The Ultimate Memorial Day BBQ Guide — The BBQ Boost Way

Memorial Day weekend is the biggest BBQ weekend of the year. The smokers come out.
The neighborhoods fill with the smell of wood smoke. And every backyard pitmaster in
America is trying to outdo their neighbor.
This year — we’re giving you the ultimate Memorial Day BBQ guide. Not from
professionals. From two normal guys from Knoxville Tennessee who found something
that completely changed their BBQ forever.
This is The BBQ Boost way.

Why Memorial Day BBQ Hits Different


There’s something about Memorial Day weekend that makes BBQ taste better. Maybe
it’s the warm weather. Maybe it’s the cold drinks. Maybe it’s the fact that everyone is
relaxed and happy and gathered together for the first time since last summer.
Whatever it is — Memorial Day BBQ is sacred. And this year we’re helping you make it
unforgettable.

The Memorial Day BBQ Checklist

Before you fire up the smoker make sure you have everything you need:

The Essentials

  • Smoker or Grill- cleaned and ready
  • Wood chunks or Pellets - oak or hickory
  • Meat Thermometer - nonnegotiable 
  • Butcher paper or foil - for wrapping
  • Cutting board - big enough for a full brisket
  • Sharp slicing knife
  • Smoky Mountain Spread 0 all 8 Flavors 

The Meat

  • Full packer brisket - the showstopper
  • Spare ribs or baby back ribs
  • Pork butt for pulled pork
  • Chicken thighs - crowed pleaser
  • Sausage links - easy and delicious

The Sides

  • Coleslaw
  • Baked beans
  • Corn on the cob
  • Mac n Cheese (My favorite)
  • Potato Salad

The Memorial Day BBQ Timeline

The biggest mistake backyard pitmasters make on Memorial Day is starting too late. Here's your complete timeline:

Friday Night - Prep Day

  • Trim your brisket
  • Apply Binders
  • Apply your rub generously
  • Wrap and refrigerate overnight
  • Pull ribs from freezer to thaw

Saturday - Practice Cook

  • Season ribs with rub
  • Prep pulled pork
  • Prep all sides

Monday - Memorial Day

Midnight - Put Brisket on smoker

6 AM - Check brisket - spritz if needed

8 AM - Put pork butt on smoker

10 AM - Put ribs on smoker

12 PM - Check everything - wrap brisket if needed

4 PM - Pull brisket - rest in cooler

6 PM - Pull everything - Slice and serve 

Memorial Day BBQ Tips From Two Normal Guys

We’re not professionals. We don’t have culinary degrees. But after years of backyard
BBQ and developing 8 bold pepper spreads specifically for the smoker — here’s what we
know:

Start earlier than you think

Brisket takes 12-16 hours. If your guests arrive at 6 PM
your brisket needs to go on at midnight or earlier.

Don’t lift the lid.

Every time you open your smoker you lose 15-20 minutes of cook
time. Trust the process. Let the smoke do its thing.

The stall is normal.

When your brisket hits 150-160°F internal temperature it will stop
rising for hours. This is called the stall. Don’t panic. Wrap it in butcher paper and keep
going.

Rest your meat.

The rest is not optional. After you pull your brisket off the smoker —
wrap it in butcher paper and put it in a cooler for at least an hour. The juices redistribute
and the result is dramatically better.

The Memorial Day BBQ Playlist

Every great BBQ needs great music. Our Memorial Day playlist:

  • Old Dominion - Break Up With Him
  • Luke Combs - Beer Never Broke My Heart
  • Morgan Wallen - Last Night
  • Zach Brown Band - Chicken Fried
  • Eric Church - Springsteen
  • Kenny Chesney - Beer in Mexico
  • Chris Stapleton - Tennessee Whiskey

What to Drink While You Wait

16 hours is a long time. Here’s what we recommend:

Morning: Coffee — strong Mid morning: More coffee Noon: First cold beer — you’ve
earned it Afternoon: Cold beer and good company Evening: Whatever makes you
happy

The Pre-Sale Drops Memorial Day Weekend

Speaking of Memorial Day — we have big news.

Smoky Mountain Spread is officially launching its pre-sale this Memorial Day weekend.

For the first time ever you can order all 8 bold pepper spreads — Peach Habanero,
Classic Jalapeño, Garlic Pepper, Jalapeño Apple, Jalapeño Blackberry, Habanero
Raspberry, Red Hot and Mild Pepper — and have them shipped directly to your door on
June 12th.

Sign up at smokymountainspread.com before Memorial Day and get 10% off your presale
order with code LAUNCHDAY26.

This is The BBQ Boost. And your Memorial Day BBQ will never be the same. 

Happy Memorial Day from Smoky Mountain Spread

To every pitmaster firing up their smoker this Memorial Day weekend — we salute you.

Not because you’re professionals. But because you show up every weekend and pour
your heart into feeding the people you love.

That’s what BBQ is really about.

And that’s why we built Smoky Mountain Spread.

For you. 

Pre-sale starts Memorial Day weekend at smokymountainspread.com Use code
LAUNCHDAY26 for 10% off Ships June 12th

 

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