Aaron Franklin

Austin Texas based barbecue cook, grilling guy, restaurant owner, educator and MasterClass instructor. Aaron is a self taught bbq expert, who has quickly risen to be one of the most well known pit bosses in the barbecue world. He never cuts corners on choosing quality meats and spending the time it really takes to make the best bbq in the country. Aaron's first book, Franklin Barbecue: A Meat Smoking Manifesto has quickly become a cult classic since it was published in 2015, teaching countless budding pit-masters how to cook Central Texas style barbecue. Aaron's second book, Franklin Steak, showcases his deep love for steak by exploring dry aging, reverse searing, and other cooking methods. Franklin Smoke, Aaron's third and most recent book, addresses the mysterious area where smoker and grill intersect, describing when and how to best combine the two. Aaron is the recipient of the James Beard Award for Best Chef and has also been inducted into the American Royal Barbecue Hall of Fame. Aaron also launched his backyard bbq pit company, Franklin BBQ Pits, in 2020.