In the Black community, a summer cookout isn't just a meal – it's a cultural experience. From the smoky aroma of the grill to the sound of laughter and old-school jams playing in the background, it’s all about good food and even better company! Here are our best backyard cookout recipe ideas for summer 2025 to help you bring the flavor and keep the tradition going strong.

darrin and marrekus standing in front a bbq grill laughing and shaking hands

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A cookout is a time for family, best friends, and neighbors to come together, celebrate life, and enjoy some soul food and Southern barbecue dishes straight from the grill. I'm talking ribs, fried fish, mac and cheese, and peach cobbler! Oh, and don't forget the music, dancing, and outdoor games (card games, dominos, lawn games, etc.). It's all the way live, basically an outdoor party.

Birthdays, family reunions, and holidays like Father's Day, Juneteenth, 4th of July, Labor Day, or Memorial Day is the perfect time to throw a backyard cookout. Really any time is a great time to enjoy good food and good people!

So, grab a friend, put on some music, break out the fire pit, and let's get it going.

What's the difference between a cookout and a backyard barbecue?

The word "cookout" and "barbecue" are often used interchangeably, but there are differences between them:

Cookout: A cookout typically refers to an outdoor event where food is cooked and served outdoors, often in a casual setting. It can involve grilling hot dogs and burgers, but it's not limited to just grilling. Cookouts may involve a variety of cooking methods such as barbecuing, smoking, or even cooking food inside to be eaten outdoors (think mac and cheese, pasta salad, or potato salad). The term "cookout" is more inclusive.
Barbecue: A barbecue specifically refers to a gathering where the primary method of cooking food is through grilling, typically on a barbecue grill or smoker. While a cookout can involve various cooking methods, a BBQ focuses specifically on grilling food in the backyard or outdoor space.

Black Cookout Recipes

Invited to the cookout? You don't want to come empty handed! Here is a roundup of our favorite recipes (main course, side dishes, salads, drinks, and desserts), and easy BBQ ideas.

Main Dishes

slab of easy smoked st louis style ribs, bbq sauce and potato salad ona cutting board

Easy Smoked St. Louis Style Ribs Recipe (Spare Ribs)

St. Louis-style ribs are seasoned with a dry rub and cooked low and slow on the smoker until they are tender and juicy, then slathered in a homemade BBQ sauce.

smoked brisket sliced on a wooden cutting board with a knife

How to Smoke a Brisket on a Pellet Grill (Texas Style)

This beef brisket cooked to perfection on a pellet smoker has the best bark, tender texture, and a smoky flavor!

smoked pulled pork on peach butcher paper

Best Smoked Pulled Pork Recipe

This Smoked BBQ Pulled Pork recipe features tender pork shoulder cooked with cherry wood and doused in flavorful mop sauce. Pile smoked BBQ pulled pork high on sandwich buns and top with your favorite coleslaw!

taking internal temperature of grilled chicken quarters

Easy Grilled Barbecue Chicken Quarters Recipe

Barbecued chicken leg quarters paired with a homemade Alabama white sauce recipe is the perfect bbq chicken recipe for grilling season.

Dino Beef Ribs Recipe

Sink your teeth into these colossal, slow-smoked beef dino ribs! Tender, smoky, and fall-off-the-bone delicious, this beef plate rib recipe is a must-try for barbecue lovers.

smash burgers covered with cheese on a blackstone

Easy Blackstone Smash Burger Recipe

Our Blackstone smash burgers are cooked on a hot flat top griddle and have perfectly crispy, caramelized edges. These flavorful burgers are served on buttered buns with caramelized onions.

How to Grill the Best, Juicy Pork Chops (Easy Recipe!)

Learn how to grill juicy pork chops with this easy recipe. These thick cut pork chops are seasoned with a simple dry rub, grilled until extra tender.

square aluminum pan with porkbelly burnt ends

Smoked Pork Belly Burnt Ends Recipe

This Smoked Pork Belly Burnt Ends recipe features tender, juicy pork belly, cut into cubes and seasoned to perfection. They’re smoked low and slow until infused with that irresistible smoky flavor. Then, glazed, and caramelized to create a mouthwatering combination of sweet, savory, and smoky flavors.

Rib Tips

Experience Memphis barbecue with our succulent and tender smoked rib tips! Served with white bread and pickles, it's a simple yet delicious combination that captures the authentic flavors of this Southern dish.

smoked spatchcocked chicken with crispy skin

Smoked Spatchcock Chicken (With Extra Crispy Skin!)

Our smoked spatchcock chicken is cooked on the pellet smoker. It has extra crispy skin and delicious flavor from the wood smoke!

Crispy Smoked Chicken Wings on the Pellet Grill

These smoked chicken wings on the pellet grill are perfect for your next game day or cookout! They're brined and smoked, and have crispy skin with smoky flavor. Be sure to also check out our smoked and fried wings recipe if you like extra crunch!

peri peri chicken on a plate with rice and grilled vegetables.

BBQ Peri Peri Chicken Recipe (Better Than Nando’s)

This Peri Peri Barbeque Chicken recipe features juicy, flavorful chicken marinated in a tangy sauce made with fresh chilies, herbs, and lemon.

Southern Fried Catfish Recipe

Our crispy and delicious Southern fried fish is made using catfish filets and our popular fish fry seasoning. It goes great with soul food spaghetti, coleslaw, hot sauce, and a slice of white bread for a good ol' Southern soul food fish fry!

Smoked Bologna

A smoked bologna recipe featuring whole bologna chub seasoned with dry rub and smothered in barbecue sauce.

smoked beef short ribs on a cutting board

Smoked Beef Short Ribs Recipe

These Smoked Short Ribs are melt-in-your-mouth tender. The flavorful crust and rich and beefy succulent taste make it the perfect primal dish!

Smoked Party Ribs Recipe

These party ribs are cooked on the smoker, low and slow, and tossed in a rich barbecue sauce! They're perfect for your next get together, game day party, or backyard cookout.

best smoked beer can chicken on the grill with a thermometer in it

Best Smoked Beer Can Chicken Recipe

This hickory smoked beer can chicken is a flavorful and juicy dish where a whole chicken is cooked upright on a beer can in a smoker.

easy smoked beef back ribs on peach butcher paper with pickles and pickled red onions and bread

Easy Smoked Beef Rib (Back Ribs) Recipe

A delicious smoked beef rib back ribs recipe featuring a simple spice blend and BBQ sauce. They are smoky and fall off-the-bone tender.

Baked Beans with Hamburger Meat

Flavorful baked beans with hamburger meat is a classic barbecue side dish that's as convenient as it is delicious.

Soul Food Mac and Cheese

Indulge in this baked Southern mac and cheese featuring cheddar, Monterey jack, and mozzarella.

bowl of sting beans and potatoes with smoked turkey

String Beans and Potatoes Recipe with Smoked Turkey

Fresh green beans and red potatoes are simmered on the stove top in a rich and flavorful broth with smoked turkey, onion, garlic, and seasonings.

Smoked Chicken Salad Recipe

This easy smoked chicken salad is full of flavor and perfect for lunch, dinner, or a snack. Try it on crackers, croissants, or in a sandwich.

Southern Potato Salad

A black Southern potato salad recipe with the best creamy texture and tangy flavor, featuring ingredients like dill pickle relish, mustard, hard-boiled eggs, and seasonings.

bowl of salad supreme pasta salad with a wooden spoon in it

Salad Supreme Pasta Salad Recipe

Our Salad Supreme Pasta Salad recipe is made with zesty Italian dressing, tomato, bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, pepperoni, cheddar cheese, and a homemade seasoning blend.

dipping a tortilla chip into the best smoked queso (texas cheese dip)

The Best Smoked Queso Recipe (Texas Cheese Dip)

This smoked queso recipe is cooked on the pellet grill with Velveeta cheese, gouda, Rotel tomatoes, onions, and jalapeño! We also added chopped barbecue beef rib meat for added delicious smoky flavor. This easy smoked queso recipe is the ultimate party dip!

Memphis BBQ Sauce

This Memphis BBQ sauce is tangy, slightly sweet, and packed with bold, smoky flavor. Perfect for ribs, pulled pork, and more!

bowl of sweet and spicy bbq sauce with a spoon in it

Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce Recipe

This easy homemade barbecue sauce is the perfect balance of sweet and heat. It goes great with pork belly burnt ends, chicken sandwiches, smoked ribs, and more!

jar of peach bbq sauce with a gold spoon in it

Peach Barbecue Sauce Recipe

Our Southern peach barbecue sauce is made with fresh peaches, and a base of tomato, vinegar, brown sugar, molasses, garlic, onion and various seasonings. Perfect for grilled chicken, pork, and ribs!

drizzling alabama white sauce into a jar

How to Make Alabama White Sauce (BBQ Sauce Recipe)

This Alabama white BBQ sauce recipe is a Southern favorite! It has a mayo base, and features apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and seasonings.

Berry Hibiscus Lemonade

Inspired by the cultural significance of the iconic "red drink" in the Black community, this refreshing twist on a classic recipe offers a delightful blend of nostalgia and freshness, making it a perfect addition to any springtime gathering.

bowl of southern banana pudding with chessman cookies

Southern Banana Pudding Recipe with Chessman Cookies

Our simple banana pudding recipe is a classic Southern dessert made with Chessmen cookies, condensed milk, and instant pudding mix.

Peach Cobbler with Canned Peaches

Black folks peach cobbler made with canned peaches and store bought pie crust is a classic soul food dessert recipe!

slice of 7-up pound cake on a white plate with cake on a stand in the background

Old Fashioned 7-Up Cake Recipe

An old-fashioned 7 Up cake pound cake recipe made in a Bundt pan and drizzled with lemon lime soda glaze. It's super moist, easy to make, with a subtle lemon lime flavor.

Southern Blackberry Cobbler

Delicious Southern blackberry cobbler featuring a golden brown buttery crust and made with frozen blackberries so you can enjoy it any time of year.

Strawberry Sugar Cookies Recipe

These nostalgic strawberry sugar cookies are sweet and chewy, with strawberry flavor and a pink hue. Simple to make using basic ingredients.

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