No Tricks, Just Treats: How to Throw a Killer Halloween BBQ
Who says Halloween has to be all candy corn and mini chocolate bars?
October is prime BBQ weather. The air is cooler, the fire feels a little warmer, and there’s something about gathering around a smoker, grill or backyard fire that just feels right this time of year. Add a few pumpkins, some friends and plenty of good food, and you’ve got everything you need for a Halloween gathering people will actually want to attend.
Whether you're planning a neighborhood party, having friends over before trick-or-treating or just looking for an excuse to fire up the grill, here are a few ways to make your Halloween BBQ frighteningly good.
Give Your BBQ Favorites a Spooky Twist
You don't need an entirely new menu to make dinner feel festive. Have some fun with the names instead.
Turn pulled pork sandwiches into Pulled Pork Potions, ribs into Monster Ribs, smoked wings into Bat Wings, mac and cheese into Monster Mac, and baked beans into Witch’s Cauldron Beans.
Suddenly, the BBQ everyone already loves becomes part of the Halloween fun.
And yes, we fully support putting plastic eyeballs next to the serving dishes. Just maybe not in the mac and cheese.
Set Up a Backyard Boo-B-Que
You don't need elaborate decorations. A few pumpkins, string lights, hay bales and a fire pit can turn your backyard into the perfect fall gathering spot.
Set out blankets or chairs around the fire, create a drink station with apple cider and hot chocolate, and keep the food casual. Halloween parties are more fun when people can grab a plate, mingle and go back for seconds whenever they're ready.
For families, consider setting up a pumpkin decorating station or backyard costume parade for the kids while the adults enjoy some time around the fire.
Try This: BBQ Mummy Dogs
Here's an easy Halloween recipe that's perfect for kids, parties or a pre-trick-or-treating dinner.
You'll need:
Hot dogs or smoked sausages
Refrigerated crescent roll dough
Your favorite BBQ sauce
Mustard
Optional sliced cheese
To make them:
Heat your grill to medium heat.
Cut the crescent roll dough into thin strips. If you're adding cheese, place a small strip of cheese against each hot dog first.
Wrap strips of dough around each hot dog, leaving a small opening near the top for the "face." Don't worry about making them perfect—the messier the wrapping, the better the mummy.
Place them on indirect heat and grill with the lid closed until the dough is golden and the hot dogs are heated through. Keep an eye on them so the bottoms don't burn.
Add two tiny dots of mustard for eyes.
Serve them with BBQ sauce for dipping and watch them disappear.
J2BBQ Pit Tip: When you're grilling foods wrapped in dough, indirect heat is your friend. Keeping them away from the hottest part of the grill gives the dough time to cook without scorching the outside.
Let J2BBQ Handle the Main Event
Of course, there's an even easier way to throw a Halloween party. Skip spending the afternoon cooking and let J2BBQ do it for you. With J2BBQ To Go, you can load up the table with BBQ favorites without spending your Halloween babysitting the smoker. Pick up the food, bring it home, add your own spooky touches and take all the credit. We won't tell. It's perfect for neighborhood Halloween parties, family get-togethers, bonfires, football watch parties or feeding everyone before the trick-or-treating begins.
Eat, Drink & Be Scary
Halloween doesn't have to be complicated. Good BBQ. Good people. A crisp October evening. Maybe a costume or two. That's our kind of Halloween. So gather your favorite ghosts and goblins, light the fire and make this Halloween one worth sinking your teeth into. And if you'd rather spend your time enjoying the party than cooking for it, J2BBQ To Go has dinner covered.
