Name: Barbecue Taste Test 2015
Yield: Makes:

published 19 May 2015

Find the best barbecue food in the shops from our barbecue taste test 2015, including the best barbecue sauce, quality burgers and sausages as well as shopbought desserts

Find the best barbecue food in the shops from our barbecue taste test 2015, including the best barbecue sauce, marinated meat, quality burgers and sausages as well as shopbought desserts.

It's time to dust off the garden furniture, dig out the tongs and get the barbecue going! There's really nothing better than cooking al fresco on a sunny afternoon to make you feel like summer is here - and with our very changeable weather, the star of the show needs to be the food. It's pretty much a given that meat tastes better cooked over an open fire. That smokey barbecue flavour is just a match made in heaven with a good piece of meat. Fish is also a winner - you just can't beat crispy sardines on the barbecue with a bit of lemon juice and sea salt. But it's not just about meat. Marinated vegetables also reap the benefits of that smokiness.

The woman&home food team has tasted its way though a mass of meat, fish, burgers, sausages, vegetarian options, sauces, salads and summer desserts to find the newest and brightest stars from the supermarket shelves. We weren't disappointed.

Soft and buttery brioche buns are in, and we have found the meatiest beef burgers to fill them, with all the necessary condiments, of course. It wouldn't be a barbecue without a sausage, from tasty pork to the more interesting variations - we tried a seriously good wild boar sausage! You won't even miss meat with the tasty vegetarian options we've found; always a bonus for a lighter option in the midst of swimwear season!

WIth the BBQ essentials covered, we've also found some excellent meat and fish perfect for throwing on the grills, from a great rump steak to a sticky glazed salmon. The classic barbecue sauces are also featured, as well as sides and salads galore to keep your guests content. And of course, the all-important ready made dessert is included and we've featured some of the best ice creams we could find.

Click through to see our barbecue favourites...

Lupetta Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Sometimes all you need is a great olive oil to dress your salad, the fresh, fruity and peppery flavours are just delicious, we love it drizzled over a tomato salad. Lupetta.co.uk, £2.99

Stockyard BBQ Sauce

We searched high and low for a good BBQ sauce and this one had just the right balance of sweet and smokey flavours. Great as a marinade or dip. Ocado, £5.65

M&S's Smokehouse Tomato Sauce

Delicious! It has the smokiness of BBQ sauce but the sweet tomato taste of ketchup. Marks & Spencer, £2

Gran Luchito Smoked Chilli Paste

A good hit of spice but a really tasty smokey tomato flavour, delicious stirred into mayo, yogurt or houmous. ottolenghi.co.uk, £5.95

Spiced Tomato Chuntey

Tastes just like homemade, the Indian flavours are great with grilled meats. welovemanfood.com, £4.95

Heinz Jalapeno Chilli Ketchup

It just wouldn't be a barbecue without some ketchup and it really works with a kick of chilli. We had it on everything! Asda, 98p

The Co-operative's Sassy Rubbed Chicks

A good mix of smokey, sweet and spicy flavours from the rub. You don't even need the sauce! The Co-operative, £4.50

The Fresh Chicken Co. Hot And Spicy Wings

These were a big hit with the team, a good spicy kick too! Great if you have a crowd round. Ocado, £2.89

Sainsbury's Barbecue Lemon and Garlic Half Chicken

Just pop them straight on the barbecue, on the bone, and with its tasty marinade it stays really moist! Sainsbury's, £4

Aldi Specially Selected Gourmet Beef Burgers

A superb price for these rich and meaty burgers. Aldi, £1.99

Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Beef Steak Hache Burgers

A really tasty meaty burger, the coating has a good peppery flavour we loved. Sainsbury's, £3.30

Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Veal Burgers with Herbs

Full of flavour, and a great new option. Sainsbury's, £3.30

M&S's Cheese and Pickle Burgers

Lovely texture and you can really taste the cheese and pickle. Marks & Spencer, £5

Waitrose's Assorted Mini Burgers

Bursting with flavour and great size for a long day grazing at a barbecue, we loved the lamb burgers with pea and mint. Waitrose, £4

Waitrose's Flash Fry Short Ribs With Korean Marinade

Korean flavours are the taste of the moment right now and we can see why, as these are very tasty without being overly spicy. Waitrose, £4

M Kitchen's Ultimate Beef Rib

Finish on the barbecue, then reduce the roasting juices with the sauce for a seriously good glaze. This got top marks. Morrisons, £3.69

Waitrose's Slow Cooked Lamb Kleftico

Just heat in the oven and quickly finish on the barbecue for that smokey taste. Delicious tender meat is made so easy. Waitrose, £11.53 (serves 2)

Lidl's Strathvale Lamb Loin Chops

Lambs chops are just made for barbecuing and these great value cloin chops have just the right about of lean meat and fat. Lidl, £3.99

Morrisons' Rump Steak

So full of flavour, a real treat for your barbecue menu. Morrisons, £4

Mossel Bay Ostrich Steak With Marrakesh Marinade

A really interesting flavour, somewhere between duck and steak. Very tender, we were straight in for secounds! Ocado, £6.50

Ashfield Farm's Marinated British Pork Shoulder Steaks

A great bit of meat for the barbecue, the tasty Chinese-style glaze is perfect for BBQ cooking. Aldi, £2.99

Lidl Deluxe Outdoor Bred Pork Steaks

A lean cut that's still full of flavour, these are just the ticket to keep the summer diet on track. Lidl, £1.99

M&S's Scottish Salmon with Sticky Wessex Stout Glaze

Definitely on our shopping list and the glaze goes perfectly! A great lighter option for meat-heavy barbecues. Marks & Spencer, £10

M&S's Cornish Cove Cheese and Bacon Posh Puppies

Such a good size, and a very tasty hot dog flavour. Marks & Spencer, £4.50

Helen Browning's Organic Hot Dogs

These are the real deal, made in Germany, with a very tasty authenic flavour. Oacdo, £3.75

Heck Chicken Italia Sausages

Really tasty with a slight herby taste and a much lighter option for the barbecue than a pork version. Tesco, £3

Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Chorizo-Style Pork Sausages

Really good flavour, nicely smokey. These chorizo-style sausages are on our shopping list. Sainsbury's, £2.80

Asda Butcher's Selection Bratwurst Hot Dogs

A lovely light smokey flavour, perfect if you're feeding a crowd. Asda, £2.28

Sainsbury's Cheesy Bubble and Squeak Meat Free Sausages

A good crispy coating, we really liked the cheesy flavour of these vegetarian sausages. Sainsburys, £2.30

M&S's Butternut and Smoked Paprika Bangers

A lovely bit of heat from the paprika, these vegetarian sausages are great sliced into a salad too. Marks & Spencer, £3

M&S's Sesame Slaw

The sweet and tart chili flavours are really tasty, making a more refreshing and lighter option that standard slaw. Marks & Spencer, £3.75

Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Powerful and Punchy Salad

This brings salad to a new level - punchy, peppery, zesty and sweet leaves are just delicious with lemon juice and olive oil. Sainsbury's, £1.75

The Co-operative's Beetroot and Mint Dip

Great flavour with a bit of sharpness, you can really taste the beetroot and mint! Perfect sausages or veg. The Co-operative, £1.49

Tesco Finest Honey And Mustard Dressing

Just the right levels of tangy lemon and sweetness from the honey. Tesco, £1.89

McEnnedy's Sweetcorn Relish

A little bit retro but we love the sweet flavours of this relish with a burger. Lidl, 89p

Budgens' Discover The Taste Houmous with Parmesan and Pesto

Really smooth and the Parmesan cheese and pesto are an unexpectedly good match with the houmous. Budgens, £1.69

The Co-operative's Moroccan Loaf

Totally addictive! The hint of dried fruit in this light bread are delicious The Co-operative, £1.39

St Pierre Brioche Burger Buns

A super soft white burger bun with the sweet buttery flavour of brioche. This is THE brioche bun to put on your list. Ocado, £1.49

Tesco Multi Seed Cob

A good crust and soft inside, this is the perfect bread. The seed topping tastes great. Tesco, £1.50

Movenpick's Raspberry and Strawberry Sorbet

A perfect summer dessert, the tart raspberry is just the ticket after a feast. Try it with a little prosecco poured over. Ocado, £6.36

M&S's Summer Cup Jelly

If you like Pimms, you'll love this - so fruity and refreshing!

Marks & Spencer, £3.50

Jude's Gin & Tonic Ice Cream

Made with Sipsmith's superb gin, it has a sharp refreshing hit but is deliciously creamy. Ocado, £2.95

Iceland's Mini Ice Cream Doughnuts

A perfect pud for the kids, the choc-ice has been well and truly upgraded. Iceland, £2

Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Raspberry and Panacotta Terrine

The rich and creamy panna cotta goes perfectly with the tart raspberry jelly layer. Sainsburys, £5

The molten praline inside is just incredible. Try them sandwiched with ice cream for a decadent treat. Tesco, £1.50 for 4

The Coconut Collaborative's Mango Snowconut

The sharp fruity mango flavour is delicious with the rich coconut frozen yoghurt - extra bonus: it's dairy free too! Waitrose, £4.99

Specially Selected Indulgence Lemon Cheesecake

Super creamy cheesecake and tangy citrus topping, very tasty. A good size to feed a crowd too. Aldi, £2.99

Katie McLelland is a food stylist, chef, recipe developer, home economist, eater- and everything in-between. She specialises in creating recipes for social media channels to editorial and advertising content as well as the occasional bread, cake, pudding and menus in real life.

Katie is also a home economist for film and TV. Current projects including Cooking with the Stars (South Shore), Matilda (Poppet Productions), Landscapers (Sister), This Sceptered Isle (Revolution Films) and The Great season 2 (Yekaterina Uk ltd).