Summertime means a few non-negotiables: long weekends, full picnic tables, cold drinks sweating in the sun and slow-smoked BBQ made with love. Good news, the Sonny’s BBQ summer menu 2026 checks every one of those boxes and then some. Grab a napkin, (you’ll need it), and let’s dig in.
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The BBQ Bowl Is Back — and Better Than Ever
You asked. We heard you. After plenty of requests, (and a few of our own Pitmasters quietly campaigning), the BBQ Bowl has made its triumphant return to Sonny’s, starting at just $11.99.
If you’ve never had one, here’s the deal: it’s everything you love about a Sonny’s plate, stacked into one glorious, layered bowl. We’ve got three ready-to-go Pitmaster Select Bowls if you want us to do the thinking for you, or you can build your own from the ground up.
Classic BBQ Bowl
Go for this one if you just want a taste of the classics. Slow-smoked Pulled Pork piled over BBQ Beans and Mac & Cheese, then topped with creamy coleslaw, crispy onion straws, and our Sweet BBQ Sauce. It’s a Sonny’s plate in bowl form, comfort food, layered for maximum flavor in every spoonful.
Summer Brisket Bowl
This one’s the star of the season. Chopped Brisket over Dirty Rice, loaded up with BBQ Street Corn, pickled onions, crunchy BBQ Chips, and finished with our brand-new Cherry Cola BBQ Sauce. Smoky, sweet, a little tangy, with a satisfying crunch. It’s summer in a bowl, basically.
Kickin’ Chicken Bowl
For the folks who like a little heat. Crispy Chicken Tenders tossed in Buffalo sauce, sitting on a bed of Tots and Mac & Cheese, finished with crispy bacon bits and a cool drizzle of ranch. It’s indulgent, it’s a little messy and we wouldn’t change a thing.
Build Your Own Bowl
Want it your way? Same. Start with your choice of protein: Pulled Pork, Pulled Chicken, Chopped Brisket, Cherry Cola Burnt Ends, Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage, smoked Chicken, or Tenders. Then pick two bases (Dirty Rice, BBQ Beans, Mac & Cheese, or Tots), two toppings, and two sauces.
Your bowl. Your flavors. Your way. And if one protein isn’t enough? Add another for just $3. We won’t judge.
New Summer Bites Worth Saving Room For
The bowls might be the headliner, but these new menu items are stealing the show in their own right.
Cherry Cola Burnt Ends: those caramelized, candy-like ends of the pork collar, glazed in our new Cherry Cola BBQ sauce. Order them as a bowl protein or just on their own. We’re not telling you how to live.
BBQ Street Corn Dip: warm, smoky, cheesy, and made for sharing (or not). Perfect for kicking off a meal with friends.
Cherry Cobbler Egg Rolls: yes, dessert egg rolls. Crispy on the outside, warm cherry cobbler on the inside. Save room. Trust us on this one.
Two Sauces That Earn Their Place at the Table
A great bowl deserves a great sauce, and this summer we’ve got two doing the heavy lifting.
First up, the brand-new Cherry Cola BBQ Sauce. Smoky and sweet with unmistakable notes of cola and dark cherry, it’s the perfect finish for any of our slow-smoked proteins. Plus, it’s only here for a limited time, so don’t sleep on it.
Back by popular demand is the Sweet Vinegar BBQ Sauce, a sweet-and-tangy pour that Carolina-style barbecue fans are going to fall hard for. Whether you like it sweet, smoky, or tangy, there’s a sauce waiting to make your bowl yours.
Three New Seasonal Sips Made for Soaking Up the Sun
What’s a summer menu without something cold to wash it all down? This year we’re pouring three brand-new Seasonal Sips, and they’re perfectly timed for an extra-festive summer.
- Cherry Pop Lemonade: sweet, a little tart, and impossibly refreshing.
- Coconut Cabana Fizz: crisp, bubbly, and basically a beach vacation in a cup.
- Blue Razz Blast: bold, nostalgic, and the kind of blue that screams summer.
Pair one with your bowl and you’re set for the season.
Straight From the Pitmaster
We don’t put anything on the menu without our Pitmasters signing off, so we’ll let one of them have the last word.
“Summer’s the season we live for around here. It’s long weekends, full tables, and that first bite of something smoky after a day in the sun. We built this menu to taste like exactly that, laid-back, bold, and made for sharing. Bringing the Bowls back was a no-brainer; y’all have been asking, and honestly, so have we.” — Shannon Snell, Head Pitmaster, Sonny’s BBQ
See It for Yourself
Come Get a Taste
The Sonny’s BBQ summer menu is available now at locations across the Southeast — but these flavors are seasonal, so don’t wait around.
👉 Find a Sonny’s near you and check out the full Summer Menu.
A few more ways to make the most of the season:
- 🍖 Join Sonny’s Rewards: Earn points on every bowl, sip, and side. Sign up free.
- 👨🍳 Father’s Day is almost here: Skip the cooking and let us cater the cookout. Order Father’s Day catering.
- 🌊 Feast & Float: Spend your summer floating the river and feasting on BBQ at our events across Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky. See the schedule.
However you spend your summer, backyard, poolside, or somewhere down the river, there’s a saucy favorite waiting for you at Sonny’s. Smoke’s up, summer’s on. We’ll see you soon.
