The perfect Euro 2020 BBQ menu
Fuel your Euro match watching efforts with our brilliant BBQ recipes and party sharing plates to feed a football crowd, from sizzling skewers to winning sides.
Celebrate the UEFA Euro 2020 football tournament this year by throwing a barbecue party with a splendid selection of summer sharing dishes, drinks and sides inspired by flavours from across the continent. We've got everything you need, from juicy burgers and halloumi kebabs to fresh salads and finger food, so your guests won't go home hungry.
Our super-easy menu selection will allow you to spend less time slaving over the charcoals and more time cheering on your team. So whether or not this year's football ends up ‘coming home’, you can at least be sure that you've put on a feast of champions.
Big match bites
Kick off your barbecue feast the Aussie way by serving up some seriously meaty beef burgers stacked with cheese, bacon, pineapple and all the trimmings. Our scrumptious sweet potato, corn and polenta burgers make a great vegan barbie option, flavoured with cumin, chilli and coriander and served with a big dollop of salsa.
For an impressive centrepiece, treat your guests to melt-in-the-mouth Greek-style barbecued lamb with a cooling tzatziki dip. Or if you're catering for a smaller crowd, tantalise their tastebuds with beautifully tender pork belly slices, basted in homemade BBQ sauce and served in a bun with coleslaw and fries.
Free kick kebabs
Get fired up for the big match with some succulent Korean chilli, sesame & honey chicken kebabs. Covered in an irresistibly sweet, spicy and sticky glaze, these sizzling skewers are something to shout about! Or venture to the Middle East with our barbecued harissa-spiced lamb meatball kebabs. Serve these succulent skewers with flatbreads, tahini sauce, lemon and veg matchsticks, then scatter over some herbs and chilli flakes.
Combining fruit and veg with barbecued meat chunks on your kebabs adds flavour to the meat and keeps it tender. These pineapple, pepper & pork skewers are a winning combination, which kids will love. Our sizzling Spanish sausage, pepper and potato kebabs will also leave guests wanting more.
Hat-trick halloumi
The irresistible salty flavour of our favourite squeaky cheese is accentuated on the barbecue. Halloumi skewers are simply delicious when served with a sprinkling of oregano and smoky tomato pepper salsa. If you're feeling more adventurous, then thread your skewers with halloumi and butternut squash chunks, all marinated in deliciously aromatic tamarind spices. Dunk them in cooling tzatziki for a winning combination.
Veggie heroes
Treat your guests to a verdant display of vibrant, veg-packed barbecue sides, such as charred courgettes with runner beans and creamy ricotta, or score all five of your 5-a-day with a gorgeous dish of griddled veg and melting aubergines. Bring some colour with our salad-stuffed red peppers and give the skins a beautiful smoky taste by blackening them slightly on the coals.
We've got plenty of delicious vegan barbecue options, too. Marinate tofu slices in a delicious teriyaki sauce before placing them on the coals, then serve this spiced BBQ tofu on a bed of barbecued veg and scatter over sesame seeds. And who needs pulled pork when you can achieve a similar result using jackfruit? Cover this shredded meat substitute in a smoky BBQ sauce and stuff it into bread rolls for a mouthwatering treat.
Sizzling sides
This gorgeously smoky BBQ chorizo potato salad makes a substantial sidekick to your barbecue platter and can easily be doubled up to feed a larger crowd. Our sticky barbecue sesame sweet potatoes are also a treat not to be missed. Slather them in a mouthwatering glaze of ginger, garlic, soy and lime juice and continue basting while they cook on the barbecue, then sprinkle over some chilli at the end for a spicy kick.
Take your BBQ sides up a league by covering them in zingy lime, chilli & feta butter. This punchy condiment is perfect for melting over hot corn on the cob or a new potato salad. No barbecue is complete without a tangy coleslaw – our simple dairy-free version can be whipped up in a matter of minutes, so you'll hardly miss any of the action.
Breakaway breads
Even if you can't tear your eyes away from the screen, you can still take a few seconds to rip off a piece of this seriously moreish tear-and-share garlic & cheese bread. Our caramelised onion focaccia is another crowd-pleaser, with sweet flavour notes from the onion and a crunchy sea salt topping.
If you're short on time, our simple yet delicious homemade pitta breads can be prepared in just 20 minutes and frozen ahead of the match – then you can conveniently whip them out on the day and serve with a selection of dips. To speed things up, spruce up some shop-bought hummus by adding ingredients such as spiced cauliflower or pickled red onion & pomegranate seeds.
Footie finger food
Bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers make the perfect spicy snack and only take 15 minutes to prepare – the oozy, cheesy centre will be a massive hit. Our classic nachos also make a speedy crowd-pleasing snack. Make up a plate in just 5 minutes and load them with all the toppings you like. For more matchside munches, serve up our easy garlic croissant knots for a pastry-style version of garlic dough balls. Or make some super moreish mozzarella sticks, covered in paprika breadcrumbs and served with your favourite dip. We recommend spiced raita, classic BBQ sauce or smoky Spanish tomato & garlic dip.
When making a platter to feed a crowd, our sticky bourbon BBQ wings with a cooling blue cheese dip will go far – but be warned, they may disappear quickly! These barbecued mussels cooked in foil will also be snapped up by guests. Serve with a crusty loaf to mop up the creamy sauce.
Scoring salads
Watching the football shouldn't stop you from tucking into a delicious and light summer salad. Accompany your BBQ platter with a selection of colourful sharing plates which fans can help themselves to, such as our roast new potatoes and radish salad, fennel, roast lemon & tomato salad and charred nectarine & prosciutto panzanella. These easy dishes are bursting with delicious seasonal tastes and textures, providing a light alternative to more indulgent finger food.
Delicious drinks
With all the excitement, your guests will welcome the chance to quench their thirst. Prepare a big bowl of light and zingy summer punch by mixing elderflower liqueur, lemon and apple juice with vodka, sugar and summer herbs. Sangria is also a popular crowd-pleaser, and we've given this white wine version a peachy twist. If you fancy a touch of pink, serve up some refreshing frosé slushies or a classic fruity Pimm's with slices of strawberries, orange, cucumber and fresh mint.
Whether your team wins or not, raise a toast to their gallant efforts with some super summery cocktails:
Tequila sunrise
Cuba Libre
Woo woo
Mojito
Caipiroska
Daiquiri
We've also got several mocktail options for those staying off the booze, and any younger football fans:
Mojito mocktail
Watermelon lemonade
Driver's punch
Apple, elderflower & mint sparkle
Mint & mango iced green tea
Penalty puds
Few fans wish to go through the nail-biting experience of a penalty shootout too often, so why not flip the word ‘stressed’ into ‘desserts’?
Make this summer fruit & mascarpone tart for a centrepiece with the wow factor. It's deceptively easy to put together by layering puff pastry sheets with cream, icing sugar and sweet summer fruits, resulting in a giant millefeuille which is guaranteed to turn heads. If you're short on time, treat your fellow spectators to a fabulously colourful tropical Eton Mess. This exotic twist on an English classic can be created in just 30 minutes by mixing crumbled meringue with pineapple, papaya and raspberries, finished with a drizzle of thick, glossy coconut caramel.
To keep everyone cool and calm, serve generous scoops of super-easy fruit ice cream – it's quick to dish out and has to be eaten straight away, so you won't have to divert yourself from the telly for too long.
Score more football food with our match-ready recipes...
Big match recipes
Barbecue recipes
Sharing recipes
Summer cocktail recipes
Summer of sport recipes
What will you be serving for the Euros? Leave a comment below...