For many people, barbeque food conjures memories of days spent with family and friends in the backyard. Restaurant BBQ takes that concept to the next level, attempting to deliver the same delicious food in a different environment. Today, we’re talking about BBQ menu ideas and, by extension, how to incorporate BBQ into your restaurant.
Why You Should Consider BBQ Restaurant Menu Ideas
BBQ has something very special about it for many Americans that makes it incredibly special — nostalgia. This means that it’s a great option for restaurant menus as long as you can execute the final product. Beyond plain nostalgia, though, BBQ has had quite a glow up in recent years. What was once considered more of a low-class food has become something of a star in the global culinary world, making for an excellent entry into your local food scene.
How to Choose the Right BBQ Dishes for Your Menu
When selecting what you’ll be putting on the menu, one of the first things you’ll need to think about are the logistics of prep. BBQ is an incredibly time-consuming practice and, as such, can be quite labor intensive if not executed properly. Beyond time, the constraints of space and equipment are also ever-present. BBQs and grills take up a lot of room, and smokers require their own dedicated outdoor space.
This makes it crucial that you plan ahead to account for space, budget, and equipment. For example, if you have limited staff available, consider waiting on smoking food. It’s a process that requires a great deal of timing and planning and, importantly, is very hard to predict.
Similarly, while many BBQ restaurants stick to the “everything but the kitchen sink” mentality, chances are that you don’t have the space or hours to jump directly into that approach. Instead, pick a handful of dishes that you know you can execute consistently and work toward a larger menu. After all, the more that you sell, the better gear you can get to keep things rolling.
Popular BBQ Restaurant Menu Ideas
With that out of the way, it’s time to talk about BBQ restaurant menu ideas. There are so many options here, so don’t shy away from experimenting a bit to see what lands the best with your demographic.
Classic BBQ Ribs
BBQ ribs are a classic for a reason. Yes, they’re messy and time consuming to make, but many would agree that they are delicious. Once you’ve got the cut, all that’s left is to build out a killer BBQ sauce, smoke or grill them, and you’re in the game. I tend to serve ribs with beans, cornbread, and a bit of mac and cheese, though we’ll get to the sides shortly; in the meantime, think about the sauce.
Do you want a bit of acidic bite, sweetness, smoke? There are countless BBQ sauce styles out there, so the first step will always be figuring out which one to lean into. We won’t pick favorites here, so it’s time for you to get cooking and make a few comparisons!
Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Pulled pork sandwiches are a classic for a reason. Pulled pork is a great “fire and forget” style of meat that can be done in a smoker, in the oven, or even in a slow cooker. Like the ribs above, one of the most important parts of pulled pork is the sauce. Unlike ribs, though, pulled pork has a bit more body to it. This means that we don’t want the sauce to be the only thing that carries the meal; instead, you’ll want tender, juicy meat that’s complemented by a tasty sauce.
Once you’ve got a sauce down, grab yourself a bun and some coleslaw and you’re set! Pair the sandwich with baked beans and some fresh potato chips and you’re off to the races.
Smoked Brisket
Smoked brisket is something that many people take as BBQ gospel. As such, it needs to be made with love and care; more importantly, though, it needs to be made with a smoker. While you can certainly try to create a smoker using wood pellets and an oven, most briskets will be too large to consistently cook a large enough amount to run a restaurant.
With that said, smoked brisket is great because it’s incredibly versatile. From burnt ends to a brisket sandwich, you can do a lot with smoked brisket — all you need is time and space. And yes, you’ll need both to fit a smoker. Arguably the best part about smoked brisket, though, is that when done properly, you don’t need a sauce or sides — it’s the main event.
BBQ Chicken
BBQ chicken is a great option for a quick-fire option that can be easily done on a standard grill. You’ll want to ensure that it’s marinaded and rubbed properly, of course, but in comparison to many of the other items on this list, it’s pretty straightforward. And best of all, it’s incredibly diverse. You can make sandwiches, BBQ platters, and more with BBQ chicken.
Sausages and Hot Links
Sausages and hot links are a great option for restaurants with the space and ability to make sausage in house. While it’s not hard, you will need an industrial Hobart mixer, and those can be expensive. With that said, though, sausage is great as it can have endless variations that can be smoked, cured, or barbequed.
They can be sold in sandwiches, on platters or samplers, or even thrown into a cheeky BBQ charcuterie arrangement — the world is your oyster. Realistically, the only major restrictions here are your imagination and your ability to buy (and fit) a stand mixer into your kitchen.
BBQ Pork Belly
BBQ pork belly is a great example of something that can have countless variations while still coming out delicious. Whether you want to lean into classic southern cooking or add a bit of flair, BBQ pork belly is guaranteed to be a winner. I highly recommend offering a classic smoked version alongside something a bit more unique, like a gochujang-based Korean BBQ glaze.
Grilled Shrimp Skewers
If you’re looking for a quick and simple option to fire, look no further than grilled shrimp skewers. They take very little time to prep, fire almost instantly, and they look great on a plate. You can gussy them up with different marinades, sauces, and rubs, or you can pick one and do it really well — no matter what you do, though, they’re certain to be a winner.
BBQ Combo Platters
I’ve mentioned combo platters here a few times, and for good reason. One of the most definitive BBQ dishes in America is the platter — an assortment of various BBQ and smoked meats in relatively small servings that are accompanied by an assortment of sides. Think of it like a grown up snack pack; they’re diverse, delicious, and easy to eat with your hands.
Vegetarian BBQ Options
Just because BBQ centers around meat doesn’t mean that it’s got to be all meat. Vegetarians have quite a few options nowadays, so don’t fear getting creative. Grilled veggies are always great, but there’s so much more that you can do. Marinade and grill mushrooms for a “pulled not-pork” sandwich; glaze and sear watermelon on the grill or invest in Beyond meat and create a true Beyond BBQ experience!
Side Dishes to Complement Your BBQ Menu
Anyone that’s been to a true American BBQ knows that sides are just as important as their meat counterparts. Let’s take a look at a few staples that you’ll need.
Coleslaw and Potato Salad
Coleslaw and potato salad are both incredibly common dishes at BBQ restaurants, and for good reason. They’re cheap, easy to make, and require very little prep to fire during service. Keep in mind that coleslaw should be mixed with the sauce to order (or as close as possible) to keep the cabbage from wilting, and be sure to taste your potato salad for salt. Beyond that, feel free to get creative with a tasty cilantro lime slaw or Slavic potato salad.
Cornbread and Biscuits
As for baked goods, there are few things as iconic as cornbread and biscuits. Your biscuits should be fluffy, airy, and buttery, and your cornbread should be moist and always served with honey and butter.
Baked Beans and Mac & Cheese
Baked beans are a staple for BBQ and, likely, that’ll never change. Be sure to cook them with stock (not water) and simmer with your sauce, and if you want to get really fancy, throw in some pork belly for a bit of fatty goodness. As for mac and cheese, that’s simple. Make a tasty cheese sauce and toss noodles in it, it’s so simple, and yet people love it!
Grilled Vegetables
Vegetables like corn and zucchini are great when grilled, and frankly, most are. Take a look at what you can get fresh and grill it up on skewers — from there, you can toss them in a glaze, give them a BBQ rub, it’s really up to your imagination!
How to Incorporate BBQ Dishes into Your Restaurant
Ultimately, incorporating BBQ dishes into your restaurant is only as hard as your space and budget make it. You’ll need a good bit of space and a lot of equipment to successfully pull off a true BBQ menu, so be sure to think practically about what you can accomplish. Even if you only have an oven and flattop, you can easily still make pulled pork sandwiches, all of the sides, and maybe even hot links if you have the time to fill them by hand.
In other words, think about what can be done with the space and time that you have available. You’ll find that the rest will fall into place pretty quickly thereafter.
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