Teams stay up through the night, stoking their fires and making sure the meat is properly seasoned. Usually led by a head cook, barbecue teams compete in categories that often include pork, brisket, ribs, chicken, beans, and even exotic meats. Whether for cash prizes or just for the glory, these contestants take their work seriously. Known only by a handful of people on the barbecue team, these recipes can contain surprising ingredients ranging from Coca-Cola to beer. Warm weather also brings the season for barbecue cookoffs, competitive events where recipes are guarded like military maneuvers with a secrecy that could make the Pentagon proud. (Their recipes are often guarded like military maneuvers with a secrecy that could make the Pentagon proud, known only by the handful of people who make up the barbecue cooking team.)

Whether it’s for cash prizes or just for the glory of preparing the best brisket, these contestants take their work seriously.

Gordon E Swenson BBQ Pork Cook-Off, Elgin.Īround the Lone Star state, contestants fire up their pits nearly every weekend as they participate in barbecue cookoffs.

World Championship Barbecued Goat Cookoff, Brady.

National Championship Barbecue Cookoff, Meridian.

International Barbecue Cookoff, Taylor.

Red, White and Blue BBQ Festival, Caddo Mills.

Sweetwater Jaycees Rattlesnake Round-Up Cook-Off, Sweetwater.Bridgeland’s Annual BBQ Cookoff & Car Show (also known as the 3BQ Cook-Off and Car Show), Cypress.

Livestock and Rodeo Show Barbecue Cook Off, Houston.

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