Party Catering in Chicago With Famous Dave's Legendary BBQ

It's time to celebrate, and you've got enough on your plate already. You picked the date. You found the private venue, backyard, park shelter, party room or family house that can hold everybody. You sent the invitations, chased the RSVPs, bought the decorations, figured out who's bringing the cooler, and somehow convinced your cousin not to "surprise everyone" with a karaoke machine again.

Now comes the big question: what are you going to serve?

That's where Famous Dave's brings the smoke, the sauce and the southern hospitality. If you're looking for party catering in Chicago that feeds a hungry crowd without turning your celebration into a second job, our catering team is ready to help. From bbq ribs and brisket to scratch-made sides, sweet desserts and plenty of bbq sauce, we make it easy to serve the kind of food guests remember long after the party is over.

And yes, there will be sauce. Plenty of sauce.

Your One-Stop-Shop Answer to "What's the Best Party Catering Near Me?"

If your search for bbq catering has led you here, go ahead and call it found.

Famous Dave's Chicago caters birthdays, retirement parties, holiday parties, rehearsal dinners, family reunions, backyard blowouts, graduation events, church gatherings, Fourth of July parties, office celebrations and catered events of all sizes. Whether your party is casual, dressed-up, indoors, outdoors or somewhere in between, our catering menu brings real pit-smoked flavor to the table.

This is not "grab a tray and hope it's enough" catering. Our catering team helps you think through your guest count, event date, service style, portions, dietary restrictions and the kind of food your crowd will actually get excited about. Pick-up, delivery and full service catering are all available, so your party can be as hands-on or stress free as you want it to be.

And yes, there will be sauce. Plenty of sauce.

BBQ Catering Built for Birthdays, Holidays, Reunions & Backyard Parties

Some food is fine for a meeting. Famous Dave's food is built for a celebration.

Our bbq catering brings together everything people love about a real barbecue: tender ribs, slow-smoked meat, smoky flavor, sweet bbq sauce, tangy barbecue sauce, fresh sides and that genuine hospitality that makes guests feel welcome from the first plate to the last napkin.

Popular party catering favorites include:

BBQ Ribs That Bring the Party to the Table

Our ribs are the kind of ribs people talk about before the cake even comes out. We hand-rub our St. Louis-style spareribs and back ribs with a bold spice rub and dry rub, then smoke them low and slow until they're tender, juicy and packed with flavor. Some folks like them naked. Some folks like them slathered in bbq sauce. Either way, they're made for finger-lickin' party food.

For guests who love bbq ribs, our catering menu can include St. Louis-style spareribs, baby back ribs, Southside rib tips and meaty back ribs finished with that Famous Dave's kiss of sauce. The result? Tender ribs, sweet smoke, caramelized edges and the kind of best ribs energy that gets people lining up for seconds.

Smoked Meats for Every Kind of Crowd

Not everybody wants the same plate, and that's the beauty of bbq. You can serve a little something for everybody, including Texas Beef Brisket, Georgia Chopped Pork, Barbeque Pulled Chicken, Country-Roasted Chicken, Barbeque Chicken, Hot Link Sausage, Grilled Chicken Breast and more.

Our meat is cooked with patience, smoke and a whole lot of pitmaster pride. The brisket gets a spice rub with coarse black pepper and a hint of brown sugar. The pork is smoked until it's tender. The chicken gets that sweet, smoky grill flavor. The ribs get a cook time that lets the smoke do what smoke does best.

That's a recipe for happy guests.

Scratch-Made Sides That Complete the Celebration

No bbq party is complete without the fixin's. Our side dish selections can include Wilbur Beans, Creamy Coleslaw, Potato Salad, Garlic Red-Skin Mashed Potatoes, Dave's Cheesy Mac & Cheese, Green Beans and more.

Want something sweet next to all that smoky meat? Corn Bread Muffins bring a little brown sugar-style sweetness to the plate. Want comfort food? Mac & cheese always shows up ready to win hearts. Want balance? Coleslaw, beans and potatoes round out the food in a way that feels like a real family favorite.

Desserts Worth Saving Room For

The best recipe for a great party? Feed people well and finish sweet. Famous Dave's dessert selections may include scratch-made Banana Pudding, bread pudding and other sweet options that help bring your celebration home.

Because if your guests leave full, happy and asking who catered the party, you did it right.