These Memorial Day cookout foods will cost you up to 98% more

High gas prices and flight cancellations have forced many Americans to cancel out-of-town travel plans this Memorial Day. But backyard barbecues? That’s one holiday staple that’s still on the table — as long as you shop right.

As with everything these days, the cost of groceries is rising. The trend isn’t equal across the board, though. While overall Memorial Day food prices are up an average of 13%, there are some items seeing soaring increases, while others are experiencing just small bumps.

Johnsonville bratwursts, for example, have jumped a whopping 28% in price compared to last year. Basic chicken breasts increased only a mere 3%. There are other similar disparities across produce, sauces, bread, and other food categories, too, so being choosy about your menu will be key if you want an affordable Memorial Day celebration.

Common Memorial Day foods see big spike in price

Yellow corn, specifically a six-pack of ears, is the big buy to avoid this weekend, as those have jumped a jaw-dropping 98% over the last year, according to think tank The Century Foundation. It now costs nearly $6 versus last year’s $2.97.

Next to corn, store-bought pies have seen the next-biggest increase, with a jump of 37% for apple pies and 24% for key lime pies.  

Beef and veal products also saw pretty big jumps. Brats were up 28%, a pound of ground beef rose 20%, and Kraft beef hot dogs increased 12%. The cost of tomatoes, rolls, lettuce, watermelon, and other common staples rose quite a bit, too. According to TCF, tomatoes are actually now at their highest price point in nearly eight years, thanks to U.S.-Mexico tariffs.

Here’s a look at the food items that jumped the most and their cost today:

Cookout supplies saw jumps in pricing, too. Plastic straws and disposable plastic silverware increased 20%, while heavy-duty aluminum foil rose 18%. 

“The Middle East is a major producer of oil and petrochemicals, which is used to produce plastic,” TCF says. “Increases in the price of plastic will ripple across grocery bills for months to come as packaging gets more expensive as well.”

Make swaps with these budget-friendly alternatives

For main courses, ground beef burgers and brats are probably out of the question due to their sky-high price jumps, but whole chickens, chicken breasts, and even racks of ribs are much safer bets. Those saw prices rise only 2%, 3%, and 8%, respectively.

Sauce-wise, ketchup has seen double-digit increases, making that old standard a pricy bet this weekend. Alternative sauces like McCormick yellow mustard, Unilever mayo, or Ken’s barbecue, though, experienced only minimal price growth (between 1 and 4%).

More Memorial Day

• What Memorial Day weekend gas prices mean for start of summer travel
• Memorial Day furniture sales to save big while you refresh your home
• Memorial Day appliance sales to upgrade your home with big-ticket items

On your side dishes, Pepsico potato chips and flavored tortilla chips are still a great option. (The latter actually fell in price over the last year.) Bush Brothers canned beans and cole slaw, particularly the Chiquita Slaw Mix brand, are wallet-friendly choices as well.

Potato salads can still be a great menu item, too, as long as you use yellow potatoes. Those are averaging only $1.54 for a full, one-pound bag. And when you throw in that both mayo and mustard prices have held relatively steady, you can make the side fairly affordably, no matter which flavor profile you prefer. 

Personally, I’m a mustard potato salad girl, myself.

Related: What’s open & what’s closed on Memorial Day 2026?

#Memorial #Day #cookout #foods #cost