Getting meat for cheap isn’t always easy, especially when you consider meat prices rose 7.7% in the U.S. in 2022. Sure, maybe you can do Meatless Mondays, but unless you’re planning to do Meatless EVERYDAYs, you’re going to want some tips for how to save on meat. After all, cheap dinners should still be flavorful ones.
When it comes to saving on meat, we’ve got your back (or shank, whatever). And what the universe lacks in straight-up coupons, it makes up for in the most deliciously wacky ways to save on meat. From seeking out meat sales near you to buying in bulk, here are our favorite bizarre and extreme ways to get meat for cheap.
And don’t forget to download The Krazy Coupon Lady app for deal alerts and more coupons!
1. Consider buying meat in bulk via a cow share.
The local farmers listed will kill and butcher the cow for free (or for a small fee). You only need to pick it up and buy a (bigger) freezer. The best rates we’re finding right now range from $5 – $10 per pound. In-store grocery prices average around $5.86 per pound, so be sure to compare your local farmer’s price or cow shares to the grocery store.
PRO TIP: A quarter cow typically weighs 115 pounds, a half cow = 230 pounds, and a full cow = 460 pounds.
2. Head to the grocery store early to find the best discounts in the meat department.
3. Make your own jerky to save about $13 – $22 a pound (and have better jerky!)
To make beef (or whatever) jerky, you need to start with the leanest meat possible. For example, top round, bottom round, and sirloin are great for jerky making. The less fat, the better because fat doesn’t dehydrate, and you’ll need a smoker or dehydrator to dry up your meats. You can buy a dehydrator for $50 from Kohl’s — make sure to check our website for the latest Kohl’s deals and coupons.
One pound of prepackaged, store-bought beef jerky is about $29.99 at Walmart and $22.36 at Amazon. Meanwhile, 16 ounces of bottom round might run about $7.99 per pound at Albertsons, and a top sirloin is about $8.94 per pound from Walmart. Not bad savings, especially if you plan to use the dehydrator regularly.
Bonus: You can season it how you like!
4. Look for BOGO meat sales at grocery stores.
5. Print coupons before you shop to get cheap meat at the store.
Related: Check out other meat coupons to save on beef, pork, and poultry.
6. Get an extra discount when you haggle with the meat department on sell-by dates.
If you have an inkling that the meat department will be discounting a package soon, go ahead and haggle! This is especially true if there is a surplus of a particular kind of meat and several packages that will go bad before they can actually sell. The meat department would rather sell it to you for cheap than throw it in the trash.
7. Use EatWild to buy from local farmers in your state.
You can find just about every kind of meat you’d want: beef, pork, lamb, veal, goat, elk, venison, yak, chickens, ducks, rabbits, turkeys, and even wild-caught salmon.
Not only is ordering bulk meat from a ranch in your area supporting locals, but it’s also a good way to save money on cuts you can freeze and eat for months to come.
8. Have your butcher remove the fat and bone from a roast so you’re paying only for the meat.
9. Buy fresh, sashimi-grade fish, and slice it yourself to save a ton on sushi.
Not all salmon is labeled sashimi-grade, so ask. Gently slice across the grain of the fish with a sharp knife and serve with wasabi, ginger, and soy sauce. Yum! Saved you a $25 meal at your local sushi bar, too.
10. Use Catalina coupons for meat.
But Catalinas (long, receipt-like coupons which often exclude prescriptions, alcohol, and lotto tickets) are fair game to redeem on any fresh meat from the case, the butcher, or the deli.
Keep an eye out for the Catalinas that allow you to take a dollar amount off your next shopping order and then put that toward your meat purchases. We’ve got lots more to say about shopping with Catalina coupons.
11. Buy roasts on sale, and have the meat department grind them into fresh, ground hamburger.
Why buy a roast for hamburger meat? Pre-ground hamburger in the refrigerated case is subject to oxidation (discoloration) due to greater surface area.
The average price for ground beef is between $4.76 and $6.39 per pound, depending on how lean it is. You can save money (I’ve seen as low as $2.99 a pound) by finding a roast on sale and having the meat department grind it into a hamburger for you.
Grind your roast fresh, adding bacon, chorizo, or pork, and you score colorful, tasty hamburger superiority and juiciness. Look for roasts that are priced at around $2 a pound for the best deals.
12. Swap less expensive cuts of meat and save up to 50%.
Replace a top-round steak with a boneless beef chuck steak to save 20% per pound.
Swap beef eye of round boneless with beef chuck roast to save $0.50 a pound.
Purchase a pork butt/shoulder for $3.64 per pound instead of pork chops for $4.67 a pound and have the butcher cut it into pork chops for you.
Create your own country-style from blade-end pork chops and bank 30% savings per pound.
Swap a flank steak for a flat iron steak and save a minimum of $2 on a 10-pound steak.
Know your meat grades
The meat grades are Standard, Choice, Select, and Prime. According to Texas A&M University, the quality grade is based on factors like tenderness, juiciness, and flavor. Bargain supermarkets (WinCo/Walmart) carry Standard and Choice grades.
Mid-level supermarkets (Kroger/Safeway) carry more Choice and Select grades. Costco and Whole Foods markets tend to carry Select and Prime cuts of meat. This info can help you spot a good deal when you’re shopping for meat.
13. Buy frozen meat and fish to save almost 22%.
I can find meat and fish (even organic!) at better prices when I buy frozen instead of heading straight to the meat department. If you’re not picky, check canned and smoked meats in grocery aisles for deals, too.
For example, fresh cod fillets from Walmart are $12.08 a pound, while frozen cod fillets are $9.44 a pound. That’s 21.85% savings, and that’s not including any coupons or sales.
14. Buy cheap turkeys around Thanksgiving, freeze them for later, or cook and slice into lunch meat.
15. Make your own deli-quality lunch meat at home.
A frozen Butterball turkey from Walmart is less than $3 a pound (or free around Thanksgiving), while 16 ounces of sliced turkey is usually $7 or more. Plus, when you slice your own meat, you’ll skip the high content of salt, sulfites, and nitrates.
You could also buy a precooked turkey breast or ham and ask the deli to slice it for you.
PRO TIP: Uncooked meat slices better after it’s been in the freezer for about an hour.
16. Debone an entire chicken by slow cooking until the meat falls off of the bone.
Once you remove the meat from the bones, fill the crockpot with water and a tablespoon of vinegar. Simmer the bones on low for another 24 hours. Strain out the solids for broth that keeps in the freezer for months.
17. Try slightly tougher, cheaper cuts of meat, and use a Crock-Pot or marinade.
Tougher cuts are a great way to get meat for cheap. They still have a great taste and good quality but just take longer to prepare. Trust me, it’s worth it.
18. Roast crickets like almonds.
PRO TIP: Pregnant crickets taste bitter, so to be safe, only roast the crickets that don’t yet have wings.