U.S. Food Holidays for BBQ & Grilling | Celebrate with DDR BBQ Supply

BBQ calendar of U.S. food holidays featuring brisket day, BBQ month, and grilling season milestones.

Plan Your Grill Season Around These Delicious Celebrations

If you're serious about BBQ and backyard cooking, timing your cookouts around national food holidays is more than fun—it's strategic. This month-by-month guide includes both official and popular unofficial U.S. food holidays, with a heavy focus on the ones that celebrate grilled meats, BBQ traditions, and your favorite backyard staples.

January

National Soup Month – A warm bowl of BBQ-inspired soup is a great way to repurpose smoked brisket, pulled pork, or grilled chicken. Try using smoked meat in chili, gumbo, or a hearty BBQ stew.
National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day – January 14 – Celebrate with a pastrami sandwich layered with BBQ mustard, grilled onions, and pickles on rye. It’s a pitmaster’s winter comfort food.

February

National Pork Rind Day – Super Bowl Sunday – Celebrate one of the most snackable BBQ sides. Pork rinds are perfect for gameday, whether store-bought or homemade in your smoker with a dry rub dusting.
National Chili Day – Last Thursday in February – This is your chance to blend smoked brisket or pork into a slow-cooked chili. Add chipotle BBQ sauce or a smoky rub to deepen flavor.

March

National Meatball Day – March 9 – Perfect for BBQ meatballs glazed in your favorite sauce and grilled until caramelized. Serve as appetizers or sliders at your next cookout.
National Poultry Day – March 19 – Fire up the grill for smoked chicken thighs, whole grilled birds, or even skewered wings. Use a fruit-forward sauce like Texas Pepper Jelly Bird Bath for extra zing.

April

National Ribs Day – April 27 – The ultimate day to celebrate low-and-slow cooking. Baby backs, St. Louis-style, or beef ribs—rub them down, smoke them right, and don’t forget the sauce.
National Picnic Day – April 23 – Pack up grilled chicken sandwiches, smoked sausage bites, and tangy BBQ potato salad for a perfect outdoor lunch. Don’t forget a thermos of sweet tea.

May

National BBQ Month – It’s officially time to clean the grates and fire up your smoker. May kicks off the high BBQ season with events, competitions, and weekend warriors brushing off their brisket skills.
National Hamburger Month – Perfect time to experiment with burger rubs, custom grinds, and unique sauces. Try basting your patties with a sweet heat sauce or stuffing them with smoked cheddar.
National BBQ Day – May 16 – Celebrate all things BBQ. Smoke a brisket, try a new rub, or share your latest grill setup with friends and family.
National Brisket Day – May 28 – It’s the best excuse of the year to spend 12+ hours cooking a brisket. Use a Texas-style salt-and-pepper rub or get creative with a coffee and chipotle blend.
National Italian Beef Day – Last Saturday of May – Grill sliced chuck roast or use leftover brisket, soaked in au jus and served on hoagie rolls. Top with peppers for a Chicago-style sandwich twist.

June

National Turkey Lover's Month – A great month to try smoked turkey breast or drumsticks. Use a savory BBQ rub and baste with butter or poultry glaze for flavor-packed results.
National Steakhouse Month – Bring the steakhouse home with reverse-seared ribeyes or flame-grilled New York strips. Don’t forget compound butters and a robust steak rub.
National Jerky Day – June 12 – Make your own beef jerky in your smoker using lean cuts and your favorite rub. Low heat and patience pay off with incredible flavor.

July

National Grilling Month – The biggest grilling month of the year. Celebrate with burgers, ribs, chicken wings, sausages, and even grilled vegetables. It's the heart of BBQ season.
National Hot Dog Month – Go classic or get creative. Grill your dogs and top with pulled pork, BBQ sauce, grilled onions, or jalapeños for backyard crowd-pleasers.
National BBQ Spareribs Day – July 4 – Independence Day is the perfect time to showcase your sparerib skills. Low and slow wins the day, and a tangy glaze seals the deal.
National Hot Dog Day – Third Wednesday in July – Fire up the grill and host a build-your-own dog bar. Include spicy rubs, Carolina mustard sauce, and smoked chili toppings.
National Chicken Wing Day – July 29 – Grill or smoke wings with dry rubs or sauce finishes. Use heat zones to crisp the skin without drying out the meat.

August

National Sandwich Month – A golden opportunity to turn smoked meats into next-level sandwiches. Think brisket banh mi, pulled pork Cuban, or smoked turkey club with BBQ aioli.
National Fajita Day – August 18 – Marinate skirt steak or chicken thighs in citrus and spices, then grill over high heat. Serve with grilled peppers, onions, and warm tortillas.
National Bacon Lovers Day – August 20 – Add bacon to burgers, wrap around chicken thighs, or even smoke thick-cut bacon slabs with maple rub for a rich appetizer.

September

National Chicken Month – Highlight grilled chicken breast, wings, thighs, or whole birds. Try sweet sauces like Alabama white or fruit glazes like Bird Bath for something new.
National Cheese Pizza Day – September 5 – Cook pizza on your grill using cast iron or pizza stones. Top it with BBQ sauce and smoked meats for a twist on the classic pie.
National Cheeseburger Day – September 18 – Smash burgers, thick patties, stuffed burgers—it’s all fair game. Use beef rubs and a finishing glaze to make it something special.

October

National Pork Month – Pulled pork, pork belly burnt ends, and glazed ribs are perfect dishes for October cookouts. Pair with apple-based sauces for a seasonal twist.
National Sausage Pizza Day – October 11 – Throw a pizza stone on the grill and top it with grilled sausage, smoked veggies, and shredded cheddar for a flame-kissed finish.
National Pulled Pork Day – October 12 – Give your pork shoulder the low-and-slow treatment and let it rest in an insulated blanket for juicy, shreddable results.

November

National Sandwich Day – November 3 – BBQ leftovers make the best sandwiches. Think brisket with pickled onions, pulled pork with coleslaw, or smoked turkey and cranberry.
Thanksgiving – Fourth Thursday of November – A chance to showcase your smoked turkey or smoked ham skills. Don’t forget a meat resting blanket to lock in flavor while carving.

December

National Bacon Day – December 30 – End the year strong by wrapping bacon around shrimp, smoking thick-cut bacon for snacks, or sprinkling it on BBQ mac and cheese.
National Roast Suckling Pig Day – December 18 – For the adventurous pitmaster, this is your day to shine. Roast whole pig on a rotisserie or indirect pit setup with citrus, garlic, and smoke.

Conclusion: Plan Your Pitmaster Calendar

Whether you're a backyard griller or a low-and-slow diehard, these food holidays offer the perfect excuse to fire up your grill, try a new rub, or master a classic cut. From National BBQ Day in May to National Brisket Day to July’s full month of grilling celebrations, there’s no shortage of reasons to break out the charcoal or light the burners.

Use this guide to map out your year, stock up on essentials from DDR BBQ Supply , and celebrate each delicious milestone with full flavor. Whether you're cooking for friends, family, or just the love of it—there’s a food holiday waiting for you.

FAQs

Are these food holidays official or unofficial?

Some, like National BBQ Day, are widely recognized but unofficial. Others are federally or state acknowledged. All are fun excuses to cook.

Do people actually celebrate these holidays?

Yes! Many BBQers, restaurants, and food lovers use them as creative ways to cook, post content, and run specials.

How can I keep track of all these food holidays?

Bookmark this blog or create a printed BBQ calendar. You can also follow us on social media where we highlight these holidays throughout the year.

What’s the best way to prepare for grilling holidays?

Check your gear, stock up on rubs and sauces, and plan your cook. Visit our collections for BBQ rubs , BBQ sauces, gas grills, offset smokers, charcoal grills, and grilling accessories.

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