Easy BBQ ideas for a crowd

Here's my secret for being a backyard BBQ baller: I keep my side, drinks, and desserts simple, but serve up on the biggest, most impressive main dishes I can muster. Ribs, whole artichokes, or even a big ol' turkey are sure to impress your guests.

Here are a few of our favorite show-stopping main dishes for your next BBQ that feed a crowd and then some.

Grilled chicken is such a quintessential barbecue dish that you really can't go wrong with a whole platter of drumsticks. These are marinated in a quick blitz of herbs, garlic, and fish sauce for a super-savory sensation.

Team turkey here. Why should this beautiful bird be enjoyed but once a year? Whole frozen turkeys are available year-round at most grocers and generally cheaper per pound in the summer than any other season.

Juicy, flavorful chicken with crispy skin (without having to crack open the oven during sweltering summer heat) sounds like a dream. Consider cooking two of these chickens side by side if you're feeding a crowd.

No, really, you are. Short ribs are a great steak alternative at a much lower price. Plus there is something so primal about eating these meaty ribs right off the bone.

Don't reserve Korean BBQ for dining out — bulgogi is easy to recreate at home with flank or skirt steak. Pair this with grilled cabbage or kimchi and jasmine rice.

Consider the kofta a playful, flavorful riff on the hamburger. Technically it is a meatball, but one that is designed for the high heat of the grill. You can make the tzatziki and kofta the day before, which makes this dish easy to prepare for a crowd.

8. How To Make Great Ribs in the Oven

There's no reason a big, impressive main dish for your backyard BBQ can't come from your oven. This popular recipe is easy to make for a really big crowd. Plus, you can make them a day ahead and reheat them on the grill if your "backyard" is more like the neighborhood park.

Here's a pork chop with a dead-simple rub that delivers deliciousness every single time. Rub the pork chops the night before for maximum flavor and serve with a simple salad, crusty bread, and wine.

Every BBQ host needs a juicy burger recipe to pull off for impromptu backyard get-togethers. This recipe make eight quarter-pounders to top with all the cheese, mustard, and pickles your heart desires.

I'm such a sucker for grilled pineapple — the smoky, caramelized flavors get me every single time. Plus, this recipe has a whiskey glaze and is topped with just the right amount of spicy jalapeño.

Here is a veggie burger that does not require a food processor or blender. There are no cans of beans to open; no carrots to grate. You can save yourself a boatload of time by picking up some pesto for these burgers while you're at the store. Halloumi is a chewy, salty cheese that can be found in most gourmet markets.

Kebabs present beautifully at the table, and you can enjoy a kebab in one hand with a cocktail in the other. These kebabs also have the distinction of being vegan and loaded with flavor. Prep the skewers in advance and serve with a simple couscous or this curried corn and coconut rice.

Cauliflower is truly a chameleon in the kitchen. It can become the stand-in for rice, potatoes, and even pizza crust, but with this recipe cauliflower is truly the star of the show. Smoked paprika and a bit of chipotle powder char delightfully on the grill. Serve these steaks with plenty of extra lime.

These artichokes are destined for the kind of summer soirée where guest linger over crisp wine, a few delicious cheeses, and good conversation long after sunset. You can boil the artichokes in advance and finish them on the grill just as guests arrive.

Pizza is the universal crowd-pleaser. I love doing grilled pizzas when my husband's family comes over for dinner during the summer. Adults and children can choose their own toppings, and guests are always impressed by the crispy charred crust.

This Cobb salad is great for any occasion when you don't have immediate access to a grill and need a one-bowl entree. Cook the bacon, hard-boil a few eggs, grill the chicken in advance, and dress just before serving.