You’re planning a BBQ. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Before you get started on your smokin’ journey, it’s important to be prepared. We put together the Ultimate BBQ Shopping List with the help of our Sonny’s Pitmasters, who know a thing or two about the Art of BBQ.
BBQ Shopping List Essentials
Before we go any further, let’s look at this list:
- Meats
- Marinades and Rubs
- Sides and Accompaniments
- Tools and Equipment
- Beverages
- Desserts
Whether it’s a Backyard BBQ with friends or a large block party for the entire neighborhood, everything listed here is essential for a good time. Ready to go shoppin’? Let’s go a bit more in-depth.
Essential Meats for BBQ
1. Pork
- Here at Sonny’s, our Pitmasters are experts with all cuts of meat, but Pork is far and away our specialty. We’ve been slow-smokin’ it since ‘68, so you can trust us. If you’re plannin’ to have a lot of people over, Pulled Pork is the way to go. Pick up a Pork Butt at your local butcher and throw it on the smoker. It’ll feed 10-20 people easily.
2. Chicken
- Chicken is always a fan favorite. Our suggestion? Go with Wings for a group setting. Whether you pick some up from Sonny’s or throw ‘em in the frier yourself, these will always start the party off right.
3. Brisket
- Only go with Brisket if you have the time to cook it. Brisket takes a while in the smoker, upwards of 5 hours or more, so if that party is coming up quickly, you may want to either give Sonny’s a call, or swap to Chicken, which is a much faster cook.
If you’re lookin’ for easy recipes for each of these, check out our Tales from the Pit on YouTube. Shannon gives you simple, step-by-step ways to make sure your Chicken, Brisket, Pork and more always come out smokin’.
Must-Have Marinades and Rubs
Throwin’ meat unseasoned on the grill is never the way to go. You can’t rely too much on the sauce, (even if it is Sonny’s Sweet BBQ Sauce), because you’ve got to have a good base. Try either of these to get off to a great start.
1. Sonny’s Classic Dry Rub
- Don’t have the time, we’ve got you covered. Filled with a blend of Brown Sugar, Sweet Paprika, Chili Powder and more, our Classic Dry Rub is great for Chicken and Pork, but good for anything.
2. SPG
- A simple abbreviation for a simple rub. SPG stands for Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder. Pitmaster Shannon sticks to this as his go-to, and says when it doubt, it can go on practically any meat.
BBQ Sides and Accompaniments
Of course the meat is the star of the show, but don’t sleep on the sides. With any of the following fan favorites, you’re sure to please the BBQ lovers in your life.
1. Mac & Cheese (Smoked Mac & Cheese)
- The ultimate comfort food. It’s hard to beat this creamy and dreamy staple. Just imagine, a Pulled Pork Slider and a heapin’ helping of Mac & Cheese. It doesn’t get better than that. This is really easy to make in a batch too. Now, how about a recipe for Smoked Mac & Cheese? Pitmaster Shannon has you covered.
2. BBQ Beans
- Another comforting BBQ classic. If you’re makin’ this at home, here’s a hot tip, add some Pulled Pork or other meat to the Beans as you’re cooking them. That extra bit of flavor goes a long way.
3. Coleslaw
- Crisp, crunchy and refreshing. This essential dish is a great contrast to the smoky and sweet flavors you’ve already checked off your Ultimate BBQ Shopping List.
4. Corn
- Easy to eat, and always a crowdpleaser. Our recommendation? Go with half-cobs and stick them on the grill for a few minutes. Don’t forget to flip them and brush them with butter, and this side is as good as gold.
Essential BBQ Tools and Equipment
There’s no lack of tools out there to cook up some delicious BBQ, but we’re sticking to the absolute essentials here.
1. Grill/Smoker
- You could possibly make do with your oven, but a Grill or Smoker just feels like barbecue, right? With one of our handy Pit Tips, you can actually Turn Your Grill Into a Smoker.
2. Meat Thermometer
- You can find plenty of these on the market, including manual thermometers and some fancy digital ones that connect to your phone. Our recommendation? Get an easy-read Digital Thermometer, and don’t forget to take the temperature of your meat in the thickest part.
3. Tongs/Spatulas/Knives
- It’s difficult to go wrong with picking these up, but here’s one tip: Go for metal tongs, spatulas and knives. The silicone is nice as it’s easy to clean, but it may not fare well when exposed to high heat.
Beverages and Drinks
Forget the sodas, sit back and take a sip of these favorites.
1. Sweet Tea
- Do we really have to say it? You know as well as we do how well Sweet Tea goes with barbecue. In fact, you can pick up a Gallon of our freshly brewed Sweet Tea at your local Sonny’s.
2. Lemonade
- Here’s something a bit tarter and tangier. When you bring out a pitcher of this, it’s sure to go pretty quickly, as there’s nothing more refreshing than some freshly squeezed Lemonade.
- How about mixing the two together? Try this recipe for Sonny’s Summer Lemonade Iced Tea.
Desserts to Complete Your BBQ
You can’t leave your guests hungry for more. Finish the day off on a sweet note with these desserts to complete your Ultimate BBQ Shopping List.
1. Banana Pudding
- Freshly sliced bananas, creamy pudding and vanilla wafers. It’s a Sonny’s staple, and the perfect way to end your BBQ. Grab a couple of pints of these from Sonny’s and dig in.
2. S’mores
- They’re called S’mores for a reason, because trust us you’ll keep coming back for more. The timeless combo of graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallow is a hard act to follow, but what about stepping it up a notch. Skip the mess and take things to the next level with our Elevated S’mores Dip.
Wrappin’ Things Up
Ready to take your BBQ to the next level? For more mouth-watering recipes and expert grilling tips that we couldn’t pack into here, check out our BBQ Recipes and Tips section. Share your BBQ creations with us on social using #SonnysBBQ and join our community. Also, at the end of the day, if you’re lookin’ for a no-fuss way to get all of this BBQ goodness in one spot, we’ve got some delicious Catering options to explore.
Got your Ultimate BBQ Shopping List written out and ready to go? Next stop: time to hit the road. Happy shoppin’.
