Coals flame below a half-moon soapstone installed in a Divide & Conquer rack
Barragans SD

Joe Barragan

Instagram

From Backyard Flames to Full-On Flavor

Serving Family, Flavor, and Fire Through Every Plate

My name is Joe Barragan, and I started this food page, Barragans SD, to represent my family and our deep love for cooking. Cooking has been my passion since I was 12, and over the years, that passion has only grown stronger. I love creating beautiful dishes that not only taste amazing but also look just as good. Whether it’s BBQ events, demos, or food vending, I make sure every plate tells a story. Sharing my cooking on social media has connected me with so many like-minded food lovers, and I’m grateful for this journey. To me, food and music go hand in hand—together, they create the perfect experience. Excited to keep sharing this love with family, friends, and all of you!

Favorite Activity:
Gardening in our Succulent Gardens with my wife of 25 years
Fun Fact:
I've loved singing since I was young and was part of choirs and music groups all the way through high school.
Favorite Recipe:
Brisket Esquites – tender, slow-smoked chopped brisket served atop a flavorful take on classic Mexican street corn.
Hometown:
San Diego, CA

Parrilla Favorita

Kamado Joe Product of Choice

Classic Joe® Grill Series II

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Kamado Joe Preguntas y Respuestas con Joe Barragan

What inspired you to start barbecuing? How long have you been doing it?
I've been barbecuing for about 25 years now, and professionally for the past 5. My passion started young, watching the men in my family throw down carne asada and chicken on the grill every weekend. They’d also do traditional barbacoa-style cooks—whole pigs, goats, or beef cooked underground using age-old Mexican techniques. That’s where my love for cooking with fire was born.
Tell us how you got started in BBQ.
It really began with family. Growing up around these large family cookouts, seeing how food brought everyone together—it stuck with me. As I got older, I started experimenting on my own, learning to cook just about anything, anywhere. BBQ quickly became my happy place, where I feel most at peace and most creative.
What advice would you give to someone new to grilling? Any tips for new BBQ content creators?
Just be yourself. Don’t try to imitate anyone else. Be real, be respectful, and be open to learning and sharing. Connect with others who love food like you do and keep practicing. The best way to grow—both on the grill and on social—is by sharing what you genuinely love.
What’s your favorite grilling technique and why?
Low and slow smoking, hands down. There’s nothing like smoking a 20-pound brisket for 14+ hours and turning it into something truly special. Smoking 9 pork butts for 150+ people? That’s my idea of a good time. It’s an art form that I’ve grown to love more and more.
What’s your favorite recipe to cook?
One of my top favorites is smoked tri-tip crostini, topped with a homemade IPA steak sauce and finished with a drizzle of chimichurri. I serve it all on jalapeño cheddar focaccia. The flavor combo is unreal!
Anything else you’d like to share?
I’m just really thankful. Sometimes I have to pinch myself—getting to cook and share what I love on a platform like Kamado Joe? That’s a dream. It’s “Joe on the Kamado Joe,” and that’s me! I truly feel blessed to be doing this.

Productos favoritos de Joe Barragan