pitmaster

noun

pit·​mas·​ter ˈpit-ˌma-stər 

variants or pit master

plural pitmasters or pit masters

: a person who oversees the cooking done in a barbecue pit : a professional or skilled barbecuer

"This is good, really good," Allan says, tasting pitmaster Scott Smith's first cured pork belly. "I wouldn't change a thing."

—John T. Edge

He was one of Houston's most celebrated pitmasters and helped to kick off the barbecue renaissance here.

—J. C. Reid

Robert Polk, the pit master I met earlier this morning, comes in carrying a gorgeous brisket fresh from the smoker and hands it off to Smitty, who starts slicing it to make sandwiches and plates.

—Patricia Sharpe

Examples of pitmaster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In Fort Worth, for pitmaster Zain Shafi, barbecue was the means. — Maryam Jillani, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

He has been replaced at Goldee’s by Texas Monthly top 10 pitmaster Zain Shafi, formerly of Sabar BBQ in Fort Worth. — Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2026

From El Paso to Houston, and the Hill Country to Dallas, this year’s festivals bring together the best chefs, winemakers, and pitmasters who make Texas food worth planning a weekend around. — Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2026

The contest gives home pitmasters a chance to put their backyard barbecue setups to the test, and potentially earn a spot at one of the state's barbecue events. — Cbs Texas Staff, CBS News, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

pit entry 1 (in barbecue pit) + master entry 1

First Known Use

1984, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pitmaster

• bandmaster
• broadcaster
• cadastre
• disaster
• forecaster
• grandmaster
• headmaster
• newscaster
• paymaster
• pilaster
• postmaster
• roadmaster