Nothing says 4th of July like a backyard barbecue and the beauty is, it's one of the most affordable parties you'll ever throw. You can produce great food on the grill with simple, affordable ingredients. That's how we were able to serve a full meal for 12 for less than $3 per person complete with 2 entrees, a festive punch and even dessert.
Keep an eye out for new BBQ products on shelves this month. It's common for retailers and manufacturers to offer great savings on new products so you'll try them out. That's how we were able to score these McCormick smoked sausages for less than $2 a package.
The trick is buying bone-in chicken thighs, which maximizes the flavor and minimizes the cost. By scanning store ads, you can typically find thighs for as little as $0.79/lb. Throw in your favorite BBQ sauce and you're ready to go.
Branch out from the typical mayo base on your pasta salad. We found coupons for Greek yogurt, which saved us an additional dollar and added a healthy touch to this summer staple.
Corn is in-season, perfect for the grill and prices are at their best. Since there's already so much food on the table, we cut our corncobs in half to double portions. You can also cut the corn off the cob to make a corn salad that will stretch much further.
Infused butters can turn any dish into something spectacular. Bring the butter to room temperature then whip it with the toppings of your choice. Nothing tastes better with corn than this combination of butter, lime and cilantro. If you like spicy, add a touch of chili powder or cayenne.
Fruit salad can feel so passé. Up the ante by using cookie cutters to create fruit shapes (like patriotic stars). Then use small 4" skewers to make your very own fruit kebabs. Make a dip with a leftover container of Greek yogurt from your pasta salad, add a touch of honey, brown sugar or whatever sweetener you have on hand.
Blow guests away with a layered punch. Pour the beverage with the highest sugar content first, it will sit on the bottom and the lowest sugar content will float on the top. The more dramatic the difference in sugar, the more success you will have keeping layers split.
We love ingredients that do double duty like chocolate covered graham crackers, which make 2-ingredient s'mores a reality. Plus, you can use your BBQ embers to roast your marshmallows so you maximize use of those coals.
Planning a different 4th of July Menu? Don't forget to check for coupons first!