Disneyland’s Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue Recipes – The Wildest Restaurant in the West!

Summer is rapidly coming to an end, and that means we’ve got time for one last BBQ for the season. Of course, being the Disney fan I am, barbecue always makes me think of the long lost Big Thunder Ranch (where Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge sits today). Family-style meals served in tin buckets. How I fondly remember sipping an ice-cold lemonade in a glass mason jar while nibbling on yummy ribs, cornbread, and coleslaw – and second helpings were always encouraged! It was a place that really captured the essence of summer – sitting around the gingham covered picnic tables listening to Miss Chris and Tex playing country songs and telling corny jokes as summer winds to an end. I’m sure that many of you share my fond memories. 

Although our beloved Big Thunder Ranch is no longer with us, we can attempt to recreate some of those special memories at home. 

Let’s take a look at some taste-alike recipes for the hallmark Big Thunder Ribs, Baked Beans, Coleslaw, Cornbread, and a delicious S’Mores Bake. Plus, we’ve got a few photos to take you down memory lane for the late summer/early fall happenings at Big Thunder Ranch. 

Our thanks to the MiceChat readers for helping share some of their photos and memories with us. 

Find yourself a seat, grab plenty of napkins, and let’s get this feast started! Here’s your meal with all the fixings. 

Big Thunder Ribs

When it comes to a BBQ, there’s really no better option than making a rack of ribs. Sure, it’s a bit messy, but that’s part of the appeal. These ribs are delightfully tender with a zippy rub that gives them a punch of flavor, and you don’t even need to break out the grill for them! That rack of ribs will turn to a pile of bones in no time at all!

Big Thunder Ribs – Makes 1 4-pound rack of ribs

Citrus Roundup BBQ Rub

Ingredients:

• • • 2 1/2 tablespoons lemon pepper
    • 2 tablespoons seasoning salt
    • 2 tablespoons paprika
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon onion powder
    • 1/4 tablespoon cayenne pepper

Preparation:

• • • Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir to combine.
    • Set aside for use with ribs (or other BBQ meats!)

Big Thunder Ribs

Ingredients:

• • • 1 1/2 cups Citrus Roundup BBQ rub (recipe above)
    • 1 (4-pound) rack pork spareribs, trimmed of excess fat
    • 1/2 cup water
    • 1 cup favorite barbecue sauce

Preparation

• • • Sprinkle Citrus BBQ rub on both sides of ribs, rubbing the meat to adhere. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for eight hours or overnight.
    • Preheat oven to 350º F.
    • Place ribs in a roasting pan or on a baking sheet and pour water into pan. Cover with foil and roast for one hour.
    • Remove the pan from the oven and uncover. Pour off any excess water.
    • Evenly coat top of ribs with barbecue sauce. Return pan to oven and roast for 30 more minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and cover lightly with foil.
    • Let ribs rest for 10 minutes. Slice the ribs between each bone with a serrated knife. Serve immediately.
       

Big Thunder BBQ Baked Beans

You can’t really have a summer cookout without baked beans as far as I’m concerned. Lucky for you, these baked beans aren’t nearly as difficult to make as they taste, and they’ll have your guests asking for your secret.

Big Thunder BBQ Baked Beans – Serves 4 to 6

Big Thunder BBQ Seasoning:

Ingredients:

• • • 2 c. sugar
    • 3 T. paprika
    • 1 ½ t. chili powder
    • 1 ½ t. garlic powder
    • 1 ½ t. black pepper
    • ¼ t. cayenne pepper

Preparation:

• • • Combine ingredients, mix well, set aside.

BBQ Baked Beans:

• • • 1 can (55 oz.) Bush’s Best Vegetarian Baked Beans
    • ¼ c. Sweet Baby Ray’s Original BBQ sauce
    • ¼ c. Big Thunder BBQ Seasoning

Preparation:

• • • Combine all ingredients in medium sauce pan
    • Cover and cook on low-medium heat, stirring occasionally.
    • Cook beans until they begin to simmer or until they reach 165 F. Serve immediately.

Big Thunder Ranch Coleslaw

Now that you’ve got two of Big Thunder Ranch’s foods ready to go, all you’re missing is a touch of coleslaw to round out your meal. A satisfying crunch with zing that’s the perfect balance to your BBQ dinner.

Big Thunder Ranch Cole Slaw – Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients:

• • • 1/2 cup white-wine vinegar
    • 1/2 cup sugar
    • 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
    • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
    • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • 1/4 cup olive oil
    • 1 pound shredded green cabbage (about 1/2 large cabbage)
    • 1 pound shredded purple cabbage (about 1/2 large cabbage)
    • 2 carrots, shredded

Preparation:

• • • Combine vinegar, sugar, salt, celery seed, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne in a blender. Blend on low speed until sugar is dissolved.
    • With the blender running, slowly pour oil through the top of the lid, processing until dressing is combined. Set aside.
    • Combine shredded cabbage and shredded carrots in a separate large bowl. Add dressing, tossing to combine. Refrigerate for 2 hours, tossing occasionally, before serving.

Big Thunder Ranch Cornbread

A really good cornbread is the perfect compliment for a BBQ meal. Personally, I could eat it morning, noon, or night! While we can’t enjoy cornbread at Big Thunder Ranch anymore, once you sink your teeth into a nice chunk of this, it’ll almost be like you’re in the Happiest Place on Earth!

Big Thunder Ranch Cornbread – Makes 1 9″x13″ Loaf

Ingredients:

• • • 1 c. sugar
    • ½ vegetable oil
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 t. vanilla extract
    • 2/3 c. milk
    • 2 c. flour
    • 2 t. baking powder
    • 1/3 c. milk
    • ½ c. cornmeal

Preparation:

• • • Combine sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla extract. Mix on med/high for 2 minutes. Add 2/3 c. milk and mix until well blended.
    • Add the flour and baking powder. Mix until well blended about 4 minutes. Add 1/3 c. milk and cornmeal. Mix another 5 minutes.
    • Pour into greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 375 degrees until toothpick comes out clean about 22-28 minutes. Serve with honey butter.

Big Thunder Ranch S’Mores Bake

Finally, the perfect ending for your backyard Disneyland BBQ, the spectacular S’mores Bake.  Sadly, this dessert was only on the menu for a short time but has since become a summer staple for my family. Chef Craig Orrell created the recipe with Chef Toby Hollis at Disneyland.  Here is the original recipe first shared on the Disney Parks Blog:

Big Thunder Ranch S’Mores Bake – Serves 8

Ingredients:

• • • 1 (10.5-ounce) box fudge brownie mix
    • 1 (1-pound) bag large marshmallows
    • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons hot fudge sauce, warmed
    • 8 graham crackers

Preparation: 

• • • Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 9×13 cake pan with cooking spray. Prepare brownie batter per package directions and pour into prepared cake pan. Bake 20 to 22 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs clinging to it.
    • Turn oven to broil.
    • Place marshmallows over brownies. Leaving oven door ajar, place marshmallow-topped brownies under broiler 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until marshmallows are golden brown, watching very closely to avoid burning.
    • Drizzle hot fudge sauce over top of toasted marshmallows.
    • Take half of the graham crackers and break them into planks; crush other half of graham crackers into crumbs.
    • Sprinkle crushed graham crackers over top of toasted marshmallows, and place graham cracker planks randomly into toasted marshmallows. Serve immediately.

Big Thunder Ranch of Yesterday

Now that you’ve got the recipes for a full BBQ meal, let’s take a trip down memory lane of Big Thunder Ranch. And with the end of summer quickly approaching (there’s still another solid week before it’s time for fall!)  

The venue was flexible for all seasons; Red, white and blue in the summer, pumpkins and hay bales in the fall, and red ribbon with pine for the holidays. 

My goodness, what I would give to have a handful of these desserts today!

And of course, you can’t forget about the character meet and greets. Woody and Bullseye sure are sweethearts!

The fabulous Miss. Chris invited us to all come back and see her again . . . on the bittersweet final day of operation in January of 2016. The MiceChat crew was there for ribs and tears: