52 Cheap & Easy Grilling Recipes That Won’t Break The Bank

When you think of planning a summer cookout, you might immediately think you’ll have to drop serious $$$. But we’re here to say that balling on a budget does not mean you have to skip out on any of the barbecues you plan or attend this season Hardly! With a few (quite delicious, might we add) swaps, you’ll have a full spread of barbecue sides, appetizers, and grilled favorites that more than deliver (without breaking the bank). Making a few of these 51 cheap & easy BBQ recipes might be the best budgeting has ever tasted, TBH.

Newsflash: Some of your favorite BBQ recipes are already pretty affordable! Pasta salads, potato salads, slaws, and pretty much everything with beans will not only save you a few bucks at the store, but also are always first to go at the cook-out. So do yourself a big favor and make a double batch of antipasto potato salad, Thai-style slaw, and Hawaiian macaroni salad. When in doubt, building a dish based around affordable summer produce (like watermelon, corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini) will guarantee you won’t go too wild at the grocery store.

When it comes to grilling, there’s a ton of protein options that are budget-friendly, too. Chicken thighs and drumsticks, pork tenderloin, and grilled chuck roast are great cuts to consider for the carnivores on your invite list. And it’s just not a BBQ without hot dogs, so we love jazzing up regular franks with our Big Mac hot dog toppings. If you’re vegan or vegetarian, you probably know that going full meatless is the easiest way to eat well on a budget. Not gonna lie, we’ve even seen a few of our omnivore friends preferring our BBQ tempeh sandwiches and copycat Shake Shack shroom burger, so be sure to make a few extras!