9 Best Sandwiches You Can Make on the BBQ

Now, barbecue isn’t just about the food, though that’s certainly a key component. No, barbecue is about so much more. It’s about the warm sun on your skin and the smoky scent in the air. It’s about the slow passage of time as you nurture the meal to perfection. It’s about the combination of nature and nurture, creating something extraordinary from the most humble of ingredients. Barbecue is an activity that allows us to slow down, take a breath, and truly connect with the world around us.

Today, we’re going to dig into the joy of creating the perfect sandwiches on the BBQ. We often overlook sandwiches as casual, perhaps even mundane. But, I am here to tell you that sandwiches, particularly when prepared on the BBQ, can be a gourmet experience. These are not just bread-meet-filling kind of affairs. These are medleys of flavors and textures, each element brought together to create a symphony of taste that resonates with the essence of leisurely living.

Without further ado, let’s step up to the grill and embark on this delectable journey…

Sandwiches

The Majestic Beef Brisket Sandwich

Our journey begins with the granddaddy of them all – the beef brisket sandwich. The secret to a perfect brisket sandwich lies in the low and slow barbecuing process, allowing the meat to absorb the smoky essence from the grill while it tenderizes to near perfection. Add to it a layer of your favorite homemade BBQ sauce, some crisp pickles, and nestle it all between two artisanal buns. This sandwich is a harmonious blend of flavors that is nothing short of a culinary symphony.

Ingredients:

• Beef brisket
• Your choice of BBQ sauce
• Pickles
• Artisanal buns

Instructions:

1. Preheat your BBQ grill for low heat.
2. Season your beef brisket with your favorite rub.
3. Grill the brisket, covered, for about 1 hour per pound, until tender.
4. Let it rest for about 10 minutes, then slice it thin.
5. Place the brisket on your buns, add a generous dollop of BBQ sauce and top with pickles.

Pulled Pork Sandwich Supreme

There’s something exceptionally comforting about a pulled pork sandwich. The succulent, slow-cooked pork, shredded to perfection, mingles with a tangy BBQ sauce that offers a delectable contrast. Rest this atop a soft, warm bun, and crown it with a tangy coleslaw for a crunchy contrast, and you have a sandwich that exudes quiet confidence and simple luxury.

Ingredients:

• Pork shoulder
• BBQ sauce
• Coleslaw
• Soft buns

Instructions:

1. Rub the pork shoulder with your choice of seasoning.
2. Preheat your grill to medium heat, place pork on the grill and cover.
3. Cook for about 5 hours until it’s tender and easily shreddable.
4. Let it rest before shredding the pork with two forks.
5. Mix the shredded pork with BBQ sauce, place it on the buns and top with coleslaw.

Club Sandwich with Sliced Grilled Chicken Breast

Next, we redefine the classic club sandwich by introducing a touch of the grill. A juicy, grilled chicken breast, thinly sliced, takes center stage, complemented by crispy bacon, ripe tomatoes, and fresh lettuce. The grilled chicken adds a smoky depth to this classic, making it a delightful choice for any BBQ lover.

Ingredients:

• Chicken breast
• Bacon
• Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Bread

Instructions:

1. Season the chicken breast and grill it over medium heat until thoroughly cooked.
2. On another part of the grill, cook your bacon until it’s crispy.
3. Toast the bread lightly on the grill.
4. Slice the grilled chicken thin, and assemble your sandwich with bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes.

Refined Burgers

Moving on, let’s not forget the quintessential BBQ staple – the burger. However, our version elevates it into the realm of luxury. Picture a thick, juicy patty made from prime cuts, cooked over the open flame, and paired with the choicest of accompaniments: aged cheddar, crispy lettuce, vine-ripened tomatoes, and perhaps a slice or two of pickles, all encased in a lightly toasted brioche bun. A decadent delight, indeed.

Ingredients:

• Ground beef
• Cheddar cheese
• Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Pickles
• Brioche buns

Instructions:

1. Shape your ground beef into patties.
2. Preheat your grill and cook your burgers to your preferred doneness.
3. Add a slice of cheddar cheese to each burger and let it melt slightly.
4. Assemble your burgers with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and place them on the brioche buns.

Pulled Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

This sandwich is a play of bold and intense flavors. The pulled chicken, with its inherent smokiness, is given a fiery twist with the addition of buffalo sauce. The assertive, spicy flavor is balanced beautifully by the rich, creamy blue cheese. This sandwich is not for the faint-hearted but for gentlemen who appreciate a culinary adventure.

Ingredients:

• Chicken breast
• Buffalo sauce
• Blue cheese
• Buns

Instructions:

1. Season and grill the chicken breast over medium heat until thoroughly cooked.
2. Let the chicken cool, then shred it using two forks.
3. Mix the shredded chicken with buffalo sauce, place it on the buns, and top with blue cheese.

Steak Sandwich with Grilled Onions, Bell Peppers, and Cheddar Cheese

A steak sandwich is pure, unadulterated luxury. Grilled to perfection, the steak’s smoky, juicy notes are enriched by sweet, caramelized onions and the slight crunch of bell peppers. The sharp cheddar cheese adds another dimension to this sandwich, making it a fulfilling meal that leaves a lasting impression.

Ingredients:

• Steak
• Onions
• Bell peppers
• Cheddar cheese
• Bread

Instructions:

1. Season your steak and grill to your preferred doneness.
2. Slice onions and bell peppers and grill them until they’re soft.
3. Slice the grilled steak thin and assemble your sandwich with onions, bell peppers, and cheddar cheese.

Pork Chop Sandwich with Grilled Apricots

This sandwich might sound unusual, but it’s a revelation in every bite. The pork chops are grilled until they’re juicy and tender. Add to this the sweetness of grilled apricots that provide a surprising but welcome contrast to the savory pork. This sandwich is a testament to the beauty of blending different flavors and textures in harmony.

Ingredients:

• Pork chops
• Apricots
• Bread

Instructions:

1. Season the pork chops and grill over medium heat until cooked through.
2. Cut apricots in half, remove the pit, and grill them until they’re soft.
3. Slice the pork chops thin and assemble your sandwich with the grilled apricots.

Chicken and Biscuit Sandwich

Our next sandwich is a nod to Southern comfort. BBQ chicken, shredded to perfection, is tucked between fluffy, warm biscuits. The biscuit’s buttery notes, combined with the smoky and tender chicken, make for a sandwich that transports you to the heart of a slow, Southern sunset.

Ingredients:

• Chicken breast
• Biscuits

Instructions:

1. Season the chicken breast and grill over medium heat until thoroughly cooked.
2. Let the chicken cool, then shred it using two forks.
3. Slice open the biscuits, fill them with the shredded chicken, and serve.

Rib Sandwich with Pickled Onions and Tomatoes

Our BBQ journey ends with a bang – the rib sandwich. Sticky, smoky, and succulent, the rib meat is the star here. But the addition of pickled onions and tomatoes brings a welcome tanginess that cuts through the richness of the meat. This sandwich encapsulates what it means to enjoy the slower pace of life, to savor every bite, and appreciate the blend of flavors and textures.

Ingredients:

• Ribs
• Pickled onions
• Tomatoes
• Bread

Instructions:

1. Season the ribs and grill over low heat for about 1 hour per pound, until tender.
2. Remove the ribs from the grill and let them rest.
3. Remove the meat from the ribs and place it on the bread.
4. Top with pickled onions and sliced tomatoes.

Remember, the best BBQ is done patiently. Enjoy the process as much as you enjoy the final result!

As we conclude this delightful journey of flavors, let’s take a moment to bask in the beautiful simplicity and sheer joy that creating and enjoying these BBQ sandwiches has brought us. We ventured through a diverse landscape of flavors and textures, each sandwich with its unique personality, echoing the sentiment of quiet confidence and the enjoyment of life’s finer things.

Like any good BBQ, it’s not solely about the food – though, of course, these sandwiches are indeed a gourmet experience. It’s equally about the time we spent, the hands-on engagement with our ingredients, the slow transformation of raw elements into a final, beautiful creation. This process is a testament to our dedication to savoring life, to relishing every moment as we do every bite.

From the smoky, tender beef brisket to the juicy burst of flavor in our grilled apricot pork chop sandwich, we’ve experienced the extraordinary power of the barbecue to elevate our culinary experiences, transforming the simple sandwich into an elegant expression of taste and refinement.

Perhaps you’ll serve these sandwiches at your next backyard gathering, paired perfectly with a glass of your favorite bourbon. Or perhaps you’ll enjoy them in the quiet solitude of a peaceful afternoon, taking the time to indulge in the slow-paced life that we gentlemen appreciate.

No matter how you choose to enjoy these sandwiches, remember that it’s not just about savoring the flavor. It’s about savoring the time and care you put into creating them. It’s about savoring the experience. And, of course, it’s about savoring the bourbon, the quiet, the leisure, and the refined enjoyment of life’s simplest pleasures.

Until our next culinary adventure together, I invite you to take these recipes, make them your own, and keep exploring the splendid world of flavors that await you. Remember, in the realm of BBQ, patience is indeed a virtue and one that rewards you with the most delightful results.

Thank you for joining me in this flavorful expedition, fellow gentlemen. Here’s to many more such journeys filled with leisure, refinement, and the quiet confidence that comes from knowing you’re savoring the very best that life has to offer.

This is JL Surjan, signing off, with a gentle reminder to always make time to enjoy the finer things in life. Until next time, cheers!

Disclosure: Our blog contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.