As the warmth of summer approaches, so does barbecue season. It's time to fire up the grill, gather with good company, and enjoy delicious eats. Let's explore the essential dry goods and pantry staples you'll want to have on hand for a fantastic barbecue season.
While meat often takes the spotlight, it's the flavors and side dishes that truly enhance the experience. From dry rubs to brines, grains, and condiments, these ingredients are BBQ essentials for unforgettable meals. Today, we'll focus on three key categories: dry goods and pantry staples, sauces and marinades, and cooking oils and sauces.
Dry Goods and Pantry Staples
Quality spices and rubs will arguably be the most important items to have on hand to create unforgettable meals outdoors. At ATBBQ, our staff has varying opinions on how many dry rubs or seasonings a well-stocked pantry needs. Some of us prefer to keep three or four versatile rub blends on hand while others have a specific blend for every cooking style. But when it comes to our favorites, Cattleman’s Grill, Plowboys, and Meat Church top the list.
Grains such as rice, flours, grits, and cornmeal are an essential part of your BBQ summer pantry as well. For wood-fired pizza night, you’ve got to have a good “00” flour for light, crispy crust. Rices are staples in a variety of cuisines – mediterranean and Spanish in particular. And don’t forget about the versatility of cornmeal – essential for making everything from cornbread to dusting pizza stones and pans. Brands like Marsh Hen Mill and Rancho Gordo produce high quality, nutrient dense grains to fuel your backyard cookouts.
Dried beans and legumes are the unsung heroes of any pantry, offering hearty and nutritious options for countless meals. Stocking up on varieties like black beans, chickpeas, lentils, and kidney beans ensures you always have the base for a satisfying soup, side dish, or salad. Plus, they're budget-friendly and have a long shelf life, making them a smart choice for any kitchen.
Bronze-cut pasta, unlike its Teflon-die counterparts, boasts a rough texture that enhances sauce adherence, resulting in more flavorful dishes. Brands like Rummo and Zelli offer diverse shapes and sizes, perfect for any recipe. Whether in a refreshing pasta salad or a hearty ragu, bronze-cut pasta takes home cooking to better than restaurant-quality status. Keep a variety in your pantry to take a meal from uninspired to extraordinary.
Sauces, Marinades, and Condiments
When people think of barbecue, their mind often goes straight to barbecue sauce, the finishing touch that can take a dish from good to great. With varieties ranging from tangy vinegar-based to sweet and smoky molasses-based, there's a sauce to suit every taste. Depending on the dishes you’re serving, it’s best to keep a few styles on hand to cater to different preferences and regional tastes. At the top of our list is Firebug’s Mild Grill’n Sauce (a real crowd pleaser), Big Rick's Jalapeno Honey Mustard for a hopped-up mustard-based option, and Chile Slinger Chipotle BBQ Sauce for the heat lovers.
But barbecue isn't just about sauce; marinades and brines play a crucial role in infusing meat with flavor and keeping it juicy. Convenient mixes and liquid concentrates offer a variety of options, from classic herb blends to citrus-infused marinades. Keeping a variety of flavor profiles on hand in this category is a wise move. If you’re short on inspiration, sometimes the flavor profile of a marinade will kickstart the planning for you. Use a jalapeno lime concentrate for flame-kissed fajitas or apple chipotle for a zesty pork tenderloin. You can’t go wrong with Cattleman’s Butcher House brine – a staple in many of our pantries to keep proteins moist and flavorful.
Make sure your pantry is stocked up with the standard condiments like mustard, ketchup, and relish, as well as specialized add-ons like hot sauce and chile crunch, which add extra zest and character to your creations. For taco night, we love Heat Maverick’s hot sauces. For general inspiration, Kansas City Canning Company’s line of pickles, jams, pickled veggies, and drink mixers cannot be missed!
Cooking Oils and Other Sauces
Quality oils and vinegars are indispensable for enhancing dishes. A quality extra virgin olive oil is perfect for salads and finishing grilled vegetables, while neutral oils like grapeseed or avocado are ideal for high-heat cooking. Balsamic vinegar adds sweetness to dressings, while red wine vinegar offers bold acidity for sauces. Keeping a selection of high-quality oils and vinegars on hand will bring recipes together in a snap.
Tahini and honey offer versatility in both sweet and savory dishes. Tahini adds nuttiness and creaminess to sauces and roasted vegetables, while honey provides natural sweetness to salad dressings and desserts. Our rib recipes often call for honey at some point in the cooking process so that’s a good staple to keep on hand year-round.
Worcestershire sauce, with its savory and tangy flavor profile, enhances various dishes. Made from vinegar, brown sugar, anchovies, and spices, it’s used in everything from marinades to dressings to sauces. Its umami richness elevates meat dishes like steak or burgers and adds complexity to soups and stews.
Jarred pasta and cooking sauces simplify weeknight dinners, offering convenience without sacrificing flavor. While homemade sauces have their charm, there are times when grabbing something off the shelf is the practical choice. Whether it's a busy weeknight or a last-minute meal, having these pantry staples ensures you can always pull together a satisfying dish with minimal effort. Yo Mama Foods has you covered on the Italian food scene and Bachan’s makes great Asian-inspired finishing sauces.
In conclusion, stocking your pantry with quality ingredients isn't just about having the basics on hand – it's about having the building blocks for culinary inspiration at your fingertips. By investing in shelf-stable staples like dry goods, marinades, and seasonings, you're setting yourself up for success in the kitchen. These ingredients are not only easy to pull together but also provide endless possibilities for creating delicious meals without much effort.
Keeping it simple is key when it comes to BBQ pantry essentials. With just a few high-quality ingredients, you can transform even the most basic dishes into something extraordinary. And when you have your pantry stocked and ready to go, you'll always be prepared to tackle our recipes with confidence and ease.
So, whether you're whipping up a quick weeknight dinner or entertaining friends in your outdoor kitchen, having your pantry perfectly stocked with essentials for summer ensures that you'll never be at a loss for what to make.
