3 Tasty Recipes for Your 4th of July Barbecue
One of the biggest holidays of the year for barbecue is the Fourth of July, and this year we can’t wait to be surrounded by family and friends to celebrate America with some delicious food. If you want to impress your guests with some creative and tasty dishes, we’ve got you covered.
Here are three great recipe ideas you may not have made before to make for your festivities before the fireworks start.
Butter Burgers — GrillSeeker
What is more American than a grilled burger? This recipe for Butter Burgers from Matthew Eads of GrillSeeker has tons of tasty cheese and butter. This juicy and savory burger recipe is perfect for guests who want plenty of flavor but still want the ability to customize the burger with different toppings. Word of warning, however: cheese is mandatory! VIEW THE RECIPE HERE.
Grilled Corn Salad — How to BBQ Right
Good barbecue deserves to be accompanied by a good side dish. This recipe for Grilled Corn Salad from Malcom Reed of How to BBQ Right screams summer. Start with fresh sweet corn on the grill to add some smokiness and char flavors. Then you finish the dish with some creaminess and some veggies with extra flavor. You’ll want to make a second batch. VIEW THE RECIPE HERE.
Ultimate Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese — Hey Grill Hey
If you’re a fan of mac and cheese and buffalo wings (and let’s face it, who isn’t), you’ll love this delicious recipe for Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese from Susie Bulloch of Hey Grill Hey. This recipe is made with a Buffalo-sauce infused cheese before being topped with sauce-coated chicken. This mac and cheese is a delight for the senses with creamy noodles, a crunchy Panko breadcrumb topping, and spicy smoked chicken. We promise each bite will be better than the last. VIEW THE RECIPE HERE.
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We also want to thank each and every one of you for all of your support. We hope you all have a happy and safe Fourth of July weekend filled with barbecue, family, and friends.
Ryan Cooper (BBQ Tourist) and Sean Ludwig (NYC BBQ)
Co-Founders, The Smoke Sheet
—Acclaimed California barbecue restaurant Heritage Barbecue announced it plans to open a second location in Oceanside. (Photo via Heritage Barbecue / Facebook)—
HOT OFF THE PRESS
After gaining a reputation as one of the top BBQ pop-up operations in California, Heritage Barbecue opened its first brick-and-mortar location in San Juan Capistrano in 2020. Now owners Brenda and Daniel Castillo have announced they will be opening a second, larger location to the south in Oceanside. Eater San Diego reports that the couple is working to open Heritage Barbecue & Brewery, a 10,000-square-foot restaurant and brewery that will pair beers with barbecue. The indoor and outdoor space will have 18 beers on tap and a cocktail program, with a plan to open by the end of 2022. READ HERE.
Spoiler alert: Ocala, Florida-based chef and pitmaster Rashad Jones has won the title of “Master of ‘Cue” on Monday’s season three finale of BBQ Brawl on the Food Network. Jones bested some of the top names in the American barbecue scene to win on the show. Jones runs Big Lee’s – Serious About Barbecue restaurant and food truck in Ocala and hosted a watch party at his restaurant on Monday. Jones posted the following note on Instagram: “I must say thanks a million to the most incredible team captain, Anne Burrell, the two most amazing teammates Don Nguyen and Sunny Moody and a fierce competitor Winnie Yee-Lakhani! This journey was amazing but it wasn’t easy! I am super proud to join the ranks of BBQ Hall of Famer Lee Ann Whippen from BBQ Brawl Season 1 and Erica Blaire from BBQ Brawl Season 2 as this season’s Master of ‘Cue!” READ HERE.
In a charming piece of news, Indianapolis-based couple Matt McKinney and Kelly Dickey got engaged inside the pit room of Franklin Barbecue recently. McKinney popped the question to Dickey after plotting with the Franklin staff in order to creatively put a (smoke) ring on it. “I didn’t think he would on the Austin trip,” Kelly said. “And I certainly didn’t think he would in a pit room. ... At first glance this probably doesn’t look like the most romantic proposal, but cooking had been a big hobby between the two of us. It was a significant and creative way to honor our relationship and our common interests.” READ HERE.
Our friends at the Barbecue Bros. have updated their barbecue rankings for Lexington-style BBQ in North Carolina. The list expertly ranks 13 joints among three tiers. Tier 1 list includes favorites Lexington Barbecue, Bar-B-Q Center, Backcountry Barbeque, and Speedy’s Barbecue. However, Speedy’s will likely close soon due to the highway widening project that ended Smiley’s Barbecue, so be sure to stop in if you’re making a North Carolina barbecue trip. READ HERE.
Daniel Vaughn of Texas Monthly reports that W.B. Custom Cooking in Buffalo (in the middle of Houston and Dallas off Interstate 45) is a great barbecue pit stop between the two major cities. Becky and Wade Brewer run the relatively simple operation with five meats and four sides, including good brisket and ribs. They also serve high-quality house-made peach cobbler, banana pudding, and chocolate chip brownies. READ HERE.
ADDITIONAL READS
The Texanist answers an important question: how much should you tip at a barbecue joint?
Kentucky BBQ master Brian Leigh, the man behind B.T. Leigh’s BBQ sauce, will soon compete on the new PBS show The Great American Recipe.
Southern Living has collected 19 irresistible recipes that incorporate barbecue sauce.
Mashed takes a closer look at why Los Angeles could become the country’s next BBQ hot spot.
If you’re looking for more BBQ on TV, Food Network’s BBQ USA with host Michael Symon will air its first of six episodes on July 11.
Texas Monthly notes that Bud’s House of Meat in Houston offers up great boudin and baked potatoes, all in a combination meat counter/restaurant setting.
J.C. Reid writes in the Houston Chronicle that The Link Link is serving up a new generation of Beaumont-style barbecue.
Delish runs down most of the regional barbecue styles found in the U.S., including a few you might not know.
Here are five important women to know in the barbecue world.
InsideHook wrote about how Blood Bros. BBQ in Houston got started and how it makes its creative barbecue dishes.
Mighty Quinn’s BBQ, a popular New York-based chain, has opened up a new Brooklyn-based outpost in Gowanus.
—Matt Pittman visits Leonard Botello IV of Truth Barbeque to get the inside scoop on how he makes delicious brisket.—
WATCH
How to Make Brisket with Truth BBQ — Meat Church
Pitmaster Matt Pittman visits Leonard Botello IV, owner and pitmaster at Truth Barbeque in Houston, Texas. Truth was ranked No. 3 on the most recent Texas Monthly list of the Top 50 Best BBQ Joints in Texas. Leonard shares the secrets of exactly how they make brisket each day at the restaurant on the offset smokers in their pit room. With this video, you’ll learn how to make Truth-quality brisket at home but you should definitely visit their locations in Houston and Brenham and order everything on the menu. WATCH HERE.
LISTEN
Rob Arocha Is So Smokin Gooder — Grab ‘Em in the Brisket
In this episode, the hosts of the Grab ‘Em in the Brisket podcast are joined by Rob Arocha of the So Smokin' Gooder Show, Bullhorn BBQ, and the Champions Barbecue Alliance. They talk about the Texas BBQ scene, what’s happening in competition BBQ, the latest news, BBQ fails, and much more. LISTEN HERE.
READ
EGGin': David Rose Cooks on the Big Green Egg — David Rose
Chef David Rose applies his signature cooking style to grilling, smoking, roasting, and baking on the Big Green Egg. From apps, to veggies, entrees, sweet treats, and even smoked cocktails, the entire meal will be prepared on the Egg. Renowned Chef and TV personality David Rose uses his cooking expertise to elevate meals made with the Egg as never seen before. Enjoy delicious recipes that reflect David's Jamaican heritage and classic French culinary training, as well as his Southern inspiration in dishes. ORDER HERE.
—Try serving these Hawaiian-inspired Huli Huli Chicken Wings to guests at your next cookout.—
Huli Huli Chicken Wings
By All Things BBQ
Chef Tom of All Things BBQ fires up the Ooni Karu 16 Wood Fired Oven for Huli Huli Chicken Wings. This classic Hawaiian barbecue chicken recipe features a sweet and salty marinade and sauce that coats every crevice of the wood fire-kissed wings.
Learn more about Southside Market Barbeque.
—A lot of big barbecue events are happening in 2022. Eat up!—
August 4-7, 2022: Windy City Smokeout — Chicago, Illinois
Get ready for beer, BBQ, and country, because the Windy City Smokeout BBQ & Country Music Festival is returning to Chicago soon. The Windy City Smokeout is one of the largest barbecue festivals in the U.S., with this year’s edition bringing a stunningly good lineup together of veterans and newcomers. Read our 2019 Windy City Smokeout recap to learn about the experience. MORE INFO HERE.
September 2-4, 2022: Pinehurst Barbecue Festival — Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina
The Pinehurst Barbecue Festival, presented by Pinehurst Resort, US Foods and The Pilot, is a “Celebration of Taste and Tradition” featuring award-winning pitmasters from across North Carolina in one of the most picturesque settings in the entire state. The three-day event, staged in and around the historic Village of Pinehurst, offers a unique culinary sampling experience of various barbecue meats and traditional sides. MORE INFO HERE.
September 10, 2022: Pig Island NYC — Staten Island, New York
Pig Island NYC will celebrate its 13th year on September 10, 2022, at Snug Harbor on Staten Island. Join in for all-inclusive food and drink, from all-star pitmasters and chefs who will be serving up delicious porky goodness, as well as local breweries, distilleries, and cideries. Top chefs will compete for the best dishes and event-goers reap the benefits. Expect a ton of amazing eats and a great place to picnic with friends and family for the day. BUY TICKETS HERE.
Sept 28 - Oct 2, 2022: American Royal World Series of Barbecue — Kansas City, Kansas
The American Royal World Series of barbecue is the largest BBQ competition in the country. On top of a massive KCBS competition with roughly 500 teams from around the country, this signature Kansas City event includes public-facing activities, including live music, delicious BBQ and local food, a full lineup of kids activities, and a vendor fair authentic to Kansas City and BBQ enthusiasts. Read our 2021 recap of the event to learn more about the experience. MORE INFO HERE.
Sept 30 - Oct 2, 2022: Q in the Lou — St. Louis, Missouri
The annual Q in the Lou is happening again this fall! Don’t miss this chance to grab an ice-cold brew and sample pure smoked bliss from award-winning pitmasters from across the country. The event is held nearby the St. Louis Arch and held the final weekend of regular season play for the St. Louis Cardinals. MORE INFO HERE.
November 11-13, 2022: KCBS World Invitational — Gadsden, Alabama
The Kansas City Barbeque Society’s biggest event for the rest of the year is the fourth annual KCBS World Invitational Barbeque Competition. The event will bring together top champion pitmasters to compete for the title of “KCBS World Champion.” This event will feature three full days of contests and events. There will be both an open contest and a Master Series contest. Plus, backyard teams will be eligible to compete in the open against Master Series teams without impacting their Backyard status. MORE INFO HERE.
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