BBQ Lingo

Competition BBQ

A scene of organized contests (KCBS, SCA) where teams compete on appearance, taste, and tenderness across four categories.

Competition BBQ is its own world. Major sanctioning bodies like KCBS judge four categories — chicken, ribs, pork, brisket — on appearance, taste, and tenderness. Winning teams have ultra-precise techniques, custom rubs and sauces, and cook for the judges' biting standards (one bite, ranked instantly). The scene drives most innovation in modern BBQ.

Related Terms

Pitmaster

The person responsible for tending the fire and meat at a BBQ joint, competition team, or backyard cook.

Rub

A blend of dry spices applied to the surface of meat before cooking to season and form the bark.

Used In These Articles

See Competition BBQ in real-world context across our reviews, guides, and recipes.