AmazingRibs.com is supported by our Pitmaster Club. Also, when you buy with links on our site we may earn a finder’s fee. Click to see how we test and review products.

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

Share on:
brisket

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

outdoor barbecue and smoker

Spring Into Peak BBQ Season With Our Checklist

By:

Dave Joachim

Getting ready to fire up for BBQ season? Check out our must-have checklist of tips to kick things off right. You'll find out how to get rid of built-up grease, clean the grill grates, and improve your cooker's overall performance so you're barbecued food will taste its best all season long.

Slam Dunk March Madness Recipes (35 Recipes, 1 Page, 2 Articles)

By:

Dave Joachim

March Madness is here and nothing beats gathering friends and fans to watch hoops at home while enjoying an amazing BBQ and grilling menu.
Sliced homemade pastrami

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

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

If you've ever wondered how to make pastrami then we've got you covered. Moist, tender, and full of flavor, this is the ultimate homemade smoked pastrami recipe. So what is pastrami? Simply put, it's Jewish barbecue, i.e. corned beef that has been smoked. This is about as close to Katz's pastrami recipe as you'll get!
corned beef hash

The Corned Beef Hash Recipe All Others Aspire To Be

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Corned beef hash is a perfect way to use leftover corned beef after St. Patrick's Day has come and gone. Cooking chopped corned beef along with potatoes, onion, and other select ingredients results in a dish that puts all other corned beef hash to shame. Top it with an egg or other ingredients for your own twist.

The Best New BBQ, Grilling, And Griddling Products Of 2023

In search of the "best of the best" BBQ and grilling gear? The AmazingRibs.com staff unveils its top picks from 2023's new products.

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.

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.
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.
NEW
beef shank and taco toppings

Channel Your BBQ Superpowers With Thor’s Hammer Tacos

By:

Sterling Ball, Contributing Author

Step up your taco game with the addition of the aptly named "Thor’s Hammer." These monster beef shanks are seasoned, smoked, and shredded then served alongside various taco fixings.
Foods containing saturated fats

Despite What They Say, Saturated Fat Is Bad For You

By:

Tamar Haspel, Author

From social media to scientific journals, there is an endless debate over whether or not saturated fats are bad for you. James Beard winner Tamar Haspel explains why the answer is simpler than you think.
NEW

Grill Rescue Grate Cleaning Brush Reviewed And Rated

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

This unique grate cleaning brush features a heat retardant foam pad, wrapped in a high temp aramid fiber layer. Read our complete review and rating.

Firing Up The Grill With The GrillBlazer GrillGun

By:

Clint Cantwell, Champion Pitmaster

Lighting your grill is simple and fun thanks to the GrillBlazer GrillGun propane torch. The device looks like a pistol and a flamethrower had a child, providing plenty of firepower for getting charcoal or wood going in a matter of minutes. Check out our full review.

Solo Pi Prime Pizza Oven Starter Bundle Reviewed and Rated

By:

Brigit Binns

From the makers of highly popular fire pits comes an innovative entry into the outdoor pizza oven market -- The Solo Pi Prime pizza Oven. Read our complete hands-on review.
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!
plated carnitas taquitos

Big Poppa’s Crazy Carnitas Taquitos

By:

Sterling Ball, Contributing Author

Make mouthwatering taquitos at home with this recipe from Sterling "Big Poppa" Ball that utilizes leftovers from his authentic copper pot carnitas recipe!
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.

Victory Gas Griddle-VCT-G4B-LP Reviewed and Rated

By:

John “Spinaker” Bowlsby

Victory takes a plunge into the griddle wave that is sweeping the outdoor cooking world. This trend was building for years and now everyone is getting in on the action. We cooked a variety of griddled delicacies on Victory and got great results on everything that hit that porcelain coated surface. The Victory griddle cooked as well as any gas griddle, including the Blackstone Griddle we have used over the years. Click here to read our detailed review.

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.

Spider Grills’ Venom Thermostatic Control Reviewed And Rated

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Interested in a thermostatic control for your kettle-style charcoal grill? Read of full hands-on review of Spider Grills' Venom adapter.

Meater 2 Plus Reviewed and Rated

By:

Bill McGrath

The Meater 2 Plus includes such features as an extended temperature range and five sensors along the food-end of the probe. Check out our full review.

ThermoPro TempSpike Plus Reviewed and Rated

By:

Bill McGrath

The ThermoPro TempSpike Plus is an upgraded version of the original TempSpike with a shorter, smaller diameter probe that should be easier to use. Read our full review.

ChefsTemp Quad XPro Reviewed and Rated

By:

Bill McGrath

The ChefsTemp Quad XPro is a four-channel wireless remote food thermometer system that will allow the user to monitor four temps simultaneously. Check out our full review.

Ed Mitchell’s Barbeque: A Must-Have Cookbook

By:

Meathead, BBQ Hall of Famer

Ed Mitchell's Barbeque is a celebration of the history and tradition of whole-hog barbeque from the “most famous” pitmaster in North Carolina, Ed Mitchell. Read our full review of this cookbook.

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: 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.

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.

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!
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!
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.
burning charcoal

Charcoal Grills 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.
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.
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.

Published On: 3/16/2021 Last Modified: 3/18/2024

 

High quality websites are expensive to run. If you help us, we’ll pay you back bigtime with an ad-free experience and a lot of freebies!

Millions come to AmazingRibs.com every month for high quality tested recipes, tips on technique, science, mythbusting, product reviews, and inspiration. But it is expensive to run a website with more than 2,000 pages and we don’t have a big corporate partner to subsidize us.

Our most important source of sustenance is people who join our Pitmaster Club. But please don’t think of it as a donation. Members get MANY great benefits. We block all third-party ads, we give members free ebooks, magazines, interviews, webinars, more recipes, a monthly sweepstakes with prizes worth up to $2,000, discounts on products, and best of all a community of like-minded cooks free of flame wars. Click below to see all the benefits, take a free 30 day trial, and help keep this site alive.


Post comments and questions below

grouchy?

1) Please try the search box at the top of every page before you ask for help.

2) Try to post your question to the appropriate page.

3) Tell us everything we need to know to help such as the type of cooker and thermometer. Dial thermometers are often off by as much as 50°F so if you are not using a good digital thermometer we probably can’t help you with time and temp questions. Please read this article about thermometers.

4) If you are a member of the Pitmaster Club, your comments login is probably different.

5) Posts with links in them may not appear immediately.

Moderators

  Max

Click to comment or ask a question...

Spotlight

These are not paid ads, they are a curated selection of products we love.

All of the products below have been tested and are highly recommended. Click here to read more about our review process.

Use Our Links To Help Keep Us Alive

Many merchants pay us a small referral fee when you click our “buy now” links. This has zero impact on the price you pay but helps support the site.