By Shannon, Contributing Writer

Summer brings about so many fantastic opportunities to join with our friends and neighbors in times of community with potlucks and BBQs. The great news is, you can do it all while still saving money on groceries! Here are 16 budget friendly summer potluck ideas that won’t blow your grocery budget.

To celebrate the past year of growing community and fellowship, our small group leaders hosted a fun appetizers and desserts potluck for everyone. The kids splashed in the pool, the guys played lawn games, and the girls gabbed in lawn chairs. Everyone had an awesome time, and I was so impressed that it was also a budget-friendly affair that everyone could feel comfortable attending.

16 Budget-Friendly Summer Potluck Ideas

Here are a few tips I noticed at our fun budget-friendly potluck.

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable

Focus on what’s in season for the best prices and a chance to use your own garden-fresh produce or you-pick finds.

Recipe Ideas:

• Watermelon – You can get a good sized watermelon for under $5 that will be plenty to bring to a potluck with lots leftover for your family.
• Fruit Salad
• Vegetable Salad-  This fresh Italian salad will wow at any picnic, and is gluten free and grain free.
• Homemade Salad Dressing – Don’t forget to include your favorite homemade salad dressing.
• Homemade Salsa
• Fresh Fruit Skewers
• Grilled Corn on the Cob

Stretch the Meat

If you’re hosting, make it an appetizers and desserts party rather than a full on dinner. One fun option everyone loves is sliders. You can feed a much bigger crowd on a budget with these mini-burgers. Kababs are another fun way to make your meat go further, as you layer it with fresh in-season veggies.

Recipe Ideas:

• Sliders
• Meat and Veggie Kebabs
• Chili

Stick to Frugal Staples

We can use many of the same techniques to stay on budget during summer as we do all year around. Beans are great, potatoes, and pasta are frugal staples that can be served so many different ways!

• Bean Dip
• Baked Beans
• Hummus
• 3- Bean Salad
• Potato Salad – This festive red, white, and blue potato salad is perfect for Independence Day celebrations.
• Pasta Salad

Whether you’re hosting or attending, these budget-friendly summer potluck ideas will help you save money while still enjoying the fellowship of family, friends, and neighbors. After all, that’s what summertime is all about!

What do you do to save your budget while entertaining in the summer?

Free Hospitality Video Series

If you want to dive in and learn even more about hospitality – from the Biblical command to a beginner’s guide to extending hospitality – check out my free video series on hospitality! Sign up to get a three part video training so you can discover the joy in practicing Biblical hospitality.