20 Best Make-Ahead Cookout Recipes for a Stress-Free BBQ

Not all slaws are made of just cabbage! This make-ahead slaw adds extra crunch with sunflower kernels and broccoli. The simple dressing made of mayo, vinegar, and honey gets even better with time.

Get the Broccoli Slaw recipe.

SHOP SERVING BOWLS

These colorful skewers were made to be eaten alongside all your meaty BBQ favorites. Chop the veggies and assemble the skewers ahead of time so all you have to do is toss them on the grill when the time for your cookout comes!

Get the Grilled Veggie Skewers recipe.

This mix of cubed ham, cheese, crunchy bell pepper, green onion, pasta, and green peas gets even better as it sits in the fridge, marinating in the bright, creamy dressing. You can make it up to two days in advance, but be sure to reserve a bit of dressing for drizzling prior to serving.

Get the Bow Tie Pasta Salad recipe.

Although this bright salad contains avocado, it has a special ingredient that prevents it from browning—even when prepared in advance! The snap peas, cabbage, cucumber, and green onion stay crisp and green for up to three days, thanks to a lemon juice-based dressing.

Get the Green Goddess Salad recipe.

Don't waste time shaking up cocktail after cocktail during your next cookout. Instead, stash a batch of margaritas in your freezer! When guests get thirsty, simply give the bottle a shake, salt your glasses, pour, and enjoy.

Get Ree's Freezer Door Margaritas recipe.

SHOP GLASSES

You can't have a cookout without Southern potato salad! Make it ahead, and the creamy mayo dressing, crunchy celery, tangy relish, and chopped hard-boiled eggs will meld overnight in the fridge.

Get the Southern Potato Salad recipe.

This cool and creamy lemon icebox pie is a make-ahead dessert dream for any summer cookout. With a graham cracker crust and bright, citrusy filling, it's the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. Simply bake and chill in advance, then top with whipped cream before serving—no last-minute prep needed.

Get the Lemon Icebox Pie recipe.

Add a touch of elegance to your backyard BBQ with these beautiful veggie tarts. While best when enjoyed right away, you can do most of the prep work, like slicing the zucchini and squash and making the pesto-cheese mixture, ahead of time for this recipe.

Get the Easy Summer Vegetable Tarts recipe.

Making pasta salad with tortellini instead of your average noodle is a great way to bulk up the dish! While the cheesy tortellini, fresh mozzarella, black olives, sliced salami, and pepperoncini peppers are undeniably tasty when fresh, they're just as good when prepared ahead. Just make sure to toss it with more of the tasty sun-dried tomato dressing before serving!

Get the Tortellini Pasta Salad recipe.

Baked beans are a cookout staple, and luckily, they can be made the night before! Just remember to hold off on adding the bacon topping until you're ready to bake the beans, so it gets ultra-crispy. You can even bake the beans and freeze them, then thaw them in the fridge overnight and reheat when you're ready to eat!

Get Ree's Baked Beans recipe.

SHOP BAKING DISHES

This zesty appetizer doubles as a dip and salad! No matter how you choose to eat it, it can be made up to two days in advance. To keep things bright, sprinkle the mixture of black-eyed peas, black beans, bell pepper, onion, tomato, and jalapeño with fresh cilantro prior to serving!

Get the Cowboy Caviar recipe.

A crudité platter for a party is a no-brainer, no matter what season it is! Pair crisp, sliced veggies with this easy, make-ahead dill dip. It starts with a base of sour cream and mayo, plus pickle juice, dried dill, parsley, minced dried onions, and garlic.

Get the Dill Dip recipe.

Pasta salads are an ideal make-ahead cookout dish, as all the ingredients and flavors, like bacon, ranch, cheddar cheese, and tomatoes, meld together in the fridge. You can store this one for up to a day, keeping the bacon on the side until ready to serve to ensure it remains crispy.

Get the Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad recipe.

It may have BBQ in the name, but this is a smoky chicken recipe that doesn't involve the grill! Cook the chicken low and slow for four to six hours on the day of your cookout, or make it up to three days in advance, storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Get the Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe.

In charge of bringing a sweet treat to the party? This no-bake strawberry dessert, featuring a graham cracker crust, cream cheese filling, and strawberry topping, is just the thing! You can prepare and freeze the crust up to two days in advance and assemble the dessert for up to one day before serving.

Get the Strawberry Delight recipe.

SHOP STAND MIXERS

A refreshing cucumber salad is the perfect pairing for all those grilled goods! You can make this cooling salad up to a day before it's served, as long as you wait to toss in the fresh herbs until mealtime.

Get the Cucumber Salad recipe.

Looking for a cooling start to your summer gathering? Whip up a batch of refreshing watermelon gazpacho! Like your typical gazpacho, it contains tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, and onion, plus fresh watermelon. You can make this summer appetizer up to two days ahead of your cookout.

Get the Watermelon Gazpacho recipe.

Here's another make-ahead recipe that benefits from marinating in the fridge. The mixture of noodles, crunchy veggie bits, and creamy dressing will keep well in the fridge for up to three days when covered or stored in an airtight container.

Get Ree's Macaroni Salad recipe.

You can't have a proper backyard party without a variety of BBQ sauces! Whip up this white sauce, which starts with a base of mayonnaise and apple cider vinegar, ahead of time and serve it alongside any slow-cooked meat on the day of the cookout.

Get the Alabama White Sauce recipe.

This classic, creamy cookout side was made for prepping ahead of time. With tender red potatoes, a creamy, tangy dressing, and a fresh crunch from celery and dill, it hits that perfect balance of rich and refreshing. The best part? It can last up to five days in the fridge!

Get the Red Potato Salad recipe.

SHOP MIXING BOWLS