Smoke, good food, and great company. That’s what barbecue is all about. Grilling and firing up the barbecue are a big part of our culture, but where is the best place for this American delicacy? In this article, we break down how grilling is experienced across the country, and where you can find the hotspots to experience the best the United States has to offer.

To find the hotspots throughout the US, we’ve looked at weather data such as temperature, rain, sunshine, the number of barbecue joints, and the percentage of people associating the state with good grilling.

Hungry for barbecue but stuck for dinner ideas? Some delicious and easy dinners are best done on the barbecue or served alongside it, so we’ve also analyzed Google search data to find each state’s favorite grilling dish to give you some inspiration.

The Best US Cities for BBQ

1.   Austin, Texas | Grill score of 8.04

Austin, Texas, takes the crown as the barbecue capital of the US with a score of 8.04/10. Austin is the leader in the BBQ circuit in the US, with the wider state of Texas having by far the widest association with quality grilling, with 73% of the public. The city also boasts 9 BBQ establishments per 100,000 people, with over three-quarters being rated four stars or above.

Austin also has a high number of people searching for BBQs per capita, showing that there’s a vibrant local interest. The city enjoys a favorable BBQ climate during the summer, with an average temperature of 83.8°F, minimal rainy days, and abundant sunshine.

2.   Fort Worth, Texas | Grill score of 7.91

Fort Worth, another Texas powerhouse in BBQ culture, is close on the heels of Austin. With 5 BBQ restaurants per 100,000 people and over two-thirds rated four stars or above, Fort Worth is another Texas city with a strong BBQ presence.

Searches are slightly lower than in Austin but still high, at 1,850 per 100,000 people. Summer temperatures here are slightly warmer, at 84.4°F, and plentiful sunshine, creating ideal conditions for BBQ enthusiasts.

3.   Dallas, Texas | Grill score of 7.49

Dallas, Texas, ranks third among the best cities for barbecue. There were over 2,000 searches per 100,000 people in Dallas for BBQ near me” in the last year, and the city’s climate is also similar to the other Texas cities, making it perfect for grilling.

Where Dallas excels is the impressive number of barbecue restaurants, at 93. This means there are just over seven BBQ spots per 100,000 people. Over two-fifths (42%) of these are rated four stars and above on Tripadvisor. One diner even said of one restaurant, “the brisket and sausage deserve mention as some of the best I’ve had anywhere.”

US Cities with the Most BBQ Restaurants

1.   St. Louis, Missouri | 20 restaurants per 100,000 people

St. Louis is home to 20 barbecue restaurants per 100,000 people – more than any other city. If you’re looking for a place with plenty of barbecue restaurants, head for St Louis. With just over 50 spots in total and 20 per 100,000 people, this is a hotspot for people wanting authentic barbecue flavors but don’t want the hassle of cleaning a grill out themselves.

The city is renowned for its distinctive barbecue style, making it a must-visit destination for enthusiasts of smoked and grilled meats. The city’s BBQ scene is characterized by its unique preparation and cooking techniques, including St. Louis-style ribs, which are trimmed to a rectangular shape for more even cooking.

2.   Savannah, Georgia, and Columbia, Tennessee | 17 restaurants per 100,000 people

Savannah and Columbia are tied for second place, having 17 BBQ joints per 100,000 people. In Savannah, barbecue melds the coastal city’s rich history with its slow-paced Southern charm. The BBQ here often heavily emphasizes pork, which is slow-smoked over various woods, including oak, hickory, and sometimes pecan, giving the meat a deeply infused smoky flavor.

Moving north to Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, you find a barbecue scene heavily influenced by the state’s mustard-based sauce tradition. This tangy, slightly sweet sauce is unique to South Carolina and is a local twist that differentiates it from the more typical vinegar or tomato-based sauces found elsewhere.

How Has the Cost of BBQ Changed with Inflation

Compared to 2009, the cost of barbecue ingredients in 2024 have increased by 49%. In 2024, the cost of a few essential BBQ items can add up to more than $35 if you were to feed four people. This includes ground beef for burgers, chicken breast, processed cheese, and other essentials.

But how much has this cost changed over the years?

The cost of barbecue ingredients five years ago

If you wanted to buy the same barbecue ingredients in 2019, you’d pay, on average, $28.12 less than you would this year, at a quarter less.

The most significant price difference is in the cost of iceberg lettuce. While in 2024, four servings of this would cost $1.23, it was only 81 cents five years prior. Tomatoes have stayed close in price, with a difference of just 2% between the years.

The cost of barbecue ingredients ten years ago

Interestingly, a barbecue could have been more expensive in 2014 than in 2019 at just over $30. However, it was still 16% lower than the prices we see in 2024.

Again, lettuce’s price has increased the most over ten years, from 72 cents to $1.23 — a 70% increase. The cost of ground beef has also been steadily rising. In 2014, four servings of it would have cost about $3.86, but this is 34% higher in 2024, at $5.15.

The cost of barbecue ingredients 15 years ago

In 2009, you could get the same barbecue ingredients for $23.64, 49% less than in 2024. All ingredients were less expensive 15 years ago, particularly ground beef (128% cheaper) and lettuce (91%).

The price of bacon has also had a steep incline between 2009 and 2024. The cost has increased by 86%, going from $3.66 for four servings to $6.82.

The Most Loved BBQ Dishes Across the US

What are the most popular grilling recipes in America? We’ve analyzed Google search data to find out.

1.   Chicken | 145.4 searches per 100,000 people

Chicken is the reigning champion among BBQ dishes in the United States, with an average annual search volume of 4,202,400. This translates to approximately 145.4 searches per 10,000 users.

This popularity may be due to the dish’s versatility, with chicken recipes ranging from carefully marinated thighs to grilled chicken wings. One thing is for sure: BBQ chicken is a staple at barbecues nationwide, from casual family gatherings to competitive cook-offs.

2.   Mac and cheese | 113.1 searches per 100,000 people

Mac and cheese secures the second spot, with an average annual search volume of 3,270,000 and 113.1 searches per 10,000 users.

This creamy, cheesy comfort food is a beloved side dish at barbecues, a true American classic. Everyone has their own recipe, from the traditional stovetop version to baked mac and cheese with a crunchy breadcrumb topping.

3.   Pasta salad | 87.2 searches per 100,000 people

Pasta salad rounds out the top three barbecue dishes in the US. The dish has an average annual search volume of 2,519,760 and 87.2 searches per 10,000 users, with people looking for recipes.

This dish can be served cold or at room temperature, making it an ideal side dish to prepare before your BBQ. Although there are many recipes, pasta salad typically features a combination of pasta, fresh vegetables, and a dressing, often personalized with ingredients like cheese or meats.

The Most Popular BBQ Dishes By State

Mac and cheese is the most popular barbecue dish in over half of states in the US.

Chicken dominates the searches in many states—California, Hawaii, and Texas all have chicken as their top barbecue dish. California has the highest number of searches for the dish, at almost 157 per 10,000 Google users.

Mac and cheese is the most-searched barbecue dish in numerous states across the Midwest, Northeast, and some parts of the South. States like Vermont, Maine, Michigan, and several southern states such as Alabama and Georgia. However, people in Vermont are the most interested, with over 123 searches per 10,000 Google users.

People in states like Alaska, Ohio, and Montana search for pasta salad recipes more than any other barbecue dish. The refreshing side dish is particularly popular in Alaska, with nearly 127 searches per 10,000 people.

Methodology

We used sources such as Instacart, Reddit, and YouGov to create a seed list of popular BBQ dishes, including US-specific dishes.

Then, we used Google Ads Keyword Planner to reveal the most-searched BBQ dishes in the United States and each state. This data was then normalized per 10,000 people (using Google’s search reach in the area, based on the number of signed-in users using Google sites).

We used BLS data to determine the cost of several BBQ items. We then calculated the cost of these ingredients for four servings. After this, we combined the costs of each item to calculate the cost of a BBQ.

We collected this data for the following BBQ items:

1. Bacon, sliced, per lb. (453.6 gm) in U.S. city average, average price, not seasonally adjusted
2. Ground beef, 100% beef, per lb. (453.6 gm) in U.S. city average, average price, not seasonally adjusted
3. Chicken breast, boneless, per lb. (453.6 gm) in U.S. city average, average price, not seasonally adjusted
4. American processed cheese, per lb. (453.6 gm) in U.S. city average, average price, not seasonally adjusted
5. Tomatoes, field grown, per lb. (453.6 gm) in U.S. city average, average price, not seasonally adjusted
6. Lettuce, iceberg, per lb. (453.6 gm) in U.S. city average, average price, not seasonally adjusted
7. All Pork Chops, per lb. (453.6 gm) in U.S. city average, average price, not seasonally adjusted

We then replicated this for the same months in 2019, 2014, and 2009 to reveal how BBQ costs have increased over 5, 10, and 15 years.

We used Census data to find the 50 most populated cities in the United States. We added some smaller cities that are particularly known for their BBQ culture, using articles from Food & Wine and Go World Travel and posts on Reddit.

We then used a YouGov survey (which included US respondents aged 18 and over) and found the percentage of people who think each city’s state has good BBQ. We used this question: Which states do you associate with having good barbecue?

We used Climate Data to record each city’s average temperature, average rainy days, and average sunshine hours for June, July, and August.

We also used Tripadvisor to record the number of BBQ restaurants in each city, normalized this per 100,000 people, and took the percentage of BBQ restaurants rated four stars or above.

Google Ads Keyword Planner was used to find the number of searches in each city for “BBQ near me” in the last twelve months. This was also normalized per 100,000 people.

Each city was given a normalized score for each factor before a weighted average was taken. The % of people associating the state with good BBQ and the number of searches for BBQ were considered the most important factors and given a double weighting. All other factors were given a single weighting.