Summer BBQ template
Summer BBQ Potluck Template & Sign-Up Sheet
A backyard cookout where the grill's covered, the sides aren't all potato salad, and somebody remembered the ice.
Typical size
10–25 guests
How much food
Plan about a third to a half pound of grillables per adult, two or three sides, and more drinks and ice than you think you need. Run the numbers.
The sign-up sheet
A balanced starting point — adjust to taste, then let guests claim what they'll bring from one link.
On the grill
- Burgers and buns
- Hot dogs or brats, with buns
- Chicken (thighs travel best)
- Veggie burgers or portobello caps
- Corn on the cob
Sides
- Potato salad
- Pasta salad
- Coleslaw
- Baked beans
- A green salad
- Watermelon
Toppings & condiments
- Lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles
- Cheese slices
- Ketchup, mustard, mayo, BBQ sauce
- Extra buns
Desserts
- A s'mores kit
- Brownies or cookies
- Fruit or popsicles
- A cooler of ice cream
Drinks & essentials
- Lots of ice, and a cooler
- Soda, sparkling water, lemonade
- Beer or seltzer, if it fits the crowd
- Cups, plates, napkins
- Bug spray and sunscreen
- Trash and recycling bags
Tips for a smooth summer bbq
- Assign the grill — and who owns and cleans it — before anything else.
- Double your ice estimate; it's the number-one thing cookouts run out of.
- Keep cold sides cold: ask people to bring a cooler bag in the heat.
- Put a vegetarian option on the grill so it's not just a bun and a tomato slice.
Turn this into a real sign-up.
Share one link, let guests claim a dish, and skip the duplicate casseroles. Your first gathering's free.