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BBQ & Grilling In Depth: Tested Recipes, Science-Based Technique, Equipment Reviews, Myth Busting

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Spatchcock chicken

Just because summer is behind us doesn’t mean that your BBQ and grilling adventures have to end! AmazingRibs.com is here for you all fall, winter, and spring with all of the recipes, science and techniques, and product reviews you need in order to elevate your outdoor cooking game. Here are a few highlights including our great outdoor holiday recipes!

  • “Thoughtful and magnificent.” Colson Whitehead — Winner of two Pulitzers

  • “The gold standard.” Helen Rosner — The New Yorker

  • “By far the leading resource for BBQ and grilling information.” Larry Olmstead — Forbes

  • “A destination site.” Jim Shahin — Washington Post

BBQ And Grilling 101: A Guide To Better Live Fire Cooking (2 Recipes, 8 Pages, 18 Articles)

By:

Clint Cantwell, Champion Pitmaster

If you are new to BBQ and grilling, start here. These articles will give you a solid foundation on BBQ and grilling equipment, recipes, and techniques. You'll learn about thermodynamics, how to control temperature, meat science, smoke science, top recipes, product buying guides, and more.
smokers and grills

BBQ Gear Guide: The Best Smokers And Grills To Buy Today

By:

Clint Cantwell, Champion Pitmaster

Picking the right smoker or grill for your personal needs can be a difficult task, with countless brands, styles, and prices to sort through. To help you find the best smoker grill to buy, we have compiled an elite list of top rated AmazingRibs.com gold and platinum medal winners.

Get Griddle Grilling With These Mouthwatering Recipes (19 Recipes)

By:

Clint Cantwell, Champion Pitmaster

Cooking on a hot griddle, flattop, or plancha is a great way to get an all-over flavorful sear. And it is fun! Here are some great recipes to get you started.

Your Favorite Comfort Foods, Now With A Smokey Twist (13 Recipes, 1 Article)

When life gets stressful, one of my favorite ways to hit reset is to prepare one of these BBQ and grilling comfort food recipes, including meatloaf, grilled cheese, spaghetti, or others.
NEW
pork cubes simmering in a copper pot

Big Poppa’s Fall-Apart-Tender Copper Pot Carnitas

By:

Sterling Ball, Contributing Author

Pork shoulder is slowly simmered in a copper pot to create deliciously addictive, authentic carnitas! Sterling "Big Poppa" Ball shows you how in this recipe!
NEW

Louisiana Grills Founders Legacy 1200 Reviewed and Rated

By:

Clint Cantwell, Champion Pitmaster

From its attention to detail to its high heat searing capabilities, there is so much to love about the Louisiana Grills Founders Legacy pellet cooker. Check out our full Platinum Medal review.
NEW

Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven Everything Bundle Reviewed And Rated

By:

Dave Joachim

We were skeptical about a low-cost pizza oven that claims to cook Neapolitan pizza in less than 2 minutes at temps over 930ºF. Would this oven perform as advertised? Read our review to find out.

Meathead’s Amazing Tuscan Herb Poultry Seasoning & Dry Brine

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Our Tuscan herb poultry rub and dry brine has parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, and other goodies, all singing in harmony. Sprinkle on one tablespoon per pound of meat two hours or more before cooking. Called “dry brining,” the salt gets wet, ionizes, becomes a brine, and slowly penetrates deep, enhancing flavor and juiciness.

Tailgate Like a Pro Thanks To Our Amazing Recipes And Tips (25 Recipes, 5 Pages, 3 Articles)

Tailgating can be as simple or as fancy as you want it to be. Here's your ultimate guide to the gear, the recipes, and the planning tips that will make your next party in the parking lot the best ever.
NEW

Weber Griddle 28 Inch Reviewed and Rated

By:

Max Good, Full time grill tester

Weber aims to capitalize on the rising popularity of backyard griddling with their line of stand-alone griddles, griddle inserts, and various griddle accessories. In recent years Weber had a couple high profile rollouts that, uncharacteristically, seemed forced into the market before ready but this one is a different story. Find out why with our full review.

Traeger Flatrock Flat Top Grill Reviewed and Rated

By:

Aaron “Huskee” Lyons

The Traeger Flatrock griddle is more expensive than most residential griddles, but unique features and a hefty build quality set it a few paces ahead of many competitors’ models available at the time of this writing. Is the Flatrock worth its equally hefty price point? Read our review to find out.
vegetables at a farmers market

Want Americans To Eat More Vegetables? Farm Subsidies Won’t Help!

By:

Tamar Haspel, Author

Americans need to eat more vegetables but the thought that more farms subsidies (and the corresponding price drops) just doesn't hold water.

Killer Tested Barbecue And Grilling Recipes (29 Pages)

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Our philosophy of food is simple. First of all, it must taste great. We try to create recipes that are easy to make and that use plenty of fresh seasonal ingredients with a minimum of processed stuff. But most important, we test all our recipes. We know these recipes work if you follow the directions precisely. Dig in!
NEW
sliced peanut butter and jelly ribs

Take Comfort In Big Poppa’s Peanut Butter And Jelly Ribs

By:

Sterling Ball, Contributing Author

Take a walk on the wild side with this delicious smoke ribs recipe that combines two childhood favorites --peanut butter and jelly!
brown butter smoked fish

Brown Butter Smoked Fish Recipe Featuring The Smoke Catcher

Finding the right balance of smoke when cooking fish on the grill can be a challenge but this technique, called "the smoke catcher," makes it quick and simple for this brown butter smoked fish recipe.
fish spread in a bowl

Provençal Smoked Fish Paté Recipe

Provençal smoked fish paté? Think tuna salad from France on steroids. You can serve this recipe as a dip for chips, on a charcuterie platter, in a sandwich, and more.
smashed meatballs sliders

The Flat Top King Crushes It With Smashed Meatball Sliders

By:

The Flat Top King

The Flat Top King fires up the griddle for these delicious smashed meatball sliders featuring a delicious blend of meats, topped with cheese, marinara, and fresh basil on slider buns.
Grilled laap on a plate with tomatoes

Authentic Larb (Laab) Salad Recipe: A Laos Culinary Adventure

By:

Dan Gertsacov, Contributing Author

Dan Gertsacov travels to Laos to learn to prepare this authentic larb salad (a.k.a. laab or laap) recipe for the AmazingRibs.com community. While the original uses water buffalo, he uses ground beef here.

ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2 Thermometer Reviewed And Rated

By:

Bill McGrath

The ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2 is a fast instant-read thermometer at a very favorable price. Check out our full hands-on review of the thermometer including our product rating.

ThermoWorks EXEC Thermometer Reviewed And Rated

By:

Bill McGrath

The ThermoWorks EXEC is a high-quality hand-held instant-read food thermometer that exhibits excellent performance in a compact and relatively inexpensive package. Read our full hands-on review and find out how we rated it.
Dripping bottle of Sriracha

How To Make Your Own Sriracha From Scratch

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Fire up breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between with this recipe for making your own homemade version of Huy Fong brand Sriracha!
smash-burger

The Ultimate Diner Burger Recipe (a.k.a. The Smash Burger)

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Create the skinny, crispy edged burgers that you love at diners with this simple recipe for the Wimpy burger. Infinitely better than any mass produced quarter pounder, these homemade diner-style burgers are small disks, 4 ounces or less, pressed flat and cooked on a griddle to maximize the flavor and crispness.
NEW

Weber Griddle 28 Inch Reviewed and Rated

By:

Max Good, Full time grill tester

Weber aims to capitalize on the rising popularity of backyard griddling with their line of stand-alone griddles, griddle inserts, and various griddle accessories. In recent years Weber had a couple high profile rollouts that, uncharacteristically, seemed forced into the market before ready but this one is a different story. Find out why with our full review.
NEW

Blackstone Rangetop Combo With Deep Fryer Review

By:

Paul Sidoriak

Read our review of this cool combo cooker. With its ample cooking area, solid performance, and versatility for both griddle grilling and deep frying large amounts of food outdoors, the Blackstone Range Top Combo with Bonus Fryer easily earns a Platinum Medal.
NEW

Roccbox by Gozney Pizza Oven Reviewed And Rated

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Making quality pizzas at home has never been easier thanks to the growing number of pizza ovens now available. Check out our review of one of the more price accessible options -- the Gozney Roccbox.

Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Oven Reviewed and Rated

By:

Max Good, Full time grill tester

Ninja Woodfire is an interesting entry into the small tabletop grill marketplace. But unlike most others, Woodfire at least attempts to offer a smoking option. The majority of Woodfire owners are pleased with their purchase so read our hands-on review.

ThermoPro Twin TempSpike Reviewed And Rated

By:

Bill McGrath

The ThermoPro TempSpike II will extend the functionality of the original offering, giving the cook more control options while preparing a meal. The charging bay's temperature display adds the ability to cook without dealing with your smart phone. We award TempSpike II our Gold Medal.
Grilling catfish fillet on orange slices

BBQ and Grilling Hacks: 12 Genius Ways to Save Time and Money

By:

Clint Cantwell, Champion Pitmaster

Dave Joachim

BBQ cooks are some of the most inventive cooks around. Live fire, hot coals, grill grates, heavy hunks of raw and cooked meat...they can all present some serious challenges. Here are our favorite outdoor cooking hacks to save both time and money while also creating delicious BBQ!
pork ribs

8 Steps to Total BBQ Rib Nirvana

By:

Dave Joachim

We're crazy for incredible BBQ ribs and have plenty of smoked ribs recipes, cooking techniques, equipment recommendations, and mythbusting secrets throughout the site. But we know sometimes you just want to see the highlight reel instead of watching the whole game. No problem. Here are the 8 key steps you need to take.
Sauced rack of ribs on a tray

A Killer Smoked BBQ Ribs Recipe That Shames The 3-2-1 Method

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Mastering smoked ribs -- whether they are St. Louis style ribs, spare ribs, or baby back ribs -- with our comprehensive tutorial and recipe will make you a backyard all star.
brisket on a grill

Authentic Texas Style Smoked Brisket Recipe

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Behold the best smoked brisket recipe ever! Texas style brisket is more than a recipe, it is a concept and a goal. It all begins by selecting the right meat, trimming it, seasoning it, smoking it, slicing it, and more. Follow this easy BBQ brisket guide for mouthwatering results!
pulled pork sandwich with sauce

An Easy BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe With Mouthwatering Results

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

This easy pulled pork recipe skips the slow cooker to create authentic low-and-slow smoked pulled pork on a smoker or grill. With smoke woven through the moist meat, bits of seasoned crust, and a gentle splash of BBQ sauce, pulled pork is perfect for your next backyard cookout.
multigrain bread

Popular Food Label Claims And Why They Can’t Always Be Trusted

By:

Tamar Haspel, Author

There are laws regarding claims on food packaging but that doesn't mean everything is what it seems. Here we break down many popular terms.
man burning wood in a burn barrel

What You Need to Know About Wood, Smoke, And Combustion

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Learn all about wood smoke and how it adds flavor to BBQ. Find out whether you should be using wood chunks, chips, pellets, logs, or sawdust in your cooker. Discover the truth behind the claim that different woods have different flavors.
burning charcoal

Charcoal Grills And Wood Burning Grills: Buying Guide, Reviews, And Ratings

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

A comprehensive review and buyer's guide of almost all the wood burning and charcoal grills available from experts, with ratings.
Weber Genesis EPX-35

Gas Grills: Buying Guide, Reviews, And Ratings

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Here's how gas grills work and what to look for when you go shopping.
Camp Chef Woodwind

Pellet Smokers And Grills: Buying Guide, Ratings, And Reviews

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Ratings, reviews, and recommendations on what to look for and what to buy when shopping for pellet barbecue smokers and grills.
komodo kamado

Buying Guide To Kamado, Ceramic, Egg Smokers And Grills

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

The kamado, ceramic, egg grill, smoker, and oven is a fast growing category with more and more choices every year. Here are reviews and ratings of them all.
Gas Smoker

Gas Smokers: A Buying Guide And Reviews

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Ratings, reviews, and recommendations on how to shop for gas fired barbecue smokers. These are simple smokers that produce good flavor, on a modest budget.
Memphis dust dry rub

Meathead’s World Famous Memphis Dust Rub Recipe

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

This popular Memphis dust bbq dry rub recipe is the only seasoning blend you'll ever need for pork, chicken, fish, beef, and veggies. The rub is based on Memphis style BBQ, where ribs are served "dry," letting the seasoning and smoked shine by skipping the sauce.

Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

With 400 pages and more than 400 of my photographs plus color illustrations, there is new material and new recipes not on this website, and the whole thing is organized so that you can sit down in an easy chair and flow from start to finish.
Pork loin Cuban sandwich plated

A Cuban Sandwich Tastes Better When The Meat Is Smoked

By:

Clint Cantwell, Champion Pitmaster

Slow smoked pork loin provides a unique twist on a Florida favorite in this grilled Cuban sandwich recipe. Thinly sliced smoked pork loin joins sliced ham, mustard, pickles, and Swiss cheese on Cuban style bread before being wrapped in foil, pressed, and grilled to crunchy perfection.
Smoked bacon wrapped meatballs

MOINK Balls, The Easiest Grilled Appetizer Ever

By:

Clint Cantwell, Champion Pitmaster

We'll bet you can't stop at just one of these tasty smoked bacon wrapped meatballs, a.k.a MOINK balls. This recipe is the perfect appetizer for any tailgating, couchgating, or backyard bash. The best part is that they are as easy to make as they are to eat!
Baguette, split and filled with meat, red and green jalapenos, and garnished with cilantro

Mouthwatering Smoked Pork Belly Bacon Burnt Ends Banh Mi

This rich and flavor packed tested recipe for our smoked pork belly version of the classic Vietnamese banh mì sandwich is sure to make your knees buckle. The recipe hits all the right notes for a perfect banh mì, including succulent BBQ pork belly burnt ends, spicy jalapeños, savory mayo, and tangy pickled veggies.
Pulled pork baked potato

Pulled Pork Baked Potatoes: A Cook Once, Eat Twice Recipe

By:

Clint Cantwell, Champion Pitmaster

Weeknight meals don't get much easier than this baked potato recipe that utilizes leftover pulled pork.

Nexgrill Neevo 720 Smart Grill With Air Fryer Reviewed And Rated

By:

Max Good, Full time grill tester

Smart grills and smokers are popping up everywhere, but Neevo is alone in the growing class of 2023 because it's the first, viable residential gas grill we've seen with both thermostatic control and 2 zone setup capability. And this model comes with an air fryer mounted next to the grill. Nexgrill is onto something with this unique device, but it needs work.

ThermoPro Twin TempSpike Reviewed And Rated

By:

Bill McGrath

The ThermoPro TempSpike II will extend the functionality of the original offering, giving the cook more control options while preparing a meal. The charging bay's temperature display adds the ability to cook without dealing with your smart phone. We award TempSpike II our Gold Medal.

SteakAger PRO 40 Reviewed And Rated

By:

Rick Gresh

In order to ensure safe dry aging at home, SteakAger PRO 40 features humidity control and a UVC light to manage bacterial growth. All in all, the PRO 40 is a good choice for steak lovers who need capacity, have the budget, and want to knock their guests' taste buds out of the park.

UMAi Dry Steak Aging Bag Reviewed And Rated

By:

Rick Gresh

Dry aged steaks are gaining popularity coast-to-coast. Dry aging makes beef develop a distinct, appealing, and interesting flavor but equipment for doing it at home can be expensive. That's why Umai Dry's affordable dry aging bags are popular. Read our full review and rating.
cattle

Is Carbon-Neutral Beef Possible Or A Pipe Dream?

By:

Tamar Haspel, Author

Beef has a bad reputation among climate-change activists, but the key to more sustainable cattle farming lies in the soil beneath the hoofs.

Traeger Ironwood and Ironwood XL Reviewed And Rated

By:

Max Good, Full time grill tester

The Traeger mid-size Ironwood and large Ironwood XL are upgraded versions of their Ironwood 650 and Ironwood 885. The new Ironwood includes some of the same features we liked in the older models plus a few upgrades along with a more modest MSRP.

Char-Griller Grand Champ Offset Smoker Reviewed And Rated

By:

Clint Cantwell, Champion Pitmaster

We always advise our readers to stay away from cheap offset smokers and jump straight to high-quality, heavy metal models. But Char-Griller's Grand Champ provides an intermediate alternative; not cheap as the $200 tin can models, but way less than classic quarter-inch steel competition smokers.
chilies

Step Over, Scoville. Peppers Deserve A Better Heat Scale.

By:

Tamar Haspel, Author

The Scoville scale for measuring heat in peppers was established in 1912 but times have changed and now an update is called for.

Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart Gas Grill Reviewed And Rated

By:

Max Good, Full time grill tester

Weber's popular Genesis Gas Grills are a perfect option for those who have grown tired of constantly replacing cheap entry-level gassers and want better quality, performance, and durability. Weber's 2022 models are, in many ways, the best Genesis lineup yet!

Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven Rated And Reviewed

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Interested in making restaurant-quality pizzas at home? Ooni's Karu 16 burns charcoal or wood and they offer an optional gas burner which we highly recommend. Although we have a few criticisms, Karu 16 still gets our thumbs up!
chilies

Step Over, Scoville. Peppers Deserve A Better Heat Scale.

By:

Tamar Haspel, Author

The Scoville scale for measuring heat in peppers was established in 1912 but times have changed and now an update is called for.

Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart Gas Grill Reviewed And Rated

By:

Max Good, Full time grill tester

Weber's popular Genesis Gas Grills are a perfect option for those who have grown tired of constantly replacing cheap entry-level gassers and want better quality, performance, and durability. Weber's 2022 models are, in many ways, the best Genesis lineup yet!

Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven Rated And Reviewed

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Interested in making restaurant-quality pizzas at home? Ooni's Karu 16 burns charcoal or wood and they offer an optional gas burner which we highly recommend. Although we have a few criticisms, Karu 16 still gets our thumbs up!

Oklahoma Joe’s Bandera Vertical Offset Smoker Reviewed And Rated

By:

Robert F. Moss, BBQ Historian

Oklahoma Joe’s Bandera is a compact but capacious offset smoker thanks to its unusual upright vertical design. Though there are a few challenges to work around, the versatile unit is well-suited for the cook who wants to get a little more serious about smoking meats, fish, and vegetables over wood but isn’t ready to invest in a high-end offset cooker. Find out more about this entry-level offset cooker with our complete review and rating.

Steak Locker Home Dry Age Fridge SL150 Reviewed And Rated

By:

Rick Gresh

Commercial steakhouses use specialized equipment for dry aging large quantities of meat and now there are several home options. Here's award-winning Chicago chef Rick Gresh's review of The Steak Locker.

Published On: 3/16/2021 Last Modified: 11/24/2023

 

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