Dr Mobeus
How to Throw a Brilliant Summer BBQ Without Emptying Your Wallet
There is something about British summer that makes everyone want to fire up the grill. The moment the sun comes out, the WhatsApp group lights up with “ours or yours?” and suddenly you are hosting twelve people on Saturday afternoon.
The problem? A BBQ for a crowd can easily cost £80-100 if you are not careful. Premium burgers, posh sausages, marinades, sides, drinks, dessert – it all adds up fast. But it does not have to. Here is how to feed a crowd for under £25 and still have people asking when the next one is.
The Meat: Where You Save the Most
This is where most of your budget goes, so this is where you save the most. Forget the premium BBQ ranges – they are designed to look impressive, not to be good value.
Chicken Thighs Over Breast
Boneless chicken thighs cost around £3.50/kg at Aldi or Lidl, compared to £7+/kg for breast. Thighs are actually better on the BBQ – they stay juicy, take marinade brilliantly, and nobody complains about dry chicken. Buy a 1kg pack for £3.50 and that is 8-10 generous portions.
Sausages: The Smart Way
Forget the “ultimate BBQ” premium sausages at £4-5 a pack. Aldi’s specially selected pork sausages are £2.29 for 6 and genuinely excellent on a grill. Lidl’s deluxe range is similar quality at a similar price. Two packs (£4.60) gives you 12 sausages. Done.
Burgers: Make Your Own
Pre-made burgers are a rip-off. 500g of Aldi British beef mince is £2.89. Mix with a finely chopped onion, some salt, pepper and a splash of Worcestershire sauce, and you get 8-10 proper homemade burgers for less than half the price of a 4-pack of pre-formed ones. They taste better too.
Skewers: The Secret Weapon
Veggie skewers make the meat go further and look impressive. Chop peppers, onions, courgettes and mushrooms – about £2 of veg makes 12 skewers. Thread them between chunks of chicken for chicken skewers that stretch your meat budget beautifully.
Marinades That Cost Pennies
Shop-bought marinades are £1.50-2.50 a bottle and mostly oil and sugar. Make your own in 30 seconds:
- Honey and soy: 2 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp oil, garlic – costs about 15p
- Lemon and herb: Juice of 1 lemon, olive oil, dried herbs, salt and pepper – 20p
- BBQ rub: Mix paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper – literally from your spice rack
- Garlic butter: Melted butter with crushed garlic and parsley – perfect for basting
Marinate chicken thighs for at least 2 hours (overnight is ideal). Sausages and burgers just need a good seasoning.
Sides That Fill People Up Cheaply
Sides are where the magic happens. If you load people up on filling, tasty sides, you need less meat. That is the real secret to a cheap BBQ.
Homemade Coleslaw
A bag of coleslaw mix is £1 at Aldi. Add 3 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 tsp cider vinegar, a pinch of sugar and some black pepper. That is 50p for a massive bowl. The shop-bought tubs are £2-3 for half the amount.
Potato Salad
1kg of potatoes is about 80p. Boil, cool, mix with mayo, spring onions and a squeeze of lemon. Big bowl of proper potato salad for about £1.20.
Corn on the Cob
Corn is incredibly cheap in summer – about 35p per cob at Aldi. Grill it with the husk on for 15 minutes, peel back and serve with butter. Six cobs for £2.10 and everyone loves it.
Garlic Bread
Aldi garlic baguettes are 99p. Two of them, sliced and warmed on the BBQ, and you have £2 of food that disappears first every time.
Big Green Salad
A bag of mixed salad leaves (£1), a cucumber (50p), a few tomatoes (80p) and some red onion. Toss with olive oil and vinegar. £2.30 for a salad that looks and tastes fresh.
Drinks on a Budget
The drinks bill can easily exceed the food bill if you are not careful. Here is how to keep it under control:
- Make punch: A bottle of vodka (£12), 2L lemonade (£1), 1L fruit juice (£1), sliced fruit. Serves 15-20 people for about 70p a glass
- Bigger beers: Aldi and Lidl 440ml cans are £3-4 for a 4-pack. That is half the price of premium brands and nobody cares at a BBQ
- Jugs of water with mint and lemon: Free, looks great, and half your guests will choose it anyway
- DIY Pimm’s: One bottle of Pimm’s (£14) with lemonade, fruit and mint stretches to 10 glasses
Dessert: Keep It Simple
Do not spend £15 on desserts. One of these will do:
- Ice cream cones: A 2L tub of ice cream (£2.50) plus cones (£1) = 20 servings for £3.50
- Fruit skewers: Strawberries, grapes, melon chunks on sticks. About £3 for a big platter
- Grilled peaches: Halve peaches, grill cut-side down for 3 minutes, serve with a scoop of ice cream. Looks fancy, costs £2
The Full Shopping List and Cost Breakdown
Here is what you need for 10-12 people, all from Aldi or Lidl:
- 1kg boneless chicken thighs – £3.50
- 2 packs pork sausages (12 total) – £4.60
- 500g beef mince (makes 8-10 burgers) – £2.89
- Peppers, onions, courgette for skewers – £2.00
- 1kg potatoes for potato salad – £0.80
- Coleslaw mix bag – £1.00
- 6 corn on the cob – £2.10
- 2 garlic baguettes – £1.98
- Salad leaves, cucumber, tomatoes – £2.30
- Mayonnaise (if you need it) – £0.89
- Burger buns (2 packs) – £1.80
- Ice cream 2L tub – £2.50
Total food cost: £24.46
That is about £2 per person for a proper BBQ with mains, sides and dessert. Add your own drinks budget on top.
5 More Ways to Save
- Borrow, do not buy: Need an extra cooler, gazebo or garden chairs? Ask your WhatsApp group before buying
- BYO means bring your own: It is perfectly fine to ask guests to bring drinks. Most people offer anyway
- Use charcoal, not gas canisters: A £5 bag of charcoal is cheaper than a £15 gas canister refill if you do not already have one
- Check the yellow stickers: Reduced meat from the supermarket chiller works brilliantly if you are cooking the same day
- Make it a potluck BBQ: Everyone brings a side or dessert. You provide the grill and the meat. This is the real cheat code
It Is About the Atmosphere, Not the Price Tag
The best BBQs are not the ones with the most expensive food. They are the ones where the sun is out, the music is on, and nobody is stressing about the bill. A £25 BBQ with good company beats a £100 BBQ any day.
Fire up the grill, make a big bowl of coleslaw, and enjoy summer the way it is meant to be enjoyed – without worrying about the cost.
Looking for more ways to save this summer? Check out our Summer BBQ on a Budget guide and our tips for saving money on your summer food shop.
