Swiss BBQ for 6 Under CHF 40 — Full Grill Spread

A full Swiss BBQ for six — bratwurst, grilled chicken thighs, a crisp salad and potato wedges — is absolutely doable for under CHF 40. The key is buying seasonal produce, choosing the right cuts, and checking weekly promotions at Migros, Coop, Lidl and Aldi before you shop.

What Does a BBQ for Six Actually Cost in Switzerland?

Swiss supermarkets have a real price range for grilling staples. Bratwurst from Migros M-Budget runs around CHF 5.– for four links, while premium St. Galler Bratwurst can hit CHF 12.–. The good news: a crowd-pleasing spread does not require the premium shelf. Chicken thighs, often overlooked in favour of breasts, are typically 30–40% cheaper per kilo and stay far juicier over direct heat.

According to Comparis, the average Swiss household spent roughly CHF 1'050 per month on food in 2024 — a figure that has nudged families to plan meals more deliberately. A budget BBQ is one of the easiest wins: one occasion, six people, one shopping trip.

Which Stores Give You the Best Value for Grilling?

Not all trolley routes are equal. Lidl and Aldi consistently undercut the big two on meat and staples, while Coop Supercard and Migros Cumulus can tip the balance on specific items when you hold a loyalty card.

Shopping primarily at Lidl or Aldi for the meat and produce, then topping up with a Cumulus or Supercard item or two, is the most efficient split. Eating seasonally also cuts the bill — summer tomatoes and courgettes are at their cheapest right now.

What Should You Actually Put on the Grill?

For six adults, this shopping list hits the sweet spot of quantity, variety and cost:

• 8 bratwurst (two packs, Lidl or Aldi) — CHF 7.80
• 1.2 kg chicken thighs, bone-in — CHF 7.20
• 2 courgettes + 1 red pepper (sliced for veggie skewers) — CHF 3.50
• 2 kg potatoes (wedges in foil on the grill) — CHF 1.99
• 1 iceberg lettuce + 500 g cherry tomatoes + cucumber — CHF 3.80
• Bread rolls ×8 (Denner or Lidl bakery section) — CHF 2.40
• Sunflower oil, salt, paprika, garlic powder (pantry items, not counted) — CHF 0
• 1 bottle ketchup + mustard (combined promo pack, Migros) — CHF 3.50
• Coal or disposable grill — CHF 3.49

Estimated total: CHF 33.68 — leaving headroom for a six-pack of Feldschlösschen or a watermelon from Landi.

How Do You Cut Waste — and Cost — at a BBQ?

Foodwaste.ch estimates that Swiss households throw away roughly CHF 620 worth of food per person each year. BBQs are a classic culprit: over-catered meat, wilted salad, forgotten sides. A few simple moves close the gap:

1. Buy bone-in chicken rather than fillets — it holds on the grill longer without drying out, so timing pressure is lower.
2. Pre-cut the vegetable skewers at home and refrigerate them in a sealed container — they grill in 8 minutes and need no attention.
3. Make the potato wedges in advance: par-boil for 10 minutes, season, wrap in foil parcels. They sit happily on indirect heat for 25 minutes while you manage the meat.
4. One big salad bowl beats three small ones — less waste, easier to serve.
5. Leftover bratwurst makes an excellent lunchtime sandwich the next day.

The same planning logic applies to picnics — prep ahead, shop once, waste less.

Are There Easy Ways to Save Even More?

Yes. The Lidl Plus app and Migros Cumulus both run summer grilling weeks, typically in June and July, with 20–30% discounts on selected meat. Stack those with the base price advantage and the saving compounds quickly. Aligro and Prodega are worth checking if you are catering for a larger group — their bulk packs of bratwurst and chicken thighs price out well below retail once you split costs among friends.

Volg and Spar, while slightly pricier, often have local Swiss meat with traceable origin — worth it if provenance matters to your guests. Naturaplan at Coop is another step up for guests who prefer organic, though expect to add CHF 4–6 to the overall budget.

Eini's smart algorithm tracks weekly promotions across Swiss supermarkets automatically, so you see the best price before you leave the house.