SUMMER signals the start of grilling season, but you don’t have to break the bank to whip up delicious meals on the grill.
A top chef has revealed four simple switches you can make this summer amid rising meat prices to slash your grilling costs without sacrificing flavor.
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Summer is just days away, officially kicking off on the summer solstice, which falls on June 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere.
Grilling season is also upon us thanks to the warming temperatures, making it the perfect time to head outdoors with your family and friends for a delicious meal of barbecued veggies and meat.
Cooking up a feast on the grill, however, is becoming more and more pricey.
The price of a summer barbecue for 10 people is roughly $103 this season – around 4% more than in 2024 and 41% more than in 2018, per a recent report from RaboBank.
Supply and demand as well as inflation are mainly to blame for the price hike, plus other factors such as tariffs and rising labor costs.
And while no summer grilling season is complete without meat, it can run up your bill and make for a costly cookout.
The cost of both chicken and beef have spiked since last year, with the latter meat especially hit hard due to decreased cattle inventory and increased production costs, pushing an all-time high for retail beef prices.
To help shoppers combat inflation at the grocery store, The U.S. Sun spoke exclusively with chef Grace Vallo about easy switches for grilling season to cut costs “without sacrificing the flavor and fun.”
A full-time recipe developer, blogger, and foodie, Vallo is the face behind the popular cooking website Tastefully Grace, where she shares kitchen-tested recipes and step-by-step tutorials to help home cooks become pros in the kitchen.
Vallo dished out her top four tricks for saving money when grilling this summer so that you can pull off the grill cover and get in full cooking mode without emptying your pockets.
1. CHICKEN THIGHS > CHICKEN BREASTS
While many Americans reach for the chicken breasts at the grocery store, Vallo advised opting for chicken thighs instead.
They generally boast more flavor and versatility than the white meat in chicken breasts, according to Vallo.
The dark meat in chicken thighs has a higher fat content, and when the fat melts during the cooking process, it keeps the meat moist helping the thighs to “stay juicy on the grill.”
On the other hand, white meat contains less fat and can dry out more easily on the grill.
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Not only do chicken thighs have a richer flavor than chicken breasts, but they are also generally cheaper per pound.
2. GROUND TURKEY OR PORK > GROUND BEEF
Another easy switch that chef Vallo suggested was ditching ground beef in favor of either ground turkey or pork.
The latter options are more affordable, especially for burgers or kebabs, said the cooking pro.
Beef has skyrocketed in price, with ground beef prices up 10% year-over-year – a much greater spike than chicken at nearly 3% and ham at over 4%.
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The average cost of a pound of ground beef reached a record-high of $5.80 in April – a nearly 50% increase from five years ago.
The meat is so costly at the moment due to several factors, including drought, expensive grain to feed the cattle, general inflation, and high interest rates.
The US cattle herd is at its lowest level in decades, pushing high prices and making ground turkey and ground pork much more economically feasible options.
While many Americans prefer ground beef for its rich, savory flavor, Vallo suggested zhuzhing up the leaner options with some seasoning “to boost the flavor.”
How to cut the cost of your grocery shop
BELOW are some tips on how to reduce the amount you spend on groceries.
- Write yourself a list – Only buy items that you need. If it isn’t on your list, don’t put it in the trolley
- Create a budget – Work out a weekly budget for your food shopping
- Never shop hungry – You are far more likely to buy more food if your tummy is rumbling
- Don’t buy pre-chopped veggies or fruit – The extra they’ll charge for chopping can be eye watering
- Use social media – Follow your favourite retailers to find out about the latest deals
- Be disloyal – You may want to go to different stores to find the best bargains
- Check the small print – It’s always worth checking the price per kg/lb/litre when comparing offers so you’re making a like for like decision as a bigger box won’t necessarily mean you get more
- Use your loyalty cards – Don’t be afraid to sign up to them all. They all work slightly differently – work out what bonus suits you better and remember to trade in your points for additional rewards
3. MEAT + BEAN BURGERS > ALL-MEAT BURGERS
Another way to slash your grilling costs this summer is by mixing beans into your burger patties.
Chef Vallo suggested mixing black beans, lentils, or chickpeas into burger patties to not only reduce their cost, but also boost the fiber contents.
This tip makes for a more filling meal and adds bulk to the patties so you can make more servings from the same amount of beef.
Shoppers can get even more bang for their buck by swapping out the ground beef for ground turkey or pork.
4. SAUSAGES > STEAKS
Another easy yet cost-effective switch to stack up the savings during grilling season is to ditch expensive steaks in favor of sausages.
Steak tends to be some of the priciest cuts in the meat section, and prices are only climbing higher.
Meat prices have risen year-over-year with steak up 7%, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Not only are the historic cattle herd lows impacting beef prices, but also tariffs, as the US imports a significant amount of meat from Canada and Mexico.
Instead of giving in to the higher prices, chef Vallo advised swapping out steaks for grilled sausage, whether pork, chicken, or turkey.
“Grill links or slice the sausages into skewers,” said the pro cook. “They have great flavor at a fraction of the cost.”
As inflation hits hard at the grocery store, a retail expert has shared three easy tips to save at checkout.
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