How To Throw An Outdoor Summer Party Without Lighting The Grill

If you don't have a grill, your grill is broken, or you're just really sick of spending every cookout standing over the boiling grates, flipping burgers for hours on end, there's no need to write off hosting summer parties. Summer dishes don't all have to be grilled, even though they do tend to be, and summer parties don't have to be centered on the barbecue. Instead, they could be focused on a table of non-grilled, but still wonderfully delicious food instead.

Replace the grilled burger patties with baked falafel, and stuff them in a pita with plenty of hummus, garlic sauce, lettuce, and tomatoes.

For the Baked Falafel Burger recipe, click here.

If you're not grilling your chicken, you should definitely be frying it. Buttermilk fried chicken is always a popular option at every party.

For the Buttermilk Fried Chicken recipe, click here.

Set out a beautiful charcuterie board ready and waiting for when your guests to arrive. Nibbling on cured meats while sipping on a glass of wine will get every summer party off to a perfect start.

For tips on how to build a charcuterie board, click here.

Creating a cheese platter for your guests to nibble on alongside a glass of red wine at the end of the evening is a delicious and easy way to keep your guests well-fed and entertained late into the night.

To learn how to make the ultimate cheese platter, click here.

This eggplant parm sandwich, coated in bubbling, melted mozzarella is a great dish to serve if you're worried your guests will be upset about the lack of cheeseburgers and chili cheese dogs.

For the Eggplant Parmigiano With Fresh Mozzarella recipe, click here.

Toss roasted chicken with ribbons of zucchini, chopped almonds, and a delicate citrus-mustard dressing for a healthy, but satisfying salad.

For the Marinated Zucchini Chicken Salad With Marcona Almonds recipe, click here.

Don't miss out on the tacos just because you're avoiding the grill for this party. These panko-fried fish tacos are topped with lightly pickled onions and guacamole for the tastiest of summer dishes.

For the Panko-Fried Fish Tacos recipe, click here.

There's no need for ribs to be barbecued for hours to gain their signature deep, smoky flavor. Sometimes, the slow-cooker can do a perfectly good job for you, and if you finish them under the broiler, they'll still get that classic caramelized exterior.

For the Slow-Cooker Barbecue Ribs recipe, click here.

If you're not cooking dinner over open flames, you may think s'mores aren't a viable option, but you'd be wrong. This s'mores dip includes everything you crave from your melted marshmallow, cookie, and chocolate combination.

For the S'mores Dip recipe, click here.

Serve up one of summer's best ever dishes at your outdoor party by making up batches of lobster rolls. No grilling is required, and these rolls really are the essence of summer.

For the Ultimate Lobster Roll recipe, click here.