On flights offering the meals for preorder, passengers can choose Pecan Lodge's smoked brisket sandwich for lunch or its barbecue platter for dinner.

"Customer feedback on the Pecan Lodge menu offering has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re excited to expand this offering across flights from our hometown hub," said American's SVP of Customer Experience Design and Strategy, Rhonda Crawford. "Pecan Lodge's bold Texas flavors translate exceptionally well at altitude, making it a great choice for customers looking to enjoy a memorable dining experience in the air.”

Pecan Lodge's smoked brisket sandwich. Photo: American Airlines

From Dallas restaurant to onboard meal

The barbecue served on board is prepared at Pecan Lodge's restaurant in Dallas, where the meats are seasoned and slow-smoked using the same methods used at the restaurant. The food is then packaged to help preserve its flavour and quality before American Airlines' catering partners prepare the preordered meals for service during flight, allowing passengers to enjoy the restaurant's authentic Texas barbecue at 35,000 feet.

The expanded offering is part of American Airlines' efforts to feature popular regional brands and enhance its inflight dining experience. Pecan Lodge, known for its Central Texas-style barbecue, has received recognition from The New York Times, Food Network, Travel + Leisure and others.

"Barbecue is deeply personal to us, so scaling these dishes for an airline without compromising the quality and flavors our guests expect was incredibly important. Working alongside American has made it possible to share a true taste of Texas with travelers from around the country, and that's something we're really proud of," said Justin Fourton, pit master and co-owner of Pecan Lodge.

Pecan Lodge's barbecue platter. Photo: American Airlines

The airline is also making changes to other segments of its inflight food and beverage service, including its champagne selection, which it says is the most extensive among U.S. carriers. Premium cabins now also offer new California wines, while premium Lavazza coffee is available on all mainline flights. The Main Cabin has an expanded range of snacks available for purchase.

Beyond its menu offerings, American Airlines is also making changes to its wider inflight dining programme. These include what the airline describes as the most extensive champagne selection among U.S. carriers, new California wines in its premium cabins and premium Lavazza coffee on all mainline flights. Passengers travelling in the Main Cabin can also choose from an expanded selection of snacks available for purchase.