When we think of the perfect BBQ menu, there’s a few things that come to mind. You’ve gotta have the classics, like burgers and hot dogs, pasta salads, and potato salads, of course, but we also recommend adding a few surprise ringer items to your menu. It’s the skewers, the summer-y salads, the cheesy dips, and the vegetarian options that always have people clamoring for more.

Don’t make the mistake of just serving beef hamburgers this year—there are so many other options for what to put between your bun, like our turkey burger, lamb burger, chicken burger, or salmon burger. As for hot dogs, there are also tons of meat options for an upgrade (check out our list of the best hot dogs, ranked), but the real VIP move is to serve them ALL on a hot dog board. Think like a charcuterie board, with something for everyone (like sides, dips, chips… whatever you want!).

If you’re looking to expand your side dish game, we highly recommend taking advantage of the bounty of summer produce. Everything benefits from a little char from the grill, like eggplant, summer squash, and even fruit—you can eat them on their own, like our grilled zucchini or grilled corn on the cob, or turn them into a side salad, like our grilled corn salad or summer panzanella salad.

And don’t forget desserts! It’s where you’ll have the chance to let the red, white, and blue theme shine, like in our American pie, our star-spangled s’mores, or our cheesecake cupcakes (topped with blue and red berries).