MW 5 ways to stretch your Memorial Day BBQ budget as burgers cost 20% more this year

By Genna Contino

'Memorial Day is when you're going to see products on sale,' one supermarket expert says

Memorial Day barbecues will be more expensive this year - but shopping smart and tweaking your menu can help you get more for your money.

Those hosting cookouts this Memorial Day weekend should prepare to spend more than they did last year, as the cost of barbecue essentials has skyrocketed.

The price of a pound of ground beef has reached a historic high of $6.89, Bureau of Labor Statistics data show, meaning throwing burgers on the grill will cost nearly 20% more than in 2025. The cost of toppings and sides are up, too: Lettuce, tomatoes, hot dogs, beer and soda helped push the average price of the classic Memorial Day menu up 13% from a year ago, according to an analysis from the advocacy groups the Century Foundation and Groundwork Collaborative.

While food inflation has been at the top of consumers' minds for several years now (how can we forget the egg-price obsession?), shopping experts say this year feels different. The rising cost of fertilizer is pushing up food prices for Americans who are already pressured by skyrocketing fuel prices as the Iran conflict persists. The average cost of a gallon of gas was $4.55 as of Friday, according to the price-tracking site GasBuddy, a $1.35 year-over-year increase. Higher fuel prices have also contributed to inflation for goods and services beyond the supermarket, creating a perfect storm that many household budgets are struggling to weather.

"It's groceries, it's gas, it's other items that they need for their homes, and so there's just a general sense of just overall concern," shopping expert Trae Bodge said. "So what I am suggesting is that people be a little bit flexible with their menu."

Read more: Most U.S. farmers can't afford all the fertilizer they need this year. Opening the Strait of Hormuz comes too late.

Here are five ways to shop smart and tweak your menu to help stretch your budget for the holiday weekend - and all your summer cookouts.

1. Consider alternatives to traditional burgers

While beef burgers are a Memorial Day cookout staple for many, there are more affordable options such as hot dogs, turkey burgers and chicken.

Chicken breasts are $3.58 a pound on average, less than half the price of a pound of ground beef, according to the Century Foundation and Groundwork Collaborative report. Jessica Rice, a senior test kitchen editor at the recipe website Budget Bytes, recommends buying chicken breasts or thighs in bulk to grill.

"In lieu of putting out whole chicken breasts for guests to grab, slice them after you pull them off the grill and have given them time to rest," Rice said. "Then your guests can make a grilled barbecue chicken sandwich, and you stretch the finished chicken even further."

Budget Bytes also has recipes for ground chicken and turkey burgers with cost breakdowns that add up to less than $2 per serving.

Read more: Inflation is now rising faster than your salary. Here's how long that could last.

Not ready to give up beef but still looking for savings? Mixing ground beef with ingredients like mashed black beans, brown lentils, mushrooms, ricotta cheese or bread crumbs can help cut costs while maintaining flavor.

Phil Lempert, editor of SupermarketGuru.com, recommends a James Beard Foundation "blended burger" recipe, which uses equal parts portabella mushrooms and ground beef. Just don't keep it on the grill as long as you would an all-beef burger so the mushrooms don't dry out.

"Be a little creative," Lempert said. "It's healthier and it's much less expensive."

2. Be intentional about quantities and packaging

Some big-box stores are making adjustments to account for budget-conscious consumers. In a call with analysts Thursday, Walmart $(WMT)$ CEO John Furner said the retail giant is "finding ways to help families stretch their dollars as outdoor summer activities get under way," highlighting a new basket of grilling essentials that feeds eight people for less than $5 per person.

Read more: People are putting less gas in their tanks as high prices crimp budgets, Walmart says

Beyond seasonal deals, experts recommend buying ground beef in bulk if you have the freezer space and wiggle room in your budget. "Then divide the beef you won't be using on Memorial Day into portions and freeze it for later," Rice said.

And while prechopped vegetables might be a time-saver, they come with a higher price tag.

"For example, for a crudité, you're paying way more for that. Obviously, we all have limited time, so it's a [time-cost] analysis that you have to do," Bodge said. "But if you have kids, especially if you have teenagers at home, put them to work, have them chip in."

Keep in mind that produce is now more expensive, too. If you're getting tomatoes and lettuce for your burgers, expect them to cost around 20% more than they did last year - and make a plan for how you can use any leftovers.

"If you buy a whole head of lettuce, you're going to have some waste in there," Lempert said. "Make sure that you're using it efficiently."

3. Where you shop matters - but don't drive too far

For a big grocery run to prepare for a barbecue, shopping at more affordable stores like Trader Joe's, Aldi, Lidl or even dollar stores that sell groceries can yield significant savings. If you have a membership at a wholesale club like Sam's Club or Costco $(COST)$, it's a good time to buy goods in bulk.

But remember that food prices aren't the only thing that are elevated - it also costs more just to get to the supermarket.

"Time is really tight. People are working really hard and they have a lot going on, so I'm not such a huge fan right now of telling people to drive to a bunch of different stores," Bodge said.

4. How you shop matters, too

Once you're in the store, make sure you're checking prices at the top and the bottom of the shelf before grabbing what you need.

"Groceries that are at eye level tend to be more expensive," Bodge said. "Some brands pay extra to be featured there."

Read more: Memorial Day sales mark down fridges and dishwashers. Too bad many Americans aren't buying them right now.

And if you're not already buying store brands, now is a great time to start. You could save between 25% and 40% on items like mustard, ketchup or relish by doing this, Lempert said. The label might be different, but store-brand items are often made in the same factory as the name-brand product you're already familiar with, and they typically come with money-back guarantees.

"If you for whatever reason don't like it, just bring it back and they'll give you a full refund," Lembert said.

5. Don't toss those circulars you got in the mail

Don't forget about loyalty programs as well as the holiday promotions many grocery stores will be offering this weekend. Dig through that stack of mail on your counter for circulars and search your email inbox for any grocery-store brand names to scope out advertised deals.

"Whether it's at your conventional supermarket, whether it's at the big-box store, whether it's dollar stores, Memorial Day is when you're going to see products on sale," Lembert said. "And for those items that are not refrigerated, stock up now, because the prices are just going to get higher."

Read next: Does the stock market close early today? How Memorial Day weekend affects trading hours.

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-Genna Contino

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May 22, 2026 15:29 ET (19:29 GMT)

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