Spring BBQ shopping in Australia: getting the most from your budget this season

Spring is BBQ season in Australia

September marks the start of BBQ season across most of Australia, with warming weather and a string of long weekends making outdoor cooking a weekly occasion for many households. It is also a time when supermarkets run promotions on BBQ-relevant products — knowing what is genuinely good value versus what is just prominently displayed helps you spend purposefully.

Meats that offer the best value for a BBQ

Chicken thighs and drumsticks. Consistently cheaper per kilogram than breast, and better suited to the BBQ — they stay moist with higher-heat cooking where breast dries out. A whole tray of chicken pieces is often one of the most economical ways to feed a group.

Sausages. Widely available at various price points. Compare price per kilogram and look at the meat content percentage on the label — cheaper sausages often have a higher filler content. Thick beef or pork sausages from a butcher or the deli section can be better quality and competitive on price compared with pre-packed supermarket varieties.

Lamb chops and forequarter cuts. Shoulder chops and forequarter chops are significantly cheaper per kilogram than loin or cutlets and hold up well on a BBQ. Spring is a good season for Australian lamb pricing.

Beef rissoles and burgers. Store-bought beef patties vary considerably in meat content. Buying beef mince and making your own patties is cheaper per patty, takes about ten minutes, and typically produces a better result. Compare price per kilogram on the mince rather than per patty in the pre-formed packs.

Produce worth buying this spring

Spring brings improved quality and value on tomatoes, capsicum, zucchini, corn and asparagus — all natural BBQ accompaniments. See our spring produce guide for what is in season right now and what is coming down in price.

A simple green salad, some corn on the cob and a few skewered vegetables are inexpensive sides that work better alongside grilled meat than expensive prepared salads in the deli section.

BBQ extras: where costs creep in

Bread rolls. Fine from the bakery section on the day — or buy a bag and freeze them in batches. Supermarket bakery rolls cost significantly less per roll than individually wrapped brioche buns in the deli section.

Sauces and condiments. BBQ sauce, tomato sauce and mustard in larger bottles cost less per millilitre than the small bottles near the checkout display. If you cook BBQs regularly, buying the larger format is straightforward value.

Drinks. A slab of beer, wine by the bottle, or a large bottle of soft drink are all significantly cheaper per serve than single cans or small bottles. Compare price per litre or per standard drink before buying in small formats.

Checking current prices before the weekend shop

For meat in particular, checking which chain has the better price this week is worth a few minutes before heading out. Run a search on TrolleyChecker on your planned proteins and confirm against the retailer's own app before committing to a trip — BBQ season promotions mean the best prices shift around more than usual.