The 8 DELICIOUS & EASY New BBQ Ideas Every Student Should Try

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BBQ season is here! There’s nothing better than heading out with your mates and having a barbeque, but you might be tired of the same old recipes and simple bangers and burgers. There is great joy in putting out a varied spread and trying out new ideas.  

We’ve talked before about things to do in the summer as a student, and here we’ve got our taste-buds going with a list of our 8 favourite delicious and easy BBQ ideas that every student should try this summer! 

New bbq ideas

Preparation Is Key To A Good BBQ 

There are a few little tips that can help to make a summer BBQ go well. It doesn’t take a lot of hard work, but if you go in as prepared as possible, it will make things smoother on the day: 

  • Equipment choice – you can pick up cheap, disposable BBQs from your local supermarket. 
  • Choose good sides – A simple, tasty side dish that pops with flavour and adds a different textural experience to the BBQ will always be a hit.  
  • Make some sauces – A hot sauce to go with some chicken wings? Some cooling yoghurt as an accompaniment to a kebab? There’s more to a BBQ than just ketchup and mustard (though these still have their place for sure!). 
  • Think of the veggies – It’s easy to get carried away and only think of the meat when you are a meat-eater, but a few simple vegetarian dishes go a long way to helping take a BBQ to the next level.  

via GIPHY

New BBQ Ideas For You To Try  

Now onto some old and new delicious BBQ recipes for you to wow your friends with – they’re easy to make don’t worry!  

1. Easy BBQ burger 

As much as we say we want to give you some different choices away from the tired old burger and hot dog BBQ staples, they are always on the list for a good reason – they are tasty!  

Ingredients

  • 1kg of minced beef (the fattier the content the better for making burgers) 
  • 3 tablespoons of BBQ sauce of your choice 
  • 1 chopped onion 
  • 2 cloves of chopped garlic 
  • 1 tablespoon of salt 
  • 1 tablespoon of black pepper 
  • Burger buns of your choice 
  • Condiments of your choice 
  • 400g of tomatoes, cut into rings 
  • 3 large red onions, cut into rings 
  • Lettuce leaves 
  • Cheese slices (American cheese, Swiss cheese, cheddar slices, whatever you like) 

Method

  • Mix the beef, onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and BBQ sauce together in a bowl.  
  • Create a burger patty portion and roll into a ball using your hands, before flattening out into a burger shape. 
  • Cook over the BBQ for 10 minutes on either side for a rare burger, or between 12-15 minutes for medium. 
  • Place a cheese slice on top for the last few minutes so that it starts to melt. 
  • Build the burger by placing your condiment of choice on the bottom bun, followed by a burger patty, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and then ketchup or other condiment on the top. 

*You could make as many burgers as you like out of this recipe. The 12 cheese slices would indicate 12 buns, but let’s be honest, if you wanted to make one or two giant burgers instead, who’s stopping you?! 

BBQ burger

2. Burger Buns 

Your choice of burger bun and how you prepare them goes a long way to enhancing your BBQ. A bun topped with sesame seeds is always a good choice of burger bun, but whatever bun you buy, try to make them as fresh as possible, even buying them on the same day as the BBQ.  

Always heat up your buns on the grill, it helps to create that just-baked texture and the smell is amazing. A slight crunch on the bun, the soft middle, and the juicy burger patty within is one of the best BBQ experiences. 

Burger buns

3. BBQ Chicken 

This BBC recipe is simple and delicious. 

Ingredients

  • 8 chicken drumsticks/wings 
  • 3 tablespoons of tomato ketchup 
  • 2 tablespoons of sweet chilli sauce 
  • 2 tablespoons of clear honey 
  • 1 tablespoon of soy sauce 
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil 
  • 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar 
  • 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning 

Method

  • In a freezer bag, mix the BBQ sauce, ketchup, honey, chilli sauce, soy sauce, olive oil, vinegar, and seasoning. Squidge it all together until mixed and then add the chicken to the bag. Seal and squidge everything together some more. If you can leave it overnight, the marinade will get better and better the longer you leave it.  
  • Prepare the veg of your choice to go alongside the chicken. 
  • Cook the glazed chicken on the BBQ, turning it to make sure that both sides get that nice char and that it is completely cooked through. If you have extra marinade left over, you can baste the chicken as you turn it for more flavour. 
  • Add veg to a plate alongside the chicken. We recommend a refreshing, crispy homemade coleslaw. 

BBQ chicken

4. Classic Homemade Coleslaw 

This is easy to make at home and is the perfect side to a BBQ chicken dish or kebab, for sandwiches, burgers, and everything else you have on your list.  

  • There are different variations of coleslaw, but generally all you need is grated carrots, a shredded white cabbage, a diced red onion, 1 tablespoon of mustard, 50g of mayonnaise, 50g of yoghurt, 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar, and a few pinches of paprika to your taste. 
  • Mix all the prepared veg into a bowl, and in a jug whisk together the mustard, mayo, yoghurt, and vinegar. Season it to your taste, but the idea is that it is creamy and sharp. 
  • Throw the dressing into the veg bowl and mix everything together well Sprinkle dill and paprika over the top before serving. This coleslaw keeps for up to 3 days if covered and refrigerated.  

Homemade coleslaw

5. Smoky New Potatoes 

A potato side is a must when looking at new BBQ ideas. These smoky new potatoes are incredible when cooked on the BBQ. 

Ingredients

  • Halved new potatoes (800g to feed 8 people roughly) 
  • 25g of butter 
  • 1 crushed garlic clove 
  • Half a teaspoon of smoked paprika 

Method

  • Put the potatoes in a pan of salted boiling water. Bring to a simmer for 5-8 minutes and then drain.  
  • Toss in the paprika, butter, garlic, and a pinch of salt whilst the potatoes are still steaming. 
  • When ready for the BBQ, place the potatoes on some foil (scrunch up the foil to create a parcel with an open top) and sizzle in butter for 15-20 minutes until soft.

Smoky potatoes

6. Halloumi Kebabs 

A vegetarian delight from Ainsley Harriot, this halloumi kebab recipe can be prepped and cooked within half hour. 

Ingredients

  • 2 medium courgettes 
  • 1 large red onion 
  • 250g low fat halloumi cheese, cut into small chunks 
  • 16 cherry tomatoes 
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil 
  • 2 tablespoons of lemon juice 
  • 2 teaspoons of fresh thyme leaves 
  • 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard 
  • Pitta bread 

Method

  • Halve the courgettes lengthways and slice. Cut the onion into wedges and then thread the halloumi, tomatoes, onion, and courgettes onto skewers. You can prepare this in the morning before the BBQ. 
  • Mix the olive oil, lemon juice, thyme, mustard, and seasoning in a bowl to create the baste. 
  • Brush the kebabs with the baste once they are on the grill, turning often until the cheese turns golden and the vegetables are softening.  
  • Serve hot with pitta bread warmed over the BBQ. 

Halloumi kebab

7. Chicken Souvlaki 

Greek-style chicken kebabs are bursting with flavour and when you combine them with fresh salad and refreshing tzatziki, you are onto a winner! 

Ingredients

  • Boneless chicken thighs (as many as you require) 
  • 4 tablespoons of olive oil 
  • 2 teaspoons of dries oregano 
  • 1 teaspoon of dried mint 
  • 1 teaspoon of sweet paprika 
  • 1 teaspoon of coriander 
  • 1 teaspoon of ground cumin 
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon 
  • 4 crushed garlic cloves 
  • Half a large cucumber 
  • 200g Greek yoghurt 
  • Finely chopped mint 
  • Juice of half a lemon 
  • 1 crushed garlic clove 

Method 

  • Make the tzatziki in advance, the night before is perfect. Halve the cucumber lengthways, scoop out the seeds and then either grate or finely chop before combining with the yoghurt, fresh mint, crushed garlic clove, and the juice of half a lemon. Mix well and chill into just before serving. 
  • Tip the chicken into a bowl and add the olive oil, oregano, garlic cloves, lemon juice and zest, cumin, coriander, paprika, and mint.
  • Add some salt and black pepper to your taste. Combine well, cover and chill. This can also be prepared a day in advance. 
  • Add the chicken onto skewers before cooking over the BBQ, turning regularly to ensure the chicken is fully cooked. 
  • Once ready to serve, warm some pitta breads on the BBQ and build the souvlakia.
  • Add lettuce, onion, tomato, and the chicken pieces on top of a spread of tzatziki. A bite of heaven.  

Chicken Souvlaki 

8. New York Style Hot Dogs 

Frankfurters topped with caramelised onion, ketchup, and mustard. A street food classic. 

Ingredients

  • Large frankfurters – as many as you need 
  • Hot dog buns, split and warmed on the BBQ 
  • Sauerkraut to serve 
  • 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil 
  • 2 large, sliced onions 
  • Pinch of chilli powder 
  • Half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon 
  • 2 tablespoons of honey 
  • 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons of white wine vinegar 
  • 2 teaspoons of tomato puree 
  • Ketchup and American mustard to serve 

Method

  • Fry and cook the onions until they are golden and starting to char.
  • Add in the cinnamon, honey, mustard, chilli powder, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato puree. Simmer for 1-2 minutes, adding a splash of water if the onion seems too dry. Keep in an airtight container until the BBQ. 
  • Cook the Frankfurters for around 15 minutes on the BBQ. 
  • Warm the buns just before serving, placing the Frankfurters in the bun, spooning on the caramelised onion mix. Top with sauerkraut, mustard, and ketchup. 

New york style hot dogs

Sorry if we’ve made you crave these BBQ ideas, but they’re so simple to make and delicious.

Why not get together with your housemates and give them a try?! It is August after all guys, make the most of the heatwave and time off from uni whilst you can.  

Let us know your own personal favourite BBQ recipes for the summer @prestigestudentliving.  

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