Moe Cason
Moe Cason is a self-taught Iowa pitmaster, barbecue video creator, TV judge, and cookbook author who shares his love of cooking with fire and smoke.
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Latest
Moe’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
National Geographic
National Geographic
Destination AmericaOverview
- Home
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Work
- Pitmaster, cooking creator, television judge, and cookbook author
- Started competing
- 2006
- Breakout
- BBQ Pitmasters, as a competitor and later a judge
- Before barbecue
- U.S. Navy service aboard USS Missouri and work at Des Moines Water Works
Mini bio
How it started.
Born and raised in Des Moines, Moe learned from his grandmother Margaret Cason’s cooking and taught himself the craft of barbecue. He served in the U.S. Navy aboard USS Missouri, then worked as a water treatment operator at Des Moines Water Works while building his barbecue skills.
From cook-offs to television.
Moe began competing in 2006 and founded Ponderosa Barbeque in Des Moines. Competition cooking opened the door to BBQ Pitmasters and BBQ Pit Wars, where viewers got to know him as both a competitor and a judge.
Taking the fire further.
In 2022, he hosted National Geographic’s World of Flavor with Big Moe Cason, exploring the links between American barbecue and open-fire cooking in other cultures. His 2024 debut cookbook collected 75 family-favorite recipes. In 2026, he joined the judging panel of Food Network’s Pitmasters.
Creditschronological, newest first
Television
- 2026PitmastersJudge
- 2022World of Flavor with Big Moe CasonHost
- 2014BBQ Pit WarsCompetitor, Ponderosa BBQ
- 2010sBBQ PitmastersCompetitor and judge
Books
- 2024Big Moe’s Big Book of BBQAuthor
Awards
Quotes
I learned how to cook in my backyard, and I just kept working on my craftMoe Cason, The Peninsula
Speaking at the Open Fire Food Festival in Doha in January 2026 about learning to manage fire in different conditions.
Trivia
- The USS Missouri, where Moe served, is nicknamed “Big Mo.”
- His Route83 signature knives were developed with wider handles to better fit larger hands.
- His cookbook includes family-style sides such as cornbread, collard greens, and spicy mac and cheese.
Find Moe
Follow Moe for barbecue, cooking tips, and news from the road.
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