We have just shared our tips for decorating a large patio table for a garden party and, in that article, we highlighted how the food and drinks you serve will dictate how you set the table.
It feels logical to follow that post up with a look at some of our favourite family outdoor dinner ideas, styles of outdoor cooking, and some recipe suggestions that are perfect for sharing at your garden table.
Hosting a family meal on the patio is a perfect way to enjoy the summer weather and create memorable moments with our loved ones. Our top 10 tasty family meals are perfect for sharing al fresco:
1. Classic Barbecue
We haven’t listed these in any order but felt we have to start with a good old family barbecue. You just can’t beat them when the sun shines and they are the perfect way to cook and share good food at our outdoor tables.
Barbecues provide a relaxed and enjoyable setting for families and friends to gather and catch up in your outdoor space. You can enjoy the fresh air, sunshine, and natural surroundings of your outside space. Cooking is enjoyable and the food, well, it just tastes better when grilled.
At Lazy Susan, we like to offer a variety of meats like burgers, sausages, chicken wings, and ribs. You can marinate the meats in different flavours to cater to everyone’s tastes.
Always offer a few veggie options too. Grill up some veggie skewers with bell peppers, mushrooms, courgettes, and cherry tomatoes. Grilled halloumi or portobello mushrooms make for hearty vegetarian or vegan main if needed.
Serve with classic sides like coleslaw, potato salad, corn on the cob, and baked beans. Provide a range of sauces like barbecue sauce, mustard, ketchup, and aioli to complement the food you cook.
Set up a barbecue grill (charcoal, gas, or electric, they all have their pros and cons) and get everyone involved in grilling the food. A classic barbecue is a casual and interactive way of cooking that always brings all the family together at the garden table.
Last month’s top summer 2024 BBQ recipes article compiles some of the Lazy Susan team’s favourite barbecue appetisers, salads, mains, desserts and drinks for your patio table.
2. Outdoor Pizza Oven
Our pizza ovens are the perfect way to share and enjoy authentic pizza at our garden tables. They can reach high temperatures quickly, allowing you to create a perfectly crispy crust and bubbly cheese, just like your favourite Italian pizzeria.
The Cozze is a portable gas oven that’s easy to use, with simple controls, quick heating times, and no need to fuss with wood or charcoal.
The team here at Lazy Susan love a pizza party. You can’t beat delicious homemade pizza. Cooking them outside creates a memorable outdoor dining experience and they’re great for sharing at your garden table with friends or family.
Like we did last summer at the Lazy Susan HQ you can set up a DIY pizza station where family members can top their pizzas with a variety of ingredients.
Offer toppings like mozzarella, pepperoni, olives, fresh basil, and arugula. Go gourmet and add some prosciutto, figs, goat cheese, and truffle oil. This style of cooking allows everyone to customise their meal and enjoy it at the garden table.
Our favourite new recipes for the Cozze Pizza Oven article shares some of the creative pizza toppings we’ve been enjoying this summer.
3. Mediterranean Feast
We may not have the climate but we can certainly bring the flavours to our gardens. Mediterranean cuisine offers a wide range of delicious dishes that cater to various tastes and dietary preferences.
It’s a feast, so be sure to incorporate lots of fresh, seasonal produce from local markets or farm shops to add a touch of authenticity and sustainability to your meal.
Tapas-style sharing plates are a great way to encourage conversation and interaction, while the garden table setting provides a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for a leisurely family meal.
Small, flavourful dishes like olives, patatas bravas, and gambas al ajillo are always great for sharing. Pair them with fresh salads like a classic Greek salad or fattoush.
Pair a selection of small mezze-style dishes such as hummus, baba ghanoush, tzatziki, and falafel with grilled kebabs, fish, and freshly cooked flatbreads
Kebabs can be grilled over an open flame or on a barbecue but the key is to serve the tapas/mezze platters on the table for a communal, sharing-style meal that encourages everyone to mix and match what they want.
There are loads of great recipes on YouTube but we would recommend you start with Peter's Food Adventures. His Greek Meze Dinner Party has some fab recipes for Chicken Souvlaki, freshly baked Spanakopita, Taramasalata, Fried Saganaki, Tzatziki, and much more:
4. Garden Table Paella
A follow-on from the above where it could be part of the feast but also just a great hearty meal on its own that’s perfect for families to share at the garden table is a seafood paella.
This classic Spanish dish is traditionally made with rice, saffron, mussels, prawns, and calamari, but you can also make a modern-style mixed paella with chicken, chorizo, and any seafood you like.
You could even do a veggie version with artichokes, bell peppers, peas, and beans. Serve with a simple green salad and crusty bread.
Paella is traditionally cooked in a large, shallow pan over an open flame, and you can buy some fab portable gas paella sets from places like Amazon. This is a great dish for feeding a crowd and can be cooked in the garden while you and the family catch up.
If you need a traditional recipe, then our go-to is Spain on a Fork’s authentic seafood paella.
5. Build-Your-Own Tacos
Tacos are another fantastic choice for a family meal to share at the garden table in summer. Everyone can create their own perfect taco, ensuring everyone is happy.
They’re a relaxed and informal meal, perfect for getting stuck in. There’s a wide variety of flavours and textures, from spicy to mild, and crunchy to soft. Plus, the fillings can be prepared ahead of time, making it a stress-free meal.
Assembling tacos is a fun hands-on experience for the whole family. Just remember to have plenty of napkins on hand to clean up any messy spills!
When we do taco day, we like to offer a host of fillings such as grilled chicken, beef, and fish, or a vegetarian option like black beans or roasted vegetables.
You can prepare the taco fillings in the kitchen or on your barbecue grill, and then let everyone assemble their own.
In the centre of your garden table, set out bowls of guacamole, salsa, sour cream, cheese, lettuce, and pickled onions, and serve with a bowl of spicy Mexican rice, refried beans, and corn salad.
If you need a little inspiration, then the video below from professional chef Saúl Montiel on Epicurious demonstrates how to make the best classic Mexican chicken tacos:
6. Cajun-Style Seafood Cookout
If you live close to the sea like many of the team here at Lazy Susan, then a seafood cookout in your garden is a great way to bring the family together.
Choosing the right seafood is key and, of course, it has to be freshly caught. Consider your family's preferences but some of the things we like to cook include shrimp, salmon, scallops, and crab.
Ensure your barbecue grill is clean and preheated to the appropriate temperature. Then just keep it simple. Opt for dishes that are easy to prepare and serve. Grilled seafood with lemon and herb butter, for example, is a classic choice.
Complement the seafood with fresh salads, grilled vegetables, and a variety of dipping sauces. If you want to go Cajun style, then a seafood boil, where a variety of seafood is cooked in a flavourful broth seasoned with Cajun spices, and vegetables, is the way to go.
Get a large simmering pot of water on an open flame, and season it with spices like cayenne pepper, paprika, black pepper, and garlic powder. A mix of seafood, such as crawfish, shrimp, crab, mussels, clams, and andouille sausage. Pair it with corn on the cob, potatoes, and sausages.
We may not need down on the Bayou but in the video below Joshua Weissman shows you how to make the perfect cajun crawfish boil with a fab spicy butter:
7. Cast Iron Sizzling Skillets
A sizzling skillet at the garden table is another great way to bring the family together for a great sharing meal. Again, you can cook inside and bring to the table or fire up the grill, and there’s a host of things you can cook on them.
Some of our favourite family meals to cook and serve on a skillet include fajitas, stir-fries, and cookie dough desserts. If you want a restaurant-quality fajita experience, then you can also use a fajita sizzle platter with a built-in griddle. These pans are designed specifically for cooking and serving fajitas.
The key to serving sizzling platters at your garden table is the prep and precautions. Ensure the garden table is clean and set up with the necessary utensils, and serving dishes, and use heat-resistant mats or trivets to protect the garden table from the hot skillets.
For fajitas, serve up sizzling platters of steak, chicken, or fish with peppers and onions. Accompany with warm tortillas, guacamole, and salsa.
You can pretty much do any one pan dish you like, from a Chinese-style sizzling steak with green peppers and a black bean sauce to hearty dishes like jambalaya or shakshuka.
If you’re new to cooking with a cast iron skillet, then the video below from George at Better Video Tutorials is a great place to start:
If you want to make the perfect sizzling fajitas, then the recipe below from Matty Matheson (yes, the same Matty Matheson from the TV show The Bear, which is excellent for those who've not watched it) is a super entertaining watch:
8. Al Fresco Afternoon Tea
For us, whether it's for friends, family, or both, the devil is in the details when it comes to afternoon tea in the garden. From what you serve to a properly set table, it should be charming and elegant, the perfect way to spend time with loved ones.
For a barbecue, you can make do if the weather is a little off, however, for an afternoon tea we think you need the sunshine. Set the scene by decorating your garden table with flowers, lanterns, and comfortable seating.
Brew a variety of teas, such as black, green, and herbal, and pair it with a selection of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and sweet treats like cakes and pastries.
With a little planning and attention to detail, you can create a memorable afternoon tea experience in the garden for your family. Our how to host a coffee morning or afternoon tea in your garden article breaks down our process and how we like to serve.
9. Outdoor Space Sunday Roast
It can be pretty hard to beat a classic British Sunday roast. It is a delightful and hearty meal and we think it is perfect to be shared with family and enjoyed in the garden any day of the week.
The traditional meat for a true Sunday roast is roast beef, but you can also opt for lamb, pork, chicken, or a vegetarian alternative if you prefer.
Serve your roast with a variety of roasted vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, parsnips, red cabbage, and sprouts. A rich and flavourful gravy is essential, and, of course, Yorkshire puddings, regardless of what meat you serve!
Anything you do on an indoor dining table, you should do your outdoor dining table too. Set the mood by setting the table with a tablecloth, napkins, and candles. You could even cook it outside:
10. Build-Your-Own Garden Table Salad
Last up we have a build-your-own salad, which is an option alongside many of the above or as a meal in its own right but is always an excellent option to set up at a family meal or garden party.
It's a healthy, customisable, and visually stunning way to feed your guests. Everyone can create their own unique salad, ensuring everyone is happy. Plus, salads are a healthy and refreshing option, especially on a hot summer’s day when you just want something light.
They make for a great garden table centrepiece and the ingredients can be prepared ahead of time, making it a stress-free option.
Offer a variety of greens, vegetables, proteins, and toppings to cater to different tastes, along with a host of dressings and toppings to complete the salads.
Minimal cooking is required; focus on fresh ingredients and allow your family to customise their salads. This is a light, healthy option perfect for warm summer days.
If you need a little inspiration, then Ramona's grilled watermelon with halloumi salad that we shared a few months back is a delicious summertime salad.
Each of these cooking styles and meal ideas is designed to bring people together in a relaxed, outdoor setting, making the most of the summer weather and your outside space.
If you plan on sharing a family meal at your garden table, then we would love to see a few photos for our Do Some Good charity campaign. You can tag us @LazySusanFurniture on Instagram or Facebook or Upload Here.
