Your Next BBQ Needs a 'Garbage Plate' Station
During college when the weather would warm up for three whole seconds in upstate New York, my friends and I would journey out to get garbage plates. Yes, this dish looks a lot like the name suggests-opening the trash can after a backyard party-but for a certain type of person, this dish is a menagerie of summer delights. I am that person, and maybe you are too. I'd like to invite you into a world where all of your favorite BBQ foods can live together on one plate. Join me, won't you?
The Rochester garbage plate, also called a trash plate, is a point of pride for upstate New York. It's said to have originated at Nick Tahou Hots, though I don't know if anyone else is competing for the title. My friends and I would get it at a random roadside drive-in-esque situation.
A garbage plate consists of all the classic yard party favorites: a grilled cheeseburger, hot dog, or sausage nested upon some home fries (or French fries), sharing space with a mound of macaroni salad, and a scoop of baked beans. Beef chili is ladled over the top along with chopped raw onions, and a streak of yellow mustard. This combination may be horrifying for some, but others have been eating barbecue sides in this manner their whole lives.
A garbage plate grocery list: 100% Grass-Fed and Pasture-Raised Applegate Naturals Uncured Beef Hot Dogs $5.24 at Walmart $5.97 Save $0.73 Shop Now
Shop Now $5.24 at Walmart $5.97 Save $0.73 One pound of creamy macaroni salad. Market Pantry Macaroni Salad $2.99 at Target Shop Now 
Shop Now $2.99 at Target Classic straight cut shaped french fries. Ore-Ida Extra Crispy Fast Food Fries $8.24 at Walmart Shop Now 
Shop Now $8.24 at Walmart A savory chili sauce perfect for burgers and hot dogs. Texas Tailgate Chili Sauce $7.94 at Amazon 
Shop Now 
Shop Now $7.94 at Amazon SEE 1 MORE While you might not subscribe to the original version of the garbage plate (I get it, baked beans, mustard, and macaroni salad might be a tad offensive), I do believe that a garbage plate is completely open to interpretation. Even Nick Tahou Hots' order form shows a wide variety of options, including a grilled cheese or fried ham. No matter the person, there is some glorious combination of side dishes out there for everyone. Which means that hosting a build-your-own-garbage-plate station at your next cookout is a good and smart idea.
To make a great garbage plate consider the formula: a grilled protein + a salad of sorts (preferably mayonnaise-coated)+ fried or roasted potatoes + sauce. Serve up some barbecued chicken thighs, fried fish, tofu planks, or soy sauce glazed pork belly. I love macaroni salad, but you could offer a German-style potato salad instead or even coleslaw. I don't know who's going to argue with fries or roasted potatoes-they're gluten-free and vegan-so those can stay, and the sauce is up to you. The classic hot sauce" is like a spicy ground beef chili, but you could offer a vegetarian chili, or for a lighter take, I'd recommend pico de gallo or salsa verde.
If you decide to have the classic garbage plate offerings available, there's no need to stress it-you can buy almost all of the components pre-made from the deli section of your grocery store. However, if you're doing parts of it homemade, the best tip I ever took was from A.A. Newton on macaroni salad: Make sure to overcook your pasta.