It’s time to fire up the grills and smokers because BBQ season is officially here. Turn up the heat this summer with fun fusions and on-trend BBQ dishes to scorch the competition and boost sales.

Barbecue will always be a crowd favorite, especially during the summer when everyone wants to be outside enjoying the warm weather. With diners wanting to expand their culinary palate, and the uptick in the global flavors trend, it’s a perfect opportunity to add some festive flair to menus while offering traditional grilled and smoked favorites.

Fire up sales, increase foot traffic, and infuse some creativity into your menu with these tips for unique BBQ dishes.

Best of Both Worlds

Pizza and BBQ fanatics don’t have to pick a side when you serve up a hearty pie topped with a generous helping of smoked pork or beef. Consider a classic BBQ chicken pizza with hot sauce and red onions, or for the more adventurous eaters, add Ridgecrest® Chopped Brisket to a pizza, along with sweet BBQ sauce, pickled jalapenos, mozzarella, and a spicy ranch swirl for a serious flavor bomb.

On a Stick

Grill it up, smoke it, slather it in sauce and throw it on a stick, and hungry diners will be fired up. Shareables and small plates are trending, and anything diners can pick up with their hands easily or dip while they’re watching the game or catching up with friends will be a hit. Consider an Asian influence with yakitori negima — BBQ chicken skewers slathered in a sticky-sweet sauce with grilled green peppers, onions, and sesame seeds. Filipino-style pork skewers served with a spicy vinegar dipping sauce and java rice are also great for an appetizer or a small plate to share.

Taco Tuesday

Juicy, smoked meats are the perfect partner for tacos. They pack in flavor, work well with tortillas, enchiladas, or tostadas, and you can get super creative with ingredients to fuse several cuisines. Consider using Contigo® Barbacoa marinated in a smoky chipotle sauce to add to corn tortillas with Cotija cheese, jicama slaw, avocado, chipotle salsa, and cilantro lime crema.

Or for a vegan twist, serve up BBQ jackfruit tacos with roasted corn and poblano peppers, red cabbage, cilantro, and an Alabama white BBQ sauce.

Spicy Sammies

According to Datassential, some of the fastest-growing sandwiches in America feature global flavors. And by switching up a few ingredients, you can easily add them to all menu dayparts. Few sandwiches satisfy like grilled cheese. Elevate the classic comfort food with grilled Ridgecrest Brisket piled high, pepper jack cheese, caramelized onions, and garlic aioli.

For a Latin America-inspired handheld, add a torta to your menu with adobo-spiced braised pork, refried beans, cabbage slaw, and jalapeno salsa. Or punch up a Japanese katsu sando by adding pickle-brined smoked chicken, a honey-miso BBQ sauce, buttermilk coleslaw, and ginger pickles.

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