There are lots of ways to entertain large crowds of people. You can put on a show for them, make them play games, or just leave them to mingle. But the best thing you can do to keep a crowd happy is feed them. If you are planning to have a gathering of sorts and at your house but you know you can’t cook in the kitchen or cater, opt for outdoor cooking for crowd like grilling, barbequing or roasting on a bonfire.

The best thing you can do when expecting a crowd is to plan. In an ideal situation, the chicken or meat would be marinated the night before, a few side dishes should be considered and there would be a whole lot of drinks and chips to go around. Decide everything from the kind of sauces you are going to have to the number of chairs you will need. This way you can ensure that on the day of the gathering the only thing you will be doing is grilling and indulging in conversation. Outdoor cooking for crowd should not be something that is done in a day. Ease your stress by stirring up a menu the day before.

Barbequing is not only a great way to cook food for many people, but it is also one of the tastiest ways to make food. The possibilities on a barbeque are not as limited as one would think and there are many interesting things you can make.

Since you are having the get together outdoors, make food that you can eat with your fingers. Barbeque chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs are just some of the simplest and best things you can make on a barbeque grill. The first thing you need to do is to immerse a whole chicken in your favorite marinade, whether it is traditional barbeque sauce or a more refined tasting marinade. Blend the required ingredients and soak the chicken over night in the fridge. All you have to do the next day is to put the chicken on a grill and keep turning it until it’s grilled to perfection. You can do the same with steak. If you want to have barbeque steak you can repeat the same process as you would with chicken.

Burgers and hot dogs are what most kids and some adults will love the most. Whether you douse them with ketchup or mustard or eat them plain, it doesn’t matter. These two foods are a must have at any outdoor cooking gathering. They come ready made and can be bought at the store. If you prefer making the hamburgers yourself they are just as simple to make. Make sure you stock up on a lot of buns, tomatoes, onions, mayonnaise and of course meat.

Keep outdoor cooking simple but don’t compromise on the taste. It is essential to know how many people are expected, so that ingredients can be bought accordingly. The last thing you would want is to run out of food. Lastly, remember to be a good host and not be seen slaving over the grill the entire time. Learn to relax and enjoy your party. It will make all the difference.

Here are a few simple recipes:

Chicken Kebabs

Ingredients:

Extra-virgin olive oil

Fresh lemon juice

Onion, diced

Freshly ground cinnamon

Freshly ground cardamom seeds

Dried or fresh thyme leaves

Salt

Yogurt

Freshly ground black pepper

Freshly ground cumin seeds

Ground nutmeg

Paprika

Preparation:

Mix all the chicken marinade ingredients in a large bowl.

Add the meat to the marinade, cover and refrigerate for 4-6 hours, turning the meat occasionally.

Classic Hamburgers

Ingredients:

Lean ground beef/mutton

Minced onion

Breadcrumbs

Grated parmesan cheese

Finely chopped fresh thyme

Paprika

Egg

Cheddar or American cheese

Hamburger buns

Preparation:

Mix ground meat, parmesan cheese, paprika, egg, salt, pepper and minced onion in a large bowl. Shape into the number of patties you desire. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours. Grill patties over medium heat 4-7 minutes per side or until burgers are done. Add cheese slices to each burger one minute before cooking is completed. If you want you can toast the buns on the grill, open side down, about 30 seconds. Serve the hamburgers with buns, and let the guests decide which toppings and condiments they want.

Mark Perry

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