Comprehensive Research on American BBQ Tastes, Customs, Expenditure, and More
Getting locals excited about a backyard barbecue is a guaranteed hit across America. From grilled burgers to yummy brisket, it's a fantastic feast that has people returning for more. The grilling industry in the US is thriving, reaching a fantastic value of $3.28 billion!
To pay homage to National Barbecue Day on May 16, we kicked off the grill (conducted a nationwide survey and used a weighted index) to examine the core of backyard culture. From barbecuing behavior and taste inclinations to ranking states based on grill mastery and spotlighting the most BBQ-loving states – we've dug up every detail.
Here are the steamy findings:
- On average, Americans part with $89.61 per barbecue session, adding up to a whopping $1,433.76 a year.
- The American’s ideal BBQ fare: burgers (34.6%), corn on the cob (48.8%), potato salad (21.5%), with ketchup (44.5%) emerging as the preferred condiment.
- Mississippi earns the top spot as the bbq-loving state, boasting a 83.6/100 score.
- In terms of spending, North Dakota wins big, dishing out a whopping $166.70 per BBQ session, equating to a substantial $2,283.79 a year.
- Tied for #1 in self-ratedability in grill mastery, Kansas and Montana score 4.3/5, surpassing the national average of 3.5/5.
In the Kitchen: Barbecuing habits and flavor preferences
What better way to enjoy a lovely sunny day than firing up the grill? Americans are eager to amp up the heat for their barbecues, with the plans to grill 8.6 times in the upcoming months. That’s 53.7% more than the annual average (16)! And the total spend for those 8.6 times is $770.64 in summer months, or a jaw-dropping $1,433.76 a year.
When it comes to the classic barbecue meal, the winner is a juicy hamburger (34.6%). For a side, it's corn on the cob (48.8%), while potato salad (21.5%) rounds off the popular choices. And what's the big deal with barbecuing? 58% of respondents value relishing in classic BBQ cuisine, like ribs, brisket, and mac & cheese for their taste buds. Additionally, 45% believe gatherings of friends and loved ones are the superb occasion to fire up the grill.
Interestingly, 43% view a sunny day as the ultimate excuse to set the grill ablaze. Lastly, July 4th takes the cake – 64.6% deem Independence Day as the pinnacle barbecue event of the year. Take a bow to the USA for a guaranteed BBQ festivity that makes it a day to remember, with steaming hot dogs, creamy macaroni salad, and buttery corn, topped off with a dazzling fireworks display.
Showdown Showdown: The US's Most Barbecue-Obsessed States
Through polling 4,000 Americans, we cooked up a weighted index leading to the top BBQ-crazy states. This index factors in grilling occurrences, BBQ event attendance, dine-ins at BBQ eateries, and BBQ catering expenses by state.
Scoring a super-hot 83.6/100, Mississippi titles itself as the top barbecue-fixated state. Grilling an average of 19.9 times a year, they aren't letting bad weather hold them back. Convert that to total spending – they're putting in $1,627.82 a year towards their stake in barbecue. Mississippians are also Big BBQ event attendees, gracing 9.8 events a year, and drop by their chosen BBQ joints about 9.7 times per year.
One state to their left, Louisiana takes home the silver medal (77.4/100). Firing up the grill a tremendous 27.3 times yearly, they move in front of Mississippi in sheer grilling frequency. Their average BBQ spending, $105.40, equals an impressive $2,877.42 annually. Though Louisiana surpasses Mississippi in the grilling and spend department, its BBQ event attendance (4.2) and restaurant visits (5.1) are lower compared to Mississippi. Perhaps they prefer their home barbecue adventures.
(Note: American figures mentioned are calculated as per a $89.61 per barbecue session.)
South Dakota takes the lead in barbecuing, scoring 72.6 in our ranking of America's top grilling states. With 25.3 grill sessions per year, this state is no rookie when it comes to firing up the grill. Spending $65 per barbecue, South Dakota invests a total of $1,644.50 in their backyard foodie adventures. To add more flavor to their BBQ scene, they enjoy attending festivals 4.3 times a year and dining out at their favorite BBQ joints 7.8 times annually. They truly relish every bite!
In fourth place, Alabama earns a solid 70.8, while Missouri takes fifth with a score of 69.6 points.
Where's Texas (and other renowned BBQ states)?
Perhaps surprisingly, BBQ meccas like Georgia (13), Texas (17), South Carolina (20), Florida (21), North Carolina (22), Tennessee (24), and New York (29) didn't lead the pack in grilling frequency or BBQ event attendance.
On average, these seven states attend fewer than three BBQ events per year, with a maximum of seven trips to BBQ restaurants. This equates to dining out at a BBQ joint once every other month. It's clear that these states prioritize quality over quantity, suggesting their barbecuing skills are top-notch.
America's Grill Game: Who thinks they're the best?
We asked our 4,000 participants to rate their barbecue skills from "burnt" (0) to "perfection" (5) to uncover which states believe they're the most skilled grillers in the country. Check out these mouthwatering results!
Tied in first place, Kansas and Montana both achieve an impressive 4.3-star self-rated BBQ mastery score – around 81% higher than the national average of 3.5. They're not only firing up their grills but their confidence as well.
For the runner-up, New Hampshire shines with a 4.1-star barbecue skill rating. Their sparse BBQ event attendance (1.4 times a year) and restaurant visits (2.1 times a year) reveal a preference for grilling in their own backyard.
In a three-way tie for third, Alaska, DC, and Vermont all share a 4-star barbecue skill rating. Being in the bottom 3 ranking of our BBQ-loving states index, it seems these states prioritize their homemade dishes over restaurant fare.
Claiming fourth place, Colorado spends $3.9 per grill session, while Louisiana and Oregon tie for fifth, both with a 3.8-star self-approval rating.
Grill-O-Nomics: The top BBQ spenders in America
North Dakota is the king of BBQ spending, splurging $166.70 per BBQ bash! With 13.7 grilling sessions annually, they rack up an impressive total of $2,283.79 for their grilling extravaganzas. This spending is 81% higher than the national average of $1,433.76!
Second on the spending charts, California spends a hefty $110.90 per session. With 12.6 grilling sessions a year, they burn through $1,397.34 for their barbecue fix.
Third place goes to Connecticut, with a hefty $108.30 spent per session or $1,667.82 annually. Considering they barbecue 15.4 times a year, that's a whole lot of cash solely for grilling.
Fourth place is filled by Rhode Island, with a session cost of $105.90 per grill session, and Louisiana comes in at fifth with $105.40 spent per BBQ session.
Honorary Mentions: The BBQ pioneers
Here's a closer look at the states that are leading the way in barbecuing:
Summer grill champion: South Dakota will make the most of summer, cooking up an impressive 14.8 barbecues this season!
Year-round grilling guru: Louisiana reigns supreme when it comes to year-round barbecuing, grilling 27.3 times per year.
BBQ event attendance champions: With a whopping 9.8 festivals and pop-up shops under their belt, Mississippi is always on the hunt for the next BBQ event.
BBQ diner of the year: West Virginia becomes the restaurant industry's best friend as they dine out 11.2 times a year at their favorite joints.
Top BBQ spenders: North Dakota's $166.70 per barbecue session is nothing short of extravagant.
A Sizzling Conclusion
From state to state, each one has its own BBQ flavors. But one thing's certain: Americans share a deep passion for smoky, tender barbecue. Let's fire up those grills, gather our loved ones, and celebrate National Barbecue Day on May 16 in true American style!
Methodology
To determine the best BBQ states in America, we devised the following index:
- Grilling frequency: how often does each state fire up their grill in a year?
- Barbecue event attendance: how many festivals, pop-up shops, and other barbecue-related events does each state attend?
- Dining out: how many times do people from each state visit their favorite BBQ restaurants?
- Barbecue skill: we asked our 4,000 respondents to rate their barbecue skills on a scale of 0 (burnt) to 5 (perfection)
- BBQ spending: how much money each state spends on their BBQ habits
The scores for each state were calculated as follows:
- For grilling frequency and BBQ event attendance, a higher number results in a better ranking
- For dining out, we calculated the number of times per year
- For barbecue skill, respondents with higher ratings had better scores
- For BBQ spending, higher amounts of money spent resulted in better scores
In May 2024, we held a nationwide survey of 4,000 residents in the US, inquiring about their most loved BBQ dishes, year-round grill rituals, and capabilities.
To create the perfect BBQ platter, we selected the top favorites based on the following categories: meats, grilled sides, cold sides, and condiments.
Then, we formulated an index to assess various aspects that would help us identify the most BBQ-crazy states:
- Frequency of barbecuing in a year - 25%
- Number of BBQ-themed events attended annually - 25%
- Number of times they dine out at BBQ spots each year - 25%
- Typical BBQ budget - 25%
We assigned scores and rankings to each state based on their BBQ devotion.
During the process of gathering each state's grilling expertise, we requested them to assess their barbecue skills on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (stunning).
The average age of the respondents was 41.1 years old. The assorted sample comprised of 55.5% females, 42.6% males, 1.3% individuals identifying as non-binary, and 0.5% individuals specifying as transgender.
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