Today, I’m sharing my beginner’s guide to BBQ. I’ve covered various aspects of BBQ over the years, and this post will combine all that knowledge and add new info I’ve never covered before. If you’ve seen BBQ clips and highlights on YouTube or TikTok and want to join in the fun, this post is for you!
What Is BBQ?
I guess the first thing we should cover is what exactly is BBQ. For starters, there is a difference between BBQ and grilling. I wrote an entire article on the differences between the two; you can read here, but the key difference is that BBQ is generally cooked low and slow, while grilling is cooking with high heat, much more quickly.
Low and slow means you are cooking with a lower-than-normal temperature for a longer period of time. The temperature ranges typically between 175 and 250, give or take 10 to 20 degrees on either end. A steak will cook at 500 plus degrees for 5 to 10 minutes, whereas a pulled pork will cook at 200 degrees or less for up to 16 hours, depending on size.
Another aspect of BBQ is the use of smoke. A lot of BBQ uses wood smoke to enhance the flavor of the meat. Popular options include hickory, mesquite, and pecan. This may require additional equipment, which we’ll be talking about in the next section.
What Equipment Do You Need?
Part of what makes BBQ so popular is that it doesn’t take much to do it. If you can make a fire, you can BBQ. Some cultures bury their meat with hot coals to cook it. If you are on a website learning about BBQ, you probably want something a little more complicated than that! So now we’ll go over some options for making great BBQ.
An electric smoker is a great piece of equipment for beginners. It offers more precise control and is more forgiving. If you want to give one a try, check out my review of the Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker.
Many grills, both gas and charcoal, have smoker boxes that you can load wood into. The benefit of using a gas or charcoal grill is the added flavor they add to your BBQ. The downside is that you have to more closely monitor the temperature than you would with an electric smoker.
If you already own a normal grill and want to smoke meats without upgrading, you can get a smoker box that goes right into it. These can be found for as little as $15 on Amazon.
Purists will howl, but you can use an oven or crockpot to make good BBQ. You can even get the smoky flavor through products like liquid smoke. Don’t let a lack of equipment get you down, there are always alternatives!
BBQ Spices
Now that we’ve covered the equipment needed, let’s talk about cooking some BBQ! The first step to good BBQ is a good rub. A rub is a spice mix that you coat the outside of the meat with. Most BBQ has some type of meat rub.
I’ve already written a post about the rib rub I use. This basic meat rub is the basis for most of my BBQ pork recipes. Paprika and brown sugar are common ingredients in most rubs, along with garlic and onion powder, salt and pepper, and chili powder.
I will add various spices to the basic recipe to mix things up on occasion. For example, when I want my meal to have a more Tex-Mex flair, I’ll add some cumin.
The basic rib rub works great on brisket as well. For chicken, I drop the brown sugar and add season salt instead. However, I usually go with one of my favorite store bought mixes for poultry: Weber’s Kick’n Chicken. If making your own rub doesn’t interest you, there are plenty of options on the market.
Sauces
Some purists say that good BBQ doesn’t need sauce. While I agree that it doesn’t NEED sauce, I do think that a good sauce takes BBQ to another level. There are so many varieties out there, I’m sure you can find one you like.
I’ve already covered the 5 best BBQ sauces you can find in any supermarket. Brands like Kraft, Sweet Baby Rae’s, and KC Masterpiece need no introduction. Try out any local varieties you come across as well, as you may find a hidden gem out there.
If you want to dabble in making your own sauce from scratch, the standard ingredients are easy to come by. Most sauces start with molasses, vinegar, brown sugar, and some type of tomato product, either sauce or ketchup. From there, you add various spices of your choice to create the flavor profile you desire. Popular options include paprika, chili powder, cayenne pepper, garlic and onion powder, salt and pepper. Worcestershire sauce is another ingredient that helps elevate BBQ sauce.
The Best Meats For BBQ
I’ve previously written about the 5 best types of meat for your summer BBQ. That list included brisket, pulled pork, ribs, chicken leg quarters, and pork tenderloin. I encourage you to read that post for more details on those meats.
Pork
As you can probably surmise from that list, pork is very popular in the BBQ world. Ribs and pulled pork are iconic BBQ dishes. Both come in a variety of styles. For more details on all things rib-related, check out my post on how to cook ribs.
Pork tenderloin is not as popular as the previous two meats, but don’t sleep on it. Tenderloin by itself doesn’t have a ton of flavor, but smoking the meat erases that issue. Combine a good rub and BBQ sauce, and this cut can shine at any cookout. Tenderloin also doesn’t take as long to cook as ribs or pulled pork, and can be done in as little as 2 hours.
You can’t talk about pork without mentioning sausage. This BBQ staple is another dish that cooks quickly and should be palatable to most guests. My personal favorite is a local brand: Conecuh sausage. It’s possible you could find it at your local supermarket, but it is also available online.
Beef
When it comes to beef, brisket is king. It is also one of the more difficult cuts to get right. But when you do, it’s magical. Brisket is probably my favorite BBQ protein.
Beyond brisket, you can also try beef ribs. These ribs contain a lot more meat than traditional pork ribs. You’ll feel like you are in an episode of The Flintstones when eating one. The flavor is similar to brisket, making it a delicious alternative to those who don’t eat pork.
Sausage is another dish that comes in beef varieties. I’m partial to pork sausage myself, but I have had plenty of good beef sausages as well. I encourage you to try any and all options your local supermarket has, especially any local brands.
Any type of beef roast can be BBQ’d, such as a chuck roast. You can even smoke steaks at a low and slow temperature. Once you’ve got the hang of your smoker, it’s always fun to experiment with new cuts of meat and see what new flavors you can unlock.
Chicken
Chicken is one of the proteins most helped by the BBQ process. White meat cuts of chicken are not the most flavorful, and thus greatly benefit from the flavoring power of smoke and BBQ sauce. Smoked chicken breast is delightful.
Legs and thighs have plenty of flavor, but when you add smoke to the mix, they really pack a punch. Try my mouthwatering BBQ recipe for chicken, it’s a great beginner recipe for BBQ.
Leg quarters are great for BBQ because they combine two flavorful cuts of meat. You can also frequently find them on sale. It is the perfect option for a budget-friendly BBQ.
If all of these cuts sound too confusing, you can always go with a whole chicken! Why pick and choose when you can have the whole bird? There is also the option to stuff the chicken, adding an easy side to your entree.
BBQ Sides
As with Southern cooking, the sides sometimes outshine the entrees with BBQ. I’ve previously shared recipes for potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, and mac and cheese. Along with corn on the cobb, these represent the classic sides you’ll see at most BBQs.
There are plenty of alternatives if none of those options tickle your fancy. Macaroni salad is a good alternative for cold sides like coleslaw. Corn salad, succotash, or Mexican corn are great varieties in place of corn on the cobb.
In place of potato salad, you could try my Southern fried potatoes. Loaded mashed potatoes are another option. If you want to ditch the potatoes altogether, corn bread can work as a starchy side too. Good old Texas Toast goes great with BBQ as well.
Greens are great with BBQ. You could try my Southern fried cabbage recipe, or go with classic turnip greens. Greens offer a nice contrast to the often sweet and salty BBQ. Salads also work, but you might be frowned upon in some circles!
Desserts For BBQ
Given that BBQ is mostly cooked in the hot summer months, I typically like to go with cold desserts. Banana pudding is one of our favorites. Its cool and creamy, the perfect counter balance to hot and spicy BBQ.
Ice cream offers the same benefits as banana pudding. With countless options and flavors out there, you will surely find one that your guests enjoy. Ice cream also offers the option of adding infinite toppings. An ice cream sundae bar is a welcome addition to any BBQ.
Since BBQ is usually a heavy meal, so I tend to avoid cakes as a dessert. Pies are fine, especially a cold one like chocolate pie. But even hot pies like apple will work. Cobblers are also popular in the South. Blackberry, peach, and blueberry are all great choices.
For a healthier option, watermelon is a classic choice. Nothing says summer in the South like a big slice of watermelon on a hot day. Its hard to beat at a BBQ.
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