BBQs might be commonplace in your home country, but for those who are new to the experience, we’ve put together a guide so you know what to expect for your first Aussie BBQ!
Culture and connection
‘BBQ’ or ‘barbie’ is short for barbecue, and refers to both the cooking appliance (usually either gas-fuelled or charcoal) and the event itself. This means that you can ‘go to a barbie’ where someone might ‘slip an extra shrimp on the barbie for ya’ — a saying made famous by this classic 1982 Australian Tourism ad.
You might think that a BBQ is just about cooking outdoors, but it’s so much more than that. A typical Aussie BBQ is a lively and communal event where everyone brings drinks and a plate of food to share, and people congregate around the barbie to chat while someone cooks. The structure of a BBQ is informal, so at the same time, others might be hanging out and playing games like ‘backyard’ cricket (a social version of cricket with more relaxed rules), bocce, or totem tennis.
Because Aussie BBQs are all about open-air cooking, they typically take place in the warmer months of spring and summer (September—February). If you’re wondering how to dress for a bbq party, just remember that you’ll be outdoors and active, so something comfortable and casual is perfect, like shorts and a t-shirt.
When backyard BBQ culture first started taking off in Australia in the 1950s, it was all about the meat. Nowadays, thanks to Australia’s multicultural population and proximity to Asia, the food found at an Aussie BBQ can be wonderfully diverse.
So, if you’re wondering what food to bring to an Aussie BBQ, it could be as simple as a tray of the humble ‘snag’ (sausage) or a bowl of coleslaw. But, there’s nothing holding you back from bringing a more adventurous offering — from European and Middle Eastern favourites like ćevapčići and lamb kofta to fresh Asian salads, fish, vegetables, or something from your home country — as long as it can be thrown on the BBQ or enjoyed cold as a side, anything goes!
How to host your own BBQ
If all this talk of barbies is making you hungry, we’ve got a few tips on how to host your own BBQ!
Get the right equipment
Let’s start with the barbie itself. A brand-new barbie starts at around $300, but thanks to the popularity of outdoor cooking in Australia, there are always plenty of second-hand ones on sites like Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree. When deciding if you want to go gas-fuelled or charcoal, be mindful that certain restrictions may apply to cooking with charcoal during fire danger season.
Alternatively, many parks and reserves have public electric BBQs, plenty of which are free to use! One of the benefits of throwing your BBQ in the park is that there is plenty of fresh air and space for activities. It’s worth noting that it is an offence to drink alcohol in public places, but you can always get creative and make some refreshing non-alcoholic punch!
Lastly, you’ll need grill tongs and a spatula for cooking, an esky to keep your food and drinks cool, cups, plates and cutlery, something to sit on (most public BBQs are also close to picnic tables), and something to clean up with after (check out this cool cleaning hack!).
You might also like to bring a small speaker, but if you’re having your BBQ in a public park, be mindful of other people around you and don’t have your music up too loud.
Bring a few games
Australians love the great outdoors, so it isn’t hard to find outdoor games in camping stores, department stores, second hand or online. We’ve already mentioned a few favourites like backyard cricket and bocce, but there are plenty of other goodies out there like giant jenga, Finska and croquet.
Delegate!
The beauty of an Aussie BBQ is that everyone contributes, so the host isn’t left to do all of the work. To make sure you don’t end up with 10 trays of lamb chops and no salad, let your guests know what kind of food you would like them to bring.
Looking for food inspiration? Check out these guides on how to cook BBQ ribs, how to cook BBQ corn, and even learn how to cook steak on a BBQ!
Stay refreshed
The common image of an Aussie BBQ involves cooking with a beer in one hand and a set of tongs in the other. If you enjoy beer, this probably sounds perfect, but if beer isn’t your drink, don’t worry, you can stick whatever you like in the esky.
Wine, bubbles, sparkling water and soft drinks are all easy barbie drinks, and there are plenty of impressive alcohol-free options that you can whip up for those warm summer afternoons.
Make friends with salad
There are so many things you can do with vegetables at a barbie! From veggie skewers and grilled potatoes, to a simple greek salad on the side, barbies these days are about more than just the meat.
@fooddolls This Greek Salad is the best! #salad #greeksalad #healthyrecipes #veganrecipes #easyrecipes #fooddolls
Try these classic Aussie BBQ recipes
When it comes to barbies, you can keep things simple and still enjoy a delicious feed, and there is no recipe quite as simple and delicious as the sausage sizzle – white bread, sausages, sauce and onions if you’re feeling fancy.
Chicken skewers, lamb chops, potato salad and a simple barbecued vegetable salad are a few other quick and easy options that are perfect for your barbie — and with these handy tips under your belt, you’ll be a grill-master in no time!
@cookwithmariyah BBQ Chicken Skewers ☀️
