BBQ Catering for Reunions, Birthdays, and More

How to Plan BBQ Catering for Family Gatherings in San Antonio

At every family get-together, somebody has to feed everybody. Usually that somebody ends up stuck in the kitchen while the rest of the family catches up in the backyard. You might be planning a family reunion, a big birthday, a graduation party, or an anniversary. Either way, BBQ catering from The Big Bib BBQ takes the cooking off your plate, so you can actually enjoy the party you planned.

Here's how to plan it right, from headcount to the last pan of sides.

Start With Your Headcount

Everything starts with how many folks are coming. The Big Bib BBQ caters gatherings of 50 guests or more. That's a crowd too big to cook for yourself without missing the whole thing.

Having a smaller get-together? You can still bring The Big Bib to the table. Orders for fewer than 50 guests can be placed directly at our San Antonio restaurant or through our online ordering.

When you count heads, count the kids separately. Little ones usually eat less than grown folks. Knowing the split helps us build an order that feeds everybody without leaving you with three extra pans of brisket. Not that anybody's ever complained about leftover slow-smoked Texas brisket.

Build a Menu the Whole Family Will Love

Feeding a whole family at once is its own kind of challenge. Somebody's watching their diet, somebody only eats chicken, and there's always one cousin who swears he's not that hungry right up until he goes back for seconds. The good news is you don't have to build a menu around every opinion in the family. Our catering menu covers a lot of ground:

• Slow-smoked prime brisket, ribs, sausage, pulled pork, chicken, and turkey. Can't decide between the classics? Settle the brisket vs. pulled pork debate by ordering both.
• Fried catfish, a Big Bib favorite when you want something Southern and soulful on the table.
• Scratch-made Southern sides like potato salad, green beans, and sweet potato casserole, served by the pan.
• Sandwich trays and loaded spuds for easy, grab-and-go plates.
• Sweet tea, Kool-Aid, and gallon drinks to keep everybody cool.

Want to see what San Antonio keeps coming back for? Check out our most-loved BBQ plates. Not sure how much of what to order? Tell us your headcount and what kind of celebration you're hosting. We'll help you put together the right order, with no guesswork needed.

Pick the Service Style That Fits Your Party

Every family gathering runs a little differently, so we offer three ways to get the food to your event.

Pickup. Grab your order from our restaurant at 104 Lanark Drive. This works great when you've got a few cousins ready to help set up.

Delivery. We'll bring the food to your park pavilion, church hall, backyard, or rented venue anywhere in San Antonio and the surrounding areas, for a flat $50 delivery fee.

Full-Service Catering. We deliver, set up, serve your guests, and clean up when it's over. If you'd rather spend the day hugging relatives than refilling pans, full-service catering is the one for you.

Plan Ahead for San Antonio Heat

If your reunion or graduation party falls anywhere between May and September, you already know what you're up against. San Antonio heat doesn't take the afternoon off for anybody, and that includes your potato salad.

Find some shade for the food table, even if it's just a pop-up canopy or the covered side of the pavilion. Don't bring the pans out until folks are actually ready to eat, and keep the lids on between trips down the line.

It's not just about comfort, either. Food that's been out for two hours needs to be put away, and when it's over 90 degrees outside, that window drops to one hour. On a July afternoon in South Texas, that hour goes by fast. That's one more reason families go with our full-service catering. Our crew runs the serving line, watches the clock, and you never have to wonder how long the brisket's been sitting there.

Give Yourself Enough Lead Time

We recommend reaching out at least 72 hours before your event. For big family reunions with folks driving in from out of town, the more lead time, the better. Planning something last minute? We can likely take care of orders placed more than 24 hours ahead, so reach out and see what we can do.

Spend the Day With Your People

It all started with a table, two chairs, and Stanley Shropshire's determination to make it work. The Big Bib BBQ has been feeding San Antonio families for more than 20 years, carrying on a Texas BBQ tradition that runs deep in this city. Every pan we send out gets the same time and care you'd find behind our smoker on any given morning.

We know that family gatherings aren't really about the food. They're about the stories, the photos, the dominoes game that gets a little too serious, and the time together you've been looking forward to all year. Our job is to handle the food, so you never have to miss any of it.

Planning more than one event this year? See why BBQ works for corporate lunches, Texas weddings, and game day watch parties. You can also browse our list of San Antonio events that are better with BBQ catering.

Family BBQ Catering FAQs

Is there a minimum order for catering?
Yes. We cater events with 50 guests or more. For smaller gatherings, you can order directly from the restaurant or online.

Do you deliver to parks, churches, and backyards?
Yes. We deliver throughout San Antonio and the surrounding areas for a flat $50 delivery fee. If you're not sure whether we can reach your location, just ask.

Can you set up and serve at our event?
Absolutely. Our full-service catering includes setup, serving your guests, and cleanup.

How do I know how much food to order?
Just tell us your headcount, including how many kids are coming, and the kind of event you're hosting. We'll help you build the right order.

How far in advance should I book?
At least 72 hours ahead for most orders. For larger events, earlier is better.

Let's Feed Your Family

Start with your guest count and the BBQ favorites you want on the table, then let The Big Bib BBQ handle the rest. Great BBQ makes good gatherings even better, and we're ready to help you plan yours.