2022 BBQ Trends

January 3, 2022

2022 BBQ Trends and What to Expect in the New Year

Oh, the smoky and sweet flavor of an amazing BBQ. Doesn’t it just make your mouth water instantly? There’s not much food-wise that beats the tantalizing flavor of meat cooked over an open flame or smoked in a well-seasoned smoker. It’s a culinary art that many people take very seriously. If your happy place is standing over hot coals making some delicious BBQ or want to improve your BBQ menu, then you want to find out the latest trends and tips to make it a fantastic experience that you’ll brag to your friends about. This goes beyond a basic slab of baby back ribs and BBQ chicken to explore flavors and chef-driven recipes that will surprise and delight. Here are the best in 2022 BBQ trends and what to expect in the new year.

2022 BBQ Trends

International Fusion Flavors

Chefs all over America are infusing new and interesting flavors that you wouldn’t ordinarily think of being associated with BBQ culture. Specifically, for 2022, a sustainable spice company Dutch Spices predicts that Asian, Middle Eastern, and South American spices will be a big hit with BBQ flavors.

For example, that could mean a Thai red curry marinade for a rack of ribs, a chimichurri sauce as a finisher, or using liberal amounts of the seasoning spice, za’atar, which is a staple in Middle Eastern cooking. Za’atar is a dry blend combination of savory herbs like oregano, cumin, toasted coriander, sesame seeds, and sumac to give it some extra tang. It’s the perfect complement to dry rub chicken thighs over an open flame or BBQ turkey legs.

Out of the Ordinary Meats

Think outside of the box with meats that are anything but chicken breasts and ribs. That includes less popular and inexpensive cuts like the tri-tip, pork steak, or even beef tongue. It’s all about the technique of how you BBQ, as opposed to securing just the right filet mignon or St. Louis style ribs, that everyone has had a million times before.

Plant-Based BBQ

At the other end of the spectrum, more and more people are leaning into grilling and BBQ that’s plant-based. Although, that may seem like the complete opposite of what a great BBQ should be to most traditionalists.

Plant-based BBQ that’s tasty enough to satisfy even your non-vegan friends is a challenge, but with a recipe that features BBQ cauliflower steaks from Ree Drummond of the Food Network, it just might be your new favorite way to enjoy vegetables. You just have to try it at your next gathering to understand.

New BBQ Restaurants Everywhere

Some patrons don’t know how to make the perfect BBQ at home, thus why one of the biggest trends of 2022 is new BBQ restaurants popping up everywhere. There’s an influx of innovative new chefs that are taking BBQ to a whole new level. Some of the newest places to try in 2022 that are already doing exceptional work are 2Fifty Texas BBQ in the metro D.C. area, Jon G’s Barbeque in North Carolina, and Hurtado Barbeque in Texas. Each of these restaurants was voted the “Best New BBQ” by Southern Living Magazine for 2021.

New 2022 BBQ Trends Gear and Gadgets

Every year, the popularity of BBQ food rises, as do the trends of new BBQ gear, grills, and smokers. Pellet grills are becoming increasingly popular, and BBQ grill manufacturers are doubling down on pellet grill innovation and improvements. Expect to see more smart technology included into these grills, such as virtual assistant integrations like Alexa, as well as additional mobile app integrations and automation.

2 Comments

oldest

newest most voted

Chef Philip McCulloch Sr.

4 years ago

BBQ is definitely a learned art. Creativity in today’s market is quite abundant. As mentioned some are very serious about their BBQ. The biggest mistake I see regularly is the over seasoning. BBQ let’s you really taste the meat of choice. Seasoning and sauces should compliment. Choice of wood is also very important. I’m so glad that more are exploring and bringing BBQ to the forefront. Good read.