How to Cook BBQ Rattlesnake

By: Caryn Anderson

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Although your first inclination may be to run away from a rattlesnake rather than to throw it on the barbecue, rattlesnake meat is perfectly safe, as long as it’s handled and prepared properly. Although you most likely won’t find rattlesnake fillets at your local grocery store, you can buy rattlesnake meat through several online vendors or at a "Rattlesnake Roundup," a southern festival of sorts where rattlesnake meat is often sold. After buying the meat, be sure to keep it refrigerated or frozen until you’re ready to fire up the barbecue to cook a surprisingly tasty main dish.

Step 1

Drizzle the snake meat with the oil of your choosing. You can use canola, olive, vegetable or any other cooking oil you like to use for grilling and cooking.

Step 2

Use your favorite brand of dry rub, or make your own to spice things up even more. One example involves mixing equal parts of salt, black pepper and paprika in a small or medium bowl. To that, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, granulated sugar, thyme, onion powder, garlic power, crushed juniper berries and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Step 3

Turn the grill burners on to medium, or light the coals to preheat the grill. While the grill preheats, wrap the rattlesnake pieces in aluminum foil. If you grill the meat directly on the grill grates, it will likely fall through.

Step 4

Grill the snake for roughly 15 minutes on a gas grill, or up to 45 minutes on a charcoal grill. You’ll know that the meat is done once the juices run clear and a meat thermometer inserted away from any bones reads 160 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re using barbecue sauce, baste the meat with the sauce every 10 minutes or so while you’re grilling it.