A Slow Smoked Guide to BBQ in Blue Ridge

Here in Blue Ridge, BBQ is a staple of mountain gatherings and slow living. Cookouts after fishing trips, family reunions, lake days, long hikes, or Saturdays spent cheering on your favorite football team all seem to end the same way—around a table filled with good food and good company.

From longtime local institutions and hidden gems to newer smokehouses putting their own spin on Southern traditions, you'll find plenty of places to satisfy your barbecue cravings throughout Blue Ridge and the surrounding mountain communities.

Carroll's Barbeque

Carroll's has been a local favorite for generations. Their standout menu items is the Tater Hill, a hearty skillet loaded with potatoes, barbecue, mac and cheese, and baked beans for the ultimate Southern comfort meal.

Pink Pig

Cherry Log’s famous restaurant started as a country store and grist mill in the 1950s before becoming a beloved regional BBQ stop. They’ve earned a loyal following for their fried green tomatoes and brisket nacho’s.

Stateline BBQ

A favorite in McCaysville-Copperhill known for slow-smoked meats, generous portions, and its unique location on the Georgia-Tennessee state line.

plate of bbq with assorted meats and side dishes and bbq sauces

Jim's Smokin' Que

Located in nearby Blairsville, Jim’s is known for its championship-caliber barbecue and expertly smoked meats. Fan favorites include the tender brisket and homemade banana pudding.

Blue Ridge Mountain B-B-Q

A cozy stop with crowd pleasers including corn nuggets, crispy tater tots, and sandwiches stacked high with smoky brisket.

refrigerated case of meats available at a meat market, sausage, bacon, steaks

Carlisle's Meat Market

In Blue Ridge, barbecue culture extends far beyond the smokehouse. Local meat markets and mountain stores are part of the experience, supplying cabin weekends, family cookouts, and long afternoons around the smoker. Here’s where to shop:

Carlisle's Meat Market

One-stop-shop for hand-cut meats, premium pork, wet-aged beef, gourmet sausages like blackberry bourbon chipotle sausage, and barbecue-ready favorites including homemade sausage buttermilk biscuits.

Mountain Butcher

Your go-to stop for their fine selection of Wagyu beef, gourmet burgers, fresh seafood, hand-cut steaks, and specialty meats. Mountain Butcher also makes it easy to bring a full mountain cookout back to the cabin with ready-made St. Louis ribs, fresh pasta salads, fruit salads, and rich cheesecakes.

Inspired to bring the barbecue back to the cabin? Start your search here for the perfect Blue Ridge getaway, complete with a mountain-view porch and grill for your own slow-smoked feast.

From slow-smoked brisket and pulled pork to Brunswick stew and backyard cookouts, barbecue has become part of the rhythm of life in Blue Ridge. It's a tradition rooted in gathering—bringing friends and family together around good food, live music, and time well spent outdoors. That spirit comes to life each September at the Blue Ridge Blues & BBQ Festival, one of the community's signature annual events. The festival brings together award-winning barbecue from over 20 food trucks, live blues music, local vendors, and family-friendly activities for a weekend-long celebration. With smoky aromas drifting through downtown and music filling the mountain air, it's a fitting tribute to the flavors, traditions, and sense of community that make barbecue such a beloved part of the Blue Ridge experience.