Christie Vanover | Champion Pitmaster | Founder of Girls Can Grill (original) (raw)

Christie Vanover — Champion Pitmaster

Christie

Vanover

Christie Vanover left a 20-year career in government communications to compete on the BBQ circuit and build one of America’s most-read grilling sites. She competes, judges, organizes and teaches. And she’s just getting started.

4Grand Championships

49KCBS Contests

5thBrisket, Jack Daniel’s WC 2022

1.8M+Annual Readers

1,000+Pro Tips

600+Published Recipes

Competition BBQ

On the Circuit

KCBS Career Record

Grand Championships4

Reserve Grand Championships1

Total Contests49

Overall Top Tens18

First Place Calls (KCBS)

Chicken3

Pork3

Brisket3

Ribs0

Top Ten Calls by Category

5th

Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue — 2022

Brisket category. One of the most prestigious invitational BBQ competitions in the world, held annually in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Certified BBQ judge at world championship level.

KCBS CompetitorKansas City Barbeque Society circuit

SCA Competitor + JudgeSteak Cookoff Association circuit

2023 Nevada BBQ Team of the YearNevada BBQ Association

Certified BBQ JudgeWorld championship level

Television & Media

On Screen

Food Network Pitmasters, Premiers July 13, 2026 — Contestant
Food Network BBQ Brawl, Season 4 — Contestant
Ninja Kitchen —Infomercial appearance; beta tester; author of Ignited Q, a Ninja FlexFlame cookbook

Industry

Building the Sport

Organizer — BBQ Jackpot, largest BBQ competition on the west coast
KCBS Organizer Committee Member — Kansas City Barbeque Society
BBQ World Cup Pitmaster Council Member

Products & Publications

The Lineup

BBQ Rubs

GCG Rub

Brisket Rub

SPG+ guajillo pepper and honey habanero. 16-mesh coarse black pepper for a bold competition crust.

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GCG Rub

Chicken Rub

Rosemary, thyme, lemon and garlic. Herby, bright, built for poultry and vegetables.

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GCG Rub

Pork Rub

Molasses, honey, coconut sugar, five chiles. Sweet, smoky, deep mahogany bark.

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GCG Kit

Pastrami Kit

Brine, meat prep bag and salt-free rub. Deli-style pastrami at home.

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Cookbooks

Cookbook

Holiday Grilling

111 recipes taking you from Thanksgiving through Valentine’s Day. Everything you need to grill and smoke through the holiday season.

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Cookbook

Ignited Q

Recipes developed and tested specifically for the Ninja FlexFlame. Smoked brisket, crispy wings, seared steaks, flame-kissed vegetables and crowd-pleasing sides.

Buy on Amazon

Competition BBQ Courses

Entry Level

1-Meat Course

Master a single competition meat category. Perfect for competitors just starting out on the circuit.

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Advanced

4-Meat Course

Full competition prep covering all four KCBS categories: chicken, ribs, pork and brisket.

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Elite

Personal Coaching