These best BBQ side dishes will please a crowd without breaking the bank! Summer events don’t need to put a stress on your budget and can still be delicious!
Summer BBQ season is upon us! Event after event will start to pop up and when you feel like you need to bring something to every event, it’s not easy on your budget! I’ve put together my top 10 Cheapest and Best BBQ Side dishes to get you through this busy season without busting your budget.
Street Corn Pasta Salad:
If you love Mexican Street Corn, you’re going to love this Mexican Macaroni Salad. Every time I’ve made this my friends and family have asked for the recipe. And it’s become a staple in the rotation at my sister in-laws. It’s so simple and cheap that you can make it week after week without spending too much time or money. If you’re looking for a staple summer side, or something special to bring to an event, this Mexican Macaroni Salad is sure to do the trick.
Club Salad Pasta Salad:
If you love a good club sandwich, this pasta salad is the prefect side dish for you. This recipe for pasta salad cold is a great way to use cold cuts and cool you down in the summer. This is also an inspiring way to use up cold cuts and not have to go out to buy ingredients. Made with things you likely have on hand this pasta salad is a crowd pleaser for sure.
My Favorite Recipe for 3 Bean Salad
Growing up, it couldn’t be a summer BBQ in my house without 3 bean salad. This is why it ranks as one of the best bbq side dishes hands down. I specifically requested it time after time. And my mom would oblige because I wasn’t the only one who loved it so much! Easy to make and it only takes a few cans to put together, this is a budget friendly classic!
You know a recipe is good when your mom sends you a picture like this! Now we did change a few things, she switched out the black eyed peas for wax beans and never used tarragon. You can make this your own and I guarantee you’ll make it again and again!
Chick-Fil-A Coleslaw
You can always grab a bag of coleslaw mix at Aldi, Walmart, or your local grocery store for a few bucks. At my local stores, it runs around $1.99 but can go on sale for as low as $.99. Combine a cheap bag of goodness with mayo, sugar, vinegar, and a few spices and you have yourself a Chick-Fil-A copycat! If guests hear it’s Chick-Fil-A’s recipe they are sure to try it! And, in my opinion, this is the best coleslaw recipe out there!
Boxed Cupcake Mix
This one isn’t groundbreaking but I always try to keep a box of mix and frosting on hand at all times in case something comes up. I like to stock up when the mix is on sale for around $1. The frosting often runs a bit more, close to $1.50 but you can get the funfetti frosting at Walmart for the same price and then it comes with sprinkles! So you’re all in for $2.50 assuming you have eggs and oil.
Cupcakes are festive and they can appear like you put a lot more work in than you did haha.
My Own Potato and Egg Salad
I’ve perfected this recipe over the years. It’s a mix between my moms potato salad that is based on the recipe in “The Joy of Cooking” and store bought potato salad with eggs. It’s got pickles, and eggs and it has just enough mayo to make it creamy but not overwhelming.
My Recipe for Potato salad:
- 3-4 lbs potatoes peeled and cubed
- 1/4 cup minced onion
- 2 dill pickle spears
- 2 tbs pickle juice
- 1 tbs vinegar
- 1/2 cup mayo – add more as needed salt to taste
- Optional: 4 hard boiled eggs, paprika for sprinkling
Instructions: Boil potatoes until tender (about 12 mins) drain and cool potatoes mix ingredients 2-5 and add cooled potatoes. Mix with 3 diced eggs if you are using those. Top with 1 sliced egg and paprika.
Black Bean Salad
I find myself making this black bean salad year after year. It’s probably my best go-to pantry friendly salad recipe. It’s quick, easy, and budget friendly. This particular recipe is delicious and worth a try!
Mexican Street Corn Salad
This Mexican Street Corn Salad from the Skinnyish Dish has been on my summer rotation for years. The original recipe has you use fresh corn and serves the salad warm. Through the years, I’ve used canned corn and served it cold, even brought it camping, and it was still delicious.
Chili Cornbread Salad
For us, this is a 4th of July classic. You only need a box of jiffy mix to make up some quick corn bread, canned beans, veggies, and cheese and you’ll be good to go! While there seem like quite a few ingredients, this salad feeds 15 so there is plenty to go around! It makes enough for a crowd and makes everyone very happy. For us up in New England, this one is totally different and not something my family and friends had seen before. However, they were happy to indulge in it and hope to see more of it!
Ingredients and Prices at Walmart:
- 1 package (8-1/2 ounces) cornbread/muffin mix .47
- 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chiles, undrained .78
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
- Pinch rubbed sage
- 1 cup mayonnaise .74
- 1 cup sour cream .98
- 1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix .77
- 2 cans (15 ounces each) pinto beans, rinsed and drained 1.56
- 2 cans (15-1/4 ounces each) whole kernel corn, drained 1.16
- 3 medium tomatoes, chopped 1.29
- 1 cup chopped green pepper .88
- 1 cup chopped green onions .44
- 10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled 1.70
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 2
- = $12.80 for 15 servings = .$85 serving
Ramen Noodle Salad
My sisters mother-in-law brings this salad to many family events an we always look forward to it. Using the cheapest of cheap, ramen noodles, and coleslaw mix, this salad is a taste and budget winner!
Coming in at only $.64 a serving, this is a no brainer, pantry friendly summer treat that will wow all your friends and guests!
Ingredient and Prices at Walmart:
- Cole Slaw Mix: 1.98
- 1 cup sunflower seeds, shelled 1.44
- 2 (3-ounce) bags rame (any flavor, you won’t be using the seasoning packets so it doesn’t matter) .47
- 2 stalks of scallions, sliced .44
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- Total = 3.89 for at least 6 servings = $.64 per serving
BBQ Chicken Sliders
Sliders are always winners! I will eat anything in slider form! These in particular are one of the best BBQ side dishes because they are so inexpensive and really easy to make! You need some slider rolls, I recommend Aldi for these, chicken, BBQ sauce, and cheese and you’re all set! I love making up frozen chicken that I already bought on sale in the crock pot and putting these babies together!
Ingredients and Prices at Walmart and Aldi:
- 1lb chicken 2.58
- BBQ Sauce: .67
- Rolls 2.09 (Aldi)
- Total = 5.34 for 6 = $.89 per serving
More Budget Meals and Fun!
For more delicious budget recipes check out this list of 10 Small Budget meals that can help you get through the weeks without breaking the bank.
If you need something faster check out these $5 and 10 minute dinners!
And to see me make all of these delicious best BBQ Side Dishes on youtube watch here!
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