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The Best Episodes of Barbecue Showdown

Every episode of Barbecue Showdown ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Barbecue Showdown!

The Best Episodes of Barbecue Showdown

Eight of the country's best backyard smokers and pitmasters vie for the title of American Barbecue Champion in a fierce but friendly faceoff.

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  1. 7.2/10(81 votes)

    #1 - Don’t Need Teeth to Eat This Beef

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    S1:E3

    Time to celebrate the greatest invention in the history of food: ribs! The cooks tackle pork and beef ribs — one with a dry rub, one with a wet sauce.

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    Director:N/A
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  2. 7.1/10(75 votes)

    #2 - Tournament of Sandwiches

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    S1:E4

    The smokers serve up a trio of sandwiches: savory chicken with crunchy slaw, tender and tangy pork, and five-layer stacks of beef and sausage.

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    Director:N/A
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  3. 7.1/10(67 votes)

    #3 - The. Whole. Hog.

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    S1:E8

    The final two tackle their biggest challenge yet: building their own pits and cooking a whole hog and brisket. It's gonna be a long night!

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  4. 7.0/10(71 votes)

    #4 - Raccoon, Iguana and Hare — Oh My!

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    S1:E5

    The pitmasters sink their teeth into some wild meats, delivering dishes like lizard stew, beaver tail crackling and pulled alligator.

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    Director:N/A
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  5. 7.0/10(66 votes)

    #5 - Barbecue Around the World

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    S1:E7

    Ingredients and equipment from Morocco, Argentina and Japan spice things up and force the contestants to cook outside their comfort zones.

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    Director:N/A
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  6. 7.0/10(2 votes)

    #6 - The Fire Within

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    S2:E1

    The contestants craft signature barbecue plates to show what they can make over an open flame, including one dish cooked al fresco in the all-new Trench.

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    Director:N/A
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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Barbecue Showdown

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  8. 7.0/10(1 votes)

    #7 - Land, Sea & Fire

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    S2:E3

    The pitmasters dig deep in the Trench to make a mouthwatering surf and turf menu, cooking their proteins both above and below ground.

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    Director:N/A
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  9. 7.0/10(1 votes)

    #8 - Breakfast Showdown

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    S2:E4

    After a dramatic campfire breakfast cook-off, the competitors roll through a new challenge: barbecuing a stuffed roast with a delicious surprise inside.

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  10. 7.0/10(1 votes)

    #9 - BBQ Trash or Treasure?

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    S2:E5

    The four fire tamers still in the game get creative to cook perfectly pulled meat and sides using an array of rickety, makeshift smoker rigs.

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  11. 7.0/10(1 votes)

    #10 - A Festive Feast

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    S2:E6

    The competition gets personal as the barbecuers race to make family-style holiday feasts inspired by their own most delicious traditions.

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    Director:N/A
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  12. 7.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - Don't Bring a Skewer, To A Swordfight

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    S2:E7

    Semifinalists tackle a new test in close quarters, sharing one dome to suspend their dishes over open fire as they attempt Brazilian-style churrasco.

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  13. 7.0/10(1 votes)

    #12 - The Piggy Bank

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    S2:E8

    The last two pitmasters standing go whole hog in this fiery finale, serving snout-to-tail spreads to determine who will go home a barbecue champion.

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  14. 6.9/10(82 votes)

    #13 - Red, White and Barbecue

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    S1:E2

    The competitors make a feast for 50 first responders in a Fourth of July throwdown. Tri-tip, pork chops, cheeseburgers and more are on the menu.

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  15. 6.9/10(67 votes)

    #14 - Cooking It Old School

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    S1:E6

    Working in pairs, the barbecuers prepare popular proteins from the past, cooking mutton, goat and whole salmon on wooden platforms and over open pits.

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  16. 6.8/10(102 votes)

    #15 - Barbecue in the Blood

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    S1:E1

    The competition kicks off with a smokin' staple: the barbecue combo plate. That's two mouthwatering meats and two succulent sides.

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  17. 6.0/10(1 votes)

    #16 - Saucy and Spicy

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    S2:E2

    Things get spicy when the judges ask the cooks to take their pick from a pantry packed with peppers that range from friendly to face-melting.

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  18. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #17 - Bad to the Bone

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    S3:E1

    The contestants kick off the competition by cooking a bone-in protein and two side dishes that reflect their unique styles and personal stories.

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  19. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #18 - Brew and ‘Cue

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    S3:E2

    Legendary pitmaster Tuffy Stone joins the judging panel as the cooks prepare beer-infused dishes that hop with flavor.

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  20. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #19 - The Trench Is Back

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    S3:E3

    The competition heats up as the Trench returns for a twist-filled challenge celebrating flavors from around the world.

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  21. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #20 - Friday Night Bites

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    S3:E4

    Facing elimination, two pitmasters duel it out in a fiery fish cook-off. Afterward, the remaining contestants gear up to satisfy hungry tailgaters.

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  22. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #21 - Slow Fast Food

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    S3:E5

    Chef Matty Matheson ("The Bear") encourages the pitmasters to turn down the heat and whip up an original fast-food recipe using slow-cooking techniques.

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  23. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #22 - Brisket Battle

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    S3:E6

    In their toughest challenge to date, the final four attempt to out-smoke their fellow competitors in an epic beef brisket showdown.

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  24. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Go Pig or Go Home

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    S3:E7

    Chef and acclaimed author Kwame Onwuachi joins the judges for a Sunday supper that showcases each pitmaster's family traditions.

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  25. NaN/10(0 votes)

    #24 - The Final Stand

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    S3:E8

    The finalists craft dream menus for their very own barbecue joints in a head-to-head battle to claim the coveted grand prize and title.

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Best Episodes Summary

"Don’t Need Teeth to Eat This Beef" is the best rated episode of "Barbecue Showdown". It scored 7.2/10 based on 81 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 9/18/2020. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Tournament of Sandwiches".