There’s a point every year when you realize it’s probably too cold to stand outside next to a BBQ.
The grill gets put away. The garden furniture disappears. Dinner starts to revolve around dishes like stews, soups, and anything else that can keep you warm. It’s cozy. It’s warm. It’s what you need during winter.
Fair enough, right?
But if you still fancy ribs, pulled pork, or something with that smoky BBQ flavor, you don’t have to wait until summer.
The kitchen can do a pretty good job. Keep reading to learn how.
Just Move the Cooking Indoors
An oven is probably the easiest place to start. A grill pan or cast-iron pan works, too. Particularly for smaller cuts of meat.
Of course, you’re not going to get exactly the same results as cooking outside over charcoal. That’s part of the fun of a BBQ. But you can still get plenty of flavor by using a good rub, smoked paprika, garlic, spices, or whatever combination you normally reach for.
And there’s a definite advantage to cooking indoors when it’s freezing outside: You don’t have to keep putting on a coat just to check your dinner.
Ribs Are Made for a Slow Oven
Ribs are one of the foods that work especially well this way.
Rather than trying to cook them quickly, give them time. Season them. Put them in the oven. Let the heat do its thing. The longer cooking time helps the meat become tender, which is exactly what you want with ribs.
If you’re looking for a recipe to try, searching for Texas style beef ribs in oven will give you plenty of ideas for getting that slow-cooked BBQ feel without actually having to fire up the grill.
And it isn’t just beef ribs. Pork ribs, chicken thighs, and pulled pork could all be cooked indoors as well. Once you get into the habit of using the oven for these kinds of dishes, winter BBQ becomes a lot less complicated.
Don’t Underestimate the Sauce
A decent BBQ sauce rescues a surprisingly ordinary-looking piece of meat. That’s a fact.
You don’t need to cover everything in sauce from the beginning, though. It’s usually better to add it towards the end of cooking. Give the meat time to cook properly first. Then you just brush on the sauce and let it get sticky in the heat.
That last bit makes a major difference.
You get those darker, slightly caramelized edges without the sauce sitting in the over long enough to burn. And if you like your ribs particularly saucy, then there’s always the option of putting more on when they reach the table.
Make the Rest of the Meal Feel Like Winter
The nice thing about eating BBQ food in colder weather is that you don’t have to pretend it’s July.
Forget the usual pile of salad, especially if that’s not what you’re in the mood. You’ll want something hearty, right? So, instead, serve your ribs or chicken with baked potatoes, mac and cheese, cornbread, baked beans, or some roasted vegetables.
Something warm and filling on the side makes the whole meal feel much more appropriate for a cold evening.
To conclude, BBQ foods aren’t just for summer. You don’t need the sun or heat to have ribs, pulled pork, or chicken thighs. It is entirely possible to enjoy these foods indoors.