Cheap BBQ Food Ideas
BBQ gatherings don’t have to be expensive to be delicious. With a little planning, you can put together a satisfying, crowd-pleasing menu without spending a fortune. The key is focusing on simple, affordable ingredients and cooking them with love and a little smoky flair.
In this post I am sharing some of my favourite cheap BBQ food ideas to serve in your next cookout, backyard party or family get together. Grilling on a budget means stretching your dollar with smart choices, creative sides, and homemade touches.
Tips for a Budget-Friendly BBQ
- Choose Cheaper Protein: Options like chicken thighs, drumsticks, or sausages are flavorful and cost-effective. With a good marinade and time on the grill, they can taste just as amazing as pricier cuts.
- Filling Sides: Hearty sides like baked beans, grilled veggies, potato salad, or pasta salad are inexpensive and go a long way. They help stretch the meal and fill everyone up.
- Bold Marinades and Seasonings: Bold, homemade marinades and spice rubs turn basic ingredients into something special. They’re low-cost, easy to make, and take your BBQ from basic to unforgettable.
- Use Fresh Seasonal Produce: in-season fruits and vegetables are more affordable and at their best. Corn, zucchini, watermelon, and tomatoes are great summer staples. Add them to your BBQ for a cheaper option.
Image Credit: simplystacie
Loaded with fresh veggies, creamy and delicious goat cheese, and a drizzle of flavorful balsamic vinegar, Grilled Zucchini Roll-Ups will become a summer table staple.
Easily make this tasty zucchini appetizer to go with a juicy steak or grilled chicken to make a complete meal that is quick and filling.
Get the full recipe from: Simply Stacie
Image Credit: simplystacie
This rich and tasty recipe combines fresh herbs with perfectly soft potatoes to create the ultimate side dish for potlucks and family gatherings.
This light and zingy potato salad contains no mayo. Plus, it only takes 20 minutes to prepare which is ideal for those last-minute events where you still want to impress!
Get the full recipe from: Simply Stacie
Image Credit: thissillygirlskitchen
These Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Sandwiches contain minimal ingredients and then topped with your favorite BBQ sauce! The perfect easy sandwich recipe!
These BBQ Beef Sandwiches are made from a super inexpensive cut of beef – chuck roast. This also makes a ton of beef, so depending on the size of your family, you will most likely get multiple dinners out of one chuck roast.
Get the full recipe from: This Silly Girl’s Kitchen
Image Credit: thissillygirlskitchen
Grilled Pork Chops with Balsamic Marinade is a mouthwatering dish that combines the rich flavors of balsamic vinegar, garlic, and fresh herbs.
It’s perfect for a summer cookout or a simple weeknight dinner. The acidic marinade and simple seasoning give a flavor that is just plain satisfying. The marinade infuses the pork chops with a delicious taste, and grilling them gives a nice crust while keeping the inside juicy and tender.
Get the full recipe from: This Silly Girl’s Kitchen
Image Credit: ihearteating
Simple turkey burger recipe! This quick recipe makes moist turkey burgers in no time. This simple turkey burger recipe makes a quick and easy dinner. The burgers are perfect – whether you cook them on the stovetop or the grill.
It takes just 10 minutes of prep to make the burgers, and they can easily be customized with your favorite toppings and ingredients.
Get the full recipe from: I Heart Eating
Image Credit: ihearteating
Best black bean salad recipe! This simple black bean corn salad recipe is naturally vegan and makes a healthy side dish or light dinner.
And salads don’t get any easier than this Black Bean Salad. It only takes about 20 minutes to put together, and it’s great alongside grilled chicken or in a wrap for an easy lunch or dinner.
Get the full recipe from: I Heart Eating
Image Credit: crayonsandcravings
This New York style homemade hot dog chili will take your hot dogs to the next level and is SO easy to make. It’s meaty, flavorful, and even makes a delicious meal on its own topped with cheese and your favorite chili toppings.
The next time you host or go to a cookout where hot dogs are being served, make this simple chili sauce.
You’ll never go back to canned hot dog chili again!
Get the full recipe from: Crayons and Cravings
Image Credit: crayonsandcravings
This slow cooker corn on the cob recipe is an easy way to make delicious, flavorful corn on the cob right in your crockpot. It comes out perfectly cooked, tender, and sweet every time!
The crock pot is also a great way to cook corn out of season or to make corn on the cob for the holidays when your stove is already crowded.
Get the full recipe from: Crayons and Cravings
Image Credit: theforkedspoon
Veggie Skewers made with zucchini, red onion, and bell peppers are grilled to perfection and drizzled with tangy balsamic vinegar and brushed with a fresh garlic herb sauce. Hello, summer!
Meat and grilled veggie skewers are an easy and delicious way to eat all your favorite meals during the hot months of summer.
Get the full recipe from: The Forked Spoon
Image Credit: theforkedspoon
Simmered low and slow in a rich, tangy-sweet BBQ sauce, this no-fuss Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe guarantees irresistibly juicy, flavorful chicken every time!
Perfect year-round for busy weeknight dinners for entertaining guests. This recipe makes 8 perfectly tender bone-in skin-on BBQ chicken thighs.
Get the full recipe from: The Forked Spoon
Image Credit: noshingwiththenolands
Nan’s Mashed Potato Salad has all the flavor of the best potato salad you will ever want. Creamy, dreamy, and the perfect side dish for Easter, Mother’s Day, and all your gatherings all summer long.
This hybrid potato salad is creamier than regular potato salad and chunkier than mashed potatoes, bringing a totally new look to a classic.
Get the full recipe from: Noshing with the Nolands
Image Credit: noshingwiththenolands
Here is an Easy Ramen Stir Fry that even your teenage kids can make and will love this recipe. It is inexpensive, quick, and full of flavor. A hoisin-forward tangy sauce helps kick up the humble ramen to a new level.
This recipe makes a great fast lunch, dinner, or side dish. Add some leftovers like chicken, beef, or shrimp for a heartier meal.
Get the full recipe from: Noshing with the Nolands
Image Credit: asouthernsoul
Grilling fresh zucchini and onions brings out their natural delicious flavors. With just a little olive oil, salt and pepper you’ve got an amazing side dish in no time.
These veggies turned out great and took only minutes to prepare. It’s nice when something so simple turns out to taste so good.
Get the full recipe from: A Southern Soul
Image Credit: asouthernsoul
Made with yummy beef hot dogs and kicked-up store-bought barbecue sauce, these Grilled Barbecued Hot Dogs are the ultimate cookout recipe!
Imagine the taste of sweet, smokey BBQ sauce and a hot dog in one perfect bite. And you know, for any cookout, picnic, or potluck from Memorial Day through July and Labor Day.
Get the full recipe from: A Southern Soul
Image Credit: foodnservice
These skillet chicken fajitas are a fast and delicious meal to make any day of the week! If you’ve ever had a chicken fajita pizza and like eating tacos, you’ll love this skillet chicken fajitas recipe!
It’s quick, easy, and a great option for days when you want to have something nice and tasty but don’t want to spend too many hours in the kitchen.
Get the full recipe from: Food n Service
Image Credit: foodnservice
Deliciously juicy oven broiled chicken thighs are ready in less than 25 minutes. With hints of lemon and garlic, this easy, low-carb chicken thigh recipe is great for a weeknight dinner.
This recipe will fill your house with those amazing smells of spices, lemon, and chicken getting crispy and golden in the oven. Yum!
Get the full recipe from: Food n Service
Image Credit: foodfolksandfun
These Monterey Grilled Cheese Sandwiches are layered with Monterey Jack cheese, bacon, deli turkey, avocado, and pickled jalapenos. They’re perfect for lunch or dinner and super easy to make!
It’s made without any artificial flavors, colors, or high fructose corn syrup. Plus, it tastes like you picked up a homemade loaf from your favorite bakery!
Get the full recipe from: Food Folks and Fun
Image Credit: foodfolksandfun
This Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs recipe makes the juiciest and most succulent chicken thighs you’ll ever all due to the tasty chicken thigh marinade.
These Grilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs are versatile to be served with just about anything making it the perfect weeknight meal or pot-luck dish.
Get the full recipe from: Food Folks and Fun
Image Credit: dinneratthezoo
This grilled pineapple is sliced fresh pineapple brushed with brown sugar, butter and cinnamon, then grilled to perfection.
An easy side dish or dessert option that’s perfect for summer entertaining! There’s nothing better than grilled fruit because the heat brings out the sweetness in fruit.
Get the full recipe from: Dinner at the Zoo
Image Credit: dinneratthezoo
This grilled eggplant is marinated in garlic and herbs, then cooked until tender and golden brown. An easy and healthy side dish that pairs perfectly with a variety of grilled meats and seafood.
You can’t go wrong with grilled veggies, or this smoky and savory eggplant. You can serve this eggplant as-is, or dress it up to turn it into a vegetarian main course.
Get the full recipe from: Dinner at the Zoo
Image Credit: pamsdailydish
This simple to make recipe is made with frozen mini corn. Now we can enjoy corn on the cob all year round. The corn comes out sweet and so delicious.
Give this easy recipe for corn on the cob grilled indoors a try and enjoy anytime you are craving corn on the cob. If you are looking for a really easy and yummy way to enjoy corn on the cob.
Get the full recipe from: Pam’s Daily Dish
Image Credit: strengthandsunshine
The best and easiest Black Bean and Corn Salsa recipe! Transform canned black beans into a Mexican-inspired salsa with fresh grilled corn, peppers, tomatoes, onions, and loads of zesty lime and spice!
This quick & healthy veggie-packed dish is vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-free! Pair it with your favorite chips as an appetizer or serve it as a flavorful side salad!
Get the full recipe from: Strength and Sunshine
Image Credit: strengthandsunshine
These melt-in-your-mouth Grilled Cabbage Steaks are the best way to serve up the humble vegetable! Just 3 ingredients, healthy, naturally keto, vegan, gluten-free, allergy-free, and paleo!
The charred & smokey flavors of this tender grilled cabbage recipe make it a perfect quick & easy side dish that’s ready in 10 minutes! Dress it up with toppings for a savory low-carb entree!
Get the full recipe from: Strength and Sunshine
Image Credit: delicioustable
Spiral-Cut Grilled Hot Dogs get nice nooks and crannies to hold more mustard, ketchup, and relish. Grill these full-flavor dogs at your next cookout and put out a bar loaded full of toppings and condiments.
The edges get darker char marks that add more flavor. Plus these hold your fixings so they don’t slide off the franks and make a mess!
Get the full recipe from: Delicious Table
Image Credit: delicioustable
This Coleslaw Recipe has a clean vinegar-based dressing and no mayo! It goes great with pulled pork sandwiches or as a classic side dish at potluck summer picnics and BBQ cookouts.
A classic coleslaw recipe is usually loaded with mayonnaise and white sugar. However, this cabbage salad is clean, light, and tangy. This homemade slaw can safely remain at room temperature and balances nicely with any grilled main dish or savory BBQ.
Get the full recipe from: Delicious Table
Image Credit: easybudgetrecipes
Enjoy the deliciousness of my Grilled Chicken Drumsticks! These budget-friendly drumsticks soak up seasonings beautifully, giving you juicy, perfectly charred bites every time.
Perfect for any occasion, they’re an easy and tasty addition to your grilling lineup. Ready in a flash and bursting with flavor, these drumsticks are a surefire hit that will leave your family craving more.
Get the full recipe from: Easy Budget Recipes
Image Credit: easybudgetrecipes
Enjoy perfectly seasoned grilled potatoes in foil, ready in just 30 minutes! These easy and delicious potatoes are a must-try for your next BBQ.
These potatoes are grilled to crispy perfection, bursting with flavor. Simple enough for your kids to assemble themselves! This is even a great recipe for camping.
Get the full recipe from: Easy Budget Recipes
Image Credit: thepurplepumpkinblog
When it comes to grilling, meat and fish are always the stars. But it’s time for the veggies to shine in this recipe for Grilled Summer Vegetables!
Get your red onion, bell pepper, zucchini, and summer squash cooking on the barbecue grill for an explosion of new flavors! Enjoy grilled summer vegetables as a main dish for plant-based eaters, or as a side dish for meat and fish.
Get the full recipe from: The Purple Pumpkin Blog
Image Credit: thefoodolic
Savour the Avocado Hot Dog, a delicious twist on a classic! This treat features a juicy Frankfurt sausage topped with creamy avocado, sprouts and old-fashioned mustard for a refreshing and flavorful bite.
A delicious Frankfurt-style sausage is slowly grilled to perfection, lying on a bed of crunchy sprouts. This Avocado Hot Dog is the way to go: a classical dish turned gourmet!
Get the full recipe from: The Foodolic
Image Credit: thefoodolic
Traditional Spanish Romesco Sauce is more precisely a Catalan region sauce. It’s basically a nutty sauce with loads of roasted veggies that go with any grilled meat, fish, egg, or vegetable.
It contains roasted tomatoes, garlic, hazelnut, almond, and red pepper with a touch of paprika. A healthy, sugar-free condiment for BBQ season!
Get the full recipe from: The Foodolic
A backyard BBQ doesn’t need to break the bank to be a big hit. It’s the laughter, the music, the smoky smell in the air, and the clinking of glasses that make it unforgettable. With just a few smart swaps, simple ingredients, and some thoughtful planning, you can create a laid-back feast that satisfies without stress.
From the grill to the table, what matters most is sharing good food with people you enjoy. Keeping things budget-friendly doesn’t mean you have to cut back on flavor or fun.
