Food

Budget barbecue menu: feed 6 people for £30

by Sarah Akhurst

Image: Kris Kirkham

Spark up the barbie and enjoy a fantastic alfresco feast for less than a round of drinks at the pub. The five recipes in our tasty barbecue menu will easily feed six hungry sunseekers and come in at a party-pleasing £28.50, leaving you just enough change from £30 to buy some crusty rolls for that oozy bacon and cheese meatloaf. Prices correct at time of writing.

FOR MEAT LOVERS: ‘FATTY’ MEATLOAF WITH BACON, CHEESE AND TOMATO RELISH

Wrapped in a blanket of woven bacon with a melting cheese centre, this take on a meatloaf by live fire cooking expert Genevieve Taylor is one of the best things your barbecue will grill this summer. Cut into chunky slices and serve in rolls and give your bog standard burger a run for its money. Cost to serve six: £7.44

Get the recipe for ‘fatty’ meatloaf with bacon, cheese and tomato relish.

IT'S ALL IN THE SLAW: HERBY GREEN SLAW

No barbecue is complete without a slaw, and this vibrant green version is a lovely twist on the traditional. Packed with herbs, it is super fresh, while the buttermilk dressing has the perfect tang for counteracting the richness of the ‘fatty’. This slaw would also be great with barbecued chicken or griddled salmon. Cost to serve six: £3.42

Get the recipe for herby green slaw.

FOR VEGGIES: CHILLI HALLOUMI SKEWERS

Marinated in soy, honey, lime and chilli, these little veggie kebabs really pack a punch and take minutes to prep and cook. Feel free to add veggies to the kebabs to make them a bit more substantial – aubergines or peppers would work really well. Cost to serve six: £8.52

Get the recipe for chilli halloumi skewers.

SIDE SALADS WITH CLOUT: CHARRED CHORIZO, PEACH AND PITTA PANZANELLA

A riff on the classic Italian dish made with tomatoes and stale bread, this salad really is summer on a plate. The spicy saltiness of the chorizo works really well with the sweet, juicy barbecued peaches and mozzarella pearls, but the salad would be equally delicious without if you want to make it veggie. Cost to serve six: £5.76

Get the recipe for charred chorizo, peach & pitta panzanella.

EASY PEASY PUD: BANANA SPLIT ON A STICK

Nothing says summer like threading food on a stick! These super easy fruit kebabs, drizzled with chocolate sauce and nuts, are the ideal sweet treat to round off your feast. If you prefer your marshmallows toasted, pop the kebabs on the embers for a few minutes before finishing with the toppings. (Remember to pre-soak your sticks if you’re planning to put them on the grill). Cost to serve six: £3.36

Get the recipe for banana split on a stick.