So the sun’s shining and you want to make the most of it while it lasts, perhaps by inviting some friends round to enjoy the weather, food and company in the garden – but you haven’t planned ahead and don’t want to spend lots of time chopping, prepping and marinating. Have no fear, simply grab some barbecue favourites, such as sausages, burgers, chicken and corn on the cob, and add some extra pizazz with our easy recipe ideas...

1. All-day breakfast burgers

If the weather’s on point, any meal of the day can be barbecued! Try our ‘full English’-style burgers topped with smoky bacon ketchup and a fried egg. If you fancy, why not make sausage burger patties instead? Simply squeeze the sausage meat from 12 sausages into a bowl and combine with 100g breadcrumbs before shaping into patties. Barbecue for 15-20 mins, turning regularly, and make sure that they are fully cooked through.

Try our recipe for brunch burgers with bacon ketchup.

2. Finger-lickin’ chicken drummers

Grab a pack of chicken drumsticks and get them started in the oven while you stir together the ingredients for a buffalo glaze to finish on the barbie. Serve with a creamy blue cheese dipping sauce.

Get the recipe for baffalo drumsticks with blue cheese dressing

3. Jazz up your burgers

Before cooking, brush burgers with some hoi sin or plum sauce (add a pinch of Chinese five-spice if you have it on hand) then roll in sesame seeds to coat. Once cooked, serve in sesame-topped buns with shredded cucumber and spring onions, and an extra drizzle of sauce.

4. Brilliant bangers

Sausages are an easy barbecue fave, but you can make them extra special with a batch of beer-braised onions that can cook while you get the barbecue lit.

Get the recipe for sausages with beer-braised onions. 

5. Plant-based tower burgers

Mix a good slosh of olive oil with some garlic granules (or crushed garlic), mixed dried herbs, the zest and juice of a lemon and seasoning, then brush all over large flat mushrooms. Barbecue until tender, alongside some vegan burgers, brushing with more of the flavoured,

6. Sides with sass

Impress with your side dishes by knocking up sweet-and-sour-glazed barbecue corn on the cob. The corn gets a smoky spiced rub, cooled by a drizzle of lime soured cream.

Get the recipe for sweet and sour glazed corn

7.Plant-based tower burgers

Mix a good slosh of olive oil with some garlic granules (or crushed garlic), mixed dried herbs, the zest and juice of a lemon and seasoning, then brush all over large flat mushrooms. Barbecue until tender, alongside some vegan burgers, brushing with more of the flavoured oil as they cook. Layer up in a burger bun with sliced avocado, houmous, a spoonful of shop-bought beetroot salad and some crisp shredded lettuce.

8. Killer kebabs

Use cubed paneer or halloumi to make these Indian-spiced veggie kebabs. Warm naan breads on the barbecue to wrap around the kebabs, and drizzle with yogurt and a dollop of mango chutney or lime pickle to serve.

Get the recipe for chilli paneer skewers