Dollar Tree's $1.50 ‘Awesome’ Melamine Serving Bowls, Plus 11 More Summer Party Deals

Summer entertaining season is here, and whether you're hosting a backyard cookout, a pool party, or a casual patio dinner, the last thing you want is to waste money on overpriced supplies before the first guest arrives. Fortunately, Dollar Tree has a surprisingly solid lineup of summer party supplies and BBQ essentials — and most of them are priced at just $1.25 or $1.50.

From melamine serving bowls that look far more expensive than they are to a telescopic barbecue fork that rivals versions selling for nearly five times the price, these finds are worth a trip down the party aisle. We rounded up 12 of the best summer entertaining deals available right now.

Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.

Price: $1.50

If you've ever shopped for melamine serving bowls at a home goods store, you know they can easily run $8 to $15 apiece — and that's before you've bought enough to actually serve a crowd. Dollar Tree's 12-inch round melamine serving bowls bring that cost way down, at just $1.50 each.

Melamine is a durable, shatter-resistant plastic that has the look and weight of ceramic without the breakage risk, making it a smart choice for outdoor entertaining. Use these bowls for everything from potato salad and coleslaw to chips, fruit salad, or a build-your-own taco spread. At $1.50, you can grab several of these "awesome sturdy bowls," as one reviewer described them, without guilt.

Price: $1.50

Matching melamine plates round out your outdoor tablescape without the worry of breakage or expensive replacements. These 11-inch round plates feature a tropical party print that gives your table an instant summer feel, whether you're hosting a luau-themed gathering or just want something more festive than plain white.

At retailers like Target, individual melamine plates in similar sizes can run anywhere from $4 to $8 each — meaning a set of eight could easily cost $32 to $64. At $1.50 per plate from Dollar Tree, you can set a full table for a fraction of that. They're also dishwasher-friendly and sturdy enough to hold up to a full plate of cookout food without flexing.

Price: $1.50

A good serving tray is one of those underrated party essentials — it makes it easy to carry drinks from the kitchen, pass appetizers around the patio, or corral condiments in one spot. This summer-themed party serving tray from Dollar Tree does all of that for just $1.50.

The tray is lightweight and features a cheerful summer print, making it a fun addition to any outdoor spread. Use it to carry glasses to the table, display a snack assortment, or organize napkins, utensils, and condiments in one place. It's the kind of item you'll reach for again and again all season without worrying about it getting damaged in the sun or from outdoor use.

Price: $1.50

Keeping everyone hydrated at a summer party means having enough cups to go around — and with reusable tumblers that include lids and straws, you can skip the disposables altogether. These 18-oz. tropical party tumblers from Dollar Tree come with both a lid and a straw for just $1.50 each.

The fun tropical print ties in nicely with the rest of the party theme, and the large 18-oz. capacity means guests won't need constant refills. Lidded tumblers are also practical outdoors, where bugs and debris can be a nuisance around open cups. Buy a few extras so guests can take theirs home as a party favor — at $1.50 each, it's a thoughtful touch that won't stretch your budget.

Price: $1.50

For a more elevated look at the drink station, these 24.4-oz. luau hurricane glasses bring a resort-style vibe to your backyard bar setup. The tall, curvy silhouette of a hurricane glass is classic for tropical cocktails, punches, and mocktails — and at just $1.50, you can stock enough for a full party.

These are great for making a signature summer punch that guests can sip in style. Fill them with lemonade, sparkling water, or your favorite cocktail mix, and add a slice of citrus or a paper umbrella for a simple but festive presentation. The large 24.4-oz. capacity means one pour keeps guests going for a while — a practical bonus when you're busy hosting.

Price: $1.50

Sometimes reusable isn't the right call — especially for a big cookout where cleanup needs to be fast and easy. These summer print paper plates come 10 to a pack for $1.50, making them an economical choice for casual outdoor gatherings where disposable is simply more practical.

The colorful summer print makes them more festive than standard white paper plates, and at 15 cents per plate, you can stock up for multiple parties without worrying about the cost. Grab a few packs for a larger gathering, or keep one or two on hand for impromptu backyard meals throughout the season. They're a simple, low-effort addition to any cookout supply run.

Price: $1.25

Bamboo skewers are a BBQ and party essential — useful for grilling kabobs, making appetizer picks, threading fruit for a skewer station, or assembling caprese bites. Dollar Tree's 100-count pack is priced at just $1.25, making it one of the most straightforward deals in this roundup.

Soak them in water for 30 minutes before grilling to help prevent scorching on the grill.

Price: $1.25

A good basting brush is a BBQ staple for applying marinades, sauces, and butter to everything from chicken to corn on the cob. This 14-inch silicone basting brush from Dollar Tree is priced at just $1.25 — a significant markdown compared to popular options at other retailers.

A comparable OXO silicone basting brush runs approximately $10 to $12 at Target, making Dollar Tree's version a fraction of the cost for a similar function. Silicone bristles are heat-resistant, easy to clean, and won't absorb flavors the way natural bristle brushes can. The extended 14-inch handle also keeps your hand at a safe distance from the grill grates. It's the kind of practical tool worth having a backup of — and at $1.25, keeping a spare is no problem at all.

Price: $1.25

Turning food on a hot grill is much safer and more comfortable with a long-handled fork that keeps your arm away from the heat. This 30-inch telescopic barbecue fork from Dollar Tree extends to give you the reach you need, all for just $1.25.

At Walmart, a comparable Coghlan's telescoping barbecue fork is priced at around $5.64 — more than four times the Dollar Tree price. The telescoping design means it can also compact for easier storage when cookout season wraps up. Whether you're turning burgers, spearing corn, or moving chicken pieces around the grate, a long-handled fork is one of those simple tools that makes outdoor cooking noticeably more comfortable.

Price: $1.25

Corn on the cob is a summer cookout staple, and corn tray sets make it much easier to handle and eat without burning your hands. Dollar Tree's 4-count corn tray sets are priced at $1.25, giving you four individual corn holders for just over 31 cents apiece.

At Walmart, an 8-piece corn skewer set from Mainstays runs about $5.72 — that's roughly $2.86 for a comparable 4-count, or more than twice what Dollar Tree charges. Corn tray sets also have the advantage of catching the butter drips that are inevitable with well-dressed corn, making them a tidier option than holding the cob bare. At this price, it's easy to have enough for a full cookout crowd.

Price: $1.50

Food tents are one of those party supplies that seem optional until you're watching flies circle the potato salad — then they suddenly feel essential. These 17x17-inch summer fun food tents from Dollar Tree are priced at $1.50 each and provide a simple, effective way to keep insects and debris off your buffet spread while it's sitting out.

At Walmart, a 6-pack of mesh food tents can run anywhere from $10 to $18 — which works out to $1.67 to $3.00 per tent before you've even bought a single one. At $1.50 each from Dollar Tree, you can grab as many as you need without worrying about the unit cost. Use them over serving bowls, plates of appetizers, or anything on an outdoor buffet table that needs a little protection between rounds of guests.

Price: $1.50

A classic tropical drink garnish, these colorful umbrella picks instantly elevate any summer beverage from ordinary to festive. Each pack includes 16 picks in an assortment of bright colors, and they work just as well in mocktails, lemonade, and sparkling water as they do in cocktails — making them a fun touch for guests of all ages.

At $1.50 for 16 picks, you're paying under 10 cents per umbrella pick. Comparable cocktail umbrella pick sets at specialty kitchen or party stores often run $5 or more for a similar count. Use them in drinks, skewer them through fruit on a dessert platter, or tuck them into cupcakes as decorative toppers — at this price, you can keep a few packs on hand all summer long without a second thought.

Summer entertaining doesn't have to mean cutting elsewhere to save money on bills. Dollar Tree's current lineup of party supplies and BBQ essentials gives you everything from melamine serving ware and tropical-themed drinkware to practical grill tools — most priced at $1.50 or less.

Whether you're outfitting a full backyard cookout or just grabbing a few extras to round out what you already own, these finds offer real value for the price. Stop in before your next summer gathering and stock up — at these prices, there's no reason to wait.