Picking the right main dish for your BBQ can be tough. There are so many amazing choices! Today I’m going to be going over the 5 best types of meat for your summer BBQ.
Before we get started, I should note there is a difference between grilling and BBQ. Basically, grilling is done quickly with high heat, and BBQ is cooked low and slow. We will be dealing with BBQ today, but a grilling post is coming soon!
If you are in need of a simple smoker to kickstart the summer BBQ season, look into this affordable electric smoker from Cuisinart. It’s only $150 on Amazon. I recommend starting with an electric smoker as it’s easier to control and you can focus on your recipes at the start.
Brisket
Brisket is a tough cut of meat that takes a lot of time and attention to get right, but when you do, wow! With a good rub and the right smoke, this cut of meat is the perfect centerpiece for your summer BBQ.
Brisket can be served on its own, sliced thin with a side of BBQ sauce. If cooked correctly, the meat should be juicy and delicious with a nice crust on the outside. It is one of the best meats to smoke.
The meat can also be piled onto a sandwich. A simple hamburger bun will do, but I like a corn-dusted kaiser roll myself. The smokiness of the brisket and the tang of the sauce are complemented perfectly with a good roll.
Of course, you can always go with the classic Texas Toast. Brisket is considered the national dish of the lone star state. I’ve recently come to enjoy garlic toast with BBQ.
Traditional BBQ sides go great with brisket. Mac and cheese offer a nice contrast. Potato salad is a classic, and I have an easy potato salad recipe that will make help reduce the amount of work you have to put into your summer BBQ.
Pulled Pork
Next on the list is pulled pork, the pork counterpoint to brisket. Unlike its beef counterpart, pulled pork isn’t sliced thin when it’s served. Instead, the pork butt or shoulder is shredded or pulled apart. It is another one of the best meats to smoke.
Pork butts and shoulders have a lot of fat on them, but this is a good thing! The fat is rendered during the long cooking process and adds a ton of flavor to the meat. Any remaining after the low and slow smoke will melt in your mouth soft.
Like brisket, you can serve pulled pork on its own or on a sandwich. I prefer a sweet BBQ sauce with mine. The same bread that worked with brisket works with pork.
When it comes to sides, pulled pork has a best friend, and that is coleslaw. The two go hand in hand. Many even pile the coleslaw right onto a pulled pork sandwich.
Ribs
Ribs are something I have already written a good bit about. They are difficult to master, but once you do the results are delicious! If you are looking for tips, check out my guide on How To Cook Ribs For Your Summer BBQ. It is one of my best bbq meat recipes.
The key to good ribs is a good rub. My basic rib rub recipe is a good start. Play with that recipe by adding your own custom spices to make your own signature taste.
There are a couple of different types of ribs to choose from. They range from the meaty country-style ribs to the more petite baby back ribs. I encourage you to try the different cuts and see which you prefer. They all taste amazing.
Good sides for BBQ ribs include potato salad and baked beans. My ridiculously simple BBQ baked beans recipe goes fantastically with smoked ribs. You also can’t go wrong with other classic BBQ sides like coleslaw and mac and cheese. These combos aren’t just great for afternoon BBQs, they are amazing for Sunday dinner ideas as well.
Chicken Leg Quarters
You know we had to have some chicken on this list! Chicken leg quarters offer the most bang for your buck and the most flavor. You can often find a 10 lb bag of leg quarters for $4 or $5 at the grocery store.
I like Weber’s Kick’n Chicken Seasoning to spice up my BBQ chicken. Coupled with some hickory smoke and a tangy sauce, it makes for a mouthwatering combination.
A major benefit to BBQ chicken is that it cooks much more quickly than pulled pork or brisket. Whereas those cuts of meat take over 10 hours, chicken can be smoked in as little as 3 or 4 hours. If you don’t have all day, chicken is the way to go.
All of the classic BBQ sides go well with BBQ chicken. My personal favorite is mac and cheese. A good corn succotash is another side that compliments it well. BBQ chicken also makes a great dish for a southern Sunday dinner idea.
Pork Tenderloin
A cut of meat that doesn’t always get its due in the BBQ world is pork tenderloin. This tender cut of pork doesn’t take nearly as long as pulled pork to cook. It may not have the fat content of its BBQ cousin, but it still has plenty of flavors if cooked right.
Like any BBQ, pork tenderloin needs a good rub and good smoke to truly bring out its potential. Once again, my basic rib rub recipe is a good start. For this leaner cut of meat, I highly recommend you add in some additional spices to kick things up a notch.
Unlike pulled pork, the tenderloin is served in slices. It is traditionally served on its own. All of the traditional sides go great with pork tenderloin. Though it isn’t usually served on a sandwich, some Texas Toast on the side is quite common.
Those are my 5 best types of meat for your summer BBQ. Browse around the site for more of my best BBQ meat recipes. I’ve already linked some on this page. Now fire up that smoker and enjoy your summer!
