How to grill for 50 people?

[Anonymous]

If we are going to have about 50 people attend a backyard affair, what could we serve that can be grilled by one person for all 50 people? We'd be buying a new gas grill for the event, so we won't be experienced with how long it takes to cook the foods on that particular grill.

Is there something we could just partially grill in order to save time? We are worried that the cook won't be able to keep up with the demand for food.

Is there something that we could serve that would minimize how long it takes for the cook to grill everything? We don't want for the cook to not be able to enjoy time with the guests.

[Anonymous]

Dig a hole and cook a whole pig or buy a lacajachina.com instead of a propane grill.

[Anonymous]

I'd get catering from a bbq place. 50 is a lot of people, especially if they will be all served by one person using one grill.

Maybe Kabobs if you are hell bent on grilling?
Burgers and hot dogs?

[Anonymous]

Hot dogs and hamburgers. Hot dogs are precooked so you just need to warm them. Hamburgers if they are thin will cook quickly but don't cheap out on them and get the industrlial ones they serve at schools.

Skip toasing buns or putting cheese on when it's on teh grill. The cheese will met on a hot patty on the plate anyway.

Do hotdogs first so the kids can eat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd get catering from a bbq place. 50 is a lot of people, especially if they will be all served by one person using one grill.

Maybe Kabobs if you are hell bent on grilling?
Burgers and hot dogs?

Kabobs take way too long to cook. If you want ot go fancy, grill shrimp as it cooks quickly.

[Anonymous]

Burgers and dogs is the simple answer.

Anything else, and you definitely need to practice first. (You should probably even practice with burgers. I'd do Bubba).

You could make your own BBQ, but you would need to do that several days in advance, and get one of those little smoker boxes for the grill. However, you're not ready for that -- it takes some practice and lots of YouTube.

You could make a bunch of grilled chicken pieces ahead of time, keep them warm in the oven, and do burgers and dogs when it's time to eat. Watch some YouTube videos on the chicken. Familiarize yourself with rub. If you want a recommendation, start with Malcolm Reed's How to BBQ Right channel. He's so good -- don't laugh -- his rub is carried by Walmart now.

[Anonymous]

Agree. Burgers and dogs, no buns (on the grill). If people want toasted buns, you can do those in the oven inside.

You can also do barbeque chicken in the oven. Cook and then take the pieces out and throw them on the grill to get the grill marks and a little bit of char. If you precook in the oven, then they don't need nearly as much time on the grill. Alternatively, you can put the chicken on before the event starts, cook most of the way, put them back in a foil pan with foil over it. Then when you are doing the burgers and dogs, you can add the chicken to reheat, get grill marks and char.

[Anonymous]

Hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken cutlets, and shrimp (make sure to soak the sticks you put the shrimp on so they don't catch on fire). You need to have side dishes people can eat while grilled food is grilling.

Also, use your grill a couple of times before the event so you know how long it takes to cook things.

[Anonymous]

Skip buying a new grill and cater from Red Hot and Blue. Pork, brisket and coleslaw, chicken if you cant do pork. Call it a day

[Anonymous]

If you aren't experienced at grilling, I'm not sure I'd dive right in with 50 needing to eat.

I would cater this party, and brush off your grilling skills for smaller events (less than 10 people). Then work your way up to 50 people.

If you charge ahead, your grill master will be hot and stressed and probably not able to enjoy the party.

[Anonymous]

Grill for 49 then add a couple more hotdogs.

[Anonymous]

Don’t do this, OP. You will end up with lots of cold hamburgers and overcooked hotdogs and your griller will not have ANY fun at this event. They will be hot and frustrated and pissed off. Cater it or get BBQ as suggested by other PPs.

Inaugurate your grill at a later date with fewer guests.

[Anonymous]

Catering from a BBQ place (pulled pork, pulled chicken, etc.) tends to be pretty good and cost effective so I would just go that route. You can get all the sides, too, so all you would have to do is make some starters/appetizers and get dessert and drinks.

[Anonymous]

How big is your BBQ?

[Anonymous]

I just grilled for eight and it was okay but stressful. You would need several grills to handle 50.