There’s something about a Bank Holiday weekend that makes food feel a little more relaxed. You don’t necessarily need a formal meal or a table full of courses. Instead, I love putting together a spread of easy dishes that everyone can help themselves to. Think crispy chicken wings, cheesy garlic bread, prawns, halloumi bites and plenty of potatoes for good measure.

And because this is the August Bank Holiday, I’m keeping things firmly in that end-of-summer sweet spot. These are the kind of recipes that work brilliantly if you’re hoping for sunshine and eating outside, but they’re just as easy to make in the kitchen if the typical British weather makes an appearance.

The best part is that most of these recipes are quick, simple and perfect for the air fryer, so you don’t need to spend your entire Bank Holiday in the kitchen. Make a few dishes, put everything in the middle of the table and let everyone dig in.

The great thing about sharing food is that you don’t need to make every single dish. In fact, I’d recommend choosing a few recipes that complement each other and building your spread around them. Start with one or two more substantial dishes,  then add a couple of easy sides, such as the air fryer potato salad and halloumi. 

From there, you can add smaller dishes that people can pick at. Chicken wings, feta bites, sausage roll bites and bacon-wrapped prawns all work brilliantly for this. Finally, add something like the garlic and pizza baguettes. They’re perfect for mopping up sauces and making sure nobody leaves hungry. You don’t need everything to be served at exactly the same time either. That’s one of the best things about a Bank Holiday spread. Put out a few dishes, let people graze and bring out more food as you go.

If you’re hosting over the August Bank Holiday, the air fryer can be your best friend. It means you don’t have to rely entirely on the oven, and many of these dishes can be cooked in smaller batches. You can also use it to refresh food throughout the day, which is particularly handy if you’re having people over for several hours rather than sitting down for one meal.

The key is not to overload yourself with recipes that all need cooking at the same time. Pick dishes with different cooking times and prepare as much as you can beforehand. For example, you could prepare the chicken skewers, sausage roll bites and prawns earlier in the day, then cook them when you’re ready. The potato salad can be prepared ahead, while the garlic baguettes and halloumi bites can be cooked closer to serving. That way, you’re actually able to enjoy your Bank Holiday rather than spending the whole thing standing in front of the air fryer.

The August Bank Holiday always feels like a bit of a milestone. There’s still plenty of summer left, but you can also feel the seasons starting to change. The evenings are getting shorter, routines are starting to return and September is just around the corner. That’s exactly why I love making the most of this weekend with food that still feels summery and relaxed. Prawns, halloumi, feta, chicken skewers, potato salad and plenty of garlic bread all work brilliantly for outdoor eating, while the baked potatoes, sausage roll bites and buffalo chicken bring a little more comfort to the table.

You don’t need perfect weather either. If the sun comes out, take everything outside and enjoy it. If it doesn’t, put the kettle on, get everyone round the table and enjoy the same food indoors. After all, the best Bank Holiday recipes are the ones that bring everyone together without creating loads of extra work.

Happy cooking!

Nathan