Tennessee is famous for its BBQ, with several distinct styles and flavors that reflect the state’s diverse regional traditions and ingredients. Tennessee hosts several BBQ competitions and festivals throughout the year that celebrate the state’s rich BBQ culture and provide an opportunity for competitors and attendees to sample a variety of BBQ styles and flavors.
Tennessee’s BBQ competition season typically runs from late spring to early fall, with most events taking place from May through September. Some notable BBQ competitions and festivals in Tennessee include the Memphis in May World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest, the Music City BBQ Festival in Nashville, and the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational BBQ in Lynchburg.
Tennessee-style BBQ is known for its use of pork, especially pork shoulder or “Boston butt,” which is slow-cooked over hickory wood until tender and flavorful. Popular dishes include pulled pork, ribs, brisket, and smoked chicken, often served with traditional Southern sides like coleslaw, mac and cheese, and baked beans.
Tennessee’s BBQ scene is heavily influenced by the state’s regional flavors and ingredients, including the use of dry rubs and sauces that often incorporate local ingredients like whiskey, molasses, and hot peppers. The state is also home to several unique regional variations of BBQ, including Memphis-style BBQ, which features a dry rub made with paprika and other spices, and East Tennessee-style BBQ, which uses a sweet and tangy tomato-based sauce.
| Mar. 17-18, 2023: Smoke on the Shores BBQ Championship, Lebanon, TN. Contact: Jason Cole, Phone: 615-219-9590, Email: nashvillesmoke@gmail.com. |
| Mar. 31 – Apr. 1, 2023: Atoka BBQ Fest, Atoka, TN. Contact: Dorothy Isbell, Phone: 901-837-5300, Email: disbell@townofatoke.com. |
| Apr. 14-15, 2023: 11th Annual Bull Moose, Somerville, TN. Contact: James Caraway, Phone: 901-937-9743, Email: jamescaraway59@yahoo.com. |
| May 5-6, 2023: Duck River Steak Cookoff, Chapel Hill, TN. Contact: Elizabeth Lipa, Phone: 615-663-4714, Email: firenationbbq@gmail.com. |
| May 17 – 20th, 2023: Memphis in May – Memphis, TN |
| October 13th – 14th, 2023: Jack Daniel’s World Championship – Lynchburg, Tennessee |
