how to throw a $45 summer BBQ party
a full guide with everything you need, from the grocery list to the table setting
Summer entertaining does not have to be expensive, elaborate, or leave you sweating over the grill while your guests sip mocktails without you. This week’s guide is proof that you can throw a full-on backyard BBQ—drinks, sides, dessert and all—for just $45. If you love my Budget Grocery Series, this budget menu is a spin on the same idea: that it is possible to make delicious, fun recipes without breaking your budget or wasting ingredients. Skip the dinner out with friends and follow this menu instead!
Let’s talk about the menu: today’s 4-course menu is summery, satisfying, and budget-conscious without skimping on flavor. It’s built around ingredients that stretch, seasonal produce that does the heavy lifting, and easy recipes that don’t require a culinary degree to pull off. No specialty ingredients, no fancy grill tools. Just a little prep, a solid plan of action, and a few crowd-pleasers that taste even better outside.
Today’s newsletter walks you through the full menu—as is, the menu serves 4 hungry people (I’d say it would also work for 5-6 less hungry people) but it’s easy to double for a bigger crowd. You’ll also get a grocery list, day-of game plan, and my tips and table setting favorites to get it all done. If you’re just looking for one or two recipes to bring to a potluck, we’ve got you there too—these dishes work great on their own.
If you’re planning on following along I highly recommend watching the full video for the grocery list and pantry staples, a rundown of all the recipes, my best party prep tips, and how each component should look. Below you’ll find everything you need to pull off the easiest, most delicious $45 BBQ of your summer.
Let’s throw a budget BBQ!
Download the grocery list:
Party Prep Plan of Action:
Watch the video to follow along.
Soak the dates for the barbecue sauce and chocolate mousse
Prep the chocolate mousse and whipped cream, chill until serving
Prep the Pineapple Mocktails, refrigerate until serving (without extra ice)
Make the BBQ sauce, double batch for the chickpea salad and skewers
Prep the BBQ Bean Salad — use half of the total BBQ sauce prepped
Make the Lime Vinaigrette — for the corn and arugula salad
Assemble the chicken skewers — brushed with a portion of remaining BBQ sauce
Grill the corn and chicken skewers — cut the corn off the cob and assemble the arugula salad and brush the skewers with remaining BBQ sauce
Serve — drinks, then BBQ Bean Salad, Corn and Arugula Salad, and Skewers
Assemble and serve the Chocolate Mousse
Grab all the kitchen tools you’ll need to pull it off here!
The Recipes:
BBQ Chickpea Bean Salad with Date Barbecue Sauce
serves 4 to 6 | prep time: 20 minutes | cook time: 20 minutes
Note: To follow the party prep plan, you’ll be making a double match of Date BBQ Sauce. Half of the double batch is used in this salad and half is used in the skewers. If you’re only making one dish, just follow the instructions as written on the website page. This veggie and protein packed salad is the perfect blend of hearty, bold, and refreshing—an all in one vibrant bowl. The crispy chickpeas and smoky-sweet sauce bring comfort-food flavor, while the crisp veggies keep things light and fresh.
get the full recipe here
BBQ Chicken Skewers
serves 4 to 6 | prep time: 20 minutes | cook time: 15 minutes
Note: The remaining Date BBQ (from the double match) will be used here. I find a skewer makes a meal so much more fun, and feels elevated without any extra work. These BBQ Chicken Skewers are sweet, smoky, and just the right amount of tangy—thanks to a homemade date-sweetened barbecue sauce that’s blended until silky smooth. Juicy chicken thighs get grilled alongside red onion, bell pepper, and pineapple (!!) for a fun summery twist on your average chicken on the grill.
get the full recipe here
Corn and Arugula Salad with Lime Vinaigrette
serves 4 | prep time: 10 minutes | cook time: 10 minutes
This bright and zesty Corn and Arugula Salad is the perfect side for summer meals—fresh, peppery arugula gets tossed with smoky grilled corn and a tangy lime vinaigrette that comes together in seconds. It’s quick, flavorful, and pairs perfectly with these BBQ Chicken Skewers. Bonus: it works with canned corn too!
get the full recipe here
No-Bake Chocolate Mousse
serves 4 | prep time: 25 minutes | chill time: 4 hours
This chocolate mousse is rich, creamy, and secretly date-sweetened for a naturally luscious dessert that feels fancy but comes together with just a few simple ingredients. Blended with melted chocolate and chilled coconut cream, each bite is silky smooth and deeply chocolatey—no eggs or dairy required. Top with whipped coconut cream and a sprig of mint for a dessert that’s impressive and low effort.
get the full recipe here
Pineapple Mint Mocktail
serves 4 to 6 | prep time: 10 minutes
INGREDIENTS
2 cups diced pineapple
2 tablespoons mint leaves, roughly chopped, additional to garnish
Juice and zest of 1 lime
2 cups ice, additional for serving
Lime wedges, for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
Add the pineapple to a blender with the mint leaves, lime juice, lime zest, and 4 cups of cold water. Blend on high speed until completely smooth, 45 to 60 seconds. Add more water as needed to blend. Add the ice and blend again.
Transfer to a pitcher. Right before serving, fill the rest of the pitcher with ice, then pour into glasses and top with mint leaves and a lime wedge.
Note: For more of a slushy-style drink, blend in one additional cup of ice before transferring to a pitcher to serve.
Tips to pull it off
👍 Keep it simple: If you’ve been here a while, you know I rarely call for specialty ingredients and this menu is no different. Simple seasonings, pantry staples, and peak-season produce are all you need. Especially when you’re making multiple recipes, it pays to let the ingredients do the heavy lifting (and in summer, they really do).
🏃♀️ Choose recipes that stretch: Making a large salad, like today’s BBQ Bean Salad, helps stretch servings and add extra protein to everyone’s plate. These are also the types of dishes that feel generous on a budget, especially when served family-style.
⏱️ Make the most of prep time: The best way to avoid last-minute chaos? Spend a few minutes writing out your cooking timeline before guests arrive. It makes everything feel so much more manageable. I’ve laid out a full step-by-step plan!
🍽️ Use what you’ve got: You don’t need a matching set of serving dishes or a Pinterest-perfect table. Use your biggest cutting board as a drink station, stack cloth napkins in a bowl, pull out that random set of mason jars for mocktails (we all have them laying around!) It’s casual summer hosting—embrace it!
☀️ Think about the full experience: This party is more than the food (though the food is very good). A pitcher of cold drinks, a simple table setting, and an easy playlist go a long way. I’ve linked all my favorite hosting tools here if you need ideas.
what I’m prepping
Blueberry Milk Chia Pudding — who’s following the July meal prep plan today?!
Baked Feta, Chicken, and Quinoa with Veggies — a high-protein hit and I’ve heard from you all that your kids love it too!! also part of the prep plan.
what I’m loving
Splatter Trays — I love to use trays like this for organizing ingredients and these are the perfect size for skewers. Get the links to these & everything else I used for the BBQ here.
Checkered Plates — A very similar set to the ones I got from Home Goods for today’s video! They give Mackenzie Childs vibes for much less.
what I’m recommending
Metal Skewers — the exact skewers I use, so easy to clean and super affordable.
Grill Pan — perfect for apartment grilling! this cast iron is also a great option.
I hope you all have a lovely week, and be sure to stay tuned over on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to see what I have for y’all this upcoming week!
I'll be on my grill all summer long so this is super helpful Jenn!
Talk to me about this chili crunch chicken you mention in the notes. I’m searching high and low for this recipe w/o success. I have a bit of a chili crisp problem at the moment.