Whether you picked up our card at a BBQ festival, found it on a community table, or got it from a friend around the fire, we’re glad you made it here.
ExploringBBQ.com is built for people who love real Texas BBQ.
Eating it. Traveling for it. Cooking it. Remembering it.
If you’re looking for great BBQ, meaningful experiences, and a deeper connection to the culture behind the smoke, you’re in the right place.
Explore · Experience · Create
Where Most People Start
If this is your first visit, here’s how most folks jump in. You can explore everything at your own pace, but these paths deliver value right away.
Find Great BBQ in Texas
Looking for where to eat next?
Our Texas BBQ directory helps you discover BBQ joints across the state, from famous destinations to local places with deep roots. It’s built for exploration, not just rankings.
You can:
- Search BBQ joints by location
- Discover road-trip-worthy stops
- Learn what makes each place unique
Some places are well known. Others are quietly legendary. All of them have a story.
Track Your BBQ Journey (BBQ Passport)
Once you start exploring BBQ, you start collecting memories.
BBQ Passport is our way of helping you keep track of the places you’ve been, the ones you want to visit next, and the meals that mattered.
With BBQ Passport, you can:
- Explore curated BBQ Bucket Lists by region or theme
- Adopt lists and track your progress
- Log visits with notes, photos, and memories
It’s not about rankings or reviews.
It’s about your journey through BBQ.
Explore BBQ Passport & Bucket Lists
Explore Texas BBQ Culture
BBQ is more than food. It’s memory, identity, and tradition.
This is where we dig into the stories, ideas, and conversations that explain why BBQ matters, not just how it’s cooked.
Here you’ll find:
- Long-form cultural essays
- Fun Series like BBQ Code and Wisdom of the Smoke
- Festival coverage and Community Reviews
- Reflections on BBQ, place, and people
If you care about the meaning behind the smoke, start here.
Explore BBQ Culture & Identity
Explore BBQ Guides & Stories
Learn to Cook Better BBQ at Home
When you’re ready to fire up the pit, we’ve got you covered.
Our cooking guides and recipes are built for real cooks. No gimmicks. No shortcuts that don’t work. Just proven techniques, clear explanations, and practical advice.
You’ll find:
- Beginner-friendly BBQ guides
- Full recipes with timelines and temperatures
- BBQ Math, wood selection, and fire management
- Grill and smoker setup help
Whether you’re just getting started or dialing things in, this is where confidence is built.
Explore BBQ Recipes
Open BBQ Guides
BBQ Fundamentals Every Cook Should Know
These core principles come from our Starter Guide and help cooks of all levels avoid common mistakes.
Essential Wood Choices
- Post Oak: Clean heat with mild smoke
- Pecan: Warm, slightly sweet smoke
- Mesquite: Bold, strong flavor (use carefully)
Target Internal Temperatures
- Brisket: Probe tender around ~203°F (95°C)
- Pork Butt: 198–205°F (92–96°C)
- Ribs: Typically 195–203°F (90–95°C)
- Chicken: 165°F (74°C) white meat, 175°F (79°C) thighs
What the Stall Really Is
Evaporation cools the meat and slows the cook. This can add hours. Stay steady or wrap when the bark is set.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Rushing the cook
- Burning damp wood
- Cutting meat before resting
- Over- or under-seasoning
Quick Wins for the Weekend Cook
Short on time but still want big flavor? These cooks deliver without an all-day commitment.
- Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
- Pig Shots
- Smoked Pulled Pork
- Smoked Pork Belly Burnt Ends
- Sweet Tea Bourbon Lemonade
View Appetizers & Easy Recipes
Fan Favorites and Deep Dives
These are some of our most visited and most referenced guides.
- Ultimate Brisket Recipe and Walkthrough
- Texas Style Pork Ribs
- Pulled Pork for a Crowd
- 100 Texas BBQ Terms You Need to Know
- Beginner Brisket on a Weber Kettle
- Why Beef Tallow Works
Join the ExploringBBQ Community
ExploringBBQ.com is built for people who like sharing, learning, and swapping stories around the pit.
Creating a free account lets you:
- Leave comments on BBQ joints, recipes, and posts
- Save favorite cooks and restaurants
- Join discussions inside The Pit forum
- Track your BBQ journey with Passport
- Help others discover great BBQ across Texas
Stay Around the Fire With Us
We share tips, recipes, road trip finds, culture clips, and quick BBQ lessons across our social platforms.
If you enjoyed what you found here, come hang out with us there too.
- Instagram: /ExploringBBQ
- TikTok: @ExploringBBQ
- X: /ExploringBBQ
- Facebook: /ExploringBBQ
Tag us in your cooks or BBQ adventures. We love seeing what folks are doing under the smoke.
Thanks for Exploring With Us
We appreciate you taking the time to stop by.
ExploringBBQ.com is built for people who love real Texas BBQ, good stories, and cooking over fire.
Whenever you’re ready, dive deeper into the recipes, road trips, culture, and community that make BBQ special.
EXPLORE · EXPERIENCE · CREATE
ExploringBBQ.com
