Learning how to host a cookout isn't really all that complicated if you throw in a little bit of planning and some flexibility. Overall, the entire ordeal is mostly about friends, food, family, and coming together to share in all that each has to offer. Regardless, you're naturally going to want yours to stand out a little in the sea of potential cook outs that crop up throughout the warmer months.
If you ask your friends how to host a cookout you will probably get as many responses as you have friends. Some people will tell you it's the food that matters most. Others will tell you it's the atmosphere. You can end up not knowing what to focus on and what's really important but spinning around until you get dizzy. Fortunately, if you just take it one step at a time you will find your way into this culinary host position.
Start with some menu planning. Most people will bring something, and if you have some really close friends you can even ask them to bring specific dishes that seem a little bit too far out of your culinary skills. The one thing you'll want to avoid is being forced to run between the kitchen and the grill. If you have something that has to be made on the stove or in the oven and you can't make it in advance, you're better off skipping it or asking someone else to bring it.
Decide early on if you're going to include alcoholic beverages as part of the cookout. Some people want to avoid alcohol like it's plague laden while others only want to attend cookouts with lots of grown up refreshments. If you're not sure, look at the potential guest list and try to deduce the number of drinkers from non-drinkers and let the majority win. Include a notation if it's going to be an alcohol free event.
Once you know what you want to serve (bear in mind that there are vegetarians, non-pork eaters, and glucose allergies among almost every group of friends) it's time to send out your invites. Ask for an RSVP so that you have an idea of how many people will be coming. A few people won't RSVP. Some will but then won't come. It's just the nature of the party.
Once you are all set up and ready for the final lesson on how to host a cookout you'll be feeling like an old pro. The main idea is to remember that it's really just about having a good time and being together. If something goes wrong it's not the end of the world.
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