Best Recipes for an All-American Barbecue

Yahoo! Contributor Network

If you're in charge of hosting an all-American barbecue this season, make sure the menu includes some classic dishes and traditional American fare. You can be extra creative with the presentation and décor to set up a beautiful table setting or picnic table for your guests. Finger foods work great for buffet-style gatherings but there are a couple of traditional dishes that you will require serving stations. Remember you can always start off the celebration with a platter of snack items or even some miniature desserts.

Here are eight must-have menu items - and recipes! - for a classic American-style barbecue:

#1: Hot Dogs

One of the easiest items to cook up on the grill, hot dogs are an all-American favorite that can be topped with dozens of different toppings and condiments. You can go Chicago-style by boiling and steaming the hot dog, or grill them up until they're golden brown. Try this Grilled Link Hot Dogs with Homemade Pickle Relish recipe from Bobby Flay.

#2: Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Pulled pork sandwiches with a hint of spice are a tasty alternative to the classic hamburger. This Pulled-Pork Sandwiches recipe includes tips for making your own homemade barbecue sauce.

#3: Hamburgers

Homemade burgers seasoned with onions, spices, and even Worcestershire sauce are always a hit at the backyard barbecue. Be sure to include an assortment of cheeses and fresh veggies at the picnic table so that guests can customize their burger. Try this simple Best Burger Ever recipe.

#3: Chicken Burgers

Those that don't want to eat red meat this season can still enjoy some meat off the grill with a mouthwatering chicken burger. This easy Summer Chicken Burgers recipe is a great take on just chicken with tomato and lettuce. It uses avocado, onions, and provolone cheese for some extra flavor.

#4: American Potato Salad

Who can pass up a side dish of creamy mayo, soft potatoes, and savory eggs? This Great American Potato Salad recipe from is so simple to make and you can prepare it a couple of days ahead of time to really bring out the flavor.

#5: Macaroni Salad

A mainstay of many potlucks year round, a cold macaroni salad is another popular side for your barbecue menu. The secret to getting that perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors is to use sweetened condensed milk and vinegar in the recipe. Try Mom's Best Macaroni Salad recipe that can be thrown together in less than half an hour.

#6: Deviled Eggs

A popular side dish that is relatively easy to prepare is deviled eggs. Just make sure to set up a tray for these eggs ahead of time so you can store them in the fridge before serving. This recipe for Deviled Eggs Extraordinaire makes four dozen eggs and only takes about 40 minutes to put together.

#7: Classic Coleslaw

Another side dish that is very easy to prepare - and best served when it's made a couple of days in advance - is coleslaw. You can buy pre-bagged coleslaw mix or shred your own cabbage, carrots, and other veggies for the base. Here's a quick and easy All-American Cole Slaw recipe to try this year.

#8: Berry Trifle

A layered red, white, and blue trifle is a show stopping dessert and also fairly easy to make. Try this Patriotic Berry Trifle recipe from Sunny Anderson for Food Network Magazine. You can make this a day ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator until the party.

Content by Sabah Karimi .