Our expert team of Good Food judges blind-tested products across 11 barbecue categories to bring you our definitive shopping list for summer 2022. From burgers and buns to vegan-friendly barbecue products and ice-cream, read on to discover which supermarket products came out on top in our barbecue categories

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For more, visit our Summer Taste Awards winners page, plus read about which picnic products we loved.

Best hot dog buns

hot dog with mustard, three hot dog buns, container with ketchup and wooden spoon

Joint winner: Aldi Specially Selected brioche hot dog rolls £1.09 (pack of six)

Handily pre-sliced to make barbecues a breeze, these are shiny, light and fluffy.

Buy online at Aldi (£1.19)

Joint winner: M&S brioche posh dog buns £2.15 (pack of six)

A sturdier brioche bun, these will hold up against plenty of sauce.

Buy online at Ocado (£2.15)

Best sausages

pile of five sausages on a plate on a blue background

Winner: Morrisons The Best Italian-style sausages £2.75 (pack of six)

These Italian-style sausages stand out for having the best meaty texture and the most flavour, with plenty of herbs and seasoning.

Buy in store at Morrisons (£2.75)

Highly commended: Tesco Finest Maple & Bacon Hot Dogs, £4 (667g)

These were a little sweet from the maple syrup, but had a good texture and didn’t feel low quality.

Available in store at Tesco (£4)

Best vegan sausages

Highly commended: Tesco Plant Chef 6 Cumberland Style Bangers, 350g, £1.75

This simple sausage had a firm texture and looked like a classic sausage – good for hot dogs or vegan sausages and mash.

Available online at Tesco (£1.75)

Best burger buns

burger with red pickled onions, golden bun and green lettuce

Winner: M&S Collection brioche buns £1.70 (pack of two)

These are glossy, with a well-balanced flavour – not too savoury or sweet.

Available at Ocado (£1.70)

Highly commended: Tesco Finest Brioche Sesame Seed Burger Buns, 4-pack, £1.20

Sesame seeds add extra crunch and flavour to these buns, whilst the internal texture is fluffy and would toast well before making the burger. A modern take on a classic burger bun.

Available online at Tesco (£1.20)

Best burgers

burger with red pickled onions, golden bun and green lettuce

Winner: Aldi Specially Selected the ultimate burger £2.69 (pack of two)

‘Savoury, umami goodness’ was one judge’s verdict. These are juicy, with satisfying texture.

Available in store at Aldi (£2.69)

Highly commended: Marks & Spencer 2 Chilli Cheese British Beef Burgers, 300g, £4.50

For an alternative burger, this was our top pick: cheese runs all the way through and the jalapeño chilli is a nice addition.

Available online at Ocado (£4.50)

Best vegan burgers

vegan burger with bun and lettuce and red onion and tomato

Winner: Aldi Plant Menu ultimate no beef burgers £1.99 (pack of two)

A clear winner, this is a good meat substitute option. It has a firm bite and smoky flavour.

Available online at Aldi (£1.99)

Highly commended: M&S Vegan Steak Burgers, 340g, £5

Another good meat substitute option, this would appeal to new vegans missing meat. These have a gentle smoky barbecue flavour.

Available online at Ocado (£5)

Best veggie burger

halloumi in a burger bun and rocket salad on the side

Joint winner: Tesco Fire Pit quarter-pounder halloumi burgers £2.20 (pack of two)

A simple yet satisfying slab of halloumi makes the ideal base for adding your own marinade or spice rub.

Available in store at Tesco (£2.20)

two bhaji burgers with corn on the cob

Joint winner: M&S masala cauliflower bhaji burgers £3 (pack of two)

These would work well in a burger or just with salad and classic barbecue accompaniments. They have clearly visible veg and mild spicing.

Available at Ocado (£3)

Best barbecue sauce

bowl of barbecue sauce with yellow napkin and silver spoon

Winner: M&S The Grill House BBQ sauce £1.65 (300g)

This sticky sauce would work just as well as a marinade. With a deep base note of heat, the initial sour notes lead into a smoky and sweet sauce.

Available in store at M&S (£1.65)

Best chicken

chicken with salad and pot of sauce

Winner: Tesco piri piri half chicken £4 (502g)

The appealing sticky glaze on this half chicken adds plenty of flavour to the perfectly cooked meat – a summery crowd-pleaser.

Available at Tesco (£4)

Best meat kebab

two kebabs with sauce and green salad

Winner: M&S British rump steak kebabs £11 (pack of two)

The three elements of these kebabs work perfectly together: substantial hunks of tender rump steak, soft peppers and a smoky, sticky glaze.

Available in store at M&S (£11)

Highly commended: Waitrose Tandoori Whole Chicken Kebab

For a barbecue showstopper, this whole jointed chicken is marinated in a smoky-sweet glaze and threaded onto skewers, ready for everyone to gather round and grab a hunk.

Available in store at Waitrose

Best vegan kebab

long vegan kebabs with red onion circles and a wrap

Winner: Co-op GRO cauli shawarma kebabs £3 (pack of four)

One for spice fans – these kebabs are very tender in texture and quite fiery, but that doesn’t mask the other flavours.

Available in store at Co-op (£3)

Best cocktail sausages

bowl of cocktail sausages with two sticks

Winner: Waitrose cocktail sausages £2.50 (260g)

These were by far the most visually appealing of those we tasted, and have a moreish pork flavour and texture.

Available online at Waitrose (£2.50)

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This review was last updated in May 2022. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.

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