Why Professional Catering For A BBQ Is Worth It
If you are weighing up catering for a BBQ versus cooking everything yourself, it can feel like a big decision. You want the smoky flavour, relaxed vibe, and plenty of food, but you also want to actually enjoy your own event. Professional BBQ catering lets you do exactly that.
For businesses in Melbourne, partnering with a specialist such as Your Private Chef turns a simple barbeque into a polished experience that still feels casual and welcoming. With curated bbq catering packages, you have the look, the flavour, and the logistics handled for you, so you can focus on your guests instead of the grill.
In this guide, you will see how catering for a BBQ can boost any work event, what to look for in a Melbourne BBQ caterer, and how Your Private Chef’s flexible BBQ platters and packages can fit everything from a small staff lunch to a major client party.
Understand What BBQ Catering Includes
Before you decide whether to bring in help, it is useful to know what professional BBQ catering typically covers. While services vary, a full-service option often includes:
- Menu planning and guidance on quantities
- Meat, seafood, and plant-based options, fully prepped
- Side dishes, salads, breads, and condiments
- Delivery to your venue, on time and correctly packed
- Equipment for holding food at safe temperatures
- Serving ware such as plates, cutlery, and napkins
- Optional staff to cook, serve, and clear up
Specialist operators understand that BBQ is time and temperature sensitive. Many rely on hot boxes to keep meats warm without drying out and steam tables to hold sides like mac and cheese or beans at the right serving temperature [1]. This kind of behind the scenes detail is what turns “just food” into a professional experience that feels easy from your side.
Your Private Chef designs its bbq platters and bbq packages to give you the benefit of that expertise without forcing you into a rigid, one size fits all menu.
Match BBQ Catering To Your Type Of Event
Not every BBQ looks the same. A Friday team lunch has a different mood to a product launch or client cocktail event. When you plan catering for a BBQ, start with the kind of gathering you are hosting.
Staff Lunches And Casual Team Days
For relaxed internal events, you want generous, familiar crowd-pleasers with minimal fuss. Think:
- Sausages, burgers, chicken skewers, and simple salads
- Easy to hold items so people can keep chatting
- Some vegetarian or vegan options that feel just as satisfying
Your Private Chef’s sausage and burger based BBQ platters are ideal here, with options like lamb and rosemary sausages, Angus beef sausages, black Angus beef burger patties, and vegan black bean, pumpkin and red lentil patties, all delivered with buns, salads, condiments and eco plates so you do not have to think about the details.
Client Functions And Networking Events
When you are entertaining clients, you may want BBQ that feels a little more polished. This does not mean losing the relaxed feel. It simply means paying more attention to presentation and variety.
John Mull’s Meat Company notes that pairing the right mains with considered sides is what lifts BBQ catering for more formal occasions, for instance grilled chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans for corporate luncheons or weddings [2].
For a Melbourne client event, you might choose:
- Mixed grill platters such as the Mediterrano Pack with Southern European style meats and salads
- Smaller, “grazing” style pieces like mini porterhouse steaks or cevapi in brioche buns
- A wider range of salads and vegetable sides to balance the menu visually
Your Private Chef’s Mediterrano Pack is designed for 20 people and combines a mixed grill with market fresh salads, which works well when you want a BBQ that feels more like a caterered feast than a backyard cook up.
Conferences, Training Days And Large Groups
If you are feeding a lot of people, quantity, timing and flow become just as important as flavour. Advice from ButcherBox suggests starting with your main protein choice, then limiting sides to 5 to 8 for 20 to 30 guests, and up to 10 sides for 30 to 50 guests so you do not overwhelm your prep or your guests [3].
With a larger corporate BBQ, you could:
- Decide whether you want a sausage and burger focus, a mixed grill, or a single hero meat such as chicken
- Choose a set package like The Get Together BBQ or The Lets Celebrate Gourmet Barbeque from Your Private Chef rather than piecing everything together
- Let the catering team advise on quantities per person based on your guest list
Because Your Private Chef’s BBQ catering is designed to serve specific numbers, you can simply multiply packages to suit your headcount, rather than trying to calculate kilos of meat and trays of salad yourself.
Plan Your BBQ Catering Around Your Guests
Once you know the style of event, think about who will actually be there. This will guide the way you use services like bbq catering melbourne so nothing important is missed.
Headcount, Space And Timing
Start with three basics:
- How many people are coming
- Where you are hosting the BBQ
- When food needs to be served
Backyard BBQ guidance for hosts recommends planning your guest list around how much space you have, for example a small yard might comfortably hold 15 to 20 people, and collecting dietary requirements as early as possible to avoid last minute changes [4]. The same principle applies to business events.
For a work BBQ in Melbourne, consider:
- Will everyone arrive at once, or in waves
- Do you want a specific meal time, or an ongoing grazing table
- Are you indoors, outdoors, or a mix of both
Your Private Chef can deliver food ready to serve or chilled with cooking instructions, so you can match the format to your schedule and facilities.
Dietary Needs And Preferences
Modern BBQ catering is no longer just about meat. Research shows that many professional caterers now include vegetarian and vegan dishes such as grilled vegetables, portobello mushrooms, and smoked jackfruit as standard, provided they have notice to manage preparation and avoid cross contamination [4].
Your Private Chef builds this thinking into its menus. You will find:
- Vegan and gluten free black bean, pumpkin and red lentil patties
- Gluten free options such as grass fed mini porterhouse steaks and some sausages
- Platters that are clearly labelled with dietary info, so your guests can serve themselves confidently
When you gather RSVPs, ask about:
- Vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian choices
- Gluten free and dairy free needs
- Religious or cultural dietary requirements
Share this with your caterer early so they can match the correct mix of packages and platters for you.
Build A Balanced BBQ Menu
Even with professional help, it is worth understanding what makes a BBQ menu feel complete. The aim is variety without clutter.
Choose Your Hero Proteins
Research into BBQ hosting suggests starting with your main proteins then building the rest of the menu around them [3]. For a Melbourne corporate BBQ, popular choices include:
- Sausages and burgers for laid back events
- Mixed grill platters with chicken, beef, and sausages for variety
- A focus on one cuisine style such as Mediterranean or American
Your Private Chef’s BBQ platters include:
- Lamb and rosemary sausages
- Chef’s Angus beef sausages
- Grilled smoked pork sausage kobasice
- Grass fed mini porterhouse fillet steaks
- Tuscan chicken thigh skewers and Tuscan herb lean chicken breast
You can combine these to suit your guests. For example, pair a sausage platter with a mini porterhouse tray for a satisfying but not overly complex menu.
Add Sides That Work With BBQ
The right sides do more than fill plates. John Mull’s notes that contrast in flavour, temperature, texture, and colour makes BBQ catering feel complete, not just heavy [2].
Across the research, classic BBQ side ideas include [5]:
- Coleslaw, both creamy and vinegar based
- Potato salad or warm roasted potato dishes
- Baked beans and mac and cheese
- Grilled corn on the cob, spiced or plain
- Fresh salads based on seasonal vegetables
Your Private Chef’s platters and packages incorporate salads and breads so you do not have to add endless extras. You can also add on Tuscan Parmesan pita chips for crunch or choose a package that emphasises salads if you know your group prefers lighter food.
Where possible, include a mix of:
- Hot and cold sides
- Creamy and fresh dishes
- Vegetables and carbs
This balance helps guests who want a lighter plate and those who are counting on a hearty lunch.
Consider International Flavours
You do not need to stick to strictly Aussie BBQ. International styles can make your event more memorable, especially when you use specialist catering bbq melbourne services.
The research on budget BBQ ideas and global menus highlights options like pork souvlaki, spiced chicken kebabs with yoghurt marinades, and griddled vegetables with garlic and herbs [6]. Your Private Chef draws on a similar Mediterranean influence in its Mediterrano Pack and Tuscan style chicken, as well as Croatian cevapi in brioche buns with ajvar relish.
If you want to tie your BBQ into a theme, ask Your Private Chef to recommend combinations that tell a consistent flavour story rather than mixing too many cuisines at once.
Compare DIY Versus Professional BBQ Catering
You may be wondering whether to do everything yourself or to bring in a specialist. Looking at cost and effort side by side can help.
Cost Per Person
Westwoods BBQ estimates that feeding 50 people yourself at a BBQ might cost around 8 to 15 dollars per person in ingredients. Professional BBQ catering typically starts around 15 to 30 dollars per person for basic service and can cost more for full service packages [7].
Meat and Greet BBQ suggests similar ranges when broken into tiers:
- 15 to 25 dollars per person for basic BBQ menus with limited service
- 25 to 40 dollars per person for mid range with premium meats and staff
- 40 to 75 dollars or more per person for full service, multiple proteins, and professional staffing [4]
Your Private Chef’s BBQ platters and packages are priced per head or per platter so you can see your spend clearly. When you factor in your own time, gas, equipment hire, and clean up, the difference between doing it all yourself and using bbq catering often narrows.
Time, Stress And Food Safety
DIY BBQ means:
- Shopping, marinating, prepping, and transporting food
- Managing cooking times on the day
- Ensuring meat hits safe temperatures with thermometers
- Keeping hot food hot and cold food cold for several hours
Professional caterers invest in:
- Hot boxes that hold meat at safe serving temperatures
- Steam tables that keep sides like mac and cheese at the right heat
- Reliable refrigeration so ingredients stay fresh until cooking
- Thermometers and processes that keep food in safe ranges [1]
When you use Your Private Chef, you are effectively renting that infrastructure and expertise for the day without having to buy equipment or manage the fine detail. For a business event, where food safety and reliability are non negotiable, this extra peace of mind is hard to put a price on.
Set Up Your Space For A Smooth BBQ
Catering for a BBQ is not only about the food. How you set up your courtyard, rooftop, or office car park makes a clear difference to how your guests feel.
Plan Seating, Shade And Flow
Guidance on outdoor BBQ events suggests ensuring:
- Enough seating for people who want to sit and eat
- Shade or shelter from sun and rain using umbrellas, gazebos or marquees
- Clear serving areas and paths so people are not queueing in tight corners
- Adequate lighting for evening events, such as string lights or lanterns [7]
For a Melbourne office BBQ, consider:
- Reserving a clear area for the buffet line away from doorways
- Putting drinks in a separate zone so queues do not overlap
- Creating a few standing tables for easy mingling
Because Your Private Chef packages include plates, cutlery and napkins, you can focus your equipment list on tables, bins, and signage instead.
Make Self Service Simple
BBQ works well as a self serve style. To keep things flowing:
- Place plates and cutlery at the start of the buffet
- Group meats, then sides, then condiments, then napkins
- Label items clearly, including any common allergens such as nuts or dairy
Research on side dishes for potlucks and BBQs notes that make ahead salads and dips are perfect in this format, since they hold well and are easy to restock in bulk [8]. Your Private Chef’s salads and breads arrive in catering friendly packaging that fits neatly on trestle tables or kitchen counters.
Choose The Right Your Private Chef BBQ Option
Your Private Chef specialises in melbourne bbq catering that feels generous, well organised, and flexible enough to suit different business needs. To choose between their offerings, think in terms of platters versus packages.
When To Choose BBQ Platters
Platters are ideal when:
- You already have a sense of how much food you need
- You want to mix and match specific items
- You are topping up an existing menu
From the BBQ platter range, you can select:
- Sausage selections such as lamb and rosemary or Angus beef
- Mini porterhouse steaks for a higher end feel
- Vegan and gluten free lentil patties to cover plant based needs
- Buns, rolls, onions, condiments and chips to fill out your table [9]
This works well if you are planning a more informal gathering and want to keep control of the quantities.
When To Choose BBQ Packages
Packages suit you if you prefer a “set and forget” style. Each package is built around:
- A defined headcount
- A balanced mix of proteins, salads and breads
- Included plates, cutlery and napkins
Options such as The Get Together BBQ, The Lets Celebrate Gourmet Barbeque, The Big Breakfast BBQ and the Burger Bar give you different starting points depending on time of day and formality [10].
Because all BBQ catering from Your Private Chef is delivered ready to enjoy or delivered chilled with cooking instructions, you can fit the service around your venue facilities. This is especially helpful for businesses that do not have built in kitchens.
Add Custom Stations If Needed
If you want a bit more theatre, Your Private Chef also offers additional hot food stations such as a Souvlaki Bar or Mexican Burrito Bar that you can add to your BBQ package. This can be a smart way to:
- Add a vegetarian friendly focal point
- Create a “make your own” element that gets people talking
- Offer variety without organising entirely separate catering [10]
Use Local BBQ Catering In Melbourne
When you look for bbq catering near me, a local specialist like Your Private Chef brings several advantages beyond convenience.
Knowledge Of Local Venues And Conditions
Melbourne weather is known for changing quickly. Professional bbq catering melbourne services are used to planning for:
- Sudden showers during outdoor lunches
- Wind on rooftops or open terraces
- Council or building rules around gas bottles and grills
By using a local caterer, you tap into that practical experience and avoid learning hard lessons on the day.
Reliable Delivery And Timing
For corporate events, timing is not flexible. Lunch breaks are allocated, speakers are scheduled, and guests are used to prompt service. A dedicated party catering bbq provider with Melbourne based operations can:
- Coordinate arrival around your building’s access times
- Allow for parking and lift use where necessary
- Work to tight service windows without compromising food quality
Your Private Chef’s BBQ catering is structured with these constraints in mind, which is one reason many businesses return to them for repeat events.
Step By Step: How To Book Your BBQ Catering
If you have not used catering for a BBQ before, the process is straightforward. Here is a simple step by step you can follow with Your Private Chef.
1. Define Your Event Basics
Write down:
- Date and time
- Location and any access notes
- Estimated guest count
- Type of event and tone, for example casual team day or client launch
This gives your caterer enough information to suggest options without long back and forth messages.
2. Browse Platters And Packages
Visit Your Private Chef’s:
- BBQ platters for mix and match options
- BBQ packages for set menus
Note which combinations feel closest to what you want. You might choose:
- One or two packages that suit your numbers
- A package plus extra vegan patties
- A base platter selection with additional salads
3. Confirm Dietary Requirements
Collect dietary information from guests as early as you can. Then:
- Check which menu items are gluten free, dairy free or vegan
- Adjust your selection with Your Private Chef if needed
- Ask for clear labelling for the buffet so guests can serve themselves safely
4. Finalise Quantities And Logistics
Discuss with Your Private Chef:
- Exact numbers and any plus ones
- Preferred delivery time and set up window
- Whether you want food delivered hot or chilled with instructions
- Where the buffet will be located in your venue
Because each BBQ package includes plates, cutlery and napkins, your remaining list is usually limited to tables, bins, and drinks.
5. Enjoy The Event
On the day, Your Private Chef handles the food side so you can host. With professional catering for bbq party support, you can:
- Spend more time networking or thanking staff
- Be confident there is enough food for everyone
- Wrap up with far less cleaning and packing than if you had cooked yourself
When BBQ Catering Is The Best Choice
BBQ suits almost any occasion, but catering for a BBQ really comes into its own when:
- You need to feed more than a dozen people
- The event has a fixed schedule
- You want to make a good impression without feeling formal
- You do not have time or facilities to cook safely at scale
In these situations, a specialist in bbq catering for parties like Your Private Chef removes the risk and workload, while keeping the casual, friendly feel that makes BBQ so appealing in the first place.
Whether you are planning your first small office BBQ or a large end of year celebration, exploring bbq catering and working with an experienced Melbourne team can turn a standard lunch into a standout event your guests will actually remember.
