bbq Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Life's A Tomato

BBQ Pinwheels

Oh, I’ve made my share of pulled pork sandwiches. And I love them. Sometimes you want something a little different, but still with that great BBQ flavor. BBQ pinwheels are an excellent alternative to sandwiches. They’re easy to make, easy to eat, and very tasty. They also make for the perfect party appetizer.

A Nice Change From BBQ Sandwiches

You can use anything from pulled or shredded pork, chopped brisket, smoked chicken, or even rotisserie chicken. For a spicier kick, substitute pepper jack or habanero jack cheese for the cheddar and use a spicy BBQ sauce.

If I’m reaching for a bottled BBQ sauce, I often go for Sweet Baby Ray’s.

Sweet Baby Ray’s Varierty Pack, 1 Original Barbecue Sauce, 18 OZ, Hickory and Brown Sugar Barbecue Sauce, 18 OZ, Sweet N Spicy Barbecue Sauce, 18 OZ, Honey Barbecue Sauce, 18 OZ, 1CT

Also try my BBQ hot dog appetizers and my bacon cheddar pinwheels.

Print Pin

3.50 from 2 votes

BBQ Pinwheels

BBQ pinwheels are an excellent alternative to sandwiches. They’re easy to make, easy to eat, and very tasty. They also make for the perfect party appetizer.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword BBQ, pulled pork, wraps

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Total Time 30

Servings

Calories 594kcal

Equipment

Baking Sheet

Ingredients

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tube pizza dough
½ cup your favorite BBQ sauce plus more for serving
1 ½ cups pulled pork or pulled chicken, rotisserie chicken, chopped brisket… whichever you prefer
½ small red onion chopped
1 cup extra sharp cheddar shredded (Swiss, provolone or pepper jack also go well)
¼ cup parsley chopped

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 F.
Sprinkle the flour onto a flat surface.
Open the pizza dough and spread it over the flour. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a rectangle.
Brush the BBQ sauce all over the dough.
Sprinkle the dough with the meat, onion, cheese and parsley.
Starting with the longest edge, roll the dough up into a long cylinder.
Cut the cylinder into 1″ wide sections and transfer, laying down flat, to a baking sheet.
Bake 15 minutes or until hot and the dough is crispy and done.
Serve with additional BBQ sauce, warmed, for dipping if desired.

Notes

Mix it up. Make some of these pinwheels using regular BBQ sauce, some with a smoky sauce and some with a spicy one!

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

Jersey City Hot Dog

I love a good hot dog. Easy to make, fun to eat. Stuff has to fall off while you’re eating it. That’s the sign of a great hot dog (actually, it’s the sign of good food, period). This Jersey City hot dog combines some of the best things you can have: spicy BBQ sauce, smoked bacon, onion, and of course… cheese. A little crunch and a little kick. Perfect!

Good Bacon Makes For Good Dogs

I used some of my homemade applewood-smoked maple bacon on my Jersey City hot dog. Wow, what a great combination of flavors. Don’t skimp on the bacon. Life’s too short for tasteless cheap bacon. I didn’t go wimpy on the BBQ sauce. Nope, I used my favorite Bayou BBQ Cajun sauce from Frog Bone. It’s a nice thin sauce with great spice and kick.

SLOTDOG – Hot Dog Slicing Tool – Stainless Steel Cutter Blades for Kitchen, Grilling, Tailgating, Camping and Backyard Outdoor BBQ – 10 inch – Red

Also try my Memphis-style BBQ hot dogs.

Print Pin

5 from 1 vote

Jersey City Hot Dog

This Jersey City hot dog combines some of the best things you can have: spicy BBQ sauce, smoked bacon, onion, and of course… cheese. A little crunch and a little kick. Perfect!

Course Main

Cuisine American

Keyword hot dogs

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings

Calories 1312kcal

Author Mike

Ingredients

4 hot dogs
4 hot dog buns
your favorite spicy BBQ Sauce
extra sharp cheddar cheese shredded
1 small white onion chopped
4 slices bacon cooked, crumbled or chopped

Instructions

Cook or grill your dogs as desired.
Warm buns.
Add dogs to buns and top with BBQ sauce and cheese.
Place under broiler just long enough to melt the cheese.
Add the onion and bacon and serve.

Notes

Cut a long narrow slit in your dogs before cooking to give the toppings a great place to go!

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

TableCraft 3-Piece Nostalgia Squeeze Bottle Set, 12-Ounce

Barbecue Green Beans

Why have boring canned green beans when with the addition of just a few ingredients you can have outstandingly good green beans. These barbecue green beans have a great barbecue flavor. A hint of bacon (with a bit of crunch). And a bit of sweet. You will absolutely devour these.

These Are Not Boring Beans

I may add a small pinch of red pepper flake to these barbecue green beans next time I make them. Not too much, but I love a little heat with my sweet. If you have a favorite BBQ sauce you can use it in place of the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar. Start with about 1/2 cup of the sauce and taste to see if you might want a bit more.

Lea & Perrins The Original Worcestershire Sauce (10 fl oz Bottle)

Also try my fire-eater green beans.

Inspired by a recipe from Belle of the Kitchen.

Print Pin

4 from 1 vote

Barbecue Green Beans

Why have boring canned green beans when with the addition of a just a few ingredients you can have outstandingly good green beans.

Course Side

Cuisine American

Keyword barbecue, BBQ, green beans

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 40

Total Time 45

Servings

Calories 153kcal

Author Based on a recipe from Belle of the Kitchen

Equipment

Ingredients

2 cans cut green beans drained
6 slices bacon chopped
¼ cup sweet onion diced
½ cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
¼ cup brown sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F.
Open green bean cans, drain, and add to a 9″ x 9″ casserole dish.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the bacon and cook until starting to crisp, stirring often.
Add the onion and cook until the bacon is crisped and the onion starts to soften.
Add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar. Stir and cook another 3 minutes.
Pour bacon mixture over the beans and stir to combine.
Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes.

Notes

Add a little sliced or diced jalapeno for a nice kick.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

Copycat Tony Roma’s Blue Ridge Smokies Sauce

This copycat Tony Roma’s Blue Ridge Smokies sauce is fantastic. It has some of your ‘standard’ BBQ sauce ingredients, such as ketchup and liquid smoke. That’s not what made it so special to me. It’s the red wine vinegar. The vinegar really adds a nice edge to the sauce. It’s like a nice combination of a KC BBQ sauce with a little North Carolina vinegar-based sauce. This is a great finger-licking sauce that screams ‘put me on a rack of smoked ribs’. So that’s what I did!

The Perfect Sauce For Ribs

My first experience at Tony Roma’s was in Salt Lake City, Utah, many, many years ago. I instantly fell in love with their ribs. Ribs, ribs, ribs. Tony Roma’s started my love of ribs and I now make them often at home on my own smoker. I rubbed a rack of ribs down with a copycat Famous Dave’s rib rub, let it get happy overnight, then tossed the ribs onto my Weber Smokey Mountain smoker for 6 hours. I then slathered on some copycat Tony Roma’s Blue Ridge Smokies sauce. The end result was tender, tasty, and finger-licking amazing.

Heavy-duty BBQ Basting Brush by HQY – Silicone Bristles with 12 Inch Stainless Steel Handle – Make Grilling Easy – 5 Year Guarantee

If you don’t like liquid smoke, substitute smoked salt and leave out the Kosher salt instead.

Try my copycat Tony Roma’s ribs made on the Char-Broil Big Easy.

Print Pin

5 from 2 votes

Copycat Tony Roma’s Blue Ridge Smokies Sauce

This copycat Tony Roma’s Blue Ridge Smokies sauce is fantastic. It’s like a nice combination of a KC BBQ sauce with a little North Carolina vinegar-based sauce.

Course Sauce

Cuisine American

Keyword barbecue, BBQ, copycat, sauce

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 35

Total Time 40

Servings cups

Calories 491kcal

Equipment

Saucepan

Ingredients

1 cup ketchup
1 cup red wine vinegar
½ cup brown sugar I substituted Sugar in the Raw
¼ cup molasses
1 ½ teaspoon liquid smoke
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
Bring to a boil while stirring constantly.
Reduce heat to a simmer and simmer, stirring often, for 30 minutes or until desired consistency is achieved.
Sauce gets better when refrigerated overnight. Warm slightly before using.

Notes

Stir before using.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbooks Boxed Set: The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook, The Unofficial Disney Parks EPCOT Cookbook, The Unofficial … Cookbook (Unofficial Cookbook Gift Series)

Bourbon Street Pulled Pork Sandwiches

There’s nothing I love more than pulled pork, made on my Weber Smokey Mountain Smoker, mixed with a fantastic homemade sauce. My favorite sauce, for everything from chicken wings to pulled pork to burgers is my Bourbon Street sauce. For topping the perfect pulled pork sandwich I add either coleslaw or sliced onion and dill pickle. Either one gives the Bourbon Street pulled pork sandwiches a great crunchy, and the vinegar helps tone down a bit of the sweetness in the sauce. Every bite is perfect.

Sauce It Now Or Later

You can sauce the pork before mounding it high on the buns for these Bourbon Street pulled pork sandwiches. Or you can add the pork first, then pour the sauce over the top. Or heck, don’t put any sauce on, serve it on the side and dip your sandwich in it! When I am eating out I prefer to add the sauce myself. I order it ‘dry’, and ask for the sauce on the side. That way I can add as little or as much as I want. I’d rather be the one that makes the decision instead of someone in the kitchen. No offense to the fine folks in the kitchen! It’s a personal preference thing.

Mt. Olive Hamburger Dill Chips Pickles, 16 oz

Also try my shredded pork sandwich.

Print Pin

5 from 1 vote

Bourbon Street Pulled Pork Sandwiches

If you prefer your sauce on the Bourbon Street pulled pork sandwiches to be on top and not mixed in, I say go for it!

Course Main

Cuisine American

Keyword pulled pork, sandwich

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings

Calories 396kcal

Author Mike

Ingredients

1 pound pulled pork warmed (I used our homemade pulled pork)
Bourbon Street sauce warmed
4 Hamburger buns toasted
12 dill pickle chips
1 small red onion sliced thin

Instructions

Mix the pork with the sauce.
Add onion slices to the buns, top with the pork and sauce mixture.
Add a few dill pickle slices and the top of the bun.

Notes

These sandwiches are also great topped with cold coleslaw!

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

Bourbon Street Sauce

There’s no doubt in our house that this Bourbon Street sauce has quickly become our favorite sauce. We used the first batch of sauce on chicken wings, and they were absolutely fantastic. A bit of sweet, a bit of heat, a hint of bourbon, and a ton of flavor. The very next time I slathered some Bourbon Street sauce on grilled burgers (and on the bacon I put on the burgers). They were just as insanely good as the wings.

The Perfect Sauce For Darn Near Everything

From wings, to burgers, to smoked ribs, to pulled pork sandwiches, to grilled chicken, to hot dogs, to whatever you are cooking, this sauce is fantastic. It’s nice and thick, but not so thick to be gloppy. Perfect for brushing on anything. Or squirting for that matter.

Kitchen Bottle Condiment Set 3 Hole Dispenser Lid Plastic Squeeze for Sauce Mustard Ketchup 12 oz. / 340 ML.

Squeeze some of this sauce on some ribs!

Print Pin

5 from 1 vote

Bourbon Street Sauce

There’s no doubt in our house that this Bourbon Street sauce has quickly become our favorite sauce. A bit of sweet, a bit of heat, a hint of bourbon, and a ton of flavor.

Course Sauce

Cuisine American

Keyword barbecue, BBQ, sauce

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Total Time 10

Servings cups

Calories 931kcal

Author Based on a recipe from The Food Network

Equipment

Saucepan

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons red onion minced
2 cloves garlic minced
1-2 ounces bourbon
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup honey
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
8 ounces chili sauce
8 ounces your favorite spicy BBQ sauce
3 ounces Buffalo wing sauce such as Frank's

Instructions

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan.
Add the onion and saute for 3 minutes.
Add the garlic and saute for 1 more minute.
Add remaining ingredients. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and simmer for 10 minutes.

Notes

For a smoother sauce let the sauce cool slightly and puree in a blender, or use a hand blender to make the sauce super smooth.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

New Star Foodservice 28560 Smiley Faces Squeeze Bottle Set, Plastic, Red, Yellow, and Clear, 12 oz

Copycat Bull’s Eye Barbecue Sauce

I have to admit, I shy away from bottled BBQ sauces. I do make an exception and occasionally I’ll pick up a bottle or two at the store. But, if you like making your own sauces, a store-bought sauce can make a great starting point. Or you can do like I did and make a copycat version of a pre-made sauce, like this Bull’s Eye barbecue sauce.

Perfect On Ribs

I smoked a few racks of St. Louis-style ribs that were rubbed down first overnight with a copycat of Famous Dave’s rib rub. With only 30 minutes left in the smoke session I slathered the ribs with this great sauce. That extra 30 minutes lets the sauce set up on the ribs.

Thick. Like You Want It.

This sauce is perfectly thick, great for ribs. It has a little sweetness, a little tang, just a hint of heat, and a little smokiness. Don’t like liquid smoke? Leave it out and still enjoy a great sauce that’ll keep in the fridge for weeks, if you have any left. Or substitute smoked salt (and leave out the kosher salt) and still enjoy that great smoky flavor.

I like to keep my leftover sauces in squeeze bottles. Thicker ones like this one do mean I have to cut a bit off the top of the nozzles so it squeezes out easily.

Kitchen Bottle Condiment Set 3 Hole Dispenser Lid Plastic Squeeze for Sauce Mustard Ketchup 12 oz. / 340 ML.

This sauce is also great on pulled pork or grilled chicken.

Also try my copycat of the great BBQ sauce from Sweet Baby Ray.

Print Pin

5 from 1 vote

Copycat Bull’s Eye Barbecue Sauce

This sauce is perfectly thick, great for ribs. It has a little sweetness, a little tang, just a hint of heat, and a little smokiness.

Course Sauce

Cuisine American

Keyword barbecue, BBQ, copycat, sauce

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 35

Total Time 40

Servings cups

Calories 623kcal

Equipment

Saucepan

Ingredients

1 cup ketchup
6 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce low-salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard
3 tablespoons yellow onion minced
4 teaspoons liquid smoke
¼ teaspoon hot sauce or more
½ cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon Kosher salt

Instructions

Place all ingredients into a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
Bring to a boil while stirring constantly.
Reduce to a simmer and simmer 30 minutes or until desired consistency is achieved.
Optional: Allow sauce to cool slightly then transfer to a blender and pulse a few times for a smoother sauce.

Notes

This sauce is even better the next day. Refrigerate it overnight and then warm slightly before using.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbooks Boxed Set: The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook, The Unofficial Disney Parks EPCOT Cookbook, The Unofficial … Cookbook (Unofficial Cookbook Gift Series)

Copycat Famous Dave’s Rib Rub

I was hankerin’ for some tender, almost-fall-off-the-bone smoked ribs, and lo and behold, spareribs were on sale at our grocery store. So I grabbed a few racks, trimmed them up St. Louis-style and started contemplating how I was going to cook them. Normally, it means an overnight rub down with some Memphis rib rub, then onto my Weber Smokey Mountain smoker using the 3-2-1 cooking method. This time, I decided to try a copycat of Famous Dave’s rib rub (the one they use in the restaurants for making their totally outstanding ribs) and cook the ribs low-and-slow for 6 hours.

The Perfect Rib Rub

This copycat Famous Dave’s rib rub is outstanding. It has a little heat, a little sweet, and a little saltiness. And celery seeds, which I think are just about required in any rub. And just a hint of cloves, which I don’t think I’ve seen in a rub before. I ended up liking the flavor from them much more than I thought I would. It’s amazingly complex, and oh so good.

RoyalHouse 6 Pack 32 Oz Plastic Spice Jars with Red Cap, Clear and Safe Plastic Bottle Containers with Shaker Lids for Storing Spice, Herbs and Seasoning Powders, BPA Free, Made in USA

Although I sauced my ribs, I easily could’ve eaten them ‘dry’, without sauce. I cannot wait to use this same rub on a pork butt in the very near future. With just one cook it has become my go-to rub.

Also try some copycat Famous Dave’s Country-Roasted chicken.

Print Pin

4.10 from 11 votes

Copycat Famous Dave’s Rib Rub

This copycat Famous Dave’s rib rub is outstanding. It has a little heat, a little sweet, and a little saltiness. And celery seeds, which I think are just about required in any rub.

Course Spice Mixture

Cuisine American

Keyword copycat, ribs, seasoning

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings cups

Calories 482kcal

Ingredients

2 cups light brown sugar
1 cup Kosher salt
¾ cup sugar
½ cup garlic powder
¼ tablespoon chili powder
¼ cup lemon pepper seasoning
¼ cup onion salt or powder
¼ teaspoon celery salt
2 tablespoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoon celery seed
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon Mrs. Dash Original Blend seasoning

Instructions

Note: The version of this rub stated above uses less salt than the version you’ll find on the internet. Add more (or use less) salt as you desire.
Combine all ingredients.
To use, spread liberally on ribs (or pork shoulder or butt), wrap in foil, and let refrigerate 12 hours before smoking or grilling.

Notes

Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbooks Boxed Set: The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook, The Unofficial Disney Parks EPCOT Cookbook, The Unofficial … Cookbook (Unofficial Cookbook Gift Series)

Pulled Chicken BBQ

I love smoked chicken. Mostly white meat. For dark meat I prefer grilling. My quest is to make pulled chicken BBQ. And often.

Nothing is easier to do than to smoke a few chicken breasts. Bone-in split breasts give the most flavor without having to worry about the meat getting too dry or tough. Unlike smoking a pork butt or beef brisket, chicken cooks quickly without a lot of prep or fancy rubs, mops, or injections (though you could certainly inject a bit more flavor if you desired, and some folk like brining theirs first).

Smoked To Perfection

I loaded up my Weber Smokey Mountain (WSM) cooker with split breasts. I removed the skin from the chicken first because it isn’t going to crisp when you are smoking low-and-slow. All the skin does is prevent the smoke and salt and pepper from penetrating the meat. So, off with it! I prefer the WSM cooker. I believe that cooking chicken over a water pan results in a more tender, juicer meat. That way I don’t need to worry about removing the skin and having dry chicken.

After the chicken is cooked and cooled I pull or shred it and use it in tons of recipes, like simple pulled chicken BBQ sandwiches. Just add a bit of your favorite BBQ sauce and slap it on a bun, add some chips on the side, and you’re ready to eat!

Pecan Wood Chunks 4lb

Also try my pulled pork BBQ.

Print Pin

5 from 1 vote

Pulled Chicken BBQ

Nothing is easier to do than to smoke a few chicken breasts. Bone-in split breasts give the most flavor without having to worry about the meat getting too dry or tough.

Course Main

Cuisine American

Keyword barbecue, BBQ, chicken, sandwich

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 2

Total Time 2 5

Servings

Calories 258kcal

Author Mike

Equipment

Apple Wood Chunks or any fruit wood

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts bone-in split, skin removed
Kosher salt
ground black pepper

Instructions

Fire up your smoker for cooking at 225 F.
Generously season the chicken on all sides with salt and pepper. Don’t be shy.
Place the chicken into the smoker and smoke until the chicken reaches 160 F.
Remove chicken from cooker and wrap in foil and let rest 30 minutes.
Slice, shred, or chop as desired.

Notes

You can use boneless breasts, but bone-in always has more flavor.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

Smoke Tube for Pellet Smoker, 12” Smoker Tube for Pellet Grill – Hot or Cold Smoker Accessories for Electric Gas Charcoal Grilling, Premium Stainless Steel Portable Barbecue Smoking Tube, Bonus Brush

Derby Hot Dog

I’m borderline addicted to food trucks. Which also means I love watching Eat Street, the show about food trucks that airs on the Cooking Channel. Host James Cunningham travels around North America visiting all of the great trucks. What a dream job that would be. An episode aired the other day on Dougie Doug, a truck in Vancouver. Every hot dog on the menu looked absolutely scrumptious, so I decided to make a few of them here at home. I started with the delicious Derby hot dog. Topped with Swiss, grilled mushrooms, onion, jalapeno and BBQ sauce, this is one mighty fine dog.

Go To A Bakery For The Best Buns

A great Derby hot dog needs a great bun, so I’ve ditched the grocery store offerings and have been ordering fresh buns from our local bakery, Taylor’s Bakery. The buns are so fantastic. Soft, tasty, with a wonderful bread aroma. They barely cost more than the ones in the store that just can’t even compare at all in quality or flavor.

SLOTDOG – Hot Dog Slicing Tool – Stainless Steel Cutter Blades for Kitchen, Grilling, Tailgating, Camping and Backyard Outdoor BBQ – 10 inch – Red

Also try my seriously-yummy French Connection dogs.

Print Pin

5 from 1 vote

Derby Hot Dog

Topped with Swiss, grilled mushrooms, onion, jalapeno and BBQ sauce, this is one mighty fine dog.

Course Main

Cuisine American

Keyword hot dogs

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Servings servings

Calories 340kcal

Author From a menu item at Dougie Dogs

Ingredients

4 hot dogs
4 hot dog buns
8 ounces mushrooms fresh, sliced
4 slices Swiss cheese
¼ cup sweet onion chopped
Pickled jalapenos to taste, diced
¼ cup your favorite BBQ sauce

Instructions

Cook dogs as desired.
Since you're going to also grill the mushrooms, might as well grill the dogs too!
Warm buns.
Grill mushrooms until starting to get tender.
Serve dogs on buns.
Top with mushrooms and cheese.
Place under the broiler or on the grill over indirect heat for a few minutes until the cheese melts.
Add onion, jalapeno and BBQ sauce.

Notes

Serve with plenty of napkins.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

TableCraft 3-Piece Nostalgia Squeeze Bottle Set, 12-Ounce