11 Grilling Ideas For People Who Love Both Baseball And Barbecues

Hit your next BBQ out of the park with these baseball-themed ideas and bring big league grilling flavor home with Weber Sauces & Seasonings.

1. Set out peanut and popcorn baseball buckets:

Guests can munch on these ballpark snacks while the grilled entrées are still underway.

2. Make a grilled fruit sangria for guests who'd prefer an alternative to beer:

A grilled cocktail? Now we're talking! Bold grilling flavors make this refreshing summer cocktail even better. Maybe even dedicated beer drinkers will have a glass...

3. Create a baseball diamond fruit platter:

Who doesn't love refreshing fruit in the summer? Arrange your fruit to make a miniature baseball diamond. Buying pre-sliced fruit will save you major time.

4. Prepare a grilled chili and serve it in novelty baseball helmets:

Grilling the ingredients for your chili will impart delicious grilled flavors into the final product. Don't forget to season the steak and pork before you put it on the grill! Once they've been grilled, shred or grind the meats and put them in a pot for slow cooking. A dollop of sour cream, cheddar cheese, and onions are all you need to bring this dish home.

5. Set up a baseball-themed party game like Can Bash:

Who doesn't love this carnival staple? And you can play with a beverage in your free hand. Major key.

6. Knock one out of the park and make a "home run" hot dog bar:

Prepare all the fixings so your guests can make hot dogs from famous baseball cities, such as the Cincinnati Dog (chili, cheese, and white onions), Chicago Dog (mustard, white onions, relish, pickle spear, tomato wedges, sport peppers, and celery salt on a poppy seed bun), and Seattle Dog (cream cheese, grilled onions, jalapeños, Sriracha, and a dash of sesame seeds) pictured above. You can also mix and match ingredients to create your very own Frankendog.

7. Make no-hassle grilled cheese fries for a winning side dish:

Just put frozen fries in foil, add cheese and bacon, and grill until hot and melty. Garnish with Sriracha, scallions, and sour cream for even more flavor. Pro tip: If you grill this dish with the lid closed on your Weber Kettle, the fries take on a unique smoky flavor that's delicious.

8. Set up "concessions" decorations above your buffet table so guests know where to get the grub:

Yelling "Hot dogs! Get your hot dogs!" is optional but encouraged.

9. Substitute ballpark drink trays for paper plates.

The ultimate plate has been hiding in plain sight all along. These ballpark drink trays hold all your food plus your beverage, leaving one free hand for stuffing your face.

10. Use throw down bases to direct your guests between the buffet table, the drink coolers, and any other points of interest:

Rounding the bases is even more fun when each base includes food. Just don't slide into home.

11. Lastly, decorate cupcakes with mini baseball cookies for a sweet finish:

It's easy, colorful, and fun. All you need are cupcakes, cookies, and red icing. Less time baking = more time for grilling (and eating).

Most importantly, bring big league flavor to whatever you grill with Weber Sauces & Seasonings.

A good burger is a welcome addition to every backyard barbecue. And Gourmet Burger Seasoning from Weber Sauces & Seasonings combines eight individual seasonings into one delicious blend to make your big juicy burger flavors even better. It’s the perfect complement to your 70/30 ground beef. Play ball!

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Photographs by Lauren Zaser

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