These 5 ways to save on summer barbecues will help you have a fun and delicious backyard gathering and stay on budget! We have lots of BBQ side dish recipes too!
Summer is the time of year people are taking out their grills and enjoying family get togethers. It is also a time when a lot of families go over their grocery budget!
Last minute BBQs, expensive cuts of meats and additional people to find can easily put a dent in the family finances.
Here are some creative ways to enjoy your family barbecues all while keeping your grocery budget in tact.
Stock up on Condiments
Condiments like ketchup, mayo and barbecue sauce tend to get more expensive during the summer months.
Grocery stores know people are going to buy these items whether they are on sale or not. Buying these condiments during the winter and spring will save you money, sometimes up to 75%!
You can easily store unopened condiments in your pantry. The one time condiments are often on sale in the summer are the one week before each of the major holidays – Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day. Check your local store flyers for sales then and stock up!
Accept Help
This one is a hard one for me, but if you want to save money, you need to accept help. Every time a guest asks you if there is anything they can bring, say YES! Even if it is something as simple as a bag of ice.
Giving every guest that offers an item to bring will dramatically decrease the amount of money you are spending.
Selecting the Right Meat
You do not need a fancy New York Steak to impress your guests. In fact a simple and more affordable cut of meat can sometimes taste even better! Using those marinades you got on sale can turn an ok cut of meat to an amazing cut of meat!
The trick is to marinate your meat overnight and make sure to tenderize it. If you are going to have a lot of children at your barbecue, do not be afraid to serve hot dogs for the kids. (And you know lots of adults will eat one too – I always do!)
Supplying Drinks
Don’t fill up the ice chest with bottles of water, soda and juice boxes. Instead get some pitchers and fill them up with water, slice up some cucumber and add it to the water.
You can use just about any fruit you want to give the water a nice flavor. We love making this detox lime infused water.
If you want to serve adult beverages ask your guest to bring something and make it a BYOB party. That way everyone can drink what they like and you end up spending a LOT less!
Make Sides from Scratch
While it might take a bit more time, making your coleslaw, potato salad and other sides yourself, rather than buying them from the deli case, can save you up to 75% or even more!
To help you out, here are some awesome barbecue side dish recipes:
20 BBQ Side Dish Recipes
Make your backyard barbecue better with these 20 BBQ side dish recipes full of flavor! They're all easy-to-make crowd pleasers.
This Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe is slightly sweet, a little tangy, and oh-so delicious!
Chopped romaine lettuce combines with deli cold cults and Italian cheeses to make this top-notch chopped Italian salad.
This bacon bowtie pasta salad has a nice crunch of bacon, tomatoes and a tangy sauce.
This Cherry Fruit Marshmallow Salad combines canned fruit with cream cheese, whipped topping and marshmallows for a sweet and delicious fluff salad the whole family loves.
Combine elbow macaroni with ranch seasoning, veggies like tomatoes and cucumbers and add in cheese for this family-pleasing side idsh.
Make the best corn on the cob by putting it on the grill to give it a nice, tasty char. So good!
Bacon, spinach and tomato combine with pasta and a creamy sauce to make this BLT inspired salad.
This creamy cole slaw tastes just like the KFC recipe, but maybe even a little beter.
These Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeño Peppers are packed with flavor and easy to make right on the grill or in the oven. They're keto friendly too!
Mozzarella balls and tomato combine with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and fresh basil for this delicious twist on a caprese salad.
If you're like me and prefer your cole slaw of the non-creamy variety, this recipe is DELICIOUS and simple to make.
Mix up tri-color rotini pasta with veggies, olives, pepperoni and Zesty Italian Dressing to make this summer salad.
Zucchini and tomatoes combine with other veggies, herbs and cheeses to make this colorful gratin.
This colorful salad is filled with veggies and Greek seasonings combined with pasta.
There’s very little prep or cooking savvy needed to prepare these highly-addictive and delicious grilled garlic herb sweet potatoes.
Start with a bag of broccoli slaw mix to make this crunchy salad with a delicious twist.
This pasta salad features grilled corn, bacon and shrimp. Serve it along with your grilled burgers or steak for a regular surf and turf BBQ!
Mac and Cheese is a BBQ must-have. These recipe is extra flavorful.
This salad gets its name from using leftover cooked chicken, which is combined with romaine lettuce, tomato, boiled egg and a zesty homemade dressing.
Similar to a 5 Cup Fruit Salad, this sweet creation utilizes fresh strawberries and bananas and omits the coconut. It's a totally delicious and comforting marshmallow mixture.
Lots of crunch, sweetness and a touch of heat make up this delicious coleslaw.
Harold says
Thank you so much for some great recipes I have rgit all about..thanks going to start cooking..
Ellen Christian says
Thanks for sharing my recipe! From scratch is always the best way to go. Off to check out a few of the other recipes!
Ari T says
These are great tips for any party or small meal gathering. The rise in price for food and everything else definitely puts a damper on social gatherings when you have to watch your budget very strictly. I think accepting help (or the potluck method) is perfectly fine. It’s a great way to ensure that everyone has fun and one person doesn’t have to be overburdened with the cost. The water with fruit or cucumber added in sounds like a healthy alternative that still keeps everyone hydrated.
Erica Giles says
I love BBQ food! Thanks for including my recipes!