17 Creative Cookout Food Ideas For Your Next Party

Summer holidays, outdoor gatherings, potlucks, and birthdays are just a few of the reasons you might decide to host a cookout! A classic cookout means burgers, watermelon, and other dishes you’ve been enjoying since childhood. But what if you’re looking to bring something a little more unique? Peerspace is all about helping people come up with creative concepts for special events! So think about using a few recipes from our list of creative cookout food ideas! 

1. Make a few chili dogs

Simple yet endlessly creative, chili dogs are an easy way to upgrade the hot dogs for your upcoming cookout. The chili is only the first part; don’t forget toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped bacon, and spices. There are as many ways to enjoy a chili dog as there are people at your cookout, so get inventive!

2. Hire a food truck

You might be thinking that a cookout sounds like a lot of work for you. Maybe you aren’t as confident in your grill skills as you should be! In that case, why not hire a food truck for the occasion? Food trucks make everything from street tacos to Argentinian grilled steak and can be hired for any kind of special occasion! A food truck can also be a part of the cookout rather than the main event. Have beer and dessert handled by the truck while you do the grilling.

If food trucks are what you’re thinking of, many of the venues on Peerspace like this outdoor garden event space in Charleston, SC, have arrangements with local food trucks or offer truck space for outside arrangements! 

3. Whip up some cheeseburger sliders

Cheeseburger sliders are a must-have for cookouts, game day parties, birthdays, and other events! You don’t have to settle on store-bought burgers, either. Not when it’s so easy to make your own sliders! The small size of cheeseburger sliders makes them less guilt-inducing as well since portions are easier to control versus a full-sized burger. 

4. Blend a batch of chili crisp yogurt dip

Cookout food ideas that are quick and simple are some of our favorite recipes to share. This two-ingredient chip dip might be at the top of the list of easy yet incredibly delicious options! All you need to do is bring together chili crisp oil and yogurt for an instant dip that’s spicy, savory, and salty, all at once. You might add a little garlic powder, black pepper, or other seasonings if you think the dip could use a little extra something.

Need some activities to liven up your cookout? Then you’ll love these fun adult outdoor party games for your next BBQ!

5. Arrange an artful chips and dip board

Is it really a cookout if you don’t serve chips and dip? You don’t have to stick to a big, boring bowl, though. Get a little fancy with a chips and dip food board! Food boards are incredible for showing off a variety of items at the same time. You can mix in batches of blue corn tortilla chips, kettle-cooked potato chips, Cheetos, and more. Along with multiple kinds of dip like guac and queso for everyone to enjoy!

6. Remember the vegetarians with portobello mushroom burgers

Don’t forget to include vegetarians and vegans in your guest list when building a menu of cookout food ideas! Portobello mushroom burgers are a dish that’s ideal for this kind of event since they cook just like burgers. The caps are best marinated for at least 30 minutes but you can season and grill them directly if you don’t have the time. Even if your guests don’t want a portobello-only burger, the mushroom caps can be cut into strips for hamburger toppings as well! 

7. Mix and match a french fry board

You might be surprised to learn that you can truly get creative with something as familiar as french fries. Food boards make that possible since you will have loads of space to include multiple kinds of fries! Curly fries, waffle cut, shoestring, and steak fries…And then there are tater tots and sweet potato fries. With multiple dipping sauces for folks to enjoy! 

8. Try something new with a peach chiffon pie

The fluffy, airy quality of a peach chiffon pie makes it a delightful dessert to include as a creative cookout food idea. It’s a dish everyone will be amazed to hear you’ve made yourself since it looks like something straight from the baking aisle! Meringue has a soft texture that contrasts wonderfully with the peaches, pie crust, and other texture elements. You might want to make two since a peach chiffon pie won’t last long at the snack table! 

9. Celebrate summer colors with a cucumber peach basil salad

Cool and crunchy, a summer salad offers a refreshing break from the heavy dishes a cookout tends to focus on. Cucumbers and peaches are two flavors that you’ve likely never tried together. But once you do, you’ll never keep them apart. This fruit salad looks beautiful as well, adding a splash of color to the dinner table!

10. Go healthy with grilled zucchini with lemon salt

Merge the earthiness of zucchini with the zesty flavors of lemon and salt as a creative cookout food idea! Cookouts can feel a bit meat and starch-heavy. So bring some balance to the picnic table with some grilled lemon salt zucchini alongside the burgers! It only takes 10-15 minutes of grilling to heat each zucchini stick to perfection. Sprinkle them with salt mixed with lemon zest and you’re good to go! 

11. Bake some saucy + crispy sriracha chicken wings

Buffalo wings are a party staple so why not mix up the flavors with a more creative use of sauce? Homemade sriracha chicken wings are guaranteed to vanish as soon as you place them on the dinner table. This recipe calls for baking over frying, resulting in less oil and mess to clean up. Yet you still get crispy, saucy wings that look as great as they taste. Best of all, they only take an hour to bake to perfection! 

12. Make a sweet dip with easy chocolate mousse

Looking for a dessert food idea that’s flexible enough to be used as a dip or eaten plain? How about whipping up some chocolate mousse? This easy recipe has just two ingredients and is on par with anything you’d buy from the store. Plus you can always make it better with some cinnamon, chocolate chips, or other ingredients! Chocolate mousse is a great dip for fresh-cut fruit, cheese, and other appetizers at a cookout party!

13. Try making some seasoned corn ribs

You don’t have to be a vegetarian to appreciate the amazingness of corn ribs! Doused with butter and seasoning, these rib look-a-likes taste incredible. This recipe calls for using the oven but you can grill them as well if there’s space available next to the burgers! 

While you’re planning your menu of cookout food ideas, have you also considered the party venue? Peerspace has outdoor cookout spaces by the hundreds! All you need to do is search for outdoor party spaces near you to find the venue of your dreams!

Planning a cookout for a birthday? Then you also need to check out these awesome outdoor birthday party ideas!

14. Serve Texas roadhouse rice as the perfect side

Rice is easy to cook but hard to make amazing. Unless you have a recipe like this Texas Roadhouse knockoff version, that is! You’ll first be cooking it in broth rather than water, which adds plenty of savory flavor. Most of the seasonings you likely already have in your kitchen as well. Boil and fluff; that’s all it takes for an instant hearty rice side for your cookout party.

15. Whip up some cilantro lime coleslaw

Coleslaw is one of those dishes that look far more intimidating to make than they really are. But why not get a little creative for your upcoming cookout? Don’t worry, you can still start with a bagged coleslaw mix instead of shredding entire heads of tough vegetables. But you can really elevate your cookout side dish game with the right seasonings and ingredients! How about a creamy cilantro lime coleslaw? 

16. Serve pimento cheese dip for crackers and veggie sticks

Few cookout dishes do as much heavy lifting as pimento cheese dip does! It’s a spread, dip, and side, all in one bowl. Best of all, it’s quite easy to make yourself. Pimento cheese dip goes great with crackers, bread, and vegetable sticks at the snack table! 

17. Bake some homemade cornbread

Cornbread is an American staple that everyone is sure to enjoy! Topped with butter or honey, you have a dish that goes well with ribs, burgers, and other classic cookout dishes. Since sweet versus savory is such a hot-button issue, we treat a middle path with this recipe. It’s sweet but not cake-sweet so you’re sure to satisfy everyone in your cookout party!

Cookout food ideas: conclusion

From burgers to potato salad, there are so many classic dishes that you expect to see at a cookout that it might feel like there are no creative options out there. Fortunately, we at Peerspace enjoy helping people enjoy good times with friends and family without excluding inventiveness. We hope our creative cookout food ideas have inspired you. And if you haven’t been here before, take a moment to browse a few of our party spaces near you for hosting your cookout or backyard BBQ!

Find unique event spaces for your cookout on Peerspace