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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!

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

Genre:Reality
Network:Netflix

Top Episode Ratings Summary

The best episode of "Barbecue Showdown" is "Slow Fast Food", rated 7.8/10 from 22 user votes. It was directed by N/A and written by N/A. "Slow Fast Food" aired on 7/4/2024 and is rated 0.6 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Don’t Need Teeth to Eat This Beef".

  • Slow Fast Food
    7.8/10 22 votes

    #1 - Slow Fast Food

    Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 7/4/2024

    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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Don’t Need Teeth to Eat This Beef
    7.2/10 79 votes

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

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 9/18/2020

    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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Trench Is Back
    7.2/10 19 votes

    #3 - The Trench Is Back

    Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 7/4/2024

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Friday Night Bites
    7.2/10 20 votes

    #4 - Friday Night Bites

    Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 7/4/2024

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Tournament of Sandwiches
    7.1/10 73 votes

    #5 - Tournament of Sandwiches

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 9/18/2020

    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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The. Whole. Hog.
    7.1/10 65 votes

    #6 - The. Whole. Hog.

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 9/18/2020

    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!

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Brew and ‘Cue
    7.1/10 22 votes

    #7 - Brew and ‘Cue

    Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 7/4/2024

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Raccoon, Iguana and Hare — Oh My!
    7.0/10 69 votes

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

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 9/18/2020

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Barbecue Around the World
    7.0/10 64 votes

    #9 - Barbecue Around the World

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 9/18/2020

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Fire Within
    7.0/10 2 votes

    #10 - The Fire Within

    Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 5/26/2023

    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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Land, Sea & Fire
    7.0/10 1 votes

    #11 - Land, Sea & Fire

    Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 5/26/2023

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Breakfast Showdown
    7.0/10 1 votes

    #12 - Breakfast Showdown

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 5/26/2023

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • BBQ Trash or Treasure?
    7.0/10 1 votes

    #13 - BBQ Trash or Treasure?

    Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 5/26/2023

    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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • A Festive Feast
    7.0/10 1 votes

    #14 - A Festive Feast

    Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 5/26/2023

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Don't Bring a Skewer, To A Swordfight
    7.0/10 1 votes

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

    Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 5/26/2023

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Piggy Bank
    7.0/10 1 votes

    #16 - The Piggy Bank

    Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 5/26/2023

    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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Red, White and Barbecue
    6.9/10 80 votes

    #17 - Red, White and Barbecue

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/18/2020

    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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Cooking It Old School
    6.9/10 65 votes

    #18 - Cooking It Old School

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 9/18/2020

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Barbecue in the Blood
    6.8/10 100 votes

    #19 - Barbecue in the Blood

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/18/2020

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Bad to the Bone
    6.5/10 37 votes

    #20 - Bad to the Bone

    Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 7/4/2024

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Saucy and Spicy
    6.0/10 1 votes

    #21 - Saucy and Spicy

    Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 5/26/2023

    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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Go Pig or Go Home
    5.1/10 24 votes

    #22 - Go Pig or Go Home

    Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 7/4/2024

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Brisket Battle
    4.6/10 29 votes

    #23 - Brisket Battle

    Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 7/4/2024

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Final Stand
    4.1/10 27 votes

    #24 - The Final Stand

    Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 7/4/2024

    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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A