Summer is here, and with it comes holiday barbecues with friends and family. The country’s 250th birthday celebration is coming up quickly, and with it comes the preparation and planning of the perfect cookout menu.
From weekends on the lake to small backyard gatherings, Missourians all over the state will find themselves gathered together over one thing: delicious summer favorites like cheeseburgers, barbecue chicken and sides galore.
A recent survey found that Missourians can still enjoy an affordable festive menu this summer. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2026 Summer Cookout Cost Survey checks prices on barbecue staples across the state, region, and country.
The price check looked at the ingredients of a typical summer spread, including ground beef, cheese, cookies, ice cream, strawberries, chips, chicken breasts, pork chops, pork & beans, hamburger buns, lemonade and potato salad.
After several years of rising grocery bills, many families have gotten used to expecting sticker shock at the checkout line. Amid the uptick however, Missourians will be spending $2.07 less than the national average for their Independence Day barbecue.
The national average for a summer cookout for 10 people came to $73.82 or $7.38 per person. In Missouri, it averaged $71.75 or $7.18 per person. The Midwest region saw a decrease of $2.37 from the national average, with the full menu for ten people totaling $71.45 or $7.15 per person. That’s cheaper than your drive-thru favorite, and it has more tasty options, including dessert!
Anyone who has visited the meat counter or the butcher shop recently will not be surprised to learn that ground beef, chicken breast and pork chops remain the most expensive part of the meal, up 3-5%, due to low supply and high demand.
However, family favorite sides like chips and potato salad saw a decrease in the national average. And what would a Midwestern barbecue be without salads? The biggest change across the survey was potato salad (down nearly 18%) as eggs are down 47% from 2025. This was due to an oversupply of eggs as farms aggressively restocked their flocks after the impacts of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
While lemonade, cookies and ice cream saw an increase, sugar was steady compared to a year ago. With egg prices being so low and sugar prices staying stable, this summer is the perfect time to make gooey butter cake for all your gatherings!
Missouri families can still enjoy an affordable festive menu this summer. So, fire up the grill and get your burgers ready!
