National Barbecue Day Date in the current year: May 16, 2024

Barbecue, sometimes informally called BBQ, is an umbrella term for various cooking methods that involve live fire and smoke, such as grilling or roasting, as well as gatherings at which food is cooked using such methods. The term “barbecue” is derived from the Spanish word barbacoa, which means cooking meat over an open fire or in a hole dug in the ground.

The history of barbecue in the United States dates back to colonial times. The word “barbecue” was first mentioned by John Lederer, a German physician and explorer of the Appalachian Mountains, in 1672. American barbecue in its current form originated in the Southeastern United States and has since become a staple of American culture. It brings people together and provides a cooking experience that helps them feel closer to nature.

While there are many regional barbecue varieties in the United States, they usually belong to one of the four major styles: Carolina barbecue, Kansas City-style barbecue, Memphis-style barbecue, and Texas barbecue.

Carolina barbecue is usually made from pork, which is served pulled, chopped, shredded, or sliced. Different parts of North Carolina, as well as South Carolina have their own distinct sauces served with the meat. Kansas City-style barbecue uses a wide variety of meats, which are usually smoked and served with french fries and a thick tomato-based sauce.

Memphis-style barbecue is mostly made using pork and includes two main dishes: ribs, which can be cooked “dry” or “wet”, and pulled pork sandwiches. Finally, common Texas barbecue dishes are pork ribs, beef brisket, and sausage. This barbecue style has four regional varieties: East Texas, Central Texas, West Texas, and South Texas.

Barbecued meat is usually served with various sauces and side dishes. BBQ sauces are typically based on vinegar, mustard, or tomatoes. Common barbecue sides include coleslaw, potato salad, pasta salad, veggie salad, green beans, mashed or baked potatoes, corn bread, baked beans, hush puppies, and more.

Although barbecue is commonly associated with grilling meat, there are a lot of vegan and vegetarian BBQ recipes, such as grilled eggplants, corn on the cob, asparagus or baby potatoes, veggie skewers, stuffed grilled mushrooms, vegan burgers, and more. Barbecue is more about bringing people together rather than just cooking particular foods, so you can grill whatever you want and still have a great time.

National Barbecue Day is an unofficial holiday, and like with many informal observances, its origins are unclear, but does it really matter? What matters is that it is a perfect excuse to indulge yourself in some delicious meat (or grilled veggies if you’re vegetarian or vegan) and test out new recipes and sauces for your Memorial Day or Fourth of July BBQ party. If you’re not in the mood to cook, visit your favorite barbecue place or order takeout.