Grilling season is upon us, and to get your grillin’ gears turning, we’ve come up with some drool-worthy BBQ sauce and meat pairings to keep guests happy all summer long.
Summer is here, and it’s time to start firing up your grills, smokers, rotisseries, and pits. A staple of summer, BBQ never fails to draw a crowd, but what is BBQ without a scrumptious sauce? Make mouths water and drive foot traffic with these creative pairing tips.
In Tradition We Trust
Keeping things simple with the popular South Carolina mustard-based sauce is always a safe and smart way to go. Slightly sweet, thick, and rich, with that bold tang, this sauce is traditionally good for pork shoulder, pork chops, and more. Of course, you can’t go wrong with a classic pulled pork sandwich on the menu. Cattlemen’s® Carolina Tangy Gold BBQ Sauce lends itself well to savory, braised pulled pork. Blending sugar, molasses, apple cider vinegar, and natural hickory smoke, it’s versatile to slather over sandwiches, as a glaze, or served on the side of pulled pork sandwiches for dipping!
Grilled chicken is another staple that’s easy to add to your menu. A dish most everyone likes, flavoring meaty charred chicken drumsticks with a tangy mustard-based sauce can really bring plain old chicken dishes to life. Or keep it super simple with the ever-popular North Carolina vinegar-based sauce for a pulled chicken sandwich. The tart, spicy sauce gives a much-needed boost to bland chicken.
Bring My Baby Back
Ribs are a BBQ staple. A low and slow rack of smoked ribs that fall off the bone and are slathered in a savory, thick sauce is a surefire way to attract BBQ enthusiasts. Ribs work great with anything that contains sugar, so Memphis-style and Kansas City-style sauces that incorporate a tomato base with molasses and brown sugar are what you want here. Don’t forget a dry rub to really enhance the flavor! Use this type of sticky sweet sauce after cooking or baste the last 45 minutes to prevent scorching. Make sure to serve them up with some extra sauce on the side, because more is always better when it comes to ribs.
Bring on the Booze
Take your BBQ game to the next level by infusing some booze into the sauce. Booze and BBQ are always a perfect pairing, and it adds an additional depth of flavor to any BBQ dish. Bourbon, beer, and whiskey are the main players here and you can’t go wrong with any one of them.
Smooth bourbon and smoked meat go hand in hand. The lively and rich spirit gives BBQ a complex, sharp flavor of smoky char, decadent caramel and honey, and wood or floral notes depending on which bourbon you choose. Brisket, short ribs, and grilled burgers are all perfect choices for a bourbon-based sauce such as Cattlemen’s® Kentucky Bourbon BBQ Sauce. Thick and rich, the tomato paste-based sauce is made with sweet molasses and a warm spicy finish of the bourbon to give meat that extra kick it needs.
Beer can chicken is a favorite at cookouts and backyard barbecues and would be an attractive and fun option for guests looking to opt for something other than pulled pork or ribs. A tomato-based BBQ sauce that uses cola or root beer adds a sweet, tart, and spicy flavor profile that works strangely well when slathered on grilled and smoked meats.
Sweet Home Alabama
Alabama-style sauce is quite different than the other main styles of BBQ. This mayo-based sauce blends horseradish, cayenne pepper, and brown sugar for some velvety smooth sweetness. While not the most well-known or most popular, the sauce is versatile enough to dress up a variety of different dishes. And when paired with the perfect dish, it can even win over the most traditional BBQ folks. Whip it up to dunk fries in, slather all over hickory-smoked chicken or pretty much any fatty meat, or as a dressing for creamy coleslaw.
Go for Global
Not a BBQ joint? No problem! According to Technomic’s BBQ Is on Fire Report, 53% of operators are increasing global offerings because more consumers are craving them. Providing a spin on the classics by adding flavors from around the globe can create additional excitement and attract new customers. Consider Cattlemen's® Kickin’ Korean BBQ sauce for example. Packing a punch with hot cayenne and red pepper, zesty ginger and soy sauce, this sauce is the perfect component to dress up a Korean hot dog or give wings an authentic, exotic taste.
The Tex-Mex trend is another way to please many diners. It’s familiar and many who aren’t comfortable venturing too far out of their comfort zone will delight in options like spicy barbacoa nachos or smoked brisket enchiladas that serve as a fun spin on tradition.
Pairing the right meat with the right sauce is tricky, but you don’t have to be a pitmaster or grillin’ guru to get creative with the right combinations. Use this as a guide to incorporate BBQ dishes into your menu and have BBQ lovers begging for more. Now get grilling!
