The Most Famous BBQ Chef, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the chef you think is the most famous!

Updated on May 3, 2024 07:03

Welcome to StrawPoll, fellow BBQ enthusiasts! We know just how much you love that smoky, mouthwatering goodness of grilled delights, and now, it's time to give credit where credit is due. We've gathered the ultimate lineup of legendary BBQ masters from across the globe, and we want YOU to help us crown the most famous BBQ chef! From saucy Southern styles to tantalizing Texan flavors, these pitmasters have been firing up the grills and tantalizing taste buds for years. So, who will be the king or queen of the coals? It's time for you to decide! Cast your vote now, or if you think we've missed someone truly worthy of the title, go ahead and suggest your favorite BBQ maestro. Let the sizzling showdown begin!

Who Is the Most Famous BBQ Chef?

1

70
votes

Aaron Franklin

Aaron Franklin - owner of Franklin Barbecue in Austin, Texas, and winner of numerous awards, including the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southwest in 2015. He is widely regarded as one of the best pitmasters in the world.
2

38
votes

TexianPolitico · CC BY-SA 3.0

Myron Mixon

Myron Mixon is known as the "winningest man in barbecue" with over 200 competition wins and four World Champion titles. He is also a judge on the TV show BBQ Pitmasters.
3

27
votes
Larry D. Moore · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tuffy Stone

Tuffy Stone is owner of Cool Smoke BBQ in Richmond, Virginia, and winner of multiple championships, including the Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue. He is also a judge on BBQ Pitmasters.
Tuffy Stone in other rankings
- Position 10 of 10 in Most famous grillmaster
4

18
votes

Chris Lilly

Chris Lilly is executive chef of Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Alabama, and a four-time Memphis in May World Champion. He is also the author of the cookbook Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Book.
5

23
votes

Rodney Scott

Rodney Scott - owner of Rodney Scott's BBQ in Charleston, South Carolina, and Birmingham, Alabama. He is known for his whole hog barbecue and won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southeast in 2018.
6

9
votes

Iancapstick · CC BY 2.0

Pat Martin

Pat Martin is owner of Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint in Nashville, Tennessee, and winner of numerous awards, including the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southeast in 2019. He is also the author of the cookbook Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint: Recipes and Adventures from a Pitmaster's Kitchen.
7

6
votes
Adam Perry Lang

Adam Perry Lang is owner of APL Restaurant in Los Angeles, California, and author of several cookbooks, including Serious Barbecue and BBQ 25. He is also a judge on the TV show BBQ Pitmasters.
Adam Perry Lang in other rankings
- Position 8 of 10 in Most famous grillmaster
8

6
votes
Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain

Sam Jones

Sam Jones is owner of Sam Jones BBQ in Winterville, North Carolina, and author of the cookbook Whole Hog BBQ: The Gospel of Carolina Barbecue with Recipes from Skylight Inn and Sam Jones BBQ. He is known for his whole hog barbecue and was a James Beard Foundation Award nominee in 2019.
Sam Jones in other rankings
- Position 4 of 10 in Most famous Seminole Indian
- Position 7 of 10 in Most famous Boston Celtic
9

10
votes

Danielle Bennett and Whitney Miller

Danielle Bennett and Whitney Miller is known as the "Diva Q" team, these two women are champions on the competition barbecue circuit and have appeared on several TV shows, including BBQ Pitmasters and American Grilled. They also host the podcast BBQ Radio Nation.
10

14
votes

Johnny Trigg

Johnny Trigg is a legendary barbecue pitmaster with numerous competition wins, including the American Royal and the Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue. He is also a judge on BBQ Pitmasters.

Missing your favorite chef?

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Discussion

Ranking factors for famous chef

Skill and expertise in grilling and smoking meats

This includes their ability to choose and prepare the right cuts of meat, as well as their mastery of different techniques for cooking and flavoring meats.
Innovation and creativity

Some BBQ chefs are known for their creative use of spices, sauces, and marinades, as well as their willingness to try new things and experiment with different flavor combinations.
Popularity and influence

Some BBQ chefs have a strong following among fans of the genre, and may have even influenced the wider culinary landscape through their cooking and teaching.
Business acumen

Finally, successful BBQ chefs are often also savvy entrepreneurs, able to leverage their skills and reputation to build successful restaurant businesses and other ventures.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most famous BBQ chef. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Cook is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

4230 views
200 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Cook once every 24 hours. The rank of each Cook is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most famous bbq chef

Barbecue (BBQ) is a popular cooking method that involves slow-cooking meat over an open flame, often using wood or charcoal for flavor. While many people enjoy cooking BBQ in their own backyard, there are also professional chefs who have become famous for their BBQ skills. One of the most well-known BBQ chefs is Aaron Franklin, owner of Franklin Barbecue in Austin, Texas. He has won numerous awards for his brisket and has been featured in several TV shows and documentaries. Other famous BBQ chefs include Myron Mixon, Tuffy Stone, and Chris Lilly, who have all won championships in BBQ competitions and authored cookbooks. BBQ has a rich history in the United States, with different regions having their own unique styles of BBQ. For example, Texas-style BBQ is known for its emphasis on beef and simple seasoning, while Memphis-style BBQ typically features pork ribs and a dry rub. With so many talented BBQ chefs out there, it can be difficult to determine who is the most famous. However, by looking at factors such as awards, media coverage, and overall influence on the BBQ world, we can get a better idea of who stands out as a top BBQ chef.