America’s Birthday BBQ Board
Celebrate USA’s 250th birthday with a backyard barbecue! Simply sprinkle Member’s Mark™ Sweet Applewood and Organic Garlic & Herb Seasoning on chicken, steak, brats, or any of your grilled favorites. Arrange them charcuterie-style so your guests can sample everything!
How to Assemble America’s Birthday BBQ Board
A Fourth of July barbecue board is a fun, interactive way to serve grilled favorites while creating a festive red, white, and blue presentation. Use a large wooden board, sheet pan, or serving platter, and arrange everything in sections so guests can build their own perfect plate.
Start with the grilled favorites
Place these in the center of the board:
- Steak
- Grilled chicken breasts
- Bratwurst
- Grilled hamburgers
- Hot dogs
- Smoked sausage slices
Keep them warm by placing them on a warmed platter or replenishing throughout the party.
Add the breads
Arrange baskets or stacks of:
- Hamburger buns
- Hot dog buns
- Slider buns
- Hawaiian rolls
Wrap them in a festive red, white, or blue kitchen towel to keep them soft.
Create a toppings section
Offer plenty of options:
- Sliced cheddar, pepper jack, Swiss, and American cheese
- Lettuce leaves
- Sliced tomatoes
- Red onions
- Dill pickle chips
- Pickled jalapeños
- Sauerkraut
- Caramelized onions
- Grilled onions and peppers
Serve ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, ranch, and spicy aioli in small bowls.
Fill in with colorful sides
Use small bowls or clusters for:
- Potato salad
- Coleslaw
- Baked beans
- Pasta salad
- Corn on the cob
- Kettle chips
- Pretzels
- Dill pickles
Add patriotic color
Create a red, white, and blue theme with:
- Strawberries
- Watermelon cubes
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Mozzarella pearls
- White cheddar cubes
- Cauliflower florets
These fresh additions brighten the board and balance the richer grilled foods.
Finish with festive touches
Decorate with:
- Small American flags
- Fresh rosemary or parsley
- Red, white, and blue paper picks
- Star-shaped cheese slices (cut with a cookie cutter)
- Mini bowls filled with patriotic candies
America's Birthday BBQ Board
Ingredients
For the New York Strip Steak
- 2 8-10 oz New York strip steak at least 1-inch thick
- 2 tsp Olive oil
- Member's Mark™ Organic Garlic & Herb Seasoning as desired
- 2 tbsp Butter
For the Sweet Applewood Grilled Chicken
- 6 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- 1-2 tbsp Member's Mark™ Sweet Applewood Seasoning
For the Bratwurst
- 6 Bratwursts
- Olive oil
- Member's Mark™ Sweet Applewood Seasoning or Member's Mark™ Organic Garlic & Herb Seasoning
Instructions
For the New York Strip Steak
- Place the steaks on a plate and let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 375℉ and heat a large heavy skillet over high heat until it is very hot.
- Rub each side of the steaks with the 2 teaspoons olive oil to coat. Rub both sides of each steak with the desired amount of Member's Mark™ Organic Garlic & Herb Seasoning.
- Sear steaks in the hot skillet for 2-3 minutes per side until they're golden brown on the surface. Use tongs to turn the steak onto its side and render the fat by searing it for 2-3 minutes as well.
- Slide the skillet with the seared steaks into the oven to finish cooking. Remove the steaks from the oven when they reach an internal temperature of 130℉ for medium.
- When the steaks are removed from the oven, immediately top with 2 tablespoons resting butter. Allow the steaks to rest 10 minutes before slicing.
For the Sweet Applewood Grilled Chicken
- Place chicken in a large zip-top bag. Leave bag open and use a rolling pin to carefully pound chicken to ½-inch thickness.
- Combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl or measuring jug. Pour over chicken and close the bag. Massage marinade into chicken, then refrigerate in a shallow dish for 4-12 hours.
- Remove chicken from refrigerator and let sit on counter for 20 minutes. In the meantime, heat grill to high heat. Lightly oil grates. Grill chicken 2-4 minutes per side, covered, until juices run clear and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
For the Bratwurst
- Oil the grill and heat it to 350°F. Lightly brush the bratwursts with olive oil. Gently season with Member's Mark™ Sweet Applewood Seasoning or Member's Mark™ Organic Garlic & Herb Seasoning (or both)!
- Put the brats onto the grill and cook for 16-18 minutes, turning them every 2-3 minutes to ensure they cook evenly until they reach 155°F.
