4 Delicious Backyard BBQ Recipes for the 4th of July

Four Delicious Backyard BBQ Recipes for the Fourth of July

The 4th of July is one of the biggest days of the year for backyard barbecue and grilling. Even though this year’s celebrations might be smaller and more socially distanced, we know you will still want to impress your family and friends with some great dishes.

Here are four great recipe ideas to make for your feast before the fireworks start.

—The tomahawk ribeye steak isn't too hard and will impress friends.—

Family Size Tomahawk Ribeye Steak — Bartlow’s BBQ

If you’ve ever wondered how to reverse sear a steak or want to know the best way to cook a Tomahawk steak, check out this video recipe from Bartlow’s BBQ. Scott Bartlow gives a step-by-step process preparing, smoking and searing a Tomahawk steak that is big enough to feed a family of four. VIEW THE RECIPE HERE

—There's nothing quite like a perfect rack of ribs.—

Weber Kettle Ribs for Beginners — The Dawfatha’s BBQ

If you want a simple and tasty recipe for pork ribs that you can make on a Weber kettle or similar charcoal grill, check out this video from The Dawgfatha’s BBQ. These tender and juicy ribs will be a hit at your 4th of July party. VIEW THE RECIPE HERE

—Spice up your mac with jalapeños.—

Smoky Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese — Hey Grill Hey

You will definitely want to serve this recipe for Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese from Susie Bulloch of Hey Grill Hey. This over the top dish is loaded with bacon, sausage, and extra cheese before getting a tender kiss of hardwood smoke. VIEW THE RECIPE HERE

—One unexpected but cool recipe to try is this surprising pasta salad.—

Cajun Ranch and Bacon Pasta Salad — Smokin’ & Grillin’ Wit AB

For the perfect side dish for your barbecue, try this recipe for Cajun Ranch and Bacon Pasta Salad from Smokin’ & Grillin’ Wit AB. The tender pasta coated with Cajun Ranch dressing combined with bacon will be a hit at your gathering. VIEW THE RECIPE HERE

—

Make sure you check out our Recipe of the Week below for another perfect dessert dish to celebrate Independence Day. We hope you all have a happy and safe 4th of July!

RYAN COOPER (BBQ TOURIST) & SEAN LUDWIG (NYC BBQ)

Co-Founders, The Smoke Sheet

—Kansas City barbecue king Henry Perry will be celebrated by KC on July 3rd.—

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas has designated July 3rd as “Henry Perry Day,” in honor of the father of KC BBQ. This Friday, to celebrate, the Kansas City Barbeque Society, in partnership with Gates Bar-B-Q, Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Jones Bar-B-Q, and others, will assemble 1,000 barbecue meals and then have them distributed to Kansas Citians in need. “We’re committed to raising awareness about the origins of barbecue and believe Henry Perry’s name should be known by everyone who enjoys Kansas City-style barbecue here and around the world,” KCBS CEO Emily Detwiler said.
READ MORE 

Dr. Howard Conyers, rocket scientist and whole hog pitmaster, wrote a powerful tribute in Bon Appétit to Louisville pistmaster David McAtee, who was killed a month ago by National Guard members. Conyers laments that he didn't get a chance to meet McAtee the last time he was in Louisville and wonders what conversations he and McAtee would have discussed if they did get the chance to meet.
READ MORE

Daniel Vaughn of Texas Monthly reports that legendary Taylor, Texas BBQ joint Louie Mueller Barbecue has finally reopened, with new adaptations to the coronavirus era with an abbreviated menu, larger outdoor patio, and other changes.
READ MORE

While Denver may not be the best known hotspot for BBQ, the city has a lot more to offer than you most people know. 5280 Magazine rounds up 10 great spots you should check out when you're in Denver, including AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q, G-Que Barbeque, Owlbear Barbecue, and more. 
READ MORE
 

ADDITIONAL READS

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Readers Rate the Five Best BBQ Joints in Atlanta

Owner of Picnic Barbecue Joint Gives Smoky and Savory Taste of What’s to Come at Wyatt’s

Black Southern Americans Who Invented Barbecue As We Know It

Through Protests and Pandemic, Black-Owned SLAB BBQ Finds Voice in Austin Community

Eater Carolinas Explores COVID-19 Calling Out Flaws in the Local Food Supply Chain 

Open Since February, Hurtado Barbecue Quickly Earning a Reputation as One of the Best in Arlington

After Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19, Franklin Barbecue Shuts Down ‘for a Few Days’

Forget Charcoal Briquettes. Grill with These Fuels Instead.

—Pitmaster Daniel Castillo of Heritage Barbecue talks about serving hospitality workers in Los Angeles during the pandemic.—

WATCH

— How Pitmaster Daniel Castillo Brought Central Texas-Style Barbecue to LA —
Eater

When the pandemic hit, Heritage Barbecue pitmaster Daniel Castillo opened the “O.C. Smoke Kitchen” — a part of his restaurant dedicated to hosting events to serve hospitality workers who lost their jobs due to COVID-19. At this one specific event, he’ll make 800 smoked pulled pork tortas, and we’ll also see how he brought classic Central Texas barbecue dishes like brisket roulade, Texas bourbon smoked ham, and red and green chorizo sausages to California. WATCH HERE
 

LISTEN

— Ryan Cooper and Sean Ludwig of The Smoke Sheet —
Baseball & BBQ Podcast
 

A few weeks ago, Ryan and Sean dropped by the Baseball & BBQ podcast. On the show, they spoke with hosts Leonard Aberman and Jeff Cohen about barbecue restaurants surviving during the pandemic, the BBQ Hall of Fame, and much more. LISTEN HERE
 

READ

— Old Southern Cookery: Mary Randolph's Recipes from America’s First Regional Cookbook Adapted for Today’s Kitchen —
by Christopher E. Hendricks and Sue J. Hendricks

Old Southern Cookery: Mary Randolph's Recipes from America’s First Regional Cookbook Adapted for Today’s Kitchen gives new life to a beloved book that has spanned two centuries. Using the historic recipes from Mary Randolph’s 1824 bestselling cookbook, The Virginia House-Wife or Methodical Cook (considered by many culinary historians to be the first real American cookbook), the authors have chosen the best of the original recipes to show how home cooks can prepare the food using contemporary methods. In translating these historic cooking methods to today’s kitchen techniques, headnotes contain pertinent historical facts about such things as butchery, firewood cooking, spices used, European origins of certain recipes, dishes brought by slaves to the New World, and even how our cooking utensils have evolved through two centuries. BUY IT HERE

—This Red, White, and Blue Cast Iron Cobbler is the perfect dessert for your Fourth of July celebration.—
 

RED, WHITE, AND BLUE CAST IRON COBBLER

by Grill Girl Robyn Lindars

For this week’s Recipe of the Week, we chose this recipe for Red, White, and Blue Cast Iron Cobbler from Grill Girl Robyn Lindars. This cobbler combines strawberries, coconut and blueberries — red, white, and blue — for the perfect outdoor grilled dessert to serve on the Fourth of July or any holiday. Made in a cast iron skillet, the colorful cobbler bakes on the grill while you enjoy your first course. Pull the grilled dessert off the cooker after 30 minutes when it is warm and bubbly. Pair the patriotic-colored cast iron cobbler with ice cream for a tasty topping. There will be no leftovers at your backyard barbecue when you use a cast iron skillet to grill this decadent dessert recipe!
 

—Many of the largest barbecue events of 2020 have been canceled or postponed.—

In light of the constantly changing coronavirus crisis, we are leaving our events section blank for some time. Many events in 2020 have been canceled or postponed thus far. We’ll be updating our events section on our website with the most up-to-date information as we have it.

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