Key Points
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Cooking on the beach is a fun and rewarding way to keep energy levels high during a beach day with friends and family.
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Bringing hardware like a generator, outdoor furniture, and kitchen appliances to the beach provides cooking & seating options that make it easy to feed a crowd.
Everyone will take away different memories from the same beach day. Some of your siblings may spend the day lying out on a towel or beach furniture to soak up some rays. My younger cousins usually built sand castles while some of the aunts and older cousins played beach volleyball against any beachgoers up for the challenge.
It’s easy to forget that a day at the beach isn’t all sunshine and sand. Some beaches in the Pacific Northwest or along the east coast of the US have pebbly, rocky beaches. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in California has an entire theme park on the shoreline with roller coasters and food vendors galore. If time spent at the beach in your childhood consisted of sandwiches (with an unfortunate emphasis on the sand), it’s time to level up the cooking supplies you bring seaside. This summer, cook up something special to make the next family beach trip one to remember. After all, nothing works up an appetite like fun in the sun! And there are no summer days spent doing more activities than one spent playing in the sand and sea.
Why Should I Cook on the Beach?
Cooking on the beach may not be as traditional a summer activity as grilling by the pool for some, but lakeside grilling has been a staple for summer holiday get-togethers in my family for generations. Even the prospect of floating in the water or playing in the sand can’t keep my relatives from fighting over who’s handling the grill. My dad and uncles would hover around a charcoal grill like the Broil King Regal 400 to playfully argue over when to flip the burgers and brats so every bite was juicy and delicious. For those without a love of sand in every crevice and saltwater clinging to their skin, spending time at the grill during the family’s beach day is ideal.
Unlike the convenience of a backyard barbecue party, spending time at the beach has unique challenges you must overcome. From experience, it’s easiest to tackle the setup for beach day cooking with the following steps:
- Choose your spot on the beach. I personally suggest bringing just enough equipment down on the first trip to save where you want to be, usually a cooler, a beach bag, a pop-up table, and a beach umbrella that I stick deep in the sand.
- Carry all the equipment from the car to the shoreline. All of it. If you packed it to bring to the beach, walk it to the beach. This avoids the, “Did I remember to pack that?” to finding-it-in-the-trunk-at-the end-of-the-day pipeline that my family knows all too well.
- Secure any furniture or belongings that could be blown away by the breeze. Along the coast, the wind whipping in from the ocean can be swift and sudden. If you don’t tie down your equipment, chasing it down the beach may be the main family trip memory.
Pro tip: Wondering where to buy beach furniture? Check out our Beach Kit Guide article to learn more about our team’s take on the best beach grills and outdoor furniture!
What Cooking Appliances Should I Bring to the Beach?
When considering what cooking appliances to bring to the beach, ask yourself a single question: What do you and your family like to eat?
- Health-conscious families may want a blender and fresh fruit for delicious smoothies that rejuvenate energy levels between swimming laps in the ocean
- Active families and athletes won’t want to stop for meals, so a sideburner sauce and skewers that can be eaten while walking is a great option to stay fed without slowing down
- Foodie families see beachside barbecue as the main event, but the more adventurous might bring a pizza oven for BBQ chicken pizza that’ll drag other beachgoers over like the scent of a cartoon pie
Did you know? The sky is the limit! If you have the electricity to power an appliance at the beach, bring it to add a fun twist to your standard summertime treats!
Generate the Power You Need at the Beach
Just because your grill doesn’t require electricity doesn’t mean you won’t want a portable power source for your beach day plans! We’ve already put a spotlight on Generac’s iQ3800 dual fuel portable inverter generator to highlight the powerful results and effortless maneuverability of the unit, but those factors transform from helpful to game-changing for a day at the beach. Every appliance you may want to bring to further your cooking options, like side burners, blenders, and pizza ovens, will need on-the-go power for beachside use. With a range of strengths and sizes available, our selection of portable generators is sure to supply you with the perfect fit.
The Best Beach Recipes
With a Blaze Kamado charcoal grill, one of the best portable grills for a day at the beach, and a little forethought, you’ll have beach day meals that are sure to impress even the pickiest eaters. All of these recipes are easy to handle, meaning you won’t have to suffer while the members of your family who aren’t fussing over the menu have a fun day in the sun.
A Drink in One Hand
What’s nicer than your feet in the sand and the sun on your skin? A refreshing fruit smoothie in your hand! If you can source fresh fruit from vendors or stalls nearby, do it! Nothing beats a bite into a perfectly ripe banana or a drink of water straight from the coconut. This list of 12 tropical smoothie recipes from the Drinks Project is sure to have a blend that works well with anything you find. Whether you’re looking for a traditional beachy flavor like mango pineapple paradise, or something with a little kick like spiced papaya and ginger, these smoothies are sure to keep your family invigorated and hydrated during a day at the beach!
Appetizing Appetizers
Sometimes, the best way to cook up a delicious appetizer on the beach is by saving yourself the trouble of making everything from scratch. Chips and dip are a staple for a reason! Whether you buy a premade salsa or have a favorite recipe you can whip up at home ahead of time, having something quick and easy to tide over your kids (and spouse) until the main meal is ready can be a lifesaver. This queso dip recipe is a breeze to whip up with a side burner at the beach. In fact, you can make it at home and heat it up beachside to save even more time! If you’re making everything shoreside, shred the cheese fresh and grill up the green chilis before tossing them in for that pungent punch of savory smokiness that’ll kick your queso’s flavor up a notch.
Planning food for the beach is easier when you reuse elements you have from other meals. For instance, if you brought pineapple, watermelon, or peaches, toss some on the grill! That way, everyone can have a sweet and smoky bite that’ll keep you from a hangry car ride home.
Grilling on the Beach
A family trip to the beach means one cooler for the kids and another for adults when my relatives get together. If your loved ones have similar priorities, it’s the perfect excuse to break out beer can chicken*. Crack open your favorite tall boy, pour out half for you, and prop your bird upright over the can so the remaining liquid can keep the meat moist while it cooks.
*Did you know? Beer cans in the modern day have a lining of plastic to keep the liquid from corroding the can. Make sure your brew is BPA-free before it goes inside the bird!
But honestly? Sometimes you just need a juicy beach burger. To cut the mess, but not the flavor, we recommend a stuffed burger using spinach & artichoke filling for a fun spin on a classic! With flavor this good, you won’t have to worry about bringing leftovers home with you. In fact, your main concern will be keeping the food around long enough for everyone to have a taste!
BBQ Chicken Pizza!?
You read that right: BBQ chicken pizza on the beach! For those willing to brave bringing a generator and pizza oven, your reward is succulent barbecue chicken on a fresh, baked-to-order pizza that’ll pull even your most aquatic family members from the saltwater for a slice. While this recipe uses leftover rotisserie chicken, and you can certainly do the same, we suggest saucing the beer can chicken from the previous section for your pizza. Or, you know, there might be some grilled pineapple leftover to swing a smoky-sweet Hawaiian slice.
Pro tip: Repurpose recipes from our Campground Recipe Guide and Backyard BBQ Guide to bring some summer fan favorites to your next beach day!
Fuel Your Beach Day with IWAE
Struggling to figure out where to start your beach day plans? Give our team a call! After all, a day spent on the coast with friends or family starts well before the ocean’s in your sights. Picking a menu, sourcing your ingredients, and finding the best portable furniture for the beach are all done days in advance. Keeping your loved ones fueled, hydrated, and in good spirits requires more than just water bottles and simple snacks. Cook up hearty food that’s filling, nutritious, and delicious for your next beach day. Your family will thank you, your friends will beg for the recipes, and you’ll have a summer beach day memory to cherish forever.
