Bacon Explosion

Our Story

Jason and Megan Day are the husband and wife pitmasters behind the professional barbecue team Burnt Finger BBQ, located in the barbecue capital of the world, Kansas City. They are educators, authors, product designers, and ambassadors to the art and culture of live-fire cooking. They also have a knack for winning!

Memphis in May 2nd place ribs

This World Champion duo has walked the biggest stages in barbecue to collect top finishes at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue, Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, the World Food Championships and hundreds of state and local events.

Burnt Finger BBQ at the American Royal

Jason's signature recipe, Bacon Explosion™, was catapulted into viral stardom by a front page feature in the New York Times. Named "the most downloaded recipe in the history of the internet", Bacon Explosion has fans across the world and instantly made Burnt Finger BBQ a prominent figure in the barbecue industry. His debut cookbook, "BBQ Makes Everything Better", was named "The Best Barbecue Book in the World" by the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. 

Burnt Finger BBQ cooking Bacon Explosion on FoxNews

Megan was named on of Southern Living's "Most Influential Women in Southern Barbecue".  She is a Chopped Grill Masters Champion and is regularly seen promoting barbecue on the TODAY Show and Food Network shows like The Kitchen, Chopped, BBQ Brawl and Beat Bobby Flay.

Pitmaster Megan Day in Southern Living Magazine

The couple is prominently featured in the film “Smoke and Ribbons: A DocQmentary” streaming on Amazon Prime, and in 2016 Jason was featured in the Emmy-nominated documentary "Burnt Legend: The Story of Burnt Ends". Over the years, they have done many campaigns, classes, keynote presentations, demos, and event-emceeing gigs.

Burnt Finger BBQ featured in competition barbecue documentary

Jason and Megan have two junior teammates, Hank and Meredith. The “Little Fingers” have been to more barbecue events than most grownups can dream about. Hank and Meredith are both old enough to compete in KidsQ competitions and they have their eyes on the prize too.

Family Photo of Burnt Finger BBQ

Recent Sizzle

2024

  • Burnt Finger BBQ wins "Best Sauce on the Planet" at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue

  • Burnt Finger BBQ wins 1st Place Tomato Sauce at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue

  • Burnt Finger BBQ wins 1st Place Mustard Sauce at Memphis in May

  • Burnt Finger BBQ wins 1st Place Wings at Memphis in May

  • Pitmaster Megan Day appears on TODAY Show to promote Kansas City barbecue for Super Bowl LVIII

2023

  • Burnt Finger BBQ wins Side Dish Grand Championship at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue

  • Burnt Finger BBQ wins 2nd place Seafood, 8th place Ribs at Memphis in May

  • Burnt Finger BBQ appears on Food Network's BBQ USA with Chef Michael Symon in Season 2, Episode 1

  • Burnt Finger BBQ appears at the NFL Draft's Smokeshow Stage to showcase Kansas City barbecue for NFL Draft attendees

  • Pitmaster Megan Day hosts the Baltimore Ravens Draft Party to give the Ravens Flock a taste of Kansas City

  • Pitmaster Megan Day appears on TODAY Show to promote Kansas City barbecue for Super Bowl LVII

2022

  • Burnt Finger BBQ wins 1st place Tomato Barbecue Sauce at Memphis in May for Spicy KC

  • Burnt Finger BBQ wins 2nd place Beans at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue

  • Pitmaster Megan Day is invited to be a featured chef at Montana Master Grillers® at The Resort at Paws Up.

  • Pitmaster Megan Day appears on Food Network's "Beat Bobby Flay" in Season 31, Episode 5 BBQ'd Revenge.

2021

 

  • Pitmaster Megan Day appears on the TODAY Show with Hoda and Jenna.

  • Pitmaster Megan Day appears in Season 2 of Food Network's BBQ Brawl.

  • Pitmaster Megan Day takes 2nd place at The Royal Oak Invitational SCA Steak Contest and in response, Burnt Finger BBQ launches the Steakhouse Grill Seasoning she used.

2020

  • Burnt Finger BBQ wins 1st place sauce and 1st place rub at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue "Best Sauce on the Plant" and "Best Rub on the Plant" contest.

  • Pitmaster Megan Day, appears on the TODAY Show with Hoda and Jenna, Food Network's "CHOPPED Tournament of Champions ", and Southern Living TV's "BBQ & A".

2019

  • Pitmaster Megan Day, is named one of Southern Living Magazine's "Most Influential Women in Southern Barbecue".

  • Burnt Finger BBQ wins 1st place Mustard Barbecue Sauce at Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest

  • Burnt Finger BBQ wins 2nd place Rub at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue for Smokey KC.

2018

  • Burnt Finger BBQ wins 2nd place Ribs and 3rd overall at the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest.

  • Burnt Finger BBQ launches a line of fully-cooked barbecue meats on the Home Shopping Network.

  • Pitmaster Megan Day appears on the TODAY Show to share summer barbecue recipes.

  • Pitmasters Megan and Jason Day appear on Food Network's "The Kitchen" and share recipes for Grilled Potato Salad and Chipotle Barbecue Sauce.

2017

  • "Smoke & Ribbons: a DocQumentary" debuts on Amazon Prime. Filmmakers follow Burnt Finger BBQ over several years as they compete in the prestigious, American Royal World Series of Barbecue.

  • Pitmaster Megan Day is crowned a Food Network Chopped Grill Master Champion in her Season 4 episode debut and appears in an NFL kickoff cooking segment on the TODAY Show.

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