May 19, 2015
Make-Ahead Grilling and Get-Together Menu Plan
With spring finally on our doorstep here in the Midwest and summer knocking on our door, it’s time to start thinking ahead to all the holidays, seasonal cookouts, barbecues and get-togethers. I enjoy doing as much as possible ahead of time so that I can enjoy time with family and friends versus spending it all in the kitchen. Grilling is perfect for taking the mess out of the kitchen and keeping your kitchen clean. It also lends itself to some wonderful food!
Below you will find all sorts of delicious recipes and links for tried and true food that can easily be prepared ahead of time so that you can relax a bit and engage in some good conversation and fellowship instead of being MIA working on all the food prep. Take a peek at some of these recipes for your next get-together. Choose a main dish or two, add a couple sides, and a dessert and you’ll all be set for meal and Happy grilling and get-togethers!
MAIN DISHES
- Freezer Garlic Lime Chicken Kebabs via Happy MoneySaver
- Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Mustard Sauce via My Recipes
- Make- Ahead Grilled Pizza Crust via Kitchen Treaty
- Barbecued Chicken via Annie’s Eats
- Balsamic Portobello Burgers with Bell Peppers via Martha Stewart
- Coconut Lime Grilled Chicken via Living Well Spending Less
- Make Ahead Grilled Chicken for a Crowd – The Easy Way via Cook the Story
- Mojo Pork Tenderloin via The Girl Who Ate Everything
- Maple Pecan Crusted Salmon via Mel’s Kitchen Cafe
SIDE DISHES
- Make Ahead Layered Salad via The Pioneer Woman
- Black Eyed Pea Salad and Dip via The Garden Grazer
- Make Ahead Orzo Salad via Williams-Sonoma
- Caprese Pasta Salad via Chew Out Loud
- Honey Lime Fruit Salad via Mel’s Kitchen Cafe
DESSERTS
- Quick and Easy Sweet Pots de Creme via King Arthur Flour
- Peanut Butter Cup Pretzel Terrine via Real Simple
- Layered Cheesecake Jars with Fresh Raspberry Sauce and Ganache via The Cafe Sucre Farine
I find that the easiest way to keep track of meals that I want to make is to bookmark them or pin them on my Pinterest account, but most of the time I’ll print the recipe from the site and put it straight into my Recipe Binder. If I am putting together a menu for a get together I’ll gather the recipes I need and quick put together the menu and shopping list. I love make-ahead meals (I even have a section for it in my binder) because they allow for the prepping to take place ahead of time.
Need some ideas for menu planning? Just click on the images below!
