When 250 different barbecue teams are competing, as was the case this year at the 2023 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, only a very small percentage can emerge as winners. That makes walking away with a trophy even more impressive. This year, just under two-dozen teams got a little something extra to take home, and we’re not talking about meaty leftovers. 

The competition ran from Thursday, February 23 through Saturday, February 25, and it wasn’t just adults going for a trophy. This was also the third year of the junior cook-off, which challenged young people from ages 8 to 14 to prepare the best steak possible. Factors ranked were tenderness, taste and appearance/presentation. 

World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Winners 

Overall

(Also the winners for the special Go Texan invitational awards.)

• Grand Champion: Jasper County Go Texan
• Reserve Champion: McLennan County Go Texan 

Brisket

• Champion: Always Able But Confused Cookers 
• Second Place: San Augustine County Go Texan 
• Third Place: Metro Go Texan 1/BJ’s Blue Smoke BBQ 

Ribs 

• Champion: Hardin County Go Texan 
• Second Place: Metro Go Texan 5/The Worms BBQ Team 
• Third Place: Rancho Cerveza 

Chicken 

• Champion: Guzzlin’ Gourmets 
• Second Place: The Star of Texas Cooking Team 
• Third Place: Paloma Blanca

Dutch Oven Dessert 

• Champion: Orange County Go Texan: TX Ooey Gooey Pecan Cheesecake 
• Second Place: Hardin County Go Texan: Pecan Pie Cheesecake 
• Third Place: Shelby County Go Texan: Nana’s German Chocolate Cake 

Open Contest 

• Champion: Lonesome Dove Cookers: Turf and Surf 
• Second Place: Half Fast Cookers: Surf and Turf 
• Third Place: Ritch’s Raiders: Shrimp Grits 

Jr. Cook-off 

• Champion: Brodie Daniel, Metro Go Texan 1/BJ’s Blue Smoke BBQ 
• Second Place: Karley Aleksines, Williamson County 
• Third Place: Braxton Kolojaco, Justice Road 

Specialty Awards 

• Best Façade: Limestone County 
• Best Overall Theme: Saddle Tramps 
• Best Skit: BOHICA 

The barbecue cookoff always functions as one of the most popular lead-up events to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which starts this year on Tuesday, February 28 and ends on Sunday, March 19. To keep up with all the shows, features and activities, visit the Rodeo Houston website. 

Phaedra Cook

Phaedra Cook has written about Houston’s restaurant and bar scene since 2010. She was a regular contributor to My Table magazine (now closed) and was the lead restaurant critic for the Houston Press for two years, eventually being promoted to food editor. Cook founded Houston Food Finder in November 2016 and has been its editor and publisher ever since.