As the temperature outside continues to rise during summer, so does the need to hang out with friends and kick back, care-free, in the outdoors.
And nothing yells summer quite like throwing the ultimate BBQ that’s got everything you could possibly want, from great friends to great food.
The U.S. is known as the BBQ master, and rightly so. After all, we’ve got the climate and the supplies to make it the highlighted activity of the season.
But, there’s more to throwing the perfect summer BBQ than just having the right amount of hot dogs and beers. To help you step up your game, we here at World of Weed have put together this guide to the ultimate summer backyard BBQ.
From food and drinks to music and decor, you’re going to want to read this guide before firing up that grill.
Here are our top 10 tips for ensuring you throw the perfect summer BBQ:
10 Surefire Summer BBQ Tips
The Food
01. Grilled Dishes
It’s pretty hard to have a summer BBQ without any of the delicious grilled dishes that usually come with it!
Now, whether you’re having an afternoon BBQ or a full backyard summer party with a grill and some beers, grilling is an activity that remains at the center of these types of events.
The problem?
Slow-cooked awesomeness can take HOURS, and often requires quite a bit of preparation on the host’s part. Sometimes, it can even take all day.
Fortunately, there are ways for it to only take a fraction of that time while still tasting mind-blowingly amazing.
Here’s how:
First, you’re going to want to pick out as many skirt steaks as necessary to serve everyone. They may have lots of connective tissue, but skirt steaks are incredibly flavorful when cooked super fast on a super hot grill. You can even cook it directly on the coals! Just be sure to slice it against the grain.
You can shave time off as well by marinating your meat ahead of time. This is a great way to infuse some added flavor into your dishes – – as well as take your summer BBQ to a whole new level.
Whip together a cannabis-infused marinade in advance to save time on the day of your BBQ, as well as to give the mixture time to saturate the meat. Most marinades take about 6 to 12 hours of covered refrigeration in order to be as effective as possible.
Adding some kiwi to the mix will tenderize the meat, thanks to an enzyme that breaks down proteins, as well as add some unique flavors.
Cannabis-Kiwi Skirt Steak
1 or 2 kiwis – sliced
1 Skirt steak
1 cup oil, beer, or other marinade base
½ cup Cannabutter – melted
2 tsp garlic powder
4 cloves of garlic – mashed
Salt & pepper
Melt the cannabutter in a saucepan on LOW heat, being careful to not heat it too much. This will burn the THC out of the cannabutter, defeating the purpose. Once the cannabutter is all melted, add the mashed garlic cloves, salt, pepper, and the garlic powder. Stir until everything is totally mixed together. Set aside.
Heat the oil or marinade base in a frying pan, add the garlic-cannabutter mixture, and stir for 30 to 60 secs. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Combine the kiwi slices and marinade mix in a Ziploc bag. Add the steak to the bag. (Alternatively, swap the bag out for a bowl covered with plastic wrap.)
Put the bag in the fridge for a minimum of 6 hours — preferably overnight until it’s time to grill.
When you do grill it, wait about five minutes after removing the steak from the grill. This will allow the marinade and juices to really settle down into the meat, and for the meat to reach peak tenderness while the temperature balances out.
Take a super fat, milky bong rip and dive into your stoner-approved skirt steak!
BONUS: How to Cook With RSO
02. Desserts + Snacks
From cookies to candies, sweets are a favorite part of any summer BBQ. This year? Really elevate your guests with some cannabis-infused desserts and snacks that are just far too good to pass up.
We suggest:
Bon Bombs Caramel 100mg by Verdelux
CBD Dark Chocolate 10mg by Evergreen Herbal
Dark Chocolate 50mg by Silica Phoenix
Peanut Butter Cookies by Journeyman
Gluten Free Snickerdoodle 30mg by Green Baker
Coconut Snowballs 100mg by Honu
The Beverages
You can’t have a food without beverages, so you’re going to want to make sure you’ve got plenty of tasty drinks available for all of your guests.
You can save time and money by asking guests to bring their own drinks (especially alcohol), or just ask people to chip in.
While regular soda, iced teas, and beers are pretty standard when it comes to summer BBQ drinks, the options don’t end there.
Set out some cannabis-infused sodas, lemonades, and other drinks for your guests – – they’re guaranteed to make your friends love your BBQ even more!
If you want to quench your friends’ thirst in a big, BIG way, try:
03. Lemonade
When it comes to throwing the perfect summer BBQ, nothing beats the classic simplicity of a good glass of lemonade.
Adding cannabis to the equation only makes things better!
There are several cannabis producers that make outstanding lemonades in a whole range of strengths, but they aren’t always the easiest to find.
And buying enough for a summer BBQ is going to put quite a strain on your wallet.
Instead, follow this recipe for a simple (yet potent!) cannabis lemonade using your go-to or favorite tincture.
Cannabis Lemonade
6 cups water
2 cups lemon juice (roughly 8 to 10 lemons)
1 cup granulated sugar
150mg cannabis tincture
Pour the lemon juice into a large pitcher, strained if you are using fresh-squeezed juice.
Add the sugar. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved, using warm water if you want it to dissolve faster.
Add the tincture and stir until completely mixed in.
Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours, and serve chilled with lemon slices to garnish and flavor.
NOTE: Make sure you double-check the strength of the cannabis tincture you are using. This recipe yields 25mg of THC per cup of lemonade, provided the tincture was 150mg.
04. Sodas
Not everyone is going to want to drink plain water, just as they don’t to drink beer. Regular soda is obviously great. However, there’s something to be said for cannabis-infused sodas.
We suggest:
Root Beer 100mg by Evergreen Herbal
Blaze American Cola 200mg by Evergreen Herbal
The Fun
Summer barbecues are, by far, some of the most low-key types of parties you can possibly throw. And, it’s thanks to that low-key attitude that planning a summer BBQ for your backyard can absolutely be as easy as it looks.
05. Have options for smoking
This serves a couple of different purposes: (1) There will be something available for everyone, so all of your guests are bound to have a chill time, and (2) You can make sure everyone’s in a good mood – even those who didn’t toke up before coming. And, while passing some blunts around is a great choice, there are some other things you can offer to make your summer BBQ a bit more interesting.
We suggest:
Bongs + Pipes
Grinder(s)
Jars of weed you want to share
Dab rig
Blunts + joints
Edibles (see above)
06. Summer marijuana strains
When it comes to summer flavors and aromas, there are certain strains that really stand out above the rest.
Try offering your guests:
- Strawberry Banana by Good Earth
- Mimosa #26 by Exotikz
- Wedding Cake by Hemp Kings
- Granddaddy Purple by Bota Buds
07. Fun activities
Having some weed and great food is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to throwing the perfect summer BBQ.
You also need to keep all of your guests entertained, and to make sure they’re having fun.
This could mean projecting a movie onto the side of your house, cranking up the music, and even having some games going on.
There are numerous options, including dab challenges or seeing who can roll the most creative blunts.
Stoners get creative, so get inspired with fun stoner activities for your summer!
08. Be prepared
One of the biggest things that ruins that a great summer BBQ is having an issue with the grill. So, it’s important to make sure you’re prepared and can avoid having this happen after all of your guests have the munchies!
Have enough cooking fuel. This is HUGE.
If you’re using a charcoal grill, the rule of thumb is about a full chimney amount for cooking on high heat (burgers, dogs, etc.). On the other hand, thicker cuts of meat (steaks) require only a quarter of that. If you’re using gas, there are some apps and devices available that will sync with your phone and alert you to when your propane level is low.
Have enough ice. And then get some more.
This one may seem obvious, but it’s also one of the most common obstacles that pops up to stop someone from throwing the perfect summer BBQ.
A helpful rule of thumb is to get one pound of ice per person, per hour that your BBQ is expected to be going for. The last thing you want is warm beer and soda. That would just be awful.
The People
09. Everyone should get along
One thing you absolutely want to pay attention to and double-check, or risk losing a shot at throwing the perfect summer BBQ, is to make sure everyone gets along with one another.
There are always people that just aren’t going to like others. However, if you know two people are currently having an argument or they have a negative history, it would be best to either invite neither of them or just pick one of them.
It’s hard to chill out, relax, and laugh the summer afternoon away when negative tension is ruining the good vibes. Plus, who wants to pass a blunt to someone they dislike?
Instead, pay attention to who you’re inviting and check that they don’t have any beef with one another.
The only beef your summer BBQ needs is the beef on the grill!
The Music
10. Good Music
It’s pretty hard to throw the perfect summer BBQ if you don’t have any music. It’s kind of like trying to row a boat without a paddle – – It just really won’t go over well.
No, your summer BBQ should have music that helps set the mood, keeps people feeling as uplifted as the bud they’re smoking, and that may even lead to spontaneous dance floor sessions.
When it comes to picking out the music, variety is essential. Create a playlist well beforehand that has plenty of different artists and genres, ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Throwing the Perfect Summer BBQ
These are our top tips here at World of Weed for throwing the perfect summer BBQ.
Good food, good music, good bud, and good people – – that’s all you need to throw the summer BBQ everyone will be talking about well past winter.
What are some of YOUR top tips for throwing the perfect summer BBQ?
Let us know down in the comments!
Disclaimer: Marijuana has intoxicating effects and may be habit-forming. Smoking is hazardous to your health. There may be health risks associated with consumption of Marijuana. Marijuana, in any form, should not be used by individuals that are pregnant or breastfeeding. Marijuana is intended for use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. This product may be unlawful outside of Washington State
