Delicious on a Dime: 13 Cheap Grilling Recipes

on September 4, 2015

SweetT Makes Three

BBQ on a Budget

Gearing up for grilling season-on a budget? Check out these delicious yet affordable cookout recipes for stretching a buck (without sacrificing flavor).

Steamy Kitchen

Upgrade Your Steak

Who knew that even the cheapest cuts of beef could be tender? The trick: salting your meat beforehand. This tenderizes the meat and seals in flavor, allowing you to avoid coughing up extra cash for prime cuts.

Learn how to properly salt your steak here.

Living Well Spending Less

Grilled Pizza

Who knew pizza did so well on the grill? This easily customizable pizza base is affordable and can be customized with whatever toppings you have on hand-no extra trips to the grocery store required!

Get the Recipe: Grilled Pizza

SweetT Makes Three

Chuck Eye Steak

Don't let this cut fool you-it tastes every bit as good as a ribeye, especially when prepared well and served with some delicious sides. Plus, it's much cheaper than its highbrow counterparts.

Get the Recipe: Chuck Eye Steak

Garnish and Glaze

Pork Chops with Grilled Peaches

Pork chops tend to be less expensive than other cuts of meat, and taste just as delicious with an easy homemade marinade. Dress them up with grilled fruit, and you've got a heck of a bang for your buck.

Get the Recipe: Barbeque Pork Chops with Grilled Peaches

5 Dollar Dinners

Steak Kebabs

Stretch your protein budget even farther by using stew meat for a round of colorful kebabs. The addition of pineapple, peppers and onions turns it into a full, balanced meal on a stick.

Get the Recipe: Steak, Pineapple, & Pepper Kebabs

101 Cooking for Two

Grilled Tilapia

There are a few great things about tilapia: it tends to be cheaper than other fish filets, and it absorbs just about any flavor you put on it. Think along the lines of whatever seasonings you have on-hand, or whatever garnishes happen to be cheapest at the market. Perfect for a budget-friendly barbecue!

Get the Recipe: Grilled Blackened Tilapia

The Kitchn

Grilled Chipotle Cauliflower Steaks

Another great way to save on grilling? Skip the meat altogether! Here, cauliflower "steaks" are seasoned well with lime and spices, then charred on the grill to perfection, making for cheap, easy, and really, really good eating.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Chipotle Lime Cauliflower Steaks

Budget Savvy Diva

Hot Cheese Dip

Don't forget the apps! Guests need something to nibble on while you hang by the grill, after all. This Fontina cheese dip is nothing short of addictive. For about $2 per serving plus the cost of crusty bread or tortillas chips, you'll keep everyone satisfied until dinner's on the table.

Get the Recipe: Hot Cheese Dip

Good Cheap Eats

White Bean Salad

Don't spend money on sides at the deli when it's so easy to make your own! This recipe employs super-economical, super filling beans and calls for only a few additional ingredients.

Get the Recipe: White Bean Salad

Budget Bytes

Skillet Potatoes and Green Beans

This filling side slides in at under a dollar per serving and is a great complement to just about any go-to grilled mains.

Get the Recipe: Skillet Potatoes and Green Beans

The Recipe Critic

Mexican Street Corn

To make that grocery budget work even harder for you, take your standard corn on the cob up a notch with just a few simple upgrades. Fresh corn is usually inexpensive during the summer and fall, so take advantage of the seasonal savings!

Get the Recipe: Grilled Mexican Street Corn

Crazy for Crust

Easy Cherry Peach Cake

Calling for only five simple ingredients, this bright and fruity dessert is inexpensive and easy to make. Serve with ice cream for a sweet finish.

Get the Recipe: Cherry Peach Dump Cake

From Away

Strawberry Shortcake Kebabs

These stunning (and super easy) skewers are sure to be a quick backyard favorite. They're easy to assemble, and the ingredients go a long way. The perfect way to round out your budget-friendly barbecue.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Strawberry Shortcake Kebabs

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