Flipping burgers on the barbecue with a glass of something cold in your hand is an ideal way to spend a summer afternoon. But getting all your food and drink together can add up, so we found out which supermarket is cheapest for the barbecue essentials.
We’ve grilled pricing data from June 2019, and found that Asda was the best supermarket for bargain barbecue food. A basket of groceries – including the main foods plus sides and drinks – cost £53.43.
Morrisons (£56.30) and Tesco (£56.32) were neck-and-neck in second and third place, followed by Sainsbury’s (£58.53).
The most expensive supermarket for our barbecue basket was Waitrose (£62.41), £9 more expensive than Asda. The same basket of goods at online-only Ocado cost £59.
How we compared supermarkets
We analysed 26 popular barbecue foods and drinks in six supermarkets, and calculated the average basket price of our shopping for June 2019.
Our basket included own-brand items – such as quarter pounder beef burgers (four per pack), pork sausages (eight per pack), and burger and hotdog buns, alongside branded items such as Heck Chicken Italia Sausages (10 per pack – 340g).
We also included vegetarian options, such as Linda McCartney Vegetarian Sausages (six per pack – 300g) and Quorn Chef’s Selection Meat Free Classic Burgers (two per pack – 180g), as well as essential toppings like Heinz Tomato Ketchup (460g), HP Classic Woodsmoke Barbecue Sauce (465g) and Leerdammer Original Cheese Slices.
No barbecue is complete without sides, so we picked a selection of tasty accompaniments including own-brand potato salad, corn on the cob, halloumi and coleslaw. We have drinks covered too – we included two rosé wines, a 12-pack of beer, and a selection of soft drinks.
The best barbecue food
We know that price isn’t everything when it comes to choosing where to shop, and our summer taste tests have uncovered a selection of sizzling superstars that are sure to impress at your next barbecue.
Click the links below to find out which products sparked interest, and which went down in flames.
- Best beef burgers
- Best sparkling rosé
- Best extra virgin olive oils
- Best sirloin steaks
- Best white wine
For advice on picking the right barbecue for grilling your favourite foods, check out our Best Buy barbecues.