More than half of all US restaurant chains serve Barbecue, however, hardly any have a pit or a huge grill in the back of the house. Authentic barbecue in the US usually calls for underutilized cuts of meat cooked over a low, open flame for several hours to tenderize the meat, using woods like hickory or maple.  Meat is basted with a secret sauce starting with tomatoes and vinegar plus a host of herbs and spices that mingle with smoke to impart that special signature flavor.  At home, barbecue usually means an outdoor grilling event with burgers or chicken.  In foodservice there are more options.  Barbecue offerings partly depend on your geography, partly on your type of operation…and largely how authentic you want to be.

Use of Sauces on Barbecue Items

What are the BBQ Terms?

When a flavor is mentioned other than simple BBQ Sauce, it is usually Hickory or Honey or Smoky or Sweet.  Other than these basic four, there are at least 15 others that are currently used on restaurant menus.

Casual Chains 

In Casual Chains, Center of Plate Entrees account for 64% of Barbecue Items, Sandwiches (13%), Burgers (8%), Appetizers (6%) and others (9%).  The most popular Center of Plate items are Baby Back Ribs, Barbecue Chicken, and Spare Ribs.   The most popular Sandwiches are Barbecue Pork, Barbecue Chicken, Barbecue Chicken Breast, and Beef Barbecue. The most popular Appetizers are Ribs, Shrimp, Wings and Chicken Fingers/Tenders.

Midscale Chains  

Among Midscale Chains, Center of Plate, Sandwich, Burger and Appetizer Menu Parts account for 88% of Barbecue Items.  Compa to Casual Chains, Center of Plate is not as important; Sandwiches are more important.  Ribs are not as dominant as a Center of Plate item vs. Casual Chains.   Chicken is generally not as dominant in Sandwiches.  Bacon Cheeseburgers lead in Burgers.   Among Appetizers, Hickory Smoked Wings, and BBQ Wings are popular along with Nacho/Sliced Pork and Smoked Sausage Links.

QSR Chains 

Among QSR Chains, Sandwiches are the dominant Menu Part, with a 55% menu share.  Center of Plate Items have a 16% share, Appetizers 12%.  Pizza and Burgers each have a 5% share.   The leading Sandwiches are Chicken, Beef, Pork and Steak.  Honey Barbecue Chicken, and Ribs, each account for 25% of Center of Plate, followed by Wings with 17%.  Hickory Smoked Chicken, Jerk Ribs, and Kids Ribs each have 8% shares.   Among Appetizers, Hickory Smoked Wings lead with Wings, Popcorn Chicken, Shrimp and Samplers having equal shares of Barbecue Appetizer items.   

Cooking Methods for Barbecue Items

The most popular method of Barbecue preparation is Grilling.  Midscale BBQ Chains’ most popular method is BBQ Grilled, followed by Hickory Smoked and Smoked BBQ.  Casual Chains most popular method is simply Grilling, then BBQ Grilled, Smoked BBQ, Slow Cooked, Slow Roast.  Midscale Chains most often mention BBQ Grilled, Hickory Smoked, then Grilled.  QSR Chains most often mention simply Grilling, then Deep Fried, BBQ Grilled, Roasted.

Others: Mesquite Grilled, Flame Grilled, Grilled over Hickory Coals, Slow Pit Smoked