HOUSTON BARBECUE EVENTS

Blood Bros. BBQ
HOUBBQ Festival Entry Gate
Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue

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HOUBBQ is an independent, local organization committed to producing events that recognize and promote the hard work and dedication of Houston barbecue pitmasters and restaurants. We believe Houstonians and Houston barbecue lovers deserve a world-class festival worthy of our city and our barbecue.

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NEWS

Feges BBQ tray

Texas barbecue is starting a new era. Here’s what the ‘fourth wave’ will bring.

A new era of “fourth wave” barbecue. The barbecue joint of the future will look a lot like — and a lot different from — contemporary establishments. First and foremost, the soul and foundation of Texas barbecue — the trinity of smoked brisket, pork ribs and sausage — will continue to be the focus of menus. And we will always be able to get our fill of potato salad, coleslaw and beans. Our favorite desserts — cobbler, banana pudding — will continue to provide comfort. And when you pull into the parking lot at your favorite barbecue joint in the future, you can still expect to get a good whiff of burning

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Tejas Chocolate & BBQ chile relleno sausage

Why more Texas barbecue joints are making their own sausage

Why more Texas barbecue joints are making their own sausage. One reason why barbecue is such a tough business is because the process of smoking meat can be wildly uneconomical. Take brisket, for example. A pitmaster receives a raw brisket that weighs 14 pounds. The brisket first needs to be trimmed of any extra fat and rough edges to ensure it cooks properly in the smoker. This results in about two pounds of fat being removed. After the brisket cooks for 12 or so hours, another five pounds of fat and moisture renders out of the brisket. The weight of the cooked brisket is now seven pounds. So the pitmaster

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Brisket burnt ends from BBQ Godfather in Magnolia

Burnt ends are a blank canvas for pitmasters

Burnt ends are a blank canvas for pitmasters. The story of American barbecue is often revealed in the way that discarded cuts of meat evolve into the traditional dishes of particular regional styles. Texas brisket is a classic example. As the beef industry gained momentum in the 1950s and more Americans were consuming meat, specific cuts were cleverly marketed to generate demand. “New York strip,” “filet mignon” and “chateaubriand” were fancy names given to certain cuts to increase their popularity (and price). Meanwhile, other cuts languished. Though brisket had a long history as the primary ingredient for pastrami and corned beef, it was slow to take hold in Texas barbecue.

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PARTNERS

We’re proud to announce that Goodstock by Nolan Ryan is our presenting sponsor for the 2024 Houston Barbecue Festival! Started in 2020, Goodstock has been working with top barbecue joints across Texas to provide the best in locally-sourced Black Angus briskets, beef ribs, and more.

Goodstock by Nolan Ryan

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Pitts & Spitts Barbecue Pits
J&R Manufacturing
Saint Arnold Brewing Co.
Kat Creech Events
Aegis Insurance & Financial Services
Boerne Brand Hot Sauce
We thank our partners and their dedication to Houston barbecue!
To become a sponsor, email us here.

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Header Photos by Robert J. Lerma