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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!

Binge this in 17h 21m•Peaking at 7.4/10

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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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Barbecue Showdown Season 3 Episode 5 - Slow Fast Food
    7.4/10(30 votes)

    #1 - Slow Fast Food

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Barbecue Showdown Season 1 Episode 3 - Don’t Need Teeth to Eat This Beef
    7.2/10(84 votes)

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

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Barbecue Showdown Season 1 Episode 4 - Tournament of Sandwiches
    7.1/10(78 votes)

    #3 - Tournament of Sandwiches

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Barbecue Showdown Season 1 Episode 8 - The. Whole. Hog.
    7.1/10(71 votes)

    #4 - The. Whole. Hog.

    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!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Barbecue Showdown Season 1 Episode 2 - Red, White and Barbecue
    7.0/10(85 votes)

    #5 - Red, White and Barbecue

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Barbecue Showdown Season 1 Episode 5 - Raccoon, Iguana and Hare — Oh My!
    7.0/10(74 votes)

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

    S1:E5

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of Barbecue Showdown

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  7. Barbecue Showdown Season 1 Episode 7 - Barbecue Around the World
    7.0/10(68 votes)

    #7 - Barbecue Around the World

    S1:E7

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Barbecue Showdown Season 2 Episode 3 - Land, Sea & Fire
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #8 - Land, Sea & Fire

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Barbecue Showdown Season 2 Episode 4 - Breakfast Showdown
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #9 - Breakfast Showdown

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Barbecue Showdown Season 2 Episode 7 - Don't Bring a Skewer, To A Swordfight
    7.0/10(1 votes)

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

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Barbecue Showdown Season 2 Episode 8 - The Piggy Bank
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - The Piggy Bank

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Barbecue Showdown Season 3 Episode 2 - Brew and ‘Cue
    7.0/10(28 votes)

    #12 - Brew and ‘Cue

    S3:E2

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Barbecue Showdown Season 3 Episode 4 - Friday Night Bites
    7.0/10(27 votes)

    #13 - Friday Night Bites

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Barbecue Showdown Season 1 Episode 6 - Cooking It Old School
    6.9/10(68 votes)

    #14 - Cooking It Old School

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Barbecue Showdown Season 1 Episode 1 - Barbecue in the Blood
    6.7/10(106 votes)

    #15 - Barbecue in the Blood

    S1:E1

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Barbecue Showdown Season 2 Episode 6 - A Festive Feast
    6.7/10(6 votes)

    #16 - A Festive Feast

    S2:E6

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Barbecue Showdown Season 2 Episode 1 - The Fire Within
    6.6/10(49 votes)

    #17 - The Fire Within

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Barbecue Showdown Season 3 Episode 1 - Bad to the Bone
    6.6/10(47 votes)

    #18 - Bad to the Bone

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Barbecue Showdown Season 3 Episode 3 - The Trench Is Back
    6.6/10(28 votes)

    #19 - The Trench Is Back

    S3:E3

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Barbecue Showdown Season 2 Episode 5 - BBQ Trash or Treasure?
    6.3/10(6 votes)

    #20 - BBQ Trash or Treasure?

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Barbecue Showdown Season 2 Episode 2 - Saucy and Spicy
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #21 - Saucy and Spicy

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Barbecue Showdown Season 3 Episode 7 - Go Pig or Go Home
    5.2/10(34 votes)

    #22 - Go Pig or Go Home

    S3:E7

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Barbecue Showdown Season 3 Episode 6 - Brisket Battle
    4.6/10(41 votes)

    #23 - Brisket Battle

    S3:E6

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Barbecue Showdown Season 3 Episode 8 - The Final Stand
    4.3/10(37 votes)

    #24 - The Final Stand

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Slow Fast Food" is the best rated episode of "Barbecue Showdown". It scored 7.4/10 based on 30 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 7/4/2024. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Don’t Need Teeth to Eat This Beef".