Budget Friendly BBQ Dishes & Sides For A Large Crowd

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It’s that time of year. Summer has arrived (almost) and everyone is outside enjoying the warm sunshine and grilling with family and friends. Budget Friendly BBQ Dishes & Sides For A Large Crowd gives you some great ideas to keep the costs down while entertaining and enjoying some delicious recipes too!

I’m taking part in a blog series to help you plan and throw the best BBQ this summer.

We’ve got Budget Friendly BBQ Dishes & Sides For A Large Crowd, great recipe inspiration and ideas.

We know it’s hard to budget our summer entertaining, especially with the rising cost of food. But we make it easier!

It’s always fun to get together with family and friends in the summer months and throw together a BBQ to enjoy friendship, laughter and fun.

However if you’re working on a budget, it can be stressful trying to come up with ideas to keep the cost down but to ensure everyone eats well.

We can help with our Budget Friendly BBQ Dishes & Sides For A Large Crowd.

First of all, when planning your menu, you should always start with the # of mouths you need to feed.

In our family alone, we have 7 mouths, add in our extended family that usually attend our BBQs and you’ve easily hit 14.

Then add in friends and neighbors and the cost of food increases dramatically as we add more mouths to feed.

That won’t keep us from throwing a great BBQ and making sure nobody goes home hungry.

So let’s talk Budget Friendly BBQ Dishes & Sides For A Large Crowd

Budget Friendly BBQ Dishes & Sides For A Large Crowd: Main Dish

Usually menu planning for a BBQ begins with the main dish.

What are you planning on serving your guests? How much room do you need to cook or even to serve?

These questions will help you consider what items might be the easiest to prepare or throw on the grill.

They will also allow you to use Budget Friendly BBQ Dishes.

For the most frugal parties, hamburgers, hot dogs and brats seem to be the answer.

Those are perfect, sales are in abundance in the summer months and they definitely feed a crowd.

But there is so much more you can do, to feed your guests well.

Our favorite BBQ main dish is actually pork ribs.

They are delicious, almost everyone loves them and of course if you can find a sale (also often in the summer) you’ll be whipping up a Budget Friendly BBQ Dish in no time flat.

You can usually watch the meat case for great deals starting in early Spring, buy up what you think you’ll need and freeze it until you’re ready to use it. Especially if you know you’d like to entertain.

Pork is a pretty inexpensive meat on it’s own, but then when you watch for sales or deals you can wind up with quite a lot for not a lot of money. 10lbs of Ribs for $19 is enough to feed a party of 15.

These two packages of Pork Ribs are 10lbs and cost $19 total. That’s less than $20 to feed a large party of 15.

Even buying enough hot dogs and hamburgers, plus buns and condiments to feed everyone, can go way over that.

Scroll to the bottom of post for a very easy Pork Rib recipe

Budget Friendly BBQ Dishes & Sides For A Large Crowd – Side Dishes

We can’t forget the side dishes and there are so many budget friendly recipes and options for frugal side dishes.

You can feed any crowd for less with these great recipes. It’s imperative to have several choices for side dishes when feeding a large crowd.

You want to ensure that nobody goes hungry and not everyone will like every side dish.

Having great sides will help fill everyone up, and they won’t need seconds and thirds of the main course, which is good.

My favorite go-to frugal side dishes are always my Grilled Corn with Herbed Butter and my Bacon Potato Salad. (links to recipes below)

I get rave reviews anytime I serve these and they are such a traditional BBQ item plus they fit our Budget Friendly BBQ Dishes & Sides For A Large Crowd theme so well.

Corn

Corn is a great inexpensive side dish to serve with any BBQ. The reason being is that corn usually runs about .28 an ear and if you’re lucky you can go to the local farmer’s market and get it for 4/$1, sometimes better – for a party of 15 that’s less than $5 for a side dish and corn is a popular item at BBQ’s! Who doesn’t enjoy corn?

While it is totally okay to freeze corn on the cob, I don’t suggest it. Once thawed and cooked it can become mushy and the flavor changes.

Instead, just store ears whole and unwashed in a sealed plastic bag in your vegetable drawer of your refrigerator. It will help keep for longer if you take those steps.

If you DO want to freeze corn, may I suggest that you cook or blanch it before you freeze and store in freezer safe containers.

It will stay good for 6-8 months in the freezer that way. This awesome recipe is our favorite way to grill fresh corn on the cob.

Potatoes

I love potatoes as an easy and inexpensive side dish. You can usually get HUGE bags of baking potatoes for around $3-$5 – anywhere from 5lbs to 10lbs and it’s definitely enough to serve a small army.

Stay away from the specialty potatoes when you’re working on Budget Friendly BBQ Dishes & Sides For A Large Crowd.

They are more expensive and you get a LOT less.

Just purchase regular baking potatoes in large bags and it will stretch further, you get more for your money and everything STILL tastes great.

Potatoes can be prepared in so many different ways.

You can make your own , or Mash ’em for some yummy .

You can even take them a step further and make these beautiful, fancy OR these mini .

Our favorite thing to do for a BBQ though, is to make up a large batch of this (pictured below) that is always a huge hit.

Everyone asks for the recipe and it’s so super simple and delicious, and goes with practically anything.

Extras

Obviously there are dozens of ideas you can use to create a perfect side dish.

Veggies and fruit are always a popular item and if you plan around sales and seasonal availability, you can really get some great deals.

Salads in general tend to be popular and inexpensive.

Even just a regular salad, but think outside the box and create a great pasta salad (pasta is cheap!) or egg salad or fruit salad.

Beans are a popular BBQ item and go great with just about any meat you throw on the grill.

Cornbread is also a very inexpensive way to throw in a side dish.

This award-winning Moist Sweet Cornbread is one of the most popular recipes on my blog and is a favorite!

It is totally possible to find Budget Friendly BBQ Dishes & Sides For A Large Crowd that don’t have to cost a ton of money to be successful, taste fantastic and have everyone stuffed.

Your BBQ will be a huge hit and you won’t break the bank!

I’d love to know what your favorite budget friendly main dish or side dish happens to be for a large BBQ. Tell me in the comments below.

Easy Grilled Pork Ribs

Grilled Pork Ribs:

Turn your next barbecue into a star-studded event with these incredibly flavorful and tender grilled pork ribs! This fuss-free recipe is perfect for feeding a crowd and guaranteed to leave everyone raving. Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark 4.69 from 16 votes Prep Time 5 minutes minsCook Time 40 minutes minsMarinate 4 hours hrsTotal Time 4 hours hrs 45 minutes mins Course Main DishCuisine American Servings 12 servingsCalories 823 kcal

Ingredients 1x2x3x

1 ½ cups chicken broth
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup dijon mustard
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons minced onions
¼ cup steak sauce
¼ cup soy sauce
1 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
½ teaspoons ground cloves
10 pounds pork ribs or other cuts of pork

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the first 9 ingredients and mix well. Pour 1-1/2 cups of the marinade into a large covered plastic container and add the ribs. Turn the ribs to coat completely.
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours but 10+ is better. In another container, cover and refrigerate the remaining marinade.
When you’re ready to prepare, drain and discard the marinade from the ribs.
Grill the pork ribs on the bbq grill, covered, over indirect medium heat for 20 minutes on each side. Baste the ribs with some the extra marinade sauce.
Grill 15-20 minutes longer or until a meat thermometer reads 160°, turning and basting occasionally.
You can serve the ribs with any remaining sauce or mix up a new batch.

Video

Nutrition Facts

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Nicole Cook is a professional food writer, recipe developer and baker as well as the main voice behind Daily Dish Recipes. Her family friendly and kitchen tested recipes are designed to help the home cook prepare delicious meals for their family and friends. Nicole has been featured on Today, HuffPost, Taste of Home, Buzz Feed and More. She writes and photographs alongside her daughter Brielle, and husband, Kreo, the other voices behind Daily Dish Recipes.

26 Comments

says:
Oh my, Nicole – After reading all of those recipes and drooling over the pics… I am starving! I will def be trying every single one; including that yummy cornbread! Thank you for all of the money saving tips; esp when one is trying to be budget-friendly for a large crowd. Just in time for our Memorial Day BBQ’s!! All of the little “pigs” incorporated into my tablescapes are perfect for this meal! HA! 😉
1. says:
  I enjoyed your tablescapes so much! I’m so glad you liked what you found and that cornbread is simply amazing. Love, love it! So happy to make a new friend in this fun series!! 🙂
says:
What a cool collaboration. I’m actually in the process of planning a (hopefully) budget friendly BBQ for my birthday in a few weeks. Can’t wait to read though all these posts.
1. says:
  Lane, I hope your budget friendly BBQ is awesome. Happy Birthday way early, but still… 🙂 I hope you have so much fun!
says:
This looks delicious! My husband is definitely a better cook than I am, so I’ll definitely be sharing this with him 🙂
Ginny
1. says:
  Thanks so much Ginny!
says:
I love all of these ideas, especially for the side items. My daughter loves bacon so I’ll definitely be trying the potato salad and the herbed butter is a great way to jazz up corn on the cob. All of these dishes remind me of summer! Thanks for being a part of this series.
1. says:
  Thanks so much Dawn. I love taking something simple adding a little something to make it special – that’s how the herbed butter for the grilled ears of corn started. Your daughter will love that creamy potato salad with the bacon. Yum!
  Thanks for inviting me to do the series with you all. It’s been so fun!
Angela says:
WOW! You took the intimidation out of a party I want to throw this summer. I know how to cook for a crowd, but BBQ is NOT my thing. I’m going to copy every single recipe! Looks amazing. THANKS.
1. says:
  Angela! Excellent. I love it when I can provide information, tips and recipes that help someone do something daunting. Please check in after your party this summer and let me know how it went. Enjoy!!
says:
Seriously. I’m drooling. That recipe for the pork ribs sounds amazing! Def. a crowd pleaser. I’m so ready for corn on the cob – it’s the true sign of summer in my book. Thanks for being part of these series; I’m glad I have a new blog to read!!
1. says:
  The pork ribs were fantastic, so moist and succulent and made of course, exactly the way I love them.
  Corn on the cob is a staple here during the summer, so I totally understand Chelsea. I’m so glad we did this series and that I’ve made new friends along the way. 🙂
Richard Holden says:
Trash Can Baked Beans
Tip 6 cans of baked beans into a foil tray. Sprinkle with bbq seasoning, squeeze over 2 lines of French’s mustard. Add in 1 chopped red, green and yellow pepper and 2 chopped peaches. Add in any left over hamburger meat, pulled pork, brisket, sausage, all chopped into small pieces, and stir once.
Cook over a low direct heat, with the lid down, until the beans start to bubble around the edges. At this point turn the heat off and just leave to stand for another 10 minutes.
These are absolutely delicious and save you from throwing out otherwise unwanted pieces of food 🙂
1. says:
  Richard, thanks for the great recipe, and I just love the name! haha These look fantastic and super easy – two things I love.
  Thank you for sharing your lovely recipe!
Summer @ Mallow and Co says:
Love this! I always need good side dish recipes for our family parties!
1. says:
  Thanks Summer, and me too. I’m always looking for great side dishes and usually wind up turning to my tried and true. 😉
Cathy says:
Oh my, Nicole – After reading all of those recipes and drooling over the pics… I am starving! I will def be trying every single one; including that yummy cornbread! Thank you for all of the money saving tips; esp when one is trying to be budget-friendly for a large crowd. Just in time for our Memorial Day BBQ’s!! All of the little “pigs” incorporated into my tablescapes are perfect for this meal! HA! 😉
Lane @ Supper for a Steal says:
What a cool collaboration. I’m actually in the process of planning a (hopefully) budget friendly BBQ for my birthday in a few weeks. Can’t wait to read though all these posts.
Ginny says:
This looks delicious! My husband is definitely a better cook than I am, so I’ll definitely be sharing this with him 🙂
Ginny
Dawn says:
I love all of these ideas, especially for the side items. My daughter loves bacon so I’ll definitely be trying the potato salad and the herbed butter is a great way to jazz up corn on the cob. All of these dishes remind me of summer! Thanks for being a part of this series.
Angela says:
WOW! You took the intimidation out of a party I want to throw this summer. I know how to cook for a crowd, but BBQ is NOT my thing. I’m going to copy every single recipe! Looks amazing. THANKS.
Chelsea {Whatcha Makin' Now?} says:
Seriously. I’m drooling. That recipe for the pork ribs sounds amazing! Def. a crowd pleaser. I’m so ready for corn on the cob – it’s the true sign of summer in my book. Thanks for being part of these series; I’m glad I have a new blog to read!!
Richard Holden says:
Trash Can Baked Beans
Tip 6 cans of baked beans into a foil tray. Sprinkle with bbq seasoning, squeeze over 2 lines of French’s mustard. Add in 1 chopped red, green and yellow pepper and 2 chopped peaches. Add in any left over hamburger meat, pulled pork, brisket, sausage, all chopped into small pieces, and stir once.
Cook over a low direct heat, with the lid down, until the beans start to bubble around the edges. At this point turn the heat off and just leave to stand for another 10 minutes.
These are absolutely delicious and save you from throwing out otherwise unwanted pieces of food 🙂
Summer @ Mallow and Co says:
Love this! I always need good side dish recipes for our family parties!
Saveu says:
Great tips for hosting a delicious BBQ on a budget! Love these creative and affordable ideas for feeding a crowd. Thanks for sharing!\
1. says:
  Thank you so much! Glad they helped!

4.69 from 16 votes ()

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Meet Nicole
+ the Team

Hi there! I am Nicole. A Midwest girl, with a little of the south deep in my heart. I made Daily Dish Recipes my full time job in 2009 to share my recipes and my insane love of food.

My daughter Brielle is a huge part of this site. She has created many of the recipes, done a lot of the photography and been my biggest cheerleader until 2026.

Now the site consists mainly of myself and my fiancé Sergio. Our love of food is shared and we simply love to cook & eat good food.

Budget Friendly BBQ Dishes & Sides For A Large Crowd

So let’s talk Budget Friendly BBQ Dishes & Sides For A Large Crowd

Budget Friendly BBQ Dishes & Sides For A Large Crowd: Main Dish

Scroll to the bottom of post for a very easy Pork Rib recipe