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20 for 20: Our Best BBQ Recipes of the Past 20 Years (19 Recipes, 1 Article)

Published On: 6/12/2025 Last Modified: 6/17/2025

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Composite of AmazingRibs.com's top 20 recipes

The top twenty recipes that you, our readers, have visited most, in honor of AmazingRibs.com’s 20th Anniversary!

If the name of our website didn’t tip you off, AmazingRibs.com got its start with a ribs cookoff. As luck would have it, in the early 2000s, Meathead’s neighbor in Chicago challenged him to a friendly BBQ competition. Meathead went looking for a good ribs recipe to bone up for the cookoff, but he couldn’t find one. At the time, he was thinking of starting a new business venture, so he established AmazingRibs.com in 2005. His ribs recipe became super popular and was part of how the website got its name. But that’s not the only reason. AmazingRibs.com was also named that because, back then, websites were listed alphabetically and Meathead wanted his website to be near the top.

Oh how times have changed! In case you were wondering, yes, Meathead won that ribs cookoff back in the day, and many since. To this day, his winning Last Meal Ribs recipe remains one of the most popular recipes on AmazingRibs.com. His Easy BBQ Pulled Pork is pretty popular too. So is his Smoked Turkey.

To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of AmazingRibs.com, we took a trip down memory lane, and looked back at all our best BBQ recipes over the past 20 years. These are the top 20 recipes that you, our readers, have visited most, cooked most, and ranked highest over the past 20 years. From Classic Chicago Italian Beef (the kind made famous on the popular TV show “The Bear”) to Meathead’s World Famous Memphis Dust for dry-rubbed ribs, there’s plenty to chew on here. Meathead’s Last Meal Ribs is still in the top 3 of our best BBQ recipes. But there’s a new sheriff in town. The #1 recipe of all time on AmazingRibs.com is now…Authentic Texas-Style Smoked Brisket!

Try them all!

Sliced brisket

Authentic Texas Style Smoked Brisket Recipe

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And 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.
Memphis dust dry rub

Meathead’s World Famous Memphis Dust Rub Recipe

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And 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.
rack of ribs and sauce on a cutting board

An Epic Smoked Ribs Recipe (Baby Back or St. Louis Spare Ribs)

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Mastering smoked BBQ ribs -whether St. Louis style, spare, or baby back -with our comprehensive tutorial will make you a backyard all star.
Sliced homemade pastrami

A Smoked Pastrami Recipe That’s Close To Katz’s

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

If you've ever wondered how to make pastrami then we've got you covered. Moist and tender, this is the ultimate homemade pastrami recipe.
pastrami rub raw

A Pastrami Rub Recipe That Rivals New York’s Famed Katz’s Deli

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

After much research and trial and error, here's my approximation of Katz's pastrami rub recipe for a New York pastrami sandwich at home.
BBQ rub being sprinkled on to meat

Big Bad Beef Dry Rub Recipe

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

This flavorful beef dry rub recipe is perfect for seasoning brisket, ribs, steak, and more. You can make this rub in advance and store it.
pulled pork sandwich with sauce

An Easy BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe With Mouthwatering Results

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And 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.
roast turkey with sage

From Grill to Plate: The Go-To Guide to Turkey Done Outdoors

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Our grilled and smoked turkey recipe and tutorial make your ordinary holiday meal extraordinary! Here's everything you need to know.
sliced homemade smoked bacon

How To Make Smoked Homemade Bacon – It Is So Much Better Than Store Bought

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Homemade bacon is easy. The results are much better than store bought. You can make countless variations once you have the basic recipe down.
The Bear Italian Beef Sandwich

Classic Chicago Italian Beef Sandwich Recipe As Seen On Hulu’s “The Bear”

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

If you're a fan of The Bear, a hit FX On Hulu series with Jeremy Allen White, then this recipe for classic Italian beef sandwiches is for you
grilled prime rib

The Science Of Cooking Prime Rib, Tenderloin, And Other Beef Roasts

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

There are some tricks to learning how to cook a perfect prime rib, rump, and other beef roasts and we have assembled them all in one place!
Kansas City BBQ Sauce

This Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce Is The Real Deal

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Say so long to bottled BBQ sauce and hello to amped up homemade Kansas City-style sauce with this step-by-step recipe.
cured and smoked ham sliced on a cutting board

How To Make A Cured Smoked Ham From Scratch

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Create a smoked ham at home that will put any store-bought ham to shame thanks to this simple, yet flavor packed recipe.
Smoked Texas style beef rib

The Ultimate Texas-Style Smoked BBQ Beef Ribs Recipe

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Here's the only smoked beef rib recipe you'll ever need! The key to replicating this Texas BBQ classic is cooking them low and slow.
Two teams testing ribs

Indoor Ribs: Use This Recipe For Smoked Ribs When You Can’t Get Outside

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Here's how to make indoor ribs in your oven that most folks will think you nursed for hours in the smoker. Click here for the recipe.
smoked bacon

Once You Make Maple Bacon, You’ll Never Get Store Bought Again

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

You need to try this homemade smoked maple bacon recipe for some the most delicious, homemade smoky bacon you'll ever taste.
Sliced homemade Canadian bacon

Canadian And Irish Bacon Made Better At Home

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Fans of Canadian bacon will rejoice this recipe for making flavorful smoked pork loin at home. Click here to learn more.
Roast beef sandwich

Authentic Pit Roast Beef Done Right In Your Own Backyard

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

If you've dreaded stuff that passes for roast beef and wished you could find the real deal then this Baltimore pit beef recipe is for you.
Sliced corned beef

Our Homemade Corned Beef Recipe Outshines Store Bought

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Why spend the time making our homemade corned beef recipe? Because it is so much better than anything you could buy at the grocery store!
double smoked ham

You Have Stumbled Across The Ultimate Double Smoked Ham Recipe

By:

Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer

Create the best ham you've ever tasted with this ultimate double smoked ham recipe. The true star of the show is the sweet and savory glaze!

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