The BBQ Blog

What do Tony Roma’s ribs have to do with football season? We’re surprised you even have to ask! Tony Roma’s ribs make for some of the easiest, most delicious tailgating experiences you could want. Want to make it even easier? Try some of these tailgating hacks, and you’re sure to have a good time.

• Plan ahead! Keep a toolbox with tailgating supplies in your trunk at all times. That way you’ll always be prepared. When game time is coming up, make sure to marinate your meat the night before. (Of course, if you’re using pre-cooked Tony Roma’s ribs, you can skip this step!) You can also pat out burgers ahead of time and pack them between sheets of wax paper, and slice and pack your burger toppings. On game day, show up 4 hours early, so you’ll be ready for fun.
• Be sure to pack these essentials. Bring two coolers to your tailgate – one for drinks and one for keeping your meats chilled. Paper towels, wet naps, paper plates and plastic ware will also make your get together easier and more fun.
• Bring along your grill! Obviously, you’re not lugging your full-sized grill to the game, but have you heard about GoBQ Grills? Lightweight and compact, these grills can fit in a backpack, yet deliver all the barbecue fun of a big grill. Don’t forget your grilling tools and plenty of propane or charcoal too!
• Plan a menu that’s easy to prepare and easy to eat. Make a loaf of sandwiches for people to pull apart and eat at their own pace with this recipe for a Grilled Ham and Cheese Pull Apart Sandwich Loaf. Finger foods are a great choice – it allows guests to hold a cool beverage in one hand and your tasty food in the other! Want to make it even easier? Bring Tony Roma’s ribs. They just need to be heated, not cooked, which makes serving up perfectly delicious barbecue a much simpler affair.
• Don’t forget to hydrate. Keep plenty of cool beverages on hand, including water. One great tip is to freeze bottles of water the night before; they’ll keep other cold items cool and, as they melt, they’ll become the perfect refreshing drink.
• Plan for “after.” Bring a large plastic bin with a lid to carry home dirty dishes and a metal container for still-hot coals. Use an empty laundry detergent bottle and two gallons of water to set up a convenient handwashing station. And, while it may seem a pessimistic preparation, don’t forget your jumper cables!

Whether you’re tailgating or barbecuing at home, Tony Roma’s ribs make it easy to have restaurant quality barbecue any time you’re in the mood. To find Tony Roma’s ribs at a grocery store near you, visit the store locator on our website. To connect with the online community, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and check out our mouthwatering Pinterest boards.

Tony Roma’s ribs have been your friend this summer. When lazy days turned into savory nights, this mouthwatering barbecue satisfied your taste buds on hot summer evenings. Why stop now? The end of summer may have come too quickly, but it doesn’t have to mean the end of succulent barbecue. With Tony Roma’s ribs, back-to-school dinners are a snap, and your busy school nights are easier and more delicious.

• Your nights are about to become hectic, but that doesn’t mean weeknight dinners have to be boring. Use Tony Roma’s ribs in fun recipes or pair them with side dishes that even the pickiest eaters will love.

o   Skewers are easy when you make them with Tony Roma’s ribs. As an added bonus, vegetables are more fun to eat when kids can pull them off a stick with their teeth!

o   Does your family love Taco Tuesday? Expectations may be forever changed when you raise the bar by serving these Sweet Spicy Pulled Pork Tacos with Grilled Pinapple Salsa.

o   Is there anything better than a good grilled cheese? How about a Grilled Onion Barbecue Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese? You may not want to have to say it three times fast, but you’ll love serving it to your appreciative family.

o   If you’ve got adventurous eaters in your house, try this recipe for Sweet Hickory Pulled Pork Stuffed Peppers. The best news about this recipe is how easy it is to prepare: only 4 ingredients!

o   Get your leafy greens with these Boneless Ribs Lettuce Wraps. Not only are they healthy and delicious, they’re also easy and fun to eat!

• Gluten free? No problem! You can still enjoy Tony Roma’s barbecue, which now comes in gluten free varieties.
• Tony Roma’s ribs and pulled pork can even make school lunches easier. Are boneless ribs too messy to put in the lunch box? Consider some pulled pork sliders to bring the great taste of barbecue to the school cafeteria.

No matter how busy your school nights may be, Tony Roma makes dinner easier with ribs and pulled pork or chicken. They’re so mouthwatering that they’ll make any meal a fun family affair. To find Tony Roma’s ribs at a grocery store near you, visit the store locator on our website. To connect with the online community, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and check out our mouthwatering Pinterest boards.

Ah, the milestones you enjoy with your baby: first steps, first words, first tooth and first Tony Roma’s ribs. What’s that you say? You weren’t aware that Tony Roma’s ribs are appropriate for the little ones? We say the perfect time to introduce the first barbecued ribs is sometime shortly after the first tooth! Tony Roma’s ribs are pre-cooked and even come in a boneless variety, perfect for every member of the family.

Ok, well, maybe we’re exaggerating a little bit. In reality, pediatricians generally recommend waiting until about six months of age to introduce meat, and at that point, it really should be bland and pureed. At about eight to ten months, though, it’s on! At that age, babies can start having little tastes of tender meat, and Tony Roma’s ribs are so moist and tender that we’re sure they fit the bill. Here are a few things to consider, however:

• The sauce. Initially, you might want to introduce rib bits to your little one with the sauce mostly wiped off, as babies sometimes respond negatively to strong flavors. While Tony Roma’s ribs are not too spicy, they are certainly flavorful, which is why you’ve probably noticed your baby drooling over them during his eight-month wait to be allowed to try them. If you think your baby can handle the sauce, we offer only three words of advice: remember the bib!
• The bones. We’ve mentioned that there’s a boneless variety, but some parents do prefer to give their babies the ribs right on the bones. Again, it’s all about what your little one can handle, but gnawing on the bone might feel good for teething gums. Of course, you’ll want to watch out for choking or gagging by overenthusiastic bone gnawers.
• The pieces. In truth, the best way to feed ribs to a small child is probably to pull it off the bone and shred it. That way, the baby can finger feed himself with the tiny, tender pieces of meat, and you won’t have to be concerned about choking.
• The clean up. Bib or no bib, after-dinner clean up can be brutal. Be ready with a warm washcloth for baby and full cleaning regalia for the high chair, table and floor. If you have a dog, this can really speed the post-baby-dinner floor cleaning.

Whenever you decide to introduce your little folk to Tony Roma’s ribs, we’re sure they’ll enjoy them immensely. Tony Roma’s ribs are succulent, flavorful and so easy to prepare that you’ll enjoy the experience as well! To find out where to buy Tony Roma’s ribs, visit the store locator on our website. To connect with the online community, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or join our community of BBQ lovers on Pinterest.