Affordable Barbecue Ideas

With the warm summer weather and the potential for a stay-at-home summer (See our stretching food supplies during COVID post) now is the time to start thinking about barbecue ideas!  We’ll start with the backyard and work our way to fun summer barbecue recipes!

Ways to Build Your Own Barbecue

You can build a wonderful BBQ area for a very affordable price.  And we guarantee it’ll look like you spent a fortune!  Now, let’s roll up those sleeves!

There are many designs for a BBQ pit for your backyard available online. However, one of the most affordable barbecue ideas uses cinder blocks and some garden bricks for exterior decoration. The BBQ can be set up in just a few hours.  You could be grilling for dinner! 

Finding Easy Barbecue Recipes

With everyone watching their budget right now, any affordable barbecue ideas must include great barbecue recipes. You can cook some fabulous dishes without having to invest in pricey cuts of meat, exotic spices, or special tools to cook with on the grill. 

If you are looking for a fun idea to try with all your friends, why not try this Stone Soup recipe idea?! We tell you all about it but basically everyone brings one item and the results are amazing!

You can make even the most basic hot dog or hamburger come to life with the right BBQ recipe. In fact, you may find that you enjoy the less expensive cuts of meat on the grill much more than their pricier counterparts.  We’re always looking to save some moolah! 

One of our favorite grilling ideas is a foil packet. You can add butter to the bottom, vegetables like potato, carrots, zucchini, onion, green peppers, and garlic to the packet. Make sure all edges are securely sealed so it doesn’t leak. We use this heavy-duty tinfoil to make it foolproof. 10 minutes per side usually results in perfectly grilled vegetables but it varies by heat of your grill so monitor it closely the first couple times.

BBQ Side Dishes That Can’t Be Beat 

There is always room for side dishes when you have a barbecue. Coleslaw, corn on the cob, and watermelon are all-time favorites. However, if you want to get creative while remaining on a budget, you can make some fabulous side dishes that will take your BBQ to the next level. 

A MUST at our BBQ is mom’s famous potato salad recipe. It’s filling and delicious. The secret ingredient is what makes it the best we’ve ever had.  You can easily add other salads to your BBQ.  Check out Our Favorite Summer Salads where we share recipes from pasta to berries and more.

Don’t Forget About Safety 

When you have a BBQ grill or pit in your backyard, you must take some extra precautions.  This is especially true in areas where lack of rain can make the surrounding natural areas a risk for fire.  Safety first, Everyone!

For stand-alone BBQ grills, like the cinder block one described above, make sure that you keep children away from the grill when it is in use. Although cinder blocks are fireproof, they do retain heat. Little hands can quickly get burned, even if they are nowhere near the charcoal or wood. We hope no one ever gets burned during your cookout but if they do, we have some home remedies for burns. 

At the end of the BBQ, make sure that all your embers are out and that all food has been picked up and put away. This will ensure that no accidental fires will start and you won’t attract any wildlife into your BBQ area. 

Sisters Know Best has several ideas for summer salads and crafts.  They’ll help you plan the perfect backyard barbecue.  Enjoy, and don’t forget the sunscreen!