Flavors · Rio Grande do Sul

Churrasco à gaúcha

Meat seasoned only with coarse salt and roasted on a skewer or grill over embers, with manual control of the fire. A 2003 state law established churrasco à gaúcha as a typical dish of Rio Grande do Sul and created Barbecue Day on April 24.

Traditional dish from Rio Grande do Sul

Also known as: churrasco gaúcho, churrasco

Updated October 2026

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Churrasco à gaúcha — Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil — Churrasco à gaúcha

Churrasco à gaúcha — Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

In Rio Grande do Sul, churrasco even has a legal definition: meat seasoned with coarse salt, roasted by the heat of charcoal or wood embers, on skewers or on the grill, under manual control. Simplicity is the rule: coarse salt and well-tended fire make the flavor.

State Law 11.929 of 2003 established churrasco à gaúcha as a typical dish and chimarrão as a symbolic beverage of Rio Grande do Sul. The same law created Barbecue Day and Chimarrão Day, celebrated on April 24.

The meat is brought to the table after being roasted and cut into portions. Controlling the fire, the distance to the embers, and the salt is part of the preparation.

There are different ways to serve churrasco. In espeto corrido, portions of various cuts are offered during the meal.

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Where it comes from

Rio Grande do Sul
State Law 11.929/2003 established churrasco à gaúcha as a typical dish of Rio Grande do Sul.

Ingredients

Meat and coarse salt. Preparation over charcoal or wood embers, on skewers or grill.

How it is eaten

The roasted meat is cut into portions and served at the table. The service may include different cuts.

When it is eaten

All year round; a Sunday lunch tradition. Barbecue Day on April 24.

Your questions

Questions about Churrasco à gaúcha

What is churrasco à gaúcha?

It is meat seasoned only with coarse salt and roasted on a skewer or grill over embers, with manual control. A state law established it as a typical dish of Rio Grande do Sul.

When is Barbecue Day?

April 24, created by the same 2003 state law that established churrasco à gaúcha as a typical dish and chimarrão as a symbolic beverage of Rio Grande do Sul.

What is espeto corrido?

It is the churrascaria service in which waiters circulate the tables with skewers of various cuts and serve whoever wants.

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