Different Styles of Barbecue | Texas Barbecue

Styles of barbecue in Texas are as varied as the landscape and the people. From the sweet piney woods of deep east Texas to the hot, spicy desert winds of Big Bend country – Texans love to barbecue at home!

Central Texas Style

Of all of the styles of barbecue found across Texas, most Texans would agree that Central Texas Style is the heart of Texas barbecue.  Unlike other regions of Texas that usually barbecue at home, Central Texas barbecue originated in the meat markets of the German and Czech settlers who dominate the Hill Country.  When you go out for Central Texas barbecue, you can expect it to be served on butcher paper and sold by the pound.  This style’s meat market history is most likely the reason why side dishes are almost an afterthought here.  If you ask what comes on the side, the answer will quite possibly be “the sauce”.

East Texas Style

East Texas includes two of the larger cities in Texas, with Houston on the Gulf Coast to the south and Dallas close to the line between East and Central Texas. It also includes many lakes and forests.  The folks in East Texas love to barbecue at home. The different styles of barbecue found in Texas are often influenced by the geography of the region, and East Texas barbecue is no exception. The meat here is slowly smoked with wood from local oak and pecan trees, on a barrel-style pit.  The sauce is tomato-based, a tad bit sweeter than in other regions of Texas, and as thick as the piney woods of Deep East Texas.

West and South Texas Style

The west and south regions of Texas are hot and dry, with a culture that has been shaped by their neighbors in Mexico.  While most styles of barbecue in the United States rely heavily on the sauce for distinction, these regions of Texas are better known for their methods of cooking.  The most common methods here are cowboy-style, which is primarily defined by the mesquite wood used to smoke the meat, or the Mexican influenced barbacoa.

Regardless of the region, the main styles of barbecue in Texas have two things in common.  First, the sauce…it tends to have a bit more spice and a little less sugar than sauces found in other parts of the country.  And second, while brisket may be considered king, it’s usually served with a side of ribs. Tony Roma’s Original baby Back Ribs is a great way to bring the taste of Texas barbecue to your kitchen.

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