4 Easy BBQ Recipes for the 4th of July
This 4th of July, Americans will celebrate coming out of what feels like a long and uncomfortable slumber. With the worst of the pandemic (hopefully) behind us, it’s an exceptionally good time to gather with friends and family outdoors with incredible food and drinks.
As you might imagine, the 4th of July is also a great opportunity to fire up grills and smokers. Backyard cooks, however, should make sure they have ample time to get their sides and meats prepared so things are ready when your crowd arrives and is hungry.
Here are four barbecue recipes from Northeastern pitmasters and barbecue joints you should consider making this 4th of July.
Texas beer queso is always a good appetizer for parties.
Hill Country Queso
One appetizer that goes well at nearly any party (but especially a summer party) is queso. Hill Country Barbecue Market shared their beer queso recipe last year and it’s sure to be a hit. This delicious staple dish features Shiner beer, Velveeta cheese, Rotel tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, and more. Serve with tortilla chips or Fritos and make some new friends. LEARN MORE HERE.
Smoked mac and cheese will fill your guests up well.
Ed Randolph’s Smoked Mac ‘N’ Cheese
Ed Randolph, pitmaster at Handsome Devil BBQ, shared an awesome and unconventional smoked mac ‘n’ cheese recipe in his book Smoked, which came out in 2019. The recipe includes sour cream, shredded mozzarella cheese, shredded aged cheddar cheese, cooked cavatappi pasta, dried breadcrumbs, and more. LEARN MORE HERE.
Grilled romaine and Mexican street corn are two quick and delicious sides.
Matt Abdoo’s Grilled Romaine with Caesar Dressing and Mexican Street Corn
Pig Beach NYC chef and pitmaster Matt Abdoo recently appeared on the TODAY Show to talk up two exciting and easy sides for summer cookouts. First, he showed how to cook romaine lettuce on the grill, topped with garlic breadcrumbs. Then he shared how to prepare his take on grilled Mexican street corn. LEARN MORE HERE.
These ribs are hard to mess up and still have tons of flavor.
Steven Raichlen’s First-Timer Ribs
Grillmaster Steven Raichlen might have been focused on grilling vegetables a lot this year, but also is well known for his rib recipes. Raichlen’s “first-timer ribs” are great if you are looking for foolproof ribs that will have a lot of flavors and just the right amount of chew. LEARN MORE HERE.
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Hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July and are able to enjoy some amazing food!
Sean Ludwig
Founder, NYC BBQ
SPONSORED BY
Thanks to our sponsor Sauce King NYC, a virtual event from Food Karma Projects that is now in its second year. Using a panel of judges, Sauce King NYC determines the best barbecue sauces, hot sauces, marinades, and more from around the country. One award will even go to a “Metro NYC Startup,” so local companies without major distribution can apply as well. Submissions are being accepted through August 15th for the 2021 competition. Enter your best sauce today!
EAT ALL ABOUT IT
NYC BBQ Founder Sean Ludwig got married this past weekend at Pig Beach NYC in Brooklyn.
Here are the top BBQ and related food news stories you need to know about this week:
In an exciting bit of news, NYC BBQ founder Sean Ludwig got married this past Saturday at Pig Beach NYC in Brooklyn. The meal included smoked brisket ravioli, smoked turkey, and tri-tip, among other delicious items. Sean will share more fun info and photos from his wedding in an upcoming issue of NYC BBQ Weekly. MORE HERE.
Ed Randolph of Handsome Devil BBQ in Newburgh, NY, was profiled by the Poughkeepsie Journal about his rise over the past seven years from caterer to one of New York State’s top pitmasters. READ HERE.
Bark Barbecue, which I wrote about previously as the hottest new BBQ pop-up in NYC, has just been added to the roster at Smorgasburg in Williamsburg on Saturdays and in Prospect Park on Sundays. As such, Brooklyn folks will now have a lot more chances to try their great meats and sides on the weekends this summer. READ HERE.
If you live in New Jersey and love hot dogs, this list is for you — NorthJersey.com has compiled a list of the best hot dogs in every NJ county. The number of mouthwateringly good options will surprise you. READ HERE.
Chef and pitmaster Cenobio Canalizo of Morgan’s Brooklyn Barbecue spoke with Dan’s Papers about his barbecue history and his appearance at the upcoming Dan’s GrillHampton event this August. He will be representing “Team NYC” and could help take down “Team Hamptons.” READ HERE.
Rick’s Backyard BBQ in Mitzpah, NJ continues the legacy of grills and smokings pits along New Jersey’s Route 40. Owner Rick Gray, 54, is “technically still new as a pro on the barbecue scene, a long-serving bus driver for NJ Transit during the week who opened his weekend business during the pandemic last summer.” READ HERE.
Philadelphia-area chef Keith Taylor will soon open Zachary’s BBQ & Soul inside the H*MAC complex in Harrisburg, Penn. Taylor will be serving up “soul food staples such as Carolina pulled pork, pulled chicken, boneless short rib, pork spare ribs, and Caribbean jerk barbecue chicken.” READ HERE.
IRL BBQ EVENTS
Do not miss out on the next Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival in Brooklyn on July 31 and August 1.
Here are the top BBQ and related food events coming soon to the New York metro area:
July 31 & August 1st, 2021: The 11th Annual Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival will be back at the Brooklyn Expo Center in Greenpoint for a two-day event. This event focuses on bourbon and beer tastings, along with multiple barbecue joints serving up lots of excellent smoked meats. BUY TICKETS HERE.
August 19 & 20, 2021: At the Dan’s GrillHampton event at Nova’s ARK in the Hamptons, four pitmasters/chefs from the Hamptons will take on four pitmasters/chefs from NYC. This one-of-a-kind cooking competition and tasting event will offer great grilled fare, beer, and specialty cocktails, along with live music and dancing. Guests will become part of the action as they vote for the finest food. BUY TICKETS HERE.
September 11, 2021: At the end of the summer, Pig Island NYC will celebrate its 12th year on September 11, 2021, at Snug Harbor on Staten Island. Join in for all-inclusive food and drink from all-star pitmasters and chefs who will be serving up delicious porky goodness, as well as local breweries, distilleries, and cideries. Top chefs will compete for the best dishes, and event-goers reap the benefits. The event will raise money for the Friends of Firefighters nonprofit as well. BUY TICKETS HERE.
October 15-16, 2021: Tickets are available now for the Hartford Rib Off, an annual charity fundraiser in Riverside Park in Hartford, Conn. The proceeds from the two-day event will benefit The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Journey Home of Hartford, and The Hartford Rib Off Scholarship Fund. Tickets can get you access to admission, parking, kids’ activities, an all-you-can-eat buffet, free barbecue samples, a tasting cup with continual pours, live music, unlimited soft drinks, and access to vendors. BUY TICKETS HERE.
October 16-17, 2021: The 8th Annual Hot Sauce Expo NYC will be back for two days in fall 2021. The event will be held at the Brooklyn Expo Center in Greenpoint and will feature tons of hot sauce samples, barbecue, and beer to purchase, fun on-stage events, and more. BUY TICKETS HERE.
SAY HELLO
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