The South is known for many foods, from fried chicken and sweet potato pie to casseroles and fried okra. But a favorite in the South, and particularly in the Great Smoky Mountains, is juicy barbecue. Whether it’s dry-rubbed ribs or saucy pulled pork shoulder, barbecue is piled high in the restaurants of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. If you’re looking for a hearty barbecue meal in the Smokies – with heaps of mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and vegetables on the side, check out our list of where to get the best BBQ in the Smokies.
Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que | 714 Big River Rd | Gatlinburg
The hickory-smoked bar-b-que at Bennett’s is a local favorite, smoked for up to 14 hours to get the most flavor. They serve their sauces up on the side, with everything from sweet to spicy. Start off with wings, fried pickles, and stuffed mushrooms before filling up on beef brisket, bar-b-que chicken, hog legs, burnt ends, pulled pork sandwiches, baby back ribs, and more. Pair anything with spicy macaroni and cheese, potato salad, green beans, deep-fried corn, coleslaw, fries, or bar-b-que beans to make it a meal. Then finish off with home-baked cobbler, chocolate cake, or pecan pie! Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que even offers catering (for 30+), or you can get your meals to-go to enjoy back at the cabin.
Delauder’s BBQ | 680 Glades Rd | Gatlinburg
Named among the 2017 Top 100 Places to Eat by Yelp, Delauder’s BBQ serves up homemade meals with the motto “We feed people like you are family.” From the loaded baked potato and Holy Bologna sandwich (with fried bologna and barbecue) to the loaded nachos and hearty rib dinner, this local barbecue joint is all about serving food they love. They also offer catering and have teamed up with Split Rail Treats (865.325.1772) to offer goodies like chocolate crinkle and cinnamon roll cookies, coconut macaroons, and peanut butter drops.
Boss Hogg’s BBQ Shack | 1198 Wears Valley Rd | Pigeon Forge
This locally owned and operated BBQ restaurant in Pigeon Forge offers quick meals, carryout, and BBQ by the pound for feeding a group in your large group lodge. They serve up the classics – from ribs and pulled pork sandwiches to brisket and BBQ chicken – along with favorite sides like coleslaw, green beans, baked beans, and potato salad. If you want to take it back to the cabin, grab brisket by the pound, a rack of ribs, or pork by the pound.
Calhoun’s | 2532 Parkway, Pigeon Forge | 1004 Parkway, Gatlinburg
With locations in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Calhoun’s is a must-stop for many looking for barbecue in the Smokies. They have much more besides barbecue, but some barbecue favorites include hickory-smoked ribs, pork plates, and smoked chicken. How do they get their great taste? Slow smoking meats over split-seasoned hickory logs. They also have an impressive list of sides, from baked cinnamon apples, homemade mashed potatoes, and Spinach Maria to Tennessee Corn Puddin’, macaroni and cheese, and fresh veggies.
Three Jimmy’s Restaurant | 1359 E Parkway | Gatlinburg
Hickory-smoked pulled pork, smoked chicken and sausage, barbecue ribs, maple bourbon chicken, and open-faced smoked turkey are just a few of the favorites at Three Jimmy’s. They have all the classic barbecue sides, along with plenty of drinks, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, and desserts.
Buddy’s Bar-B-Q | 705 Winfield Dunn Parkway | Sevierville
Offering delivery for events and large groups, Buddy’s Bar-B-Q has everything from sandwiches to family packs. Green beans, baked beans, potato salad, slaw, corn, hushpuppies, and French fries come alongside pork and chicken barbecue sandwiches, family packs that feed 5 or 10, Hawg Back potatoes, and smoked wings.
JT Hannah’s Kitchen | 3214 Parkway | Pigeon Forge
JT Hannah’s Kitchen has burgers, steaks, sandwiches, and seafood, but they also have you covered if you’re hunting for barbecue in the Smokies. Their award-winning St. Louis spare ribs are a favorite, and you can get them served up with onion rings, a loaded baked potato, mashed potatoes, waffle-cut sweet potato fries, and more. Finish the meal with their Big Orange Soak (pound cake with caramel and mandarin oranges), Great Grandma Emm’s Outrageous Mountain Mudd Cake, Mama Laura’s Famous Strawberry Short Cake, or their Ice Cream Sandwich with warm chocolate chip cookies, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and vanilla bean ice cream.
Hungry Bear BBQ #1 | 2263 E Parkway | Gatlinburg
Hungry Bear BBQ #2 | 490 E Parkway | Gatlinburg
Locally owned and operated, Hungry Bear BBQ works to offer the freshest foods and biggest variety of sauces possible at their 2 locations in Gatlinburg.