Skip to Content

Memorial Day Barbecue on a Budget

Sharing is caring!

Memorial Day is right around the corner. For many families, that means summer has officially begun and it’s time to start thinking about cookouts and barbecues. If you’re on a tight budget, don’t worry. You can enjoy a delicious meal that won’t break the bank.

A Memorial Day cookout doesn’t have to break the bank. It also doesn’t have to be hotdogs and hamburgers. What if you could have baby back ribs, baked beans, fried corn, cornbread, and strawberry shortcake for less than $30? Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? The good news is you really can make this delicious meal for a family of four on a tight budget. The key is to check your sales papers for the best deals.

Memorial Day Barbecue on a Budget

Memorial Day

Memorial Day Dinner on the Cheap

Baby back ribs can usually be found during Memorial Day weekend for less than $3 per pound. A family of four isn’t going to need more than two slabs of ribs, which means you’ll pay around $12 for the ribs. The best way to fix the ribs is to slow cook them for around 8 hours and then throw them on the grill and brush them with your favorite barbecue sauce. Cook until the sauce adheres and serve.

Baked beans are a truly inexpensive side dish. All you’ll need are two cans of pork and beans, two tablespoons of brown sugar, a teaspoon mustard, two tablespoons ketchup, and a tablespoon of barbecue sauce. You can also add bacon bits or even smoked sausage, if you like. Mix everything together and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. In the video below, I show how to make my smoked sausage baked beans.

Corn is another item you’ll find on sale during Memorial Day weekend. Usually you’ll pay $0.25 to $0.30 per ear of corn. For a family of four, you’ll want at least four ears. Cut the corn off the cob and melt a half stick of butter in a large skillet. Once melted, add the corn and cook over medium-high heat for around 10 minutes, stirring continuously to coat the corn in butter.

Lastly, cornbread is as simple as 1 ½ cups of cornmeal mix, ½ cup self-rising flour, and enough milk to create a batter (start with half cup of milk and add more until a batter consistency forms). Pour into a greased 8-inch cast iron pan and bake at 450 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown.

Time for Dessert

Three more items you’ll find on sale during Memorial Day weekend are strawberries, pound cake, and whipped topping. You’ll also need to purchase strawberry glaze. The total dessert will cost around $7 to prepare and you’ll need one pound of strawberries, a pouch of strawberry glaze, pound cake, and whipped topping. Simply wash and slice the strawberries before folding the strawberries with the glaze. Place the mixture in the refrigerator until ready to serve. When ready to serve, slice the pound cake and top with strawberries and whipped topping.

Your Memorial Day dinner doesn’t have to be expensive. You can enjoy good barbecue with great side dishes and a wonderful dessert for less than $30. Best of all, it’s a delicious meal that everyone in the family is sure to love.

What’s your favorite dish to fix during the summer? Leave a comment below. Remember, you can also find me on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.