With the warmer weather leaving us, you might wonder if you should say goodbye to your barbecue, but we’re here to tell you that you can throw an autumn barbecue.
You don’t need to wait for the sunshine or the high C’s (Celsius) when autumn is a great season for barbecues.
With the right preparation, you could be barbecuing all year round! And we bet you’ll find few people who would say no to an autumn barbecue. Read on for tips to help you host the best barbecue for this new season.
Cold season BBQ essentials
Our team has compiled a list of cold-season BBQ essentials to help you host a chill but cosy autumn barbecue.
We have:
- BBQ Handle LED Light– This BBQ Handle LED Light is perfect for those dark autumn and winter evenings, allowing you to keep the barbecue going as long as you want while staying safe. You get 10 bright LED bulbs, 2 adjustable angle lamp heads, and a touch-sensitive on/off button. Note: The 3 AAA batteries required are not included.
- Charcoal Starter– The cold weather can make it more difficult to light charcoal. If you have a charcoal grill, it is essential that you also have a charcoal starter. Put your charcoal inside the metal cylinder, light it and after ten minutes you’ll have grill-ready charcoal. Super fast!
- Dual Probe Thermometer with Alarm- Cooking meat to perfection can be tricky, but with this thermometer’s accurate readings, you’ll never have to guess when it’s ready. Simply pre-set your desired temperature, and the built-in alarm will notify you once your meat is done, ensuring it’s cooked just right every time.
- Grill mitts or gloves– BBQing can be risky, so to avoid accidental burns, always use proper tools and wear protective gloves or grill mitts when handling hot dishes, trays, or BBQ equipment. Our Outback BBQ gloves are made from heat-resistant aramid, protecting your hands while managing a hot grill or moving pans from place to place and switching between BBQ tools. Reduce the risk of burns by wearing our durable BBQ gloves- an essential safety measure for every grilling session.
- Grilling apron– To protect your clothes from spills and grease.
- Spatula– For flipping meats.
- Grill fork– So you never need to be too close to the meat. Also, for flipping meat.
- Tongs– Tongs not only protect you from burns but also make it easy to lift and flip meats and veggies, allowing you to safely serve your dishes.
- Extra fuel and fire starters for charcoal.
- Aluminium foil for wrapping and cooking certain foods.
- Plates, serving platters, and utensils are ready before you start.
- Cleaning supplies for post-grilling maintenance- don’t neglect the clean-up as it will extend the life of your BBQ and will mean your grill is ready for your next drop it like it’s hot BBQ party.
Note: this is not an exhaustive list, but it is a good place to start.
Once you’ve stocked up on our BBQ essentials, you’ll be all set to come up with a theme for your autumn barbecue party.
Come up with an autumn theme
Choosing a theme for your barbecue is a great way to get into the autumn spirit. Whether it’s harvest-themed or Halloween-inspired, tying your BBQ to the season will make it feel festive and inviting, encouraging your guests to get creative and fully embrace the theme.
Here’s how you can build your BBQ around one potential theme.
Harvest themed
Harvest is the time to gather crops, and your closest friends and family together. It spans from September to December, a time when farmers can reap the rewards of a plentiful summer which has allowed crops to grow. One wonderful way to celebrate this transition is by hosting a harvest-themed barbecue.
Harvest-themed decor
It’s time to bring out the pumpkins, whether real fruit or plastic, and embrace the vibrant colours of autumn: orange, red, and green. Gourds and squash can also serve as both delicious and decorative elements, providing a rustic touch (opting for plastic versions can be a budget friendly alternative and can be reused next year).
To add a bit of sparkle to your outdoor space, consider draping autumn leaf garlands across tables. Completing the look with small hanging lanterns on each table will create a warm, inviting atmosphere perfect for your autumn barbecue.
Costumes or themed Clothing
Invite your guests to dress according to the theme, here are some ways you can encourage people to dress up.
- A red, orange, brown and green dress code
- Pumpkin-themed clothing.
- Leafy accents: encourage guests to incorporate leaves into their outfits, whether through accessories, prints, or embellishments.
Keep things casual and cosy with jumpers, scarves, and beanies. These are not only fashionable autumn staples but will also keep you warm. As long as you layer up your clothes, there’s little reason not to get the BBQ out.
And don’t forget to hand the blankets out, after all, it is cosy season.
Autumn-themed BBQ dishes
Barbecues are all about the food, admit it, it’s all you can think about. It’s all we can think about.
Your guests will appreciate the effort you put into creating a few themed dishes. Since it’s autumn, a touch of pumpkin spice and the rich colours of red, brown, and green will help set the seasonal mood.
Here’s a popular recipe of ours that is filled with autumn colours and flavours: Skillet Sausages with Red Cabbage and Apples.
This recipe was made for those cold (but not too cold), autumn days when you need something to quickly warm you up. The best part of this recipe is that it is an all-in-one pan recipe so less washing up.
Another autumn recipe to try out is our Grilled Venison Loin with Plum and Ginger Sauce. The main ingredient in this recipe is the plum, which is a versatile autumn fruit, offering a sweetness that pairs beautifully with our more savoury ingredients.
Another known, perhaps the most known, autumn flavour is pumpkin. We have several pumpkin-based recipes as pumpkin works so well with a wide variety of spices and meats.
Here are four to try:
Whole Pumpkin Stuffed with Jewelled Rice
Grilled Onglet with charred spring onion and pumpkin seed salsa
Final thoughts
Throwing a chill autumn barbecue is a great way to celebrate the changing seasons, bringing together family and friends. Once you have your BBQ essentials and have come up with an autumn theme (but you don’t need a theme to throw a BBQ, you can barbecue ‘just because’ and have a few recipes in mind, you’ll be all set to host a chill autumn barbecue.
