2021's Best Barbecue Cities in America

A black woman extends a container of barbecue to a customer at the Big Apple Barbecue Festival.

There are cities that cook barbecue, and there are barbecue cities.

The difference is, the latter will make you produce “meat sweat” after eating a ridiculous amount of ’cue. So which are the Best BBQ Cities in America?

To separate the top sirloin from the chuck roast of barbecue scenes, LawnStarter ranked 199 of the biggest U.S. cities based on 14 hallmarks of a true ’cue hub.

What are the key ingredients of the best BBQ city? Award-winning barbecue restaurants and chefs, experience hosting a “master-level” competition, multiple barbecue festivals, and high fan ratings, among others.

See which barbecue cities smoked the competition in our ranking below, followed by some highlights, lowlights, meaty insights from BBQ experts, and a fun look at BBQ By the Numbers.

Once you’ve learned all about barbecue, you can really light up (your grill) this Fourth of July.

City Rankings
Highlights and Lowlights
Ask the Experts
Methodology
BBQ By the Numbers and Fun Facts
Red, White, and BBQ

City Rankings

See how each city fared in our ranking:

OVERALL RANK	City	Overall Score	Access	Quality	Events
1	Kansas City, MO	60.14	83	1	3
2	Chicago, IL	46.46	32	6	1
3	Houston, TX	37.51	38	5	4
4	Cincinnati, OH	35.88	5	11	5
5	Memphis, TN	34.08	65	40	1
6	Louisville, KY	31.47	6	18	10
7	St. Louis, MO	29.86	78	2	59
8	New York, NY	29.22	16	24	9
9	Minneapolis, MN	28.61	36	3	59
10	Overland Park, KS	27.26	137	10	16
11	Washington, DC	27.07	9	52	5
12	Richmond, VA	26.47	91	4	59
13	Denver, CO	25.33	48	23	16
14	Los Angeles, CA	25.30	1	26	42
15	Omaha, NE	25.22	196	13	16
16	Atlanta, GA	25.08	164	17	11
17	Grand Rapids, MI	24.64	105	19	16
18	Austin, TX	23.04	11	16	40
19	Elk Grove, CA	23.03	26	46	16
20	Raleigh, NC	22.87	87	8	59
21	Tulsa, OK	22.63	141	7	59
22	Charlotte, NC	22.44	80	36	11
23	Buffalo, NY	22.04	22	82	11
24	Little Rock, AR	21.73	90	34	16
25	Lubbock, TX	21.57	33	12	42
26	Nashville, TN	21.33	25	14	42
27	Philadelphia, PA	21.02	29	80	16
28	Baltimore, MD	21.01	59	59	16
29	Dallas, TX	20.97	121	9	42
30	Indianapolis, IN	20.92	18	91	16
31	San Francisco, CA	20.41	45	131	5
32	Lincoln, NE	19.08	175	69	11
33	Augusta, GA	18.80	72	86	16
34	Jackson, MS	18.64	53	95	16
35	Honolulu, HI	18.60	2	94	59
36	Boston, MA	18.49	157	74	16
37	Torrance, CA	18.39	3	56	59
38	Orlando, FL	18.28	37	21	59
39	Olathe, KS	18.03	103	15	59
40	Boise, ID	17.85	55	108	16
41	Oakland, CA	17.68	7	41	59
42	Greensboro, NC	17.44	81	98	16
43	Winston-Salem, NC	16.77	173	167	5
44	Corona, CA	16.76	62	144	16
45	St. Petersburg, FL	16.57	12	39	59
46	Birmingham, AL	16.43	114	117	16
47	Orange, CA	16.37	17	38	59
48	Glendale, CA	16.31	8	53	59
49	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	16.18	10	49	59
50	Fort Collins, CO	16.14	119	127	16
51	Springfield, MO	15.50	42	28	59
52	Des Moines, IA	15.43	182	20	59
53	Detroit, MI	15.39	145	140	16
54	Oklahoma City, OK	15.29	144	22	59
55	Jacksonville, FL	15.22	20	53	59
56	Long Beach, CA	15.15	41	33	59
57	Fullerton, CA	15.12	24	47	59
58	Newark, NJ	15.09	21	50	59
59	Sacramento, CA	15.08	74	27	59
60	Aurora, CO	15.06	165	142	16
60	San Antonio, TX	15.06	101	25	59
62	McAllen, TX	15.00	49	31	59
63	Baton Rouge, LA	14.85	19	62	59
64	Salem, OR	14.84	58	29	59
65	Columbus, OH	14.76	155	175	11
66	Enterprise, NV	14.68	54	32	59
67	Jersey City, NJ	14.55	23	76	42
68	Huntsville, AL	14.30	123	179	16
69	Rochester, NY	14.16	84	37	42
70	Paradise, NV	14.12	4	132	59
71	Colorado Springs, CO	14.04	153	176	16
72	Tempe, AZ	13.95	31	65	59
73	Santa Clarita, CA	13.86	50	44	59
74	Bridgeport, CT	13.85	115	191	16
75	Fort Lauderdale, FL	13.74	28	72	59
76	Tallahassee, FL	13.64	14	84	59
77	Henderson, NV	13.62	143	186	16
78	Midland, TX	13.60	47	57	59
79	Salt Lake City, UT	13.45	104	42	42
80	Durham, NC	13.32	82	48	42
80	Killeen, TX	13.32	75	43	59
82	Corpus Christi, TX	13.18	149	30	59
83	Arlington, VA	12.96	67	53	59
84	Anaheim, CA	12.93	68	50	59
85	Fayetteville, NC	12.82	56	64	59
86	Cleveland, OH	12.76	30	81	59
87	Seattle, WA	12.63	97	45	59
88	Norfolk, VA	12.59	111	77	39
89	Fort Worth, TX	12.47	57	67	59
90	Savannah, GA	12.46	52	73	59
91	Providence, RI	12.43	159	35	59
92	Irvine, CA	12.15	86	60	59
93	Shreveport, LA	12.09	60	75	59
94	Arlington, TX	11.92	93	61	59
95	Pasadena, CA	11.91	46	83	59
96	Garden Grove, CA	11.83	13	121	59
97	Las Vegas, NV	11.71	15	166	40
98	Portland, OR	11.63	44	85	59
99	Santa Ana, CA	11.52	89	71	59
100	Pittsburgh, PA	11.38	100	68	59
101	Laredo, TX	11.11	124	66	59
102	Reno, NV	10.97	174	70	42
103	Sunnyvale, CA	10.73	34	114	59
104	Miami, FL	10.55	76	88	59
105	Scottsdale, AZ	10.51	191	63	59
106	Mesa, AZ	10.49	199	58	59
107	Stockton, CA	10.29	40	113	59
108	Chattanooga, TN	10.01	43	119	59
109	Lexington, KY	9.98	88	90	59
110	Ontario, CA	9.89	39	130	59
111	Milwaukee, WI	9.79	156	78	59
112	Chesapeake, VA	9.60	63	105	59
113	San Jose, CA	9.50	170	79	59
113	Port St. Lucie, FL	9.50	129	87	59
115	Dayton, OH	9.40	134	89	59
116	Mesquite, TX	9.30	35	159	59
117	Albuquerque, NM	9.13	135	92	59
117	North Las Vegas, NV	9.13	64	128	59
119	Irving, TX	9.11	73	118	59
120	Santa Rosa, CA	9.04	138	93	59
121	Joliet, IL	8.84	109	99	59
122	Murfreesboro, TN	8.83	95	106	59
123	Tampa, FL	8.79	70	149	42
124	Frisco, TX	8.75	77	129	59
125	Pomona, CA	8.73	61	143	59
126	New Orleans, LA	8.68	71	152	42
127	Cary, NC	8.62	178	97	42
128	Salinas, CA	8.59	106	107	59
129	Spring Valley, NV	8.58	69	137	59
130	Hollywood, FL	8.42	27	192	59
131	Escondido, CA	8.39	128	100	59
132	Sioux Falls, SD	8.31	136	100	59
133	Bellevue, WA	8.27	107	125	59
134	Naperville, IL	8.26	102	148	42
135	Metairie, LA	8.23	122	115	59
136	Oceanside, CA	8.22	139	104	59
136	Spokane, WA	8.22	126	110	59
138	Worcester, MA	8.19	160	96	59
139	Mobile, AL	8.18	79	145	59
140	McKinney, TX	8.10	118	124	59
141	Hayward, CA	8.06	92	140	59
142	Oxnard, CA	8.04	120	126	59
143	Wichita, KS	8.02	127	120	59
144	Knoxville, TN	8.00	133	116	59
145	Alexandria, VA	7.89	168	100	59
145	Sunrise Manor, NV	7.89	130	122	59
147	St. Paul, MN	7.86	169	100	59
148	Syracuse, NY	7.83	66	165	59
149	Clarksville, TN	7.82	166	132	42
150	Fremont, CA	7.81	94	147	59
151	Bakersfield, CA	7.75	113	137	59
152	Glendale, AZ	7.65	117	137	59
153	Virginia Beach, VA	7.53	181	108	59
154	Lancaster, CA	7.50	99	150	59
155	Plano, TX	7.49	161	122	59
156	Fresno, CA	7.47	142	135	59
157	Palmdale, CA	7.45	186	110	59
158	Tucson, AZ	7.44	140	136	59
159	Huntington Beach, CA	7.39	147	156	42
160	Moreno Valley, CA	7.29	51	186	59
160	San Diego, CA	7.29	192	112	59
162	Riverside, CA	7.27	96	161	59
163	Peoria, AZ	7.16	163	134	59
164	Montgomery, AL	7.10	146	146	59
165	Miramar, FL	7.07	98	167	59
166	Grand Prairie, TX	7.04	112	161	59
167	Eugene, OR	6.90	108	167	59
168	Pembroke Pines, FL	6.87	110	167	59
169	Tacoma, WA	6.62	125	167	59
170	Thornton, CO	6.56	150	163	59
171	Pasadena, TX	6.51	152	157	59
172	Brownsville, TX	6.41	85	185	59
172	Modesto, CA	6.41	116	177	59
174	San Bernardino, CA	6.34	183	150	59
175	Phoenix, AZ	6.30	162	160	59
176	Chandler, AZ	6.29	176	153	59
177	Chula Vista, CA	6.26	179	153	59
178	Toledo, OH	6.24	180	153	59
179	Gilbert, AZ	6.19	172	157	59
180	Hialeah, FL	6.01	148	178	59
181	Springfield, MA	5.85	185	167	59
182	Newport News, VA	5.80	194	164	59
183	Madison, WI	5.69	184	184	42
184	Cape Coral, FL	5.66	188	174	59
185	Fontana, CA	5.65	195	167	59
186	Paterson, NJ	5.64	151	181	59
187	Fort Wayne, IN	5.55	158	180	59
188	Macon, GA	5.39	131	193	59
189	Yonkers, NY	5.21	171	183	59
190	Lakewood, CO	5.14	167	186	59
191	Vancouver, WA	5.09	187	181	59
192	Rockford, IL	4.83	190	186	59
193	El Paso, TX	4.58	197	190	59
194	Garland, TX	4.49	154	196	59
195	Anchorage, AK	4.22	193	194	59
196	Columbus, GA	4.14	189	195	59
197	Amarillo, TX	3.91	132	197	59
198	Akron, OH	3.83	177	198	42
199	Aurora, IL	0.05	198	199	59

Highlights and Lowlights

Kansas City: The BBQ Capital of America

Sorry, Memphis. Kansas City tops our list of the Best BBQ Cities. With far more winners in the World Series of Barbecue contests and the second-highest number of national excellence awards, the Heart of America is a powerhouse for quality brisket and burnt ends.

But every leader has an Achilles heel and KC’s ironically is access to BBQ restaurants, finishing at No. 108. Fortunately, iconic names — Gates, Jack Stack, Joe’s KC, and Arthur Bryant — more than make up for the lack of BBQ spots. Quality over quantity appears to be this city’s barbecue philosophy.

Mouthwatering Midwest

Beyond Kansas City, seven more Midwestern cities place in our top 10. Clearly, the Midwest is best for premier steaks, strips, and stacks.

Chicago comes in second by jointly claiming the top spot in the Events category (an honor it shares with No. 5 Memphis, another iconic barbecue city). Seventh-place St. Louis holds the second-highest score in the Quality category, followed closely by Minneapolis, which lands in ninth. Cincinnati is No. 4.

If you’re looking for a foodie vacation, fly to the Midwest and start eating your way across the region. (Barbecue road trips are a real thing. Make sure to bring plenty of Wet-Naps.)

Nibbling in North Carolina

North Carolina makes a mediocre showing despite making up one of the four pillars of American barbecue styles — KC, Memphis, Texas, and Carolina. Raleigh finishes at No. 20, but other Tar Heel cities land farther down the list. (South Carolina has its own related but distinct style, but none of its cities was large enough to be measured in our ranking.)

Why didn’t North Carolina’s signature sauce rank higher? Maybe it’s because North Carolina ’cue culture is spread out in the state rather than concentrated in one area like Kansas City or Memphis. (Texas, too, was a mixed bag in our ranking.)

North Carolina, while not the best ranked, is still a destination for those who prefer a hint of tang and a kick of vinegar. (Just don’t get caught up in the East vs. West debate.)

Ask The Experts

Why is BBQ our favorite grilled, smoked, rubbed, and/or sauced food, much like baseball is America’s favorite pastime? Let’s cue the experts, for answers about our love of barbecue and BBQ cities.

What makes a true barbecue city for aficionados?
Which non-iconic BBQ cities, if any, can fans expect to emerge in the national barbecue scene in the next few years? What makes those cities stand out?
What are some non-traditional barbecue dishes (such as BBQ tacos) that every serious fan must try?
What are some fresh barbecue side-dish ideas to try this Fourth of July?
Barbecue vs. barbeque: Apart from spelling, is there a difference?
Besides visiting the top BBQ cities in the country, what’s the best way to discover one’s favorite style of ’cue?

Dr. Carola Grebitus

Associate Professor of Food Industry Management, W. P. Carey School of Business, Morrison School of Agribusiness

Tyler White

Culinary Institute Program Manager

Jeffrey Miller

Certified Executive Chef, Associate Professor, Hospitality Management, Food Science and Human Nutrition

Dr. Carola Grebitus

Associate Professor of Food Industry Management, W. P. Carey School of Business, Morrison School of Agribusiness

Arizona State University

Dr. Carola Grebitus

Associate Professor of Food Industry Management, W. P. Carey School of Business, Morrison School of Agribusiness

Arizona State University

What makes a true barbecue city for aficionados?

A city that offers fresh and local ingredients to shoppers, providing high-quality meat to customers, as well as high-quality ingredients for side dishes.

Equipment is, of course, just as important, and places where the community can gather. Barbecuing next to a community garden where you can pick some fresh veggies to put on the grill — what can be better?

Which non-iconic BBQ cities, if any, can fans expect to emerge in the national barbecue scene in the next few years? What makes those cities stand out?

The Phoenix metro area offers great variety with fresh and local ingredients putting a spin on things with unique flavor, such as prickly pear.

What are some non-traditional barbecue dishes (such as BBQ tacos) that every serious fan must try?

Being from Germany, I would go with some German-style brats that will taste delicious if made on a charcoal grill. Simply pair it with a bun and some mustard, or go all out by adding German-style potato salad. You can find original brats at Trader Joe’s or Aldi.
Wrap small sausages in bacon, and grill them until crisp (if you can find cheese-filled sausages, all the better).

Meatless alternatives:

Fish packs: Fish of choice (e.g., salmon), add spices or fresh herbs to taste, top it with some butter, wrap in foil, and grill until tender.
Tofu packs: Same as fish packs but with tofu

What are some fresh barbecue side-dish ideas to try this Fourth of July?

Veggie packs: Cut up your favorite produce (think bell peppers, tomatoes, squash), add some spices/herbs and butter, wrap in foil, and grill until tender.
Stuffed mushrooms: Prepare butter spread (mix well soft Irish butter, parsley, garlic, onion, pepper, salt, paprika powder, Worcestershire sauce — all to taste), remove stems from mushrooms and fill with butter, and grill until butter has melted.
Grilled bread: Make butter spread, get a big loaf of white bread with a nice crust (think oversized baguette), cut the whole bread in slices (cut about two-thirds through, leaving the bottom of the bread intact), slather on the spread in between the slices, wrap in foil, and grill until butter has melted and bread is crisp and toasty.

Barbecue vs. barbeque: Apart from spelling, is there a difference?

As a German native, I would say no.

Besides visiting the top BBQ cities in the country, what’s the best way to discover one’s favorite style of ’cue?

Gather family and friends for a cookout, and enjoy spending time together while indulging in great food.

Tyler White

Culinary Institute Program Manager

University of Tennessee Knoxville

Tyler White

Culinary Institute Program Manager

University of Tennessee Knoxville

What makes a true barbecue city for aficionados?

Authenticity and history are key components in identifying a true barbecue city. Aficionados should look for cities and regions that have a history of great pitmasters and family-owned businesses. The best barbeque cities have plenty of independently owned barbeque restaurants.

What are some non-traditional barbecue dishes (such as BBQ tacos) that every serious fan must try?

Barbeque breakfast hash is a great way to incorporate barbeque into every meal of the day.
Barbeque tamales are an amazing way to combine smoked meats, masa, and your favorite sauce and cheese.

What are some fresh barbecue side-dish ideas to try this Fourth of July?

Summer vegetable salads pair perfectly with barbeque. It is easy to create salads with just about any type of vegetable or greens, and using a vinaigrette dressing, you can complement the sweet flavors that are associated with many barbeque seasonings and sauces. This is why you traditionally see coleslaw as a staple side with barbeque.

Barbecue vs. barbeque: Apart from spelling, is there a difference?

There is no difference in the cooking techniques for either version of the word “barbeque/ barbecue.” The spelling of the word is more related to the region you live in, similar to debate over “pop or soda.”

There is, however, a difference in how the word is used. Many will use the term “barbeque” as a gathering of friends for a meal that consists of various grilled items, whereas the verb meaning of “barbeque” relates to the actual cooking process of foods.

Many people use “grilling” and “barbequing” interchangeably, but that is incorrect — grilling is a fast cooking technique that uses more direct heat, and barbequing uses slow and low indirect cooking.

Besides visiting the top BBQ cities in the country, what’s the best way to discover one’s favorite style of ’cue?

A great way to discover your favorite style of barbeque without traveling is to cook barbeque yourself! Smokers are easily accessible now, and the internet is full of recipes to guide you on your barbeque adventure.

Try cooking with different woods, cuts of meats, marinades, rubs, and sauces to determine what works best for your palate. Many of the best barbeque restaurants started off with someone creating a great barbecue item at home and then turning it into a business.

Jeffrey Miller

Certified Executive Chef, Associate Professor, Hospitality Management, Food Science and Human Nutrition

Colorado State University

Jeffrey Miller

Certified Executive Chef, Associate Professor, Hospitality Management, Food Science and Human Nutrition

Colorado State University

What makes a true barbecue city for aficionados?

A true barbecue city has a respect for the traditions. BBQ is an old and honorable art. Serious BBQ people want pitmasters who understand what it takes to make the classics correctly; pitmasters who are willing to spend the time to do it right — there is no “hurry up” shortcut to great BBQ.

A city also needs a critical mass of people who love BBQ. I’ve seen some great barbecue joints close because the locals didn’t support it with their wallets.

Which non-iconic BBQ cities, if any, can fans expect to emerge in the national barbecue scene in the next few years? What makes those cities stand out?

It is really more regions that are coming on than individual towns. BBQ has always been associated with the South in general, the Carolinas and Texas, and few great cities like Memphis and Kansas City.

But great BBQ can be had in a lot of places now. Some great BBQ is coming out of the Midwest. Oklahoma has always had a great BBQ tradition that is just now getting recognized. The whole belt across southern Kansas, southern Missouri, northern Oklahoma, and northern Arkansas is growing great BBQ traditions.

What are some non-traditional barbecue dishes (such as BBQ tacos) that every serious fan must try?

While the classics are hard to beat, there are a few outliers to try:

If a place has a bologna sandwich on the menu, try it. There is some great BBQ bologna in Oklahoma.
BBQ corned beef can be really good.
I wish there was more BBQ lamb. The place I miss the most is the late, lamented Prospect BBQ in Kansas City. They had BBQ lamb shanks and lamb riblets that I still dream about.

What are some fresh barbecue side-dish ideas to try this Fourth of July?

Anything with dark leafy greens like collards: They pair perfectly with the smoke of real BBQ.
Try some really sweet watermelon with feta cheese crumbles. You can never go wrong with sweet and salty.
Hawaiian-style mac salad is always great with ribs.

Barbecue vs. barbeque: Apart from spelling, is there a difference?

It’s not the spelling; it’s the process. A steak on the grill is a treat, but it’s not BBQ. Low and slow wins the race.

Besides visiting the top BBQ cities in the country, what’s the best way to discover one’s favorite style of ’cue?

One thing the pandemic did was blow food delivery wide open. You can order BBQ from nearly anywhere. You can enjoy most of the great BBQ styles of America from the comfort of your own patio.

Methodology

We ranked 199 of the largest U.S. cities from best (No. 1) to worst (No. 199) based on their overall scores (out of 100 possible points), averaged across the weighted metrics below.

NBBQA and KCBS competition data for suburbs were included with the main city in their metro area if those suburbs were not large enough to be included in our sample.

Metric Name	Weighting	Min. Value	Max. Value	Best
Access
BBQ Restaurants per 100,000 Residents	2	0.67	33.24	Max. Value
Number of Top-Rated BBQ Restaurants (Avg. Rating: Over 4.5/5 Stars)	3	0	14	Max. Value
Smokehouses per 100,000 Residents	1	0	1.57	Max. Value
Number of Top-Rated Smokehouses (Avg. Rating: Over 4.5/5 Stars)	2	0	2	Max. Value
Quality
Number of NBBQA Excellence Award Winners (Sauce, Rub, and/or Food Categories) in Past 5 Years	4	0	13	Max. Value
Number of Cooking Teams Ranking in Top 25% of Past 3 American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational Contests	4	0	5	Max. Value
Number of Cooking Teams Ranking in Top 26-50% of Past 3 American Royal World Series of Barbecue Invitational Contests	3	0	11	Max. Value
Number of Cooking Teams Ranking in Top 25% of Past 3 American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Contests	3	0	28	Max. Value
Number of Cooking Teams Ranking in Top 26-50% of Past 3 American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Contests	2	0	49	Max. Value
Median Consumer Rating for BBQ Restaurants	3	0	4.4	Max. Value
Median Consumer Rating for Smokehouses	2	0	5	Max. Value
Events
Hosts KCBS-Sanctioned National/Global Barbecue Competition (1 = Yes, 0 = No)	4	0	1	Max. Value
Hosted KCBS-Sanctioned Masters Series BBQ Competition(s) in Past 3 Years (1 = Yes, 0 = No)	3	0	1	Max. Value
Number of BBQ Festivals	1	0	4	Max. Value

Sources: American Royal Association, Everfest, Kansas City Barbeque Society, National Barbecue and Grilling Association, and Yelp

BBQ By the Numbers and Fun Facts

Infographic showing barbecue facts for the Best BBQ Cities ranking

More BBQ Fun Facts

Grilling ≠ Barbecuing: Grilling requires direct heat from a flame, while barbecuing draws heat from circulating air.
Baby Got Back: Baby-back ribs don’t come from baby pigs. They’re just shorter than spare ribs.
Follow the BBQ Trail: North Carolina’s barbecue trail leads hungry visitors to the top ’cue across the state.
In a Word: “Barbecue” comes from barbacoa, meaning “a framework for supporting meat over a fire.”
There’s an App for That: You can buy a meat thermometer that lets you monitor your ’cue remotely via smartphone.
You’ve Got Meatmail: Can’t find local barbecue that tastes like home? Many BBQ restaurants now offer overnight air delivery.
Secret’s in the Sauce: States have perfected their own unique flavors. In North Carolina, it’s vinegar. In Alabama, it’s a mayo-based white sauce. South Carolina boasts a yellow-colored mustard sauce.

Infographic sources: Foodways in Focus, Guinness World Records, Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, Kansas City Barbecue Society, National Today, Slate, and Statista

Research by: Sarah Bahr

Red, White, and BBQ

Barbecue is one of America’s most sacred culinary traditions — so renowned that chefs from all over the globe make pilgrimages to our pitmasters to share their tasty creations and ideas.

How serious is our love of ’cue? In our No. 1 BBQ city, you can sample burnt ends-flavored ice cream at local Betty Rae’s.

It’s clear Americans love tasty, messy, meaty barbecue off the grill, out of the smoker, and maybe even as a creamy concoction.

Wherever you celebrate barbecue this Fourth of July — in your backyard or at family cookouts, block parties, and festivals — savor that mouth-watering barbecue and a return to near normalcy after a year of being holed up inside.

We need some BBQ this year — fast. Save some room and have plenty of napkins nearby (or a bib).

Main Photo Credit: www.shutterstock.com