Food on the fire: sensational cheap BBQ ideas for the summer

Now that the weather's warming up and summer is here, the barbecue is an ever-present temptation. There's never a better time to have the whole family round, throw some meat on the grill, and enjoy an unforgettable meal.

However, it's far from the cheapest way to enjoy your food. Juicy burgers, tender chicken, marinades, and other vital ingredients all cost. So too does the barbecue itself, as well as the fuel to run it.

That said, you don't have to break the bank to enjoy the finest type of summer meals.

Read on for more ways to enjoy cheap BBQ ideas like plump sausages, delicious veggies, and charcoal-cooked steak without it costing you an arm and a leg.

Here at TopCashback, we're passionate about saving you money this summer. This is why we're offering £10 cashback on your first £10+ spend on all things BBQ.

Whether you buy food, fuel, or the barbecue itself, we can give you cashback on your spend in-store. Don't wait, grab yourself the perfect start to your summer cooking.

How to save money on BBQ summer food

A home-cooked barbecue recipe is usually a money-saver over going out to eat or ordering food in.

Even though quality cuts of meat and the must-have accompaniments cost a lot, there are plenty of ways you can save money on your dishes.

With a few straightforward tips and tricks, you can make your favourite food, at the same level of quality, but for less than you expect.

Make your own burger patties

With a bit of prep time, handcrafted beef burgers can make for a delicious – and affordable – main component of a barbecue dinner.

There are many recipes online, some of which use few ingredients and easy methods. Minced beef, salt, and pepper are all you need for some. With a bit of practice, you'll be making burgers better than the supermarket while spending less money.

It’s not restricted to meat burgers, either. There are plenty of recipes online for making your own vegetarian burgers from substitutes like TVP. It’s much cheaper than buying plant-based burgers from the supermarket.

Visit your local butcher

Many people think that meat from a butcher is automatically more expensive than from a supermarket.

Yes, in the case of premium cuts, you might be looking at a hefty price tag. But many butchers will offer a decent price on cheaper cuts – exactly the sort of thing barbecues are perfect for cooking.

Pork belly and chicken thighs taste every bit as good in a summer BBQ as more expensive cuts of meat. They're also an easy barbecue win compared to more expensive and fiddly dishes like ribeye steak. If you want a middle ground, pork loin and chicken wing are in a thousand BBQ recipes online.

You might get a type of meat you've never had before from your butcher, and inspiration on what to make with it, all at a great price. Some also offer discounts for bulk orders or regular customers.

Buy reduced meat near its best-before date

If you do shop at a supermarket, look for meat that's close to its best-before date. Many supermarkets have this clearly labeled or even in its own section.

Assuming you're shopping on the same day you barbecue, there's no harm in buying this meat and grilling it up.

Even if it's near its best-before date, cooking at a proper heat will extend its shelf life. Don't be afraid to buy more reduced meat than you and your guests can eat in one day. Just don't forget to finish it off soon after!

Worse comes to worst, you can freeze the meat and cook it later.

Make your own sides and marinades

Supermarkets do their bit to help out when making a BBQ meal with all the trimmings. You can get potato salad, blue cheese sauce, coleslaw, steak marinade, and so much more, ready-made and ready to add to your meal.

Those very same supermarkets sell all the ingredients you need to make those very same sides, often for a lower cost.

With olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce, you have everything you need to make marinated steak and chicken. Likewise, potato salad needs potatoes, mayonnaise, and a few bits of veg. BBQ sauce starts with tomato ketchup!

The pre-made sauces, marinades, and side dishes are all delicious, there's no point denying it. But they also come with a healthy markup compared to home cooking.

If you make it yourself, you might even improve on the flavour, quality of ingredients, and nutrition versus mass-produced portions.

Adding veggie dishes to your summer barbecue isn’t just about catering for anyone who doesn’t eat meat.

Vegetarian dishes like grilled cheese and veg are typically significantly cheaper than meat-based alternatives while still being a welcome part of any meal. Rather than buying more meat for kebabs, try some vegetarian ones and see how delicious they are.

Use supermarket loyalty schemes

Supermarkets have other ways for you to save. The easiest is to make use of their loyalty schemes. Most supermarkets have them, from My Waitrose to Sainsbury's Nectar Card.

These give discounts on plenty of products, often including meat perfect for barbecue.

A Tesco Clubcard and an Iceland Bonus Card both have ways you can get meat for less, be it spending bonuses or specific product discounts. A My Waitrose account comes with 20% off meat on a Saturday. Shop wisely and you can come out with a steal.

Get cashback on an online shop

If you get food delivered for your summer barbecue, here at TopCashback, we can save you money on your online shop. We have cashback deals with supermarkets like Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Iceland, Ocado, and many more.

It doesn’t cost you anything, and you get back some of the money you spend. It's basically a post-purchase discount on anything you buy, from cuts of steak to ready-made kebabs to corn on the cob to dessert. Then you can just enjoy the sunshine while you wait for delivery.

Which type of barbecue is best?

Food is only one cost of cooking a barbecue meal. The biggest upfront expense is the grill itself. There are several types available, each suited for different purposes. Then there's the fuel, such as gas or charcoal.

There's no one answer to the cheapest type of BBQ grill. It depends on your experience level, your ability to pay upfront costs, and how often you plan to cook summer food on your barbecue.

Disposable barbecues

For a one-off, or if you're not sure how to do a BBQ, a disposable barbecue can be the most affordable and risk-free choice. These one-time grills can cost under £10, and usually come with charcoal and ways to light them.

You don't need to worry about a big investment or maintaining it with fuel. If you're a very infrequent barbecue user, you might just need one of these.

However, the costs do add up over time. If you get a hankering for cooking in your garden, you might end up spending more than you plan to.

They're also very portable, which is a plus for some. Just remember, you also need something to put it on besides grass. Some bricks or a stone surface are highly recommended!

Charcoal BBQ grills

Many barbecue purists will say that this is the best or only way to cook food on the barbecue. From burgers to veggie dishes, there's a certain smoky flavour that grill enthusiasts say you can only get from a charcoal barbecue.

At the same time, it has a cheaper upfront cost than gas or electric options. You can get very simple charcoal barbecues for reasonable prices, with more elaborate options to suit a range of budgets.

Overall, however, a charcoal grill is more expensive to run than other options. Buying coal frequently costs more than most other sources of fuel.

You might well think it's worth the cost, but other non-disposable barbecues will become better value than a coal barbecue over time. There’s also much more to clean, especially with the ashes from coal.

Gas barbecues

In terms of upfront costs, a gas barbecue is one of the most expensive. They're often bigger and more elaborate than other types, aiming for more prestige budgets.

However, they come with significant advantages.

Gas barbecues still cook with fire. As a result, they get closer to the distinctive barbecue taste than other non-charcoal options. At the same time, burner gas canisters typically work out cheaper than charcoal for the same number of meals.

If you can afford the upfront cost of a gas barbecue and plan to use it a lot, then it’s cheaper in the long run than a charcoal barbecue.

If you're looking for cheap BBQ ideas for one-off or infrequent summer meals, then it's the most expensive option available.

Electric barbecues

Electric barbecues work a little differently from other types of grill. Rather than using fire, either from coal or gas, to cook, they instead cook using heat from electricity, like an electric cooker.

This makes an electric BBQ cheaper to run than a coal or gas alternative. It comes with more of an upfront investment than a disposable barbecue, but pays for itself quicker than most other options.

However, this comes at a cost. Electric barbecues don't give food the characteristic smoky taste that you get from other types of grill. It's more like cooking them on an ordinary stovetop.

If you're passionate about summer cooking, this may not be for you.

How to get a cheap BBQ grill

When it comes to getting a cheap barbecue, there's no silver bullet. The most important thing, as discussed above, is matching a barbecue to your own needs and the regularity of grilling. If you do want to make a significant investment, however, there are a few ways to cut down on the cost.

Shop in the post-summer sales

There is a very clear time when barbecues are in high demand. Warm temperatures and lots of sunshine tempt people into having friends over and cooking outdoors.

When summer ends, barbecue prices typically fall. This isn't very helpful if you want a cheap barbecue now. If you can wait, however, there's a good chance some will go on sale as days get shorter.

It's a gamble, but you might save money using disposable barbecues until they do – or simply controlling your urge for sausages.

Buy only what you need

There's an almost endless variety of barbecues for sale from many different retailers. They can come with many different features, ranging from a shelf layer to keep food warm to separate compartments for cooking multiple meals.

Really, you can be conservative with what you buy. Most families don't need a vast barbecue that can cook four different things separately.

A simple grill with a lid will do most people fine and cost significantly less.

Buying only what you need applies to BBQ fuel as well. Whether you're using charcoal or gas, don't keep it at maximum temperature all the time. Char your food, dial back the heat, and keep your barbecue covered to save on fuel costs.

Get cashback

Cashback doesn't just apply to the food you cook on a barbecue. You can also benefit from it when you buy a barbecue or its fuel.

Brands like B&Q and Matalan have exclusive offers with TopCashback. Buy charcoal, gas canisters, or a barbecue from them and get plenty off the price.

Regularly clean and maintain your barbecue

When you have a barbecue, the best way to save money is to take good care of it. Check it for damage before using. Clean it afterwards. Keep it out of the rain and other inclement weather.

There's no point getting a great deal on a grill if you wear it out long before its time.

This goes doubly if you've bought an expensive coal or gas barbecue and want it to pay for itself with cheaper upkeep over the years.

Borrow one

If you're just looking for one or two summer meals, you might be able to go even cheaper than buying a disposable barbecue. Consider borrowing one!

If you have friends or loved ones with one, it never hurts to ask about using it.

Alternatively, you can use Olio and see if anyone has a barbecue you can borrow. Read our Olio guide here for more. It's not a permanent or guaranteed fix, but it can still be a great way to save on barbecue costs.

A white-knuckle grill-ride

Few things kick off a summer quite as well as a barbecue meal for you and your loved ones. The combination of warm sun, cold drinks, and well-cooked steak is the perfect thing to serve up and enjoy the weather.

If you want to make the most of the weather, then it doesn't come free. Good-quality food costs, unfortunately, as does a good-quality grill to cook it on. Hopefully, after reading this article, you're prepared to get the best summer food possible at the best price you can possibly manage.

Be realistic and do as much of the meal yourself as you can. That's all it takes to make your family barbecue that bit cheaper.