Crittles Backyard BBQ: Slow-Smoked Home BBQ in Murrieta
Some food refuses to be rushed, and smoked BBQ tops that list. A juicy rib or a brisket that slices without a fight takes hours of gentle smoke, patience, and someone willing to watch the fire. In Murrieta, that patience has a name: Crittles Backyard BBQ, a family-run business that makes home-style barbecue and sells it straight from their kitchen.
If you are searching for home BBQ in Murrieta, or you just want something better than the usual chain, this Riverside County home kitchen deserves a spot on your list. Here is who they are, what they cook, and how to place an order.
What Is Crittles Backyard BBQ?
Crittles Backyard BBQ is a family business in Murrieta that specializes in home-style barbecue. Their meats are smoked slowly, which is where the juicy ribs, the brisket, and other classic BBQ specialties come from, the kind many people crave and few find made with this much care.
It is a Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO), meaning a home kitchen permitted by Riverside County to prepare and sell food from a residence. Their permit number appears on the business listing on cual.co, alongside the phone number, hours, and Murrieta location. This is not a restaurant or a food truck. It is a family cooking in their own home and opening the door to their neighbors.
The name says it all. "Backyard" brings to mind the patio where, in a lot of families, Sunday barbecue begins: smoke rising, music playing, and one person who never leaves the smoker. That is the spirit Crittles brings to your table, minus the part where you have to light the fire yourself.
The Menu
Smoked BBQ has its classics, and Crittles Backyard BBQ works the ones people crave most.
Juicy Ribs
Ribs are one of the house specialties. When a rib is smoked slowly, the meat softens and pulls away from the bone without losing its juices. That texture cannot be hurried, and it is exactly what separates real home-smoked barbecue from something reheated.
Brisket
Brisket is probably the most demanding cut in all of barbecue. It needs hours of low, steady heat so the fibers relax. When it turns out right, it slices into tender pieces with a dark, flavorful edge. Crittles lists it among their specialties, and it is often the first thing BBQ lovers order.
Other BBQ Specialties
Beyond ribs and brisket, the Crittles listing mentions other classic barbecue specialties. Because this is a small operation, the easiest move is to message or call and ask what is available that day, especially if you are ordering for a family gathering.
A simple way to build your order: get a little of each cut and share it at the table. Barbecue tastes best when it is shared, and a tray with ribs and brisket lets you try several flavors without overthinking it.
Why Support This Home Kitchen?
Eating barbecue made by a Murrieta family pays off on the plate and beyond it.
First, flavor. A smoker running for hours in a family backyard produces something an industrial kitchen has a hard time copying: real smoke, juicy meat inside, and character on the outside. Second, the personal touch. When you order directly from the family, you know who is cooking your food and you can ask how it is made. Third, community. Every order stays in the neighborhood and helps a family business keep growing from home.
Crittles is also open every day, holidays included, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. For a home-cooked barbecue business, that schedule is rare and convenient. You can order for Sunday lunch, a weeknight dinner, or a holiday cookout without guessing when they are open.
If you are curious how the permit behind these kitchens works, the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health explains the requirements for running a permitted home kitchen in the area.
How to Order
Ordering from Crittles Backyard BBQ is simple. Here is what their listing shows:
A few tips for a smoother order. Call or message ahead if your order is large, because smoked BBQ is made in batches. Ask which cuts are available before you decide. And if it is your first time, start with ribs and brisket, the two specialties that define the house.
Home BBQ Near You, Beyond Murrieta
Murrieta is part of a growing network of permitted home kitchens across Riverside County and Southern California. If you love barbecue, it is worth exploring more options near you. On cual.co you can browse by category and find cooks making home-cooked food in your area, from smoked meats to tamales to desserts.
Home BBQ is, at its heart, a kind of care. Someone spends hours tending a fire so you can eat well in minutes. When you find a family that does it with this much effort, it is worth coming back.
Tips for Enjoying Your Home BBQ
Smoked barbecue is best when you know how to serve it. If you pick up your order hot, take it straight to the table: ribs and brisket are at their peak fresh from the smoker. If you plan to eat later, reheat the meat slowly in a low oven, covered with foil, so it keeps its juices.
For sides, keep it simple: tortillas or bread, red onion, pickles, and a sauce you like. Many families round out the table with fresh salads and beans to balance the smoke. If you have guests, plan generous portions, because barbecue has a way of disappearing fast.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crittles Backyard BBQ
Where is Crittles Backyard BBQ?
It is in Murrieta, California, in Riverside County. The full address is on their cual.co listing.
What days are they open?
Their listing shows hours every day of the week, holidays included, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Since this is a home kitchen, it is still best to confirm by phone or WhatsApp before you stop by.
Is it a restaurant?
No. It is a permitted home kitchen run by a family from their residence. That is why it helps to order ahead and ask what is available each day.
Can I order for a gathering?
Message them early and share the date and the number of people. Because it is a small operation, they will tell you what they can prepare.
Plan a BBQ Day Without the Work
Not everyone has the time or the equipment to smoke meat for hours. That is the beauty of ordering from a home kitchen: you get the slow-cooked result without giving up your whole Saturday. Order a tray of ribs and brisket, add a few sides from your own kitchen, and you have a cookout that feels made from scratch. It is also a friendly way to introduce coworkers, neighbors, or visiting family to a local business they may not have known about.
Discover More on cual.co
Want more homemade food options? Explore Home-Cooked Meals on cual.co, browse businesses on cual.co, or check out the Homemade section for kitchens near you.
Already tried Crittles? Leave a review on their listing and tell your neighbors what you ordered. And if you cook from home too, you can add your home kitchen to cual.co for free and start getting orders from your community.