The Art of Barbecue

The Art of Barbecue

In Texas, barbecuing is so much more than tossing meat on a grill. It’s an art form. And it takes uncommon dedication to perfect the craft. Pitmasters wake up early in the morning to start smoking meats, and they keep a watchful eye throughout the day on their barbecue creations.

“If you’re firing up the backyard grill to cook some hotdogs and hamburgers, that’s what we call grilling,” says Katrina Human, pitmaster at Smokey Mo’s Evans Crossing location. “But turning out great smoked meats is barbecue, and that’s a work of art. Cooking the meat just right and adding the right blend of seasonings is a labor of love. Every step of the process affects the taste and the dining experience.”

What It Takes to Do It Right

 For beef and pork, a BBQ Dry Rub – deliciously spiced and created especially for Smokey Mo’s – adds extra zest. The rub is applied in a medium-thick layer over each meat and then patted into place. For poultry, like turkey and chicken, we preserve a fat layer to hold in the moisture. Cooking chicken with the skin on serves this purpose. For turkey, we add the BBQ Dry Rub to our in-house “secret sauce” to seal in the flavor and juices. The meat is covered and put back in the cooler so the spices can saturate.

Then, it’s smoking time! At Smokey Mo’s, meats are cooked low and slow for a juicy, tender result. Combination wood and gas pits help keep consistent temperatures and moisture. Brisket is cooked for 10 to 12 hours, while the other meats stay on the pit for 2 to 2 ½ hours.

Pitmasters keep an eye on the pits for temperature and do a final check when meats are nearing doneness.

It’s a Texas Thang

Other states may have their signature barbecue dish, but the Lone Star State is king of them all! At Smokey Mo’s, for instance, the selection spans the meat universe – from brisket to chicken, pork ribs to sausage, chopped beef to turkey.

It’s no surprise that Texas has more BBQ restaurants in the U.S. than any other state: 2,238 and counting. And the tradition is so woven into Texas culture that the topic has its own movie: “Barbecue: A Texas Love Story.”

Experience the Art  

If you’re looking for BBQ done right in Texas, Smokey Mo’s BBQ is the place to go. Stop by one of our 16 central Texas restaurants and revel in our mouth-watering meats – accompanied by a wide array of classic BBQ sides and delectable home-made desserts. Dine in, carry out, or call or click in a delivery from Door Dash or Uber Eats.

“Meat” your neighborhood BBQ artists at Smokey Mo’s!