smoked Brisket Sandwiches

4. DIY Hot Dog Bar

5. Pulled Pork Sandwiches

6. Build-Your-Own Burger Bar

7. Paella

8. Whole Pig Roast

9. Rotisserie Leg of Lamb with Potatoes, Fennel, and Olives

10. Bo Ssam (Asian Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder)

11. Bourbon-Glazed Baby Back Ribs

12. Clambake

13. Tacos Al Pastor

14. Grilled Pizza

15. Grilled Steak Fajitas

16. Steamed Mussels

17. New England Clam Chowder

18. Grilled Whole Arctic Char

19. Veggie Kebabs

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1. Shrimp Boil

2. Fish Fry

3. Smoked Brisket Sandwiches

4. DIY Hot Dog Bar

5. Pulled Pork Sandwiches

6. Build-Your-Own Burger Bar

7. Paella

8. Whole Pig Roast

9. Rotisserie Leg of Lamb with Potatoes, Fennel, and Olives

10. Bo Ssam (Asian Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder)

11. Bourbon-Glazed Baby Back Ribs

12. Clambake

13. Tacos Al Pastor

14. Grilled Pizza

15. Grilled Steak Fajitas

16. Steamed Mussels

17. New England Clam Chowder

18. Grilled Whole Arctic Char

19. Veggie Kebabs

Need easy dinner ideas?

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