Vermont may border Canada, but that doesn’t mean it has no barbecue experience. Searing fresh meat over the open flame is probably as old as man himself, and this is state that knows its meat. With a plethora of fresh farm meat at every turn—from free-range chicken to grass-fed Angus—the Green Mountain State knows how to barbecue. So for a juicy, fall-off-the-bone road map to some great barbecue in Vermont, check out these top-notch eateries.
You place your order at the window of one of the blue-painted school buses that have expired on the lawn. When you have paid, and the food is ready, you can use cardboard cartons to transport your haul to an outdoor table. As far as the menu, the chef has prepared slabs, or half slabs, of chicken and pork slow-smoked and dripping with goodness. The meat is fall-off-the-bone tender, and sides include a simple baked potato, a cup of beans, and/or sweet corn. If a place could ooze barbecue, this is it.
Once again food trucks prove that fresh, quality, house-made food prepared on the go can create killer combos. Featuring ribs, pulled pork, burgers, dogs, hand-cut fries, traditional sides, and caveman portions. Their barbecue sauce is homemade, and the meat is smoky and oh so fall-off-the-bone good.
Established in 2003 with their saying “We put South in Your Mouth,” Fatty’s offer seasoned meats, burgers & sandwiches are served at this unfussy barbecue spot with weekly live bands. All of the usual suspects inhabit the menu like smoked chicken, pulled pork, and beef brisket. However, the star of the show is "The Big Fatty's Challenge" featuring two pounds of pulled pork, one pound of fries, and a one-pound bun. Eat it all in one hour, and you earn a free t-shirt.
Pro Pig is well-known as one of the best beer bars in Vermont, but it is also one of the best barbecue joints. Their dinner menu includes favorites like North Carolina-style, whole hog chopped pork barbecue with two sides, pit smoked chicken with two sides, or sliced beef brisket that has been smoked for 12-hour with Texas dry rub and bacon barbecue sauce with two sides. Wow, can you say meaty?
Touting a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence last year, the Hill Grill serves hickory-smoked turkey, chicken, beef brisket, pulled pork, and ribs. Sides like coleslaw, cornbread, baked beans, roasted potatoes & root vegetables, and potato salad make you feel like you are in the deep South and picnic tables quietly dapple the lawn as the screened-in, heated deck offers refuge from the outdoors.
Established in 2014 by two carpenters with a strong love for food, Hazel’s smokes all their meat right on the premises using Applewood. This includes their smoked chicken wings, famous in Southern Vermont for a good reason. First, they are Applewood slow-smoked, and then they are deep-fried before getting topped with the house-made sauce of your choice: Buffalo, Asian, sweet barbecue, etc.