CHAT

In stark contrast to his low-and-slow method of smoking brisket, Matt Pittman has blazed a white-hot trail to the top of the barbecue world.

Pittman launched Meat Church as a side hustle after appearing on the TV show BBQ Pitmasters in 2014 and ran it out of his house in Waxahachie, Texas. When the company eclipsed $1 million in sales in three years, Pittman—at age 44—retired from his corporate job to focus solely on barbecue.

“It was a hobby at first,” he says. “But the minute I realized I could make this thing work, it was the most freeing moment of my entire life.”

With his newfound freedom, Pittman has become one of the country’s most sought-after pitmasters. He’s cooked for numerous professional teams and athletes, including Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, as well as for country music stars George Strait, Luke Bryan, and Miranda Lambert.

But his favorite celebrity chef experience came last December when he delivered a holiday meal to former President George W. Bush and his family. Bush took Pittman and his wife on an impromptu tour of his Crawford, Texas, ranch. “It was the coolest hour of my life,” Pittman says.

The relationships he forged as a Phi Delta Theta member sparked Pittman’s barbecue journey. Shortly after graduating, he and two fraternity brothers began entering competitions. He then honed his grilling skills in the parking lots of old Texas Stadium, eventually earning the title of “king of Dallas Cowboys tailgates.”

“I became the go-to guy at tailgates,” he says, “and now it’s turned into a crazy big deal.”

So big that he recently appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to compete in a Super Bowl-themed cookoff.

Pittman says his UTA finance degree provided a foundation for success. Beyond that, he credits an enterprising spirit and strong work ethic.

“Entrepreneur is my favorite word in the English language,” he says. “If you’re doing what you’re truly passionate about and you’re working hard, you’re going to be successful. And there’s nothing more rewarding.”