If you are looking for a perfect appetizer or side dish for your summer BBQ (or any other occasion), you will love this Bacon, Cheddar, and Chipotle Corn Dip. It has the perfect combination of flavors to have you and your guests coming back for more! Keep reading for some tips for a perfect summer BBQ and for this amazing recipe!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Glad. The opinions and text are all mine.
We have long cold winters here in Colorado, which is why I am always so excited when the sun finally starts shining on a regular basis and we can get out and have some great BBQs and other gatherings! It always feels so great to get outside, feel the warm sun on my skin, and spend time with family eating great food and making great memories.
We always try to host a few BBQs and other gatherings at our house during the summer. We like to invite our family that lives close to enjoy the food and to spend some time together.
In order to make these get-togethers work, it usually takes a pretty good amount of planning and preparation. There have been times where we have left it to the last minute, and it is always more hectic and stressful when that is the case. That is why today I want to share a few tips for hosting a great summer BBQ. I am also going to share a recipe for a delicious appetizer or side dish that everyone will love.
Tip #1 – Do as much food preparation as possible the day before the event
If there is one thing that I do not enjoy, it is running around like crazy on the day of a BBQ, trying to get all of the food prepared and ready to eat. For me, it is much easier to have everything prepared the night before so that on the day of the BBQ, all we have to do is cook, plate, and enjoy.
It doesn’t really matter what you are grilling – usually you can prep it the night before. For example, if you are having burgers, you can season the meat, make the patties, and freeze (or refrigerate them) the night before and then all you have to do is throw them on the grill.
We like to have carne asada at some of our BBQs, so it is really easy to cut the meat and marinate it the night before (leaving it in the refrigerator all night) so that it is flavorful and ready to cook right before everyone starts to arrive.
If you are making your own drinks (like this delicious horchata), you can do all the prep work the night before and then just make sure that you keep it cool until it is time to serve.
Doing all of the food preparation work the night before will save you time on the day of the BBQ and that will keep you from stressing out too!
Tip #2 – Use Paper Plates, Bowls, and Utensils
This one is really important, especially when you have a lot of people coming over. We generally have 10-20 people over when we have these BBQs, so even thinking about having to do that many dishes makes me not even want to have the BBQ! That is why I always make sure to stock up on paper plates, bowls, and utensils that can easily be thrown away as soon as everyone is done eating.
I recommend getting a brand that is nice and sturdy, because if the plates or bowls can stand up to the weight of the food that you are serving, you may end up having some different kinds of messes to clean up instead of dishes!
Tip # 3 – Have Plenty of Trash Bags Ready
This tip goes right along with #2! If you have lots of paper plates, bowls, and utensils, you are inevitably going to end up with lots of trash to throw away! There have been many times where we have not had enough trash bags, because we forgot to buy them before hand. Other times we have enough, but they are still out in the garage in the box.
Now, I always try to get at least 2 or 3 out, and I set them up in different parts of the house and outside so that everyone can see them and know where to throw away their trash when they are done eating.
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Tip # 4 – Prepare To Have Your BBQ Indoors or Outdoors
Colorado weather is very unpredictable, so it is very important to have a contingency plan in case of bad weather! Oftentimes you will wake up to a bright sunny day, only to have thunderstorms with hail, lightning and plenty of rain a few hours later. This one can be kind of tough if you are planning on hosting the BBQ somewhere other than your house, but if you are having people over and have an indoor and outdoor space, it is a good idea to be ready to move indoors if the rain hits.
The most difficult part of this is probably figuring out where to grill the meat (and veggies). We love to cook outdoors on our grill, but in the occasions where we have had to move indoors, we are always able to get a similar taste using an indoor cast iron grill or skillet that you can find online or in stores.
There are other options as well that you can find, and while they may not provide the same taste as cooking on the grill, it is still better than not having anything at all because you weren’t prepared!
Tip # 5 – Have Plenty Of Appetizers and Side Dishes to Go Along With The Main Dish
When you have a lot of people getting together to eat, it is important to have something that everyone will like. I always try to have quite a few different options for side dishes and appetizers, including salads, dips, breads, and more. Of course this doesn’t mean that you have to prepare everything. It is important to take people up on their offers when they offer to bring something. I don’t like to put a lot of the burden on my guests, so I usually just ask them to bring a small salad, a beverage, or some chips.
The important thing is that there is enough for everybody and that there are options. Here are some ideas for some great appetizers or side dishes:
- Simple House Salad
- Potato Chips
- Veggies and Homemade Ranch
- Loaded Bacon, Cheddar, and Ranch Fries
- Bacon Wrapped Li’l Smokies
- Jello
- Chips and Guacamole
- Chips and homemade Salsa
- Homemade Extra Crispy Onion Rings
- Potato Salad
Finally, this recipe is one that has never let us down. This Bacon, Cheddar, and Chipotle Corn Dip never lasts long and people are always asking about it months later. Here is the delicious recipe:
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1 Can of Corn, drained
- 1-2 Chipotles in Adobo, chopped
- 1-2 Cups of Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 4 Slices of Bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 Cup of Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1 Tablespoon of Paprika
- 1 Tablespoon of Cumin
- 1 Tablespoon of Pepper
- 1/2 Tablespoon of Salt
- Cilantro, chopped
- Tomatoes, diced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Combined all of the ingredients except for the tomatoes and cilantro in a large bowl and mix well (setting aside 1/4 cup of cheese.
- Transfer the combination to a round or square baking dish and spread out evenly.
- Top with remaining cheese and bake for 15-20 minutes (the cheese should be bubbly).
- Remove from oven and top with tomatoes and cilantro.
- Serve immediately with tortilla chips (homemade are the best!).
I hope that you enjoy this unique corn dip recipe, and that these tips are helpful as you plan your next BBQ this summer. Do you have any additional tips for hosting get-togethers? Let me know in the comments below!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Glad. The opinions and text are all mine.
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