The secret’s out: America reigns supreme in the barbecue arena. This list will prove that every corner of this country offers something juicy, saucy, and downright mouthwatering. From bold and smoky to sweet and spicy barbecue, America is about to show you how it’s done. Here are the best barbecue styles the country has to offer.
10. Baltimore-style barbecue
Here’s one of the most underrated barbecue styles in America. And when we say Baltimore-style, we mean pit beef. Yes, in Baltimore, Maryland, barbecue is different. Charcoal grilling lends a rich smokiness and crispy crust to the thinly sliced beef. This style is also considered a healthier option compared to barbecues with heavy rubs and sugary marinades.
9. Alabama-style barbecue
Alabama barbecue isn’t just a delectable treat, it’s an age-old art. This involves slow-cooking the meat (usually pork) over hickory, pecan, or oak wood. This barbecue style is also known for its white sauce, made with mayonnaise base, vinegar, and spices. The tangy sauce is so good it evolved as a dipping sauce, marinade, and dressing.
8. Santa Maria-style barbecue
In 2023, this barbecue style, specifically tri-tip plate at Shaw’s Steakhouse and Tavern, was hailed as one of the best dishes by LA Times. The beef tri-tip is seasoned with salt, black pepper, and garlic, grilled slowly over red oak wood. Santa Maria barbecue also uses a specific grill, which is made of iron and has a hand crank that adjusts the height of the grill over the coals.
7. St. Louis-style barbecue
If you’re looking for a little more flavor, you can’t go wrong with St. Louis barbecue that’s grilled then sauced. The sauce is on the sweet side and tomato-based, but it can also have spicy or tangy notes. This barbecue style usually features spare ribs, as well as other unique items like pork snouts, rib tips, and pork steaks.
6. Oklahoma-style barbecue
This style of barbecue combines the types of sauces you’d find in Memphis and Kansas City (tomato-based) and the Texas’ style of meat like ribs and brisket. A standout feature of the Oklahoma barbecue, however, is the smoking process. We’re talking about oak smoked meat here, which has a mild flavor that preserves the taste of the actual meat.
5. Kansas City-style barbecue
While other regional styles focus on a single or a few cuts of meats, Kansas barbecue offers more variety. This style can cover everything from chicken and pork ribs to beef brisket and even fish! The process involves smoking or hot grilling a variety of meats, seasoned with a dry rub and then flavored with a tomato-based barbecue sauce.
4. North Carolina-style barbecue
North Carolina barbecue is often characterized by these features: the meat must be pork, slow-cooked over hardwood, and then served with a thin vinegar-based sauced. But if we’re talking about Piedmont-style barbecue in NC, expect a tender meat from pork shoulder with vinegar, ketchup, and spice-based sauce.
3. Memphis-style barbecue
In Memphis, you have the option to go for dry rub ribs, which are usually seasoned with paprika and salt, or the wet ribs brushed with a barbecue sauce. The latter option uses a sauce that’s sweeter than St. Louis’ and thinner than Kansas City’s. While you’ll find other meats in the area, Memphis barbecue is focused on pork, specifically ribs and pulled pork shoulder.
2. South Carolina-style barbecue
If you love mustard on your hot dogs, or you just don’t want your barbecue too sweet, then you shouldn’t sleep on South Carolina barbecue. What sets it apart from the NC-style is the yellow Carolina Gold Sauce made with mustard, vinegar, honey, spices, and brown sugar. In the Pee Dee region, a fiery sauce awaits, based on pepper and vinegar.
1. Texas-style barbecue
Texas is here to assert barbecue dominance. This style is all about slow smoking in mesquite wood (or hickory) and using beef brisket. For that added flavor, Texans add a dry rub or spicy marinade to the meat before it is cooked. But really, the meat is the star here. Brisket has a richer flavor than other cuts and it absorbs smoke very well.