5 frugal recipes for end of summer BBQs

Who’s ready for one last hoorah for the summer so we can end it with a bang? The last few weeks of summer are a great time to showcase your barbeque talents or earn back your bragging rights. Since the evenings are still relatively long and warm, you can take advantage of frugal recipes that taste great and are easy to make, too.

I’m going to share with you the secret ingredients that will have everyone asking for more, based on recipes from my husband, Hansen Lee, executive chef at dusitD2 Constance Pasadena. Not only will you be the star of your party, but your guests will be dreaming about your food long after the party is over — and don’t be surprised if they keep inviting themselves back for more! These dishes will also help you eat more meals at home, which is (almost) always cheaper than eating out at a restaurant.

All of these below recipes were inspired by my husband’s childhood memories of grilling with his family, so please enjoy! And if you have your own homegrown recipes to share, please do so in the comments below.

Grilled Sriracha Burger

4 ounce beef patty

1 burger bun per person

2 tablespoons diced tomato

2 tablespoons Sriracha mayo, which you can make yourself by mixing half a cup of mayonnaise with 1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 tablespoon honey

1/3 cup chopped iceberg lettuce

1/4 cup sliced avocado

First, season the beef patty on both sides and put it on the grill. In a mixing bowl, mix up the Sriracha mayo mixture and add in the chopped iceberg lettuce and diced tomato. Next, toast the bun and serve together, with the avocado inside the bun, too.

Korean-style Beef Short Rib

6 ounces beef short rib (cut into lengthwise strips of 1/4 inch each)

1 cup soy sauce

1 cup agave nectar or honey

1/3 cup whole garlic

1/2 cup rice wine (white wine will also work)

1/2 cup diced pear (peeled)

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 bunch green onion

First, add all of the ingredients into the blender except for the green onions. Blend them together and then pour the mixture onto the short ribs. Next, cut the green onions into 2-inch strips and add into the bowl with all the ingredients. Marinate overnight and then fire up the grill for your feast.

Grilled Drunken Shrimp Taco

6 ounces peeled and deveined shrimp

1 cup white wine

1/3 cup rice wine vinegar

3 tablespoon chopped parsley

3 tablespoon minced garlic

2 tablespoon paprika ground

1/4 cup vegetable oil

Salt and pepper

3 taco shells per person

2 ounces chopped lettuce

Chopped tomatoes and salsa, as desired

First, mix up all of the ingredients in the bowl, except for the shrimp. Then, add the shrimp and marinate for 30 minutes. Finally, grill the shrimp and eat them in the taco shell along with the remaining ingredients.

If you want to make your own quick tomato salsa, add the following ingredients into a blender:

1 cup diced tomato

2 jalapenos per person

3 tablespoons chopped cilantro

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 tablespoon chopped onion

Salt and pepper

White Balsamic Glazed Grilled Vegetables

1 squash per person, sliced

1 Portobello mushroom per person

1 zucchini per person, sliced

4 asparagus per person

1/2 cup white balsamic vinegar

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

1 tablespoon chopped thyme

1 tablespoon minced garlic

Salt and pepper to taste

In a bowl, add together all of the ingredients except for the vegetables. Then, pour the glaze over the vegetables and grill them — that’s it!

Lavender BBQ Chicken

6 ounces chicken breast or thigh meat

Salt and pepper

For the sauce:

1 cup ketchup

4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1/3 cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons Worcester sauce

3 tablespoons lavender seed

1 tablespoons black pepper

3 tablespoons butter

In a sauce pot, add the sauce ingredients and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Then, pour over the chicken and grill.

I hope these recipes help you enjoy the remaining weeks of summer in a frugal and scrumptious way! And please remember to share your own recipes below so we can all learn from each other.

More from U.S. News

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12 Habits of Phenomenally Frugal Families

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5 Frugal Recipes for End of Summer BBQs originally appeared on usnews.com

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