Backyard BBQ for 40 guests
A buffet-style backyard BBQ for 40: 6 dishes, about 828 g of food a guest (73.25 lb in all), 32 lines on the shopping list and around 216 drinks. 50% of the cooking can happen before the day.
- Dishes
- 6
- Food
- 73.25 lb
- Drinks
- 216
- Shopping lines
- 32
Sized by the planning engine
The menu, amounts and kitchen check
- · We set food for 5 PM — change it if your timing is different.
Menu for 40
To start
- Pickle and ferment tray2.5 batches · 50 servingson the day
Mains
- Veggie burger patties, griddled3.5 batches · 56 servingson the day
Sides
- Baked beans, one big pot1.5 batches · 30 servingsday before
- Elote asado4 batches · 32 servingson the day
Bread
- Cornbread, catering tray, sliced2.5 batches · 50 servingsday before
Dessert
- Campfire peach shortcakes with skillet biscuits8.5 batches · 51 servingson the day
About 828 g of food a guest. 50% of the cooking can be done before the day.
Shopping highlights
- Bacon lardons1.5 lb
- Citrus for garnish11 ea
- Corn on the cob32 ea
- Herb for garnish — mint or rosemary4 bunch
- Lemon9 ea
- Lettuce3 ea
- Ripe peaches35 ea
- Tomato9 ea
- Butter1.8 lb
- Cotija cheese1.3 lb
10 of 32 lines. The full list comes with the plan.
Kitchen check
Over capacity
The day-of cooking does not fit the day. Move dishes to the day before, cut the menu, add an oven, or reduce the guest count. The plan will not compress cooking time for you.
Checked against a starting kitchen of 1 oven and 4 burners — not yours yet. Seats are not counted here: the planner asks for your real number rather than guessing it.
Drinks and cost
- Drinks, all kinds
- 216
- Ice
- 120 lb
- Food, estimated
- $915
About $23 a guest — a planning estimate from typical supermarket costs, not a price.
Countdown
The BBQ timeline, condensed
2 weeks before
- · Invite guests and mention a rain date or indoor plan.
- · Check the grill: fuel, grates, tools, thermometer.
1 week before
- · Confirm numbers and dietary needs.
- · Buy charcoal or gas, plates, cups and bin bags.
2 days before
- · Buy meat, produce and drinks.
- · Make baked beans and cornbread; both improve after a night.
Day before
- · Marinate chicken, shape veggie burgers, make slaw dressing.
- · Set up tables, chairs, shade and a bin station.
Day of
- · Light the grill 30 to 45 minutes before you start cooking.
- · Grill in waves: hot dogs for kids first, chicken next, burgers to order.
Day after
- · Clean the grill grates while they are still a little warm.
- · Refrigerate leftovers that were kept cold; discard anything left out too long.
Other sizes
BBQ for more or fewer
Questions hosts ask
How much food for a backyard BBQ for 40?
About 73.25 lb of finished food, or 828 g a guest across 6 dishes, with veggie burger patties, griddled as the main. The amounts are sized by the planning engine and include a small margin.
Should a backyard BBQ for 40 be a buffet or a sit-down meal?
It usually runs buffet-style: guests help themselves, so not everyone needs a chair at once. Still count the seats you have; the planner never assumes them.
How many drinks for a backyard BBQ for 40?
About 216 drinks across the party, including alcohol-free ones, and 120 lb of ice.
How far ahead should I start planning?
Start 2 weeks before: invite guests and mention a rain date or indoor plan, and check the grill: fuel, grates, tools, thermometer.
What does a backyard BBQ for 40 cost?
The food in this plan comes to roughly $915, about $23 a guest. That is a planning estimate from typical US supermarket costs, not a price for your shop.
Plan my BBQ for 40
Tell us about your kitchen, your seats and anyone's food needs, and the menu, shopping list and timeline redraw around them.
Start planning