2024 Barbecue Trends Every Grill Master Needs to Know

No matter what time of year it is, it’s never too early (or too late) to talk trends. After all, whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter, when you’re ready to break out the barbecue, you want to know what will help you upgrade your station.

As we enter 2024, what’s new and hip in the grilling world? What do you have to look forward to when cooking your next dish? And what technology will help you keep up with the Joneses?

Grill Your Creativity

Grilling is an art form, which is why one of the biggest trends this coming year—that will also affect a lot of other trends—chefs getting creative with how they cook, what they cook, and what they use to cook.

The rise in food costs and technology enhancements are two key factors in this creativity boom. Cooks of every skill level need to make the best out of what they have. Cost-effective ingredients and recipes that may not be mainstream fuel this adventure into new culinary artistry. Some cuts of meat to focus on are pork shoulder (or Boston butt), uncured pork belly, beef chuck roast (aka the poor man’s brisket), and chuck roll.

Ultimately, with the increase in creativity, great flavors will no longer depend on skill or money.

Let’s Get Technological

How do you get better control and reliability over your cooking process? Embrace technological advancements in barbecue technologies. Wireless temperature probes and automated temperature controls are a couple of tools that will become more standard this year.

Fusing Flavors

The more our country’s immigrant population grows, the more we’ll find global flavors melting into regional flavors. This mix of exotic flavors will include Tandoori chicken burgers, bulgogi cheesesteak, or combining traditional Texas barbecue with Thai cuisine. African cuisine is also on the rise. Think beef kabobs with peanut powder, cayenne, ginger, and hot paprika, or a fruity barbecue sauce known as monkey gland sauce.

Purists might believe mixing flavors from different regions is wrong, but fusing unique flavors together is about to give your taste buds an explosion of flavors you never expected.

Plants on the Barbie

Although plant-based meats, such as the impossible burger, are on the decline (their stock dropped to $9 a share in December of last year, possibly because they are highly processed), plant-based options will continue to be the go-to health-conscious alternative.

Along with these vegan meats, cost-effective fruits and vegetables (think smoked cauliflower or grilled peaches) will also become a mainstay on the grill if nothing more than to maintain diverse, healthier menus.

Don’t Forget the Griddles and Pellets

Grilling has grown in market share over the past few years due mostly to expanding ecommerce networks and social media advertising capabilities. However, one of the hottest trends this year won’t be your everyday gas-powered barbecue grill.

The griddle’s large cart with multiple propane burners and knobs to control heat on an oversized metal plate’s growing in popularity. Unlike a traditional grill, the griddle allows you to “grill” unorthodox foods, such as eggs, bacon, pancakes, and smash burgers in the comfort of your backyard.

Pellet grills will also spread in favorability over the coming year as they enhance their technological offerings. With the power to get hot enough to sear steaks, the ability to control the heat with a smartphone, and allowing for the option of open-flame cooking, the pellet grill will see a fiery rise among grill masters.

Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em

Smokers are rising in popularity over the traditional barbecue as well, if only because it’s the best way to create the most mouth-watering barbecue ribs or brisket.

Outdoor Kitchen Love

As barbecue fever sweeps the nation, outdoor kitchens will continue to grow in popularity. Jump on the barbecue island train or expand your outdoor kitchen today with DIY BBQ’s suite of frame modules, specialty modules, and pre-designed island kits.