We might be right at the beginning of spring, but summer is quick on its heels!
That can only mean one thing: Long days spent poolside, capped off by evenings around the grill. This season, will you be the basting king everyone wants to high-five?
The secret to juicy ribs, decadent burgers, and melt-in-your-mouth chicken is in the sauce. BBQ sauce, that is. Whether you like yours sweet, savory or tangy, you can’t go wrong.
Ready to gear up for the most delicious season of your life? Read on to discover seven of our favorite recipes with BBQ sauce, sure to transform any dish into a warm-weather favorite.
1. BBQ Chicken Tostadas
There’s nothing like decadent Tex-Mex cuisine. This recipe is easy, simple and comes together on the grill in minutes.
Start with eight to 10 tostada shells or corn tortillas. Brush a little olive oil on them and place them on the grill until they’re a little toasty. In a small bowl, mix three cups of cooked and shredded chicken with 1.5 cups of your favorite BBQ sauce.
Spoon the chicken mixture onto the shells and sprinkle with a little shredded cheese. You can use mozzarella, Monterey Jack, cheddar or your favorite blend. Grill the tostadas until the cheese gets good and gooey, and then enjoy!
2. BBQ Hawaiian Pizza
You might be half a world away from Maui, but you can still bring plenty of island flavor to your backyard!
This flexible recipe works just as well in your oven as on the grill, making it a year-round treat.
If you’re making your pizza in the oven, line a baking sheet with wax paper and top it with one pound of store-bought pizza dough. If you have a pizza stone or a similar kitchen gadget, that works too!
Then, spread 1/3 cup of BBQ sauce over the dough, leaving a one-inch diameter so it doesn’t run off the edge!
Then, go to town adding your favorite Hawaiian pizza toppings! We’re talking pineapple, ham, sliced red onion, and lots of mozzarella cheese. Bake the pizza until the crust is brown and the cheese is melted. Top with a few springs of cilantro and a dash of extra sauce, and serve!
3. Bacon-Wrapped BBQ Chicken
Barbecue chicken on its own is a delicacy. Wrap it in succulent strips of hickory-smoked bacon, and you’ve got a masterpiece.
To make it, start with four 8-ounce chicken breasts. Sprinkle each one with BBQ seasoning on all sides. Then, wrap each chicken breast with two slices of raw bacon.
Wondering when to put BBQ sauce on chicken? For this one, place the breasts seam-side down on the grill, and brush liberally with BBQ sauce. Grill until the chicken is done, flipping each breast once and adding sauce to the underside of the chicken as you cook.
Serve and savor immediately!
4. BBQ Tater Tot Casserole
Did we just say your four favorite words?
This one-dish meal is rich, indulgent and everything your childhood dreams were made of. It’s also ridiculously easy to make.
Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking oil and set aside. On the stovetop, brown 20 ounces of ground beef or turkey, along with one small diced onion, one teaspoon of chili powder, one teaspoon of hot sauce, and a little salt.
When the meat is almost cooked through, stir in one 10-ounce can of corn and one 15-ounce can of pinto beans. Cook until the mixture is hot all the way through, and pour into the prepared dish. Drizzle one cup of BBQ sauce and one cup of cheese over the meat.
Top with one 28-ounce bag of frozen tater tots, and bake uncovered at 350° for 30 to 40 minutes. Remember to share with Napoleon Dynamite!
5. BBQ Chicken Salad
When the temperatures creep up, we’re all ready to swap our heavy hot dishes for cold, yummy sandwiches. Chicken salad has long been a staple, but this unique spin is sure to become a new favorite.
In a small bowl, beat 1/2 cup of mayonnaise with 1/3 cup of BBQ sauce. In a second bowl, combine four cups of cooked and shredded chicken with four slices of fully cooked bacon, crumbled. Stir in 1/2 cup of chopped red onion, and then fold in the mayonnaise mixture.
Serve in lettuce leaves or on two slices of toasted bread, along with some vine-ripe tomatoes. For this recipe, we love to use a sweet tomato-and-sugar sauce to give the chicken salad plenty of deep flavor. You can learn more about the different styles of BBQ sauce to find your favorite!
6. Fool-Proof Baby Back Ribs
This list would are incomplete without a recipe for finger-licking ribs!
In a small bowl, mix one tablespoon each of ground cumin, flavorer, and paprika. Sprinkle the rub onto three pounds of prepared baby back pork ribs. Lay the ribs on the highest rack of the grill, reduce the warmth to low, and cook for one hour.
When the time is up, raise the lid and brush the ribs with one cup of sauce. Grill for an additional five minutes. you’ll serve the ribs as a full rack, or cut between each rib bone and pile them onto a platter!
7. BBQ Onion Meatloaf
This isn’t your mama’s meatloaf!
In a large bowl, combine one lightly beaten egg with 1/3 cup of whole milk. Stir in two tablespoons of BBQ sauce. Then, add 1/2 cup of crushed, seasoned stuffing, along with one tablespoon of dry onion soup mix.
Crumble a little over one pound of ground beef over the mixture and mix well. From here, you can shape the meat into individual mini loaves, or combine it all into one big loaf. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 350°.
Try These Recipes With BBQ Sauce Today
It doesn’t have to be summer for you to try a new meal with your family!
Full of flavor, these recipes with BBQ sauce prove that anything is better with a cup or two of the sweet nectar. Whether you’re firing up the grill or stirring it into a cold dish, it’s the go-to ingredient that packs a powerful punch.
Planning on donning your grill apron while on vacation this summer? Check out our post on how to keep your home safe while you’re away!
