How to Host a Memorial Day BBQ Without Breaking a Sweat

Memorial Day is just a few days away, marking another year of freedom and a chance to honor those who made it possible! For many, we celebrate this day with food, friends, and plenty of outdoor fun—but as the host, it can quickly get chaotic, leaving you with little time to focus on what the day is really about.

But that’s why we’re sharing some of our best tips to keep your Memorial Day simple and stress-free! Just follow this guide for a casual yet patriotic gathering that minimizes prep and clean-up without looking like you cut corners. (You’re welcome.)

Decorating for the Day

You can come up with many patriotic themes for your BBQ, but we recommend leaning into the classic red, white, and blue. It’s festive, simple, and easy to find plenty of decorations!

Set the foundation by covering your outdoor tables with checkered tablecloths in red, white, and blue for a gorgeous pop of patriotic color. But don’t stop there! Hang streamers and paper fans in the trees (or off your porch), or drape some flag bunting from your railings. And if you plan for your party to go into the night, don’t forget some patriotic string lights for a simple but impactful touch.

BBQ Must-Haves to Host Like a Pro

Keep things simple by dishing up piles of burgers, hot dogs, and buns on plastic serving trays. They’re the perfect middle ground between cheap-looking paper and breakable dishes because they look nice but aren’t at risk from unsupervised kids or tipsy guests. You can also use these for sides and desserts. As a bonus, plastic trays are a breeze to clean up, making your life easy.

We recommend leaning into the simplicity with plastic tongs, too. They offer a hassle-free, sanitary serving solution for burgers, hot dogs, and more. They’re easy to clean and reuse, but you can also throw them away without feeling bad at the end of the day.

And, of course, you can’t go wrong with plastic tableware and disposable napkins in patriotic colors. They’re basically synonymous with outdoor events, and once again, they’ll make your post-party work almost nonexistent.

Create a Crowd-Pleasing Snack Bar

Want your party to feel extra special without the work? A patriotic snack bar or dessert station is the perfect solution! Grab some snack boxes in red, white, and blue, and fill them with popcorn, chips, candy, chocolate-covered pretzels, or whatever you like for a cute but functional setup. Be sure to have some plastic tongs handy to keep germs at bay, as well as small plates or bowls for people to grab their treats and go.

Keep Things Chill with Drinks & Shade

Memorial Day can get pretty toasty, so be sure you have some good ways for your guests to cool down and stay hydrated.

Large umbrellas or pop-up tents are great ways to provide shade if your yard doesn’t have trees. They can also create cool spots for hydration stations with bottled water and Gatorade in a cooler. Of course, you can also have soda and alcohol, but be sure to include options that will help rehydrate your guests.

If you want to serve more than water and canned drinks at your BBQ, consider some big-batch options like lemonade, iced tea, or even mocktails and cocktails. Whip them up in bulk and serve in a large beverage dispenser to keep serving and refills easy.

Making Cleanup Easy

We already regaled the convenience of plastic everything, but you can make cleanup even easier with a few helpful “hints” for your guests. Set out trash bags and recycling bins where guests can easily dispose of their waste, rather than leaving it on the lawn or tables.

If you use reusable silverware, plates, etc., create “dirty zones” where guests can scrape and stack their plates, and a tray or bin for used silverware. This will make it so easy for you to grab everything at the end of the day and keep your party space cleaner while the celebration is still going.

But the most important thing to do…is relax and enjoy the day! No matter how much effort you’ve put into the day, you’ve earned some chill town just by hosting. So do what you can to prep ahead, keep it simple, and make sure you step away from the responsibilities to make some memories and focus on what the day is truly about.