Pitmaster Christie Vanover (original) (raw)
Christie Vanover is a champion pitmaster, Food Network personality – BBQ Brawl Season 4 and Pitmasters – cookbook author and founder of Girls Can Grill, one of the most influential BBQ brands in the country.
A multi-grand champion on the KCBS and SCA circuits, she finished 5th in brisket at the Jack Daniel’s World Championships in 2022, holds certification as a judge at the world championship level and was named Nevada BBQ Team of the Year multiple times.
Beyond the competition circuit, she organizes the BBQ Jackpot, the largest BBQ competition on the west coast. She also cofounded the Live Fire Cooking Association and serves on the BBQ World Cup Pitmaster Council.
Christie has spent a decade building the sport of BBQ from the inside out, and she’s just getting started.
Learn more at christievanover.com.
History
Christie didn’t grow up behind a grill. She came to live fire cooking in her 20s, inspired by Steven Raichlen’s books and Bobby Flay’s TV shows, and humbled by her first few attempts. Her father-in-law stepped in with Southern tricks-of-the-trade, and she never looked back.
Since those early lessons, she has traveled to 26 countries and all 50 U.S. states, picking up live fire techniques in Asia, Europe, Central America and across every region of the United States. While living near Austin, Texas, BBQ stopped being a hobby and became a way of life.
Girls Can Grill launched in 2015 as a way to get more people (especially women) to grab the tongs and own the fire. What started as a recipe site has grown into a full-scale BBQ brand with 1.8 million annual readers, 600-plus recipes, thousands of pro tips, award-winning rubs and two cookbooks.
Before trading a government badge for a pitmaster apron, Christie spent more than 20 years in communications for the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and NBC, and served as a National Park Service ranger for eight years. She holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and Mass Communications. When she’s not competing or cooking, she’s in her RV exploring national parks and cooking over a campfire under the stars.
My Most Popular Recipes
Christie’s recipes and story have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, CNN, Salon, Food52, Tasting Table, Apartment Therapy, Well + Good and MSN. She is a culinary expert for Tasting Table. Visit the media page to read articles and download podcast appearances.
Partnerships
Christie Vanover and Girls Can Grill have teamed up with dozens of leading companies in the grilling and barbecue industry, including Ninja Kitchen, BBQ Guys, Cuisinart, Lodge Cast Iron, Thermoworks, Oklahoma Joes, Hunsaker Smokers, Cowboy Charcoal, Breeo, PK Grills, Cutco Knives, Blackstone, Barbecues Galore, Grillworks, Jack Daniels, Hestan, Camp Chef, Charbroil, Weber and many more.
I have also partnered with the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, the National Pork Council, the National Turkey Federation, Certified Angus Beef, Snake River Farms, Swift Meats and Honeysuckle White.
FAST FACTS
- Brisket ranked 5th in the world at the Jack Daniel’s World Championships
- Kansas City Barbecue Society Certified Barbeque Judge
- Has judged the Jack Daniel’s World Championships and American Royal
- BBQ Brawl Season 4 contestant | Pitmasters premieres July 13
- Organizer of BBQ Jackpot, the largest BBQ competition on the west coast
- Cofounder of the Live Fire Cooking Association
- More than 30 grills and smokers in the backyard at any given time
- Pitmaster for KCBS Team Girls Can Grill
- Masters of Beef Advocacy Top of the Class Graduate
- Favorite cut of meat? Ribeye, more specifically spinalis
- Gas or Charcoal? Gas on weekdays, charcoal on weekends
- Dry or Wet? I don’t use a lot of sauce. Good BBQ doesn’t need it
- Strangest thing you’ve grilled? Cinnamon rolls or alligator
- What region of BBQ do you prefer? I like it all, baby, from coast-to-coast and sea to shining sea
- What wood are you smoking with these days? I’m on a cherry kick these days; it’s great with beef
- What are you grilling on? Always changing because there’s always something new to test
Let’s Work Together
Christie Vanover and Girls Can Grill partner with leading brands in the grilling and BBQ industry on sponsored content, recipe development, product testing, competition consulting and live events.
Past and current partners include Ninja Kitchen, Cowboy Charcoal, Lodge Cast Iron, Thermoworks, Certified Angus Beef, Snake River Farms, Jack Daniels, Camp Chef, Weber and many more.
If your brand is ready to reach a passionate, loyal BBQ audience and tap into one of the most recognized names in the sport, visit the services page.
Team Girls Can Grill started participating in BBQ competitions in May 2017
Team of the Year Results
2025 Nevada Barbecue Association Team of the Year 3rd Place
2024 California Barbecue Association Team of the Year 2nd Place – Dessert Category
2023 Nevada Barbecue Association Team of the Year Grand Champion
2023 Southwest Pro Team of the Year 2nd Place
2022 Nevada Barbecue Association Team of the Year 3rd Place
2021 Nevada Barbecue Association Pro KCBS Team of the Year
Reserve Grand Champion
2021 Nevada Barbecue Association Pro SCA Team of the Year
Reserve Grand Champion
2020 Nevada Barbecue Association Pro Team of the Year
Grand Champion
2019 Nevada Barbecue Association Pro Team of the Year
Reserve Grand Champion
2019 Nevada Barbecue Association Backyard Team of the Year
Reserve Grand Champion
2019 Arizona Barbecue Team of the Year
10th Overall, 6th chicken, 10th ribs, 4th pork, 13th brisket
2018 Nevada Barbecue Association Backyard Team of the Year
Reserve Grand Champion
2017 Nevada Barbecue Association Backyard Team of the Year
Reserve Grand Champion
COMPETITION RESULTS 2026
Best Dam – 2026
2nd Ribs
1st Dessert
Havasu – 2026 1st Mushroom
Yuma – 2026 1st Dessert
Slaborama – 2026
1st Cook’s Choice
3rd Sausage
6th Appetizer
Competition Results 2025
Boise – 2025
9th Overall
6th Pork
Salt Lake City – 2025
6th Ribs
7th Pork
Blackfoot – 2025
3rd Chicken
8th Brisket
Best Dam – 2025
10th Overall
3rd Chicken
10th Pork
Havasu – 2025
7th Overall
2nd Ribs
4th Pork
National Hardware Show – 2025
Grand Champion
1st Appetizer
1st Burger
Yuma – 2025
9th Pork
5th Brisket
Competition Results 2024
Riverside – 2024 11th Overall
Best Dam – 2024
10th Overall
9th Brisket
Yuma – 2024 5th Pork
Slaborama – 2024 11th Overall
Competition Results 2023
Ogden – 2023
Grand Champion
5th Chicken
3rd Ribs
1st Brisket
Best Dam – 2023
6th Overall
7th Chicken
3rd Ribs
6th Pork
Perris – 2023
6th Overall
4th Chicken
3rd Brisket
Yuma – 2023
11th Overall
8th Ribs
7th Pork
Competition Results 2022
Indio – 2022
10th Overall
1st Chicken
8th Pork
Jack Daniel’s World Championships – 2022
31st Overall
21st Pork
5th Brisket
Payson – 2022
Reserve Grand Champion
2nd Chicken
4th Ribs
2nd Brisket
Kanab – 2022
10th Overall
2nd Brisket
Reata Roundup – 2022
Grand Champion
4th Chicken
2nd Ribs
5th Pork
5th Brisket
Sparks – 2022
5th Chicken
7th Ribs
10th Pork
3rd Brisket
Best Dam – 2022
Grand Champion
1st Chicken
3rd Ribs
7th Pork
4th Brisket
SCA World Championships Ancillary – 2022
Tied for 11th Overall
Slab-O-Rama – 2022
9th Ribs
Competition Results 2021
Indio – 2021
Grand Champion
7th Ribs
1st Pork
7th Brisket
Kanab – 2021
4th Pork
Starbase – 2021
Grand Champion
1st Ribs
2nd Sauce
Best Dam – 2021
8th Pork
3rd Brisket
Competition Results 2020
Kanab – 2020
9th Pork
NorUt – 2020
4th Overall
6th Ribs
7th Brisket
Slab-O-Rama – 2020
1st Brisket
Red Rock BBQ – 2020
3rd Overall
1st Brisket
3rd Pork
Competition Results 2019
Barbecue Stampede – 2019
10th Ribs
Mazatzal Grill Masters BBQ Competition – 2019
1st Pork
Western Legends Roundup – 2019
4th Overall
8th Chicken
1st Pork10th Brisket
Smokey Hayes – 2019
4th Overall
7th Ribs
2nd Pork
Slab-O-Rama– 2019
1st Chicken
Competition Results 2018
Downtown Throwdown – 2018
8th Ribs
Viola’s Rib Cookoff – 2018
Grand Champion
Mazatzal Grill Masters BBQ Competition – 2018
6th Pork
Southern Utah BBQ Festival – 2018
8th Overall
10th Ribs
7th Pork
4th Brisket
Nevada Barbecue Association Spring Training – 2018
Grand Champion
5th Chicken
2nd Ribs
1st Pork
3rd Brisket
Competition Results 2017
Downtown Throw Down – 2017
4th Chicken
11th Pork
Pigs 4 the Kids – 2017
4th Overall
5th Beans
2nd Hog Wild
4th Ribs
Best Dam BBQ – 2017 12th Brisket