15 Retro Barbecue Foods from the ’80s That Disappeared
These long-lost barbecue staples from the 1980s once ruled the cookout but have since vanished from backyard grills.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
The ’80s brought us some unforgettable barbecue food. From strange meat mashups to questionable gelatin-based sides, these dishes were once summer staples. Here’s a blast from the smoky past featuring 15 barbecue foods that disappeared with the decade.
1. BBQ Spam Kebabs
timag on Flickr
Cubed Spam skewered with pineapple and green peppers was all the rage. It combined convenience with a hint of Hawaiian flair. Eventually, changing tastes and sodium fears pushed it off the grill.
2. Jell-O Salad Side Dishes
Josh Graciano on Flickr
No ’80s cookout was complete without a wobbly, fruit-filled Jell-O mold on the picnic table. Sometimes sweet, sometimes savory. It was a wildcard.
3. Tangy Riblets in a Bag
Alberta Studios on Pexels
Pre-cooked, vacuum-packed mini ribs became popular for their convenience. Tossed on the grill for quick caramelization, they were a weeknight BBQ hit. However, the questionable texture and processed taste eventually turned people off.
4. Saucy Cocktail Wieners
HiddenWithin on DeviantArt
Tiny hot dogs simmered in sugary BBQ sauce were a buffet classic. Served on toothpicks or skewers, they were more appetizer than main dish.
5. Cornbread Stuffed Burgers
Adam Kuban on Flickr
A Southern twist, these burgers had sweet cornbread baked right inside the patty. Innovative, sure — but they are messy and hard to grill evenly.
6. Tab-Sweetened Slaw
Jonathan Farber on Unsplash
This odd pairing featured cabbage slaw mixed with a splash of Tab soda for extra zip. It had a brief moment as a “diet” alternative to sugary sides.
7. Canned Potato Salad
SajjadF on Wikimedia Commons
Yes, it was a thing. Just pop the top and serve cold. Loved for its convenience, not its taste, it was often too vinegary or mushy. Homemade recipes eventually replaced it.
8. Bologna Steaks
PickPik
Thick-cut bologna grilled and served like a burger — this was real in the ’80s. Smoky, greasy, and oddly satisfying, it held a certain blue-collar charm. However, concerns over processed meats and better options nudged it off the menu.
9. Ranch-Flavored Corn on the Cob
Kayode Balogun on Pexels
Slathered in ranch dressing instead of butter, this was a bold twist on a classic. Some loved the zesty kick; others called it sacrilege.
10. BBQ Chicken-in-a-Pouch
Kenny Eliason on Unsplash
Foil-wrapped chicken breasts with BBQ sauce and canned pineapple, thrown on the grill. It was a low-effort crowd-pleaser for suburban families.
11. Frozen BBQ Ribs TV Dinners
Steven Labinski on Flickr
What started as a convenient way to enjoy ribs indoors lost popularity fast. The meat was often rubbery, and the sauce was overly sweet. These microwave meals never quite captured real barbecue flavor.
12. Fruit Cocktail Skewers
Silar on Wikimedia Commons
Chunks of canned fruit grilled alongside marshmallows and ham — yes, this actually happened. It tried to mix sweet and savory but ended up a soggy mess.
13. Velveeta Grilled Cheese Logs
Kitchen Life of a Navy Wife on Flickr
Velveeta melted inside white bread rolls and grilled like kebabs — gooey, rich, and very orange. They were a guilty pleasure for kids but overloaded on artificial everything.
14. BBQ Flavored Popcorn Bowls
Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels
Meant to be a snack or side, these salty bowls of BBQ-dusted popcorn were everywhere at cookouts. Flavorful but greasy, they were addictive.
15. Marshmallow Pineapple Rings
Isabelle Boucher on Flickr
Grilled pineapple topped with a toasted marshmallow in the center was a sweet way to finish a BBQ meal. It sounded tropical but ended up gooey and strange.