Everyone knows about Texas brisket, Carolina pulled pork, and Kansas City ribs, but BBQ is much bigger than just the famous American styles. Around the world—and even in the U.S.—there are incredible, underrated BBQ traditions that most people have never heard of.
Ready to expand your BBQ knowledge? Here are 10 unique BBQ styles that deserve a place on your plate!
1️⃣ Boodog (Mongolia) – BBQ Inside the Animal Itself 🐐🔥
💨 What It Is: A whole goat or marmot, cooked by stuffing hot stones inside its body.
🥩 How It’s Made:
- The animal is skinned but left whole, and its insides are removed.
- Hot rocks are placed inside, along with salt, spices, and vegetables.
- The heat from the rocks slowly cooks the meat from the inside out—like nature’s slow cooker.
- The meat is then seared on the outside for a smoky finish.
👉 Why It’s Unique: No grill, no smoker—just fire, hot stones, and centuries-old tradition.
2️⃣ Churrasco (Brazil) – BBQ on Giant Swords 🇧🇷🔥
💨 What It Is: A Brazilian BBQ tradition where skewers of beef, lamb, chicken, and sausages are roasted over open flames.
🥩 How It’s Made:
- Large cuts of meat are seasoned with salt and slow-roasted over charcoal.
- The meat is sliced tableside, giving diners freshly cut, juicy BBQ.
- It’s often served with chimichurri sauce and Brazilian cheese bread.
👉 Why It’s Unique: Churrasco is all-you-can-eat BBQ heaven, and the meat is cut straight from the skewer to your plate.
3️⃣ Barbacoa (Mexico) – Smoked Underground in Banana Leaves 🇲🇽🔥
💨 What It Is: A slow-cooked method using underground pits to roast lamb, goat, or beef.
🥩 How It’s Made:
- The meat is wrapped in banana or maguey leaves.
- It’s placed over hot stones in an underground pit.
- The pit is sealed and left to cook for 6-12 hours, creating juicy, tender meat.
- Traditionally served with tortillas and salsa.
👉 Why It’s Unique: This is the original “barbecue”—the word itself comes from “barbacoa”!
4️⃣ Lū‘au (Hawaiian Kālua Pig) – Buried BBQ Pig 🇺🇸🌺
💨 What It Is: A whole pig, slow-cooked in an underground oven (called an imu).
🥩 How It’s Made:
- The pig is seasoned with salt and wrapped in banana leaves.
- It’s buried in an earth oven, where hot stones slow-roast the meat for hours.
- The result? Super juicy, smoky, fall-apart pork.
👉 Why It’s Unique: It’s a Hawaiian feast centerpiece and is often served at celebrations & luaus.
5️⃣ Suya (Nigeria) – Spicy West African BBQ 🇳🇬🔥
💨 What It Is: Thinly sliced, skewered meats coated in a fiery spice blend.
🥩 How It’s Made:
- Meat (usually beef or chicken) is rubbed with a peanut-based spice mix (yaji).
- It’s grilled over open flames, creating a crispy, smoky crust.
- Suya is often served with onions, tomatoes, and spicy dipping sauces.
👉 Why It’s Unique: The peanut-based spice rub gives suya an earthy, nutty, spicy flavor you won’t find in other BBQ styles.
6️⃣ Lechón (Philippines & Puerto Rico) – Whole Roast Pig on a Spit 🇵🇭🇵🇷🔥
💨 What It Is: A whole pig, spit-roasted over an open fire until the skin is crispy.
🥩 How It’s Made:
- The pig is stuffed with lemongrass, garlic, and herbs.
- It’s slowly turned on a spit over hot coals for several hours.
- The skin turns golden brown and crispy, while the meat stays tender and juicy.
👉 Why It’s Unique: Crispy skin + juicy pork = the ultimate BBQ texture combo.
7️⃣ Asado (Argentina) – The Art of Fire-Grilled Meat 🇦🇷🔥
💨 What It Is: A social event as much as a BBQ technique, where whole lambs, ribs, and sausages are slowly cooked over an open flame.
🥩 How It’s Made:
- Meat is placed on metal crosses and slow-cooked near wood embers.
- The fire is controlled carefully to ensure even cooking.
- It’s often served with chimichurri sauce.
👉 Why It’s Unique: No rubs, no sauces—just high-quality meat, fire, and time.
8️⃣ Char Siu (China) – Cantonese Sweet & Sticky BBQ 🇨🇳🔥
💨 What It Is: Pork ribs or belly coated in a sweet, sticky glaze and roasted.
🥩 How It’s Made:
- Pork is marinated in soy sauce, honey, hoisin, and five-spice powder.
- It’s slow-roasted over an open flame or in a special oven.
- The result? Tender, caramelized pork with a deep red color.
👉 Why It’s Unique: The sweet & salty glaze gives char siu its signature Asian BBQ taste.
9️⃣ Mongolian Khorkhog – BBQ in a Milk Can 🇲🇳🔥
💨 What It Is: A unique nomadic BBQ method where meat is cooked inside a sealed metal can with hot stones.
🥩 How It’s Made:
- Meat (often goat or lamb) is placed inside a large metal container.
- Hot stones are added inside, and the can is sealed.
- The heat from the stones slowly cooks the meat, creating a rich, smoky flavor.
👉 Why It’s Unique: It’s BBQ cooked by hot rocks inside a can—no grill or smoker needed!
🔟 South African Braai – The Social BBQ 🇿🇦🔥
💨 What It Is: A BBQ feast that’s also a cultural event, using wood-fired grills.
🥩 How It’s Made:
- A variety of meats (beef, lamb, chicken, and sausage) are grilled over open flames.
- South Africans use wood fires, not charcoal or gas, for a unique smoky flavor.
- It’s often paired with pap (cornmeal porridge) and spicy sauces.
👉 Why It’s Unique: A braai isn’t just BBQ—it’s a party, a gathering, and a way of life.
🔥 Final Thoughts: BBQ Is Everywhere!
From underground pits to hot stone cooking, BBQ styles around the world are wildly different—but they all share one thing: the love of fire-kissed, smoky, delicious meat.
🤔 Which of These Unique BBQ Styles Would You Try First?
Drop your answer in the comments! 🔥🥩👇