Chicago Summer Parties Made Easy with Wildfire Catering

From rooftop gatherings to backyard celebrations, summer in Chicago is the perfect time to bring people together. Whether you’re hosting friends in the city or planning a family event, Wildfire Chicago Catering helps make entertaining simple and stress-free.

Our catering menu offers a variety of hot and cold buffet options, boxed lunches, sandwiches, salads, and party platters designed for groups of all sizes. Instead of spending your weekend shopping, prepping, and grilling, let Wildfire handle the food.

Chicago Summer Catering Menu

Fresh salads are always a favorite during the warmer months. Guests love our Greek Salad, Caesar Salad, Tuscan Kale & Spinach Salad, and the Wildfire Chopped Salad. Many of our dressings are gluten-free, providing delicious options for guests with dietary restrictions.

Looking for classic barbecue favorites? Serve up Barbecued Baby Back Ribs, Barbecued Chicken, and Pasta with Roasted Market Vegetables alongside traditional sides like Cole Slaw, Baked Mac & Cheese, and Barbecue Potato Chips.

Party Platters are ideal for office gatherings, family celebrations, and summer picnics. Popular choices include the Grilled Chicken Club and Blackened New York Strip Steak Sandwich.

For a memorable finish, add one of Wildfire’s homemade seasonal pies. It’s the perfect way to end a Chicago summer celebration.

10 Grilling Tips from Executive Chef/Partner Joe Decker

Executive Chef & Partner Joe Decker offers some additional tips to highlight your grilling as well. 

1. Make sure that the grill is cleaned well with a metal brush and the grates are hot before beginning cooking.
2. Maintain a hot part of the grill for searing and a cooler part for slower cooking.
3. Bring proteins out at room temperature before grilling.
4. Brine meats and fish for 30 minutes before grilling to impart juiciness and flavor.
5. Use a simple marinade to further enhance flavor. My favorite marinade is mixed herbs from the garden, garlic, olive oil, lemon zest and cracked black pepper.
6. Refrain from moving the proteins on the grill frequently or smashing them down to cook faster, this will press all the juices out.
7. Good grilling starts with high quality proteins. You pay for what you get.
8. If desired, brush the proteins with glazes or sauces in the final stage of cooking on the grill to add flavor.
9. Use a meat thermometer to remove the guesswork of knowing when something is done.
10. Let the meat rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to help it preserve juices. Optional: Serve with flaked sea salt.

Lemon Parmesan Dressing:

Marinate chicken breast or salmon filet with lemon parmesan dressing. Season with Kosher salt, cracked black pepper and paprika for 1 hour. Grill and serve with grilled lemon halves.  

Red Wine Vinaigrette:

For “Greek style” chicken, cut the chicken into quarters and drizzle red wine vinaigrette over it with garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Let it sit for 1 hour. Grill over medium to low heat until finished.  

Wildfire dressings and marinades can be purchased at the restaurant, plus select local grocery stores around Chicagoland, including Sunset Foods, Mariano’s, and Foodstuffs.

“The two most important steps in cooking a burger I actually learned from Lettuce Entertain You founder, Rich Melman!”:

1. When grilling, do not move the burger often. Only move it to flip it over to cook the other side.
2. Do not smash the burger down with a spatula to speed up the cooking. If you follow these two steps, you’ll produce a very juicy burger.

Easy Ordering for Chicago Summer Parties

Wildfire Catering is designed to fit the way you actually plan events. There is a $200 minimum for delivery, so whether you’re feeding 10 guests or 50, you can order exactly what you need. Delivery is available within a 5-mile radius of Wildfire Chicago, and all we ask is 24 hours notice.

Ready to plan your summer spread? Contact Wildfire Chicago Parties & Special Events to place your order, or order online is available.