There’s nothing quite like the aroma of sizzling meat on the grill, bringing friends and family together for a perfect barbecue. And of course you can count on us for suggestions on the best meats for BBQs. Whether you're hosting a casual backyard cookout or a special occasion, choosing the best meats for your BBQ is essential to wow your guests with your grilling game.
What is The Best Cut of Meat for BBQ?
Fresh cut beef with rich marbling makes a flavorful, juicy steak while briskets are ideal for low and slow cooking. At Wholey’s, we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality meats to help you create unforgettable BBQs. Whether you're grilling beef, pork, or poultry, our selection ensures that your next cookout will be a success. We're here to review the top cuts of meat for grilling along with tips to ensure delicious results. So let’s fire it up and dive in!
Best Beef Cuts for BBQ
- Ribeye Steak - Grilling Tip: Cook over medium-high heat and use a reverse sear method for even doneness. Pair with a garlic herb butter for the ultimate finish.
- NY Strip Steak - Grilling Tip: Marinate for 30 minutes in olive oil, garlic, and rosemary to enhance its natural flavor.
- Filet Mignon - Grilling Tip: Grill over high heat for 2–3 minutes per side to achieve a perfect medium-rare.
When someone says they’re cooking filet mignon, you might immediately picture a sizzling steak sauteing in a cast-iron skillet on the stovetop or in the oven. As delicious as these cooking styles can be, there’s another way to cook this exceptionally tender, lean, and succulent steak so that the buttery texture that melts in your mouth is just as good. That’s right! You can and should BBQ filet mignon. Also, don’t be afraid to BBQ bacon-wrapped filet mignon as well! Bacon enhances the filet mignon’s flavor and can help keep it moist.
How to BBQ Filet Mignon
- First and most important: let your steaks come to room temperature or set them out for roughly 30 minutes before BBQing.
- Add a touch of olive oil to your grill racks as you let your BBQ preheat to roughly 450-degrees.
- Before adding them to the grill, pre-season them with salt and pepper or any seasonings you prefer.
- Place them on the grill and close the lid. Leave them in place for the times mentioned below! Don’t move them or flip them early.
- Cook over medium-high heat, at or around 450 degrees on a gas grill, or set your filet mignon on a rack that’s been placed directly over medium coals for an incredible sear.
- Filet mignon should not take more than 15 minutes to cook for super thick cuts, roughly 6 mins on each side. If the steaks are 1 inch or 1 ½ inch thick, don’t cook them any longer than 4-5 minutes of grilling on each side.
- For perfect medium-rare steaks, the goal will be to stop cooking and remove heat once the temperature in the center reaches 125 degrees.
- For medium steaks, remove them once the center reached 135.
- Once removed, let the filet mignon rest for 5 to 10 minutes off the heat to allow the juices to flow back into the steak for a perfect, juicy, tender texture and taste.
At the right temperature and using the correct settings on your grill, along with the perfect amount of time, you’ll keep the incredible tenderness and texture of this flavorful steak while you BBQ. Should you use gas or charcoal? That’s all up to your flavor preference. Either type of grill, when done correctly, can do the job, but if you want a flavor that more closely resembles the smokiness of bacon, a gas grill may be your best bet.
Best Pork for BBQ
- Ribs - Grilling Tip: Use a dry rub overnight, then grill over indirect heat for 2–3 hours. Finish with your favorite BBQ sauce for a sticky glaze.
- Pork Chops - Grilling Tip: Brine your chops for a few hours before grilling to lock in moisture and flavor.
Toss out the ultra-thin, wispy pork chops of yesterday and consider a delectable, thickly cut pork chop for the BBQ instead. When grilled right, a BBQ pork chop is a juicy, tender, delicious cut of meat bursting with flavor.
How do you BBQ the perfect thick-cut pork chop?
- Always go thick-cut. Thin pork chops grill and cook too fast and end up dry and touch. Buy at least ¾ to 1 inch thick and try to get bone-in, which tends to cook more evenly and have more flavors than bone out.
- Brine! If you’ve never brined a pork chop, you’re seriously missing out. Even if you brine your pork chops for a short amount of time, it will give you some time to keep your pork chops moist and tender if you are forgetful and accidentally cook them for a minute or two too long. Make sure when you remove them from the brine to pat them fully dry!
- Low heat. Pork doesn’t work with high heat. Cook your thick-cut pork chops at 350 to 375 degrees F, over indirect heat, and cook no longer than 15 minutes for medium.
- Remove from heat and let rest for 5-10 minutes.
Best Chicken for BBQ
- Chicken Wings - Grilling Tip: Marinate the wings in your favorite sauce (like buffalo or teriyaki) for at least 2 hours. Grill over medium heat, turning frequently, until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. For an extra kick, brush on more sauce during the last few minutes of cooking.
You might have thought we’d say chicken breasts, but surprisingly, it’s wings or even a whole chicken that makes for the best poultry BBQ. What’s the biggest secret to grilling a juice-filled, fall-off-the-bone whole chicken? It starts with spatchcocking it.
Do you have to spatchcock a chicken for BBQ? You don't have to, but there are some benefits. First, the bird gets flattened, which cuts the cooking time in half. Second, this allows the chicken to cook evenly, preventing breast meat from drying out first before the dark meat is cooked. When you flatten a chicken, the legs and thighs will be more exposed to the heat and cook simultaneously as the breast. Third, spatchcocking makes the chicken skin incredibly browned and crispy.
- Oil your BBQ grill racks, preheat your grill and aim for temperatures between 350 and 400 degrees F.
- Place your spatchcocked chicken, skin side down on the direct heat for 10-15 minutes.
- Move the chicken to indirect heat, flip over, so the skin side is facing up.
- Cook until the breast hits 165 degrees with the thighs and legs in the 185 to 190-degree range, or for roughly an hour. Make sure to keep an eye on the chicken not to overcook it.
BBQ Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Meat
A great BBQ can double as a smoker, turns mealtime into a social occasion, is a great way to save a little extra money instead of going out to eat. To make the most of yours, keep these tips in mind:
- Preheat your grill to ensure even cooking.
- Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperatures and doneness.
- Let meat rest for 5-10 minutes after removing from the heat for better finished results.
Grilling accessories improve your BBQ game. Make sure you are equipped with the right tools for a better BBQ experience. A grill basket is especially great for veggies or delicate cuts of fish and a basting brush helps you apply marinades and sauces evenly.
Ready to upgrade your game and become a grill master? Browse our premium meats and fresh seafood today to discover the difference Wholey ingredients can make at your next BBQ!