We all know the BBQ classics, the food that you’re likely to find at any BBQ across the UK. Steaks and burgers belong in any summer gathering, but if you’re looking to add something different to surprise your guests, we’ve got you covered. So, what are our top 8 unusual BBQ foods to try?
There are plenty of weird and wonderful foods that you can cook on the BBQ to take your grilling game to the next level. Our top 8 unusual BBQ foods to cook on a BBQ are:
Read on to find out more about our top 8 unusual BBQ foods, tips on how to make them, and a list of foods you should never BBQ too!
Jump to section:
- What Are Traditional BBQ Foods?
- What Weird BBQ Foods Can You Try?
- What Foods Should You Not BBQ?
- World-Class BBQ Meats From Tom Hixson
What Are Traditional BBQ Foods?
If you walk past a BBQ in the park, you can expect to see a few BBQ staples that can’t be missed. Some of the most common foods to cook on a BBQ include:
- Steak - like this Black Label Argentine Châteaubriand
- Burgers - like our Marrow Dry Aged Steak Burgers
- Sausages - try the New York Diner Beef Hot Dogs
- Ribs - why not try our succulent Tom Hixson Wagyu Short Ribs?
- Chicken - take a look at our Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Jacket potatoes
- Corn on the cob
- Pulled pork - try this Boston Butt Pulled Pork
If you’re looking for new ideas for traditional foods for a BBQ, read our blog: What To Take To a BBQ as a Guest?
What Weird BBQ Foods Can You Try?
While we absolutely love a classic BBQ burger, if you want to spice things up a bit, there are a bunch of weird and wonderful foods that you can cook on the BBQ. To help, we even asked a few of our expert chefs for their input!
Watermelon!
This one comes highly recommended by all of our chefs. While grilled watermelon is delicious straight from the BBQ, our experts recommend adding a sweet drizzle to top it off. Rich Pearse, chef at Uncle Hon's BBQ and advisor to Tom Hixson says:
“Add a touch of honey, lime and coriander to create a beautiful contrast between the sweetness of the honey, the juiciness of the watermelon, and the citrus of the lime. Delicious!”
Grilled Avocados
I have no idea why a mushy green fruit would work on a BBQ, but it absolutely does. It’s also one of the easiest recipes on this list!
All you need to do is cut the avocado in half, take out the pit, and coat it in olive oil. After that quick prep is done, place the avocado flat side down on the grill for 5 to 7 minutes and top it with your favourite seasoning and additions.
Brownies
Not many people I know will have tried this one. After all, who would think that stodgy chocolate cake would do well over fire? For some unknown reason, our expert chefs have tried this and say that it’s unbelievable. Stuart Mathwig, BBQ content creator, former BBQ World Championship competitor, and 3x World Steak Challenge judge says:
“Brownies are surprisingly great with a hint of smoke and of course some candied bacon on top for that sweet and salty taste. So, so good.”
To cook your brownies on the grill, follow all the same steps that you would with your normal brownies, fill it into your baking tray, and place it into the BBQ on low, indirect heat with the lid closed. They generally take about 30 minutes, depending on the heat level.
Granola
For a delicious dessert or summer treat, wrap your favourite berries and granola in aluminium foil and place it in indirect heat on the BBQ. After just a few minutes, you’ll have a crunchy delight that you can top with ice cream or yoghurt.
Fruit Glazes For Your Meat
While the combination of sweet and salty isn’t anything new, there’s a wide range of fruits that you can choose from to create exciting flavour combinations. Rich Pearse, chef at Uncle Hon's BBQ and advisor to Tom Hixson says:
“Fruit glazes work great with pork but working at Uncle Hon’s BBQ in Hackney I have a newfound love for a Peach Tea glaze on Pork Belly. Blues Hog Nation also does a ridiculously good Raspberry Chipotle BBQ sauce which is great on any form of Burnt Ends (Pork Belly or Brisket)”
If you’d prefer to make your own glaze, the recipe is really simple. Take your favourite high-pectin fruits and add them to a pot. Add half a cup of water and a teaspoon of sugar before simmering on low-medium heat. Stir occasionally until you’re left with a thick glaze that will stick to your meats. If your fruit is too lumpy to use as a glaze, you can mash it down with a fork.
You can combine your fruit glaze with any of your favourite meat cuts. We love to add it to Pork Collars.
Quesadillas
Quesadillas are a melty cheese flavour sensation that any cheese lover will enjoy. The best part is that everyone can make their own with their choice of toppings!
Lay out bowls of all the topping options and tell your guests to grab a plate and a tortilla. Load the tortilla with cheese, onion, herbs, spices, meats, vegetables, and whatever else you can think of! My favourite throws in some mushrooms, onions, chives, chilli flakes, jalapeños, and some Boston Butt Pulled Pork.
Once your tortilla is adequately loaded, simply fold it in half and pop it onto the grill in an indirect heat. Cook until both sides are nice and crispy, turning halfway through, and you’re ready to go!
Cabbage
While not the most exciting-sounding item on this list, grilled cabbage is delicious. Cut your cabbage into 8 wedges, brush them with olive oil, and sprinkle them with onion powder, garlic salt, and pepper.
Wrap each wedge individually in heavy-duty foil before placing it on medium heat for about 20 minutes. To give the cabbage a nice charred finish and flavour, sear each wedge directly onto the grill for a minute or two before serving.
You can then top this with a rich sauce for extra flavour. Try it alongside a salsa verde, harissa, or yoghurt!
Pizza
Who needs a wood-fired oven? You can create great-tasting pizza straight from the BBQ. With this cooking method, you’ll still get a wonderful smokey flavour, similar to that of a wood-fired oven, but with half the cost and hassle!
The recipe is nice and easy and involves the same process as if you were going to throw it in the oven. The only thing you need to remember is to brush olive oil over the dough to stop it from sticking to the grill.
What Foods Should You Not BBQ?
Delicate Fish or Seafood: Delicate seafood such as cod or peeled prawns can also easily dry out on the grill. Opt for a fish with more oil content, such as tuna or salmon instead.
Silken Tofu: If there’s a vegan/vegetarian guest who can’t eat your meat dishes, most hosts would jump straight to tofu as the next option. However, you should never cook silken tofu on the BBQ as it’s too soft and will fall apart, so opt for firm or extra-firm tofu instead.
Leafy Greens: Many leafy greens with a high water content will simply fall apart as soon as they hit the grill. These include things like spinach, kale, and lettuce. In general, it’s best to stick to root vegetables or solid fruits when using the BBQ. The exception to this would be cabbage, which works great on a BBQ and has the lowest water content of any leafy green.
World-Class BBQ Meats From Tom Hixson
While we highly recommend trying out the recipes on this list, you’ll want to pair it with some BBQ classics too! At Tom Hixson, we supply our customers with the best meats from around the world, including multiple World Steak Challenge winners!!
Visit our BBQ collection to see our most popular selection of BBQ meats, such as the Wexford Valley Pichana, Tom Hixson Wagyu Tomahawk, Iberico Loin Baby Back Ribs, or Marrow Dry Aged Steak Burgers.
