BBQ PitMaster: Kyle Matuszewski
Kyle Matuszewski
Pitmaster and Founder, Your Behind BBQ
Growing up in the rural small town of Waddell about 30 minutes outside Phoenix, Arizona, Kyle Matuszewski had his grandfather Benny — a chef for the troops in World War II — and his father Jerry, a restaurant cook and the main cook at home, to ignite the inspiration for what would later become his passion — cooking. Kyle played sports throughout his youth, fueling a competitive side that he couldn’t have imagined then would lead him down the path to pursuing competition cooking on a national playing field. But fate has a funny way of intervening.
Kyle’s competitive streak earned him multiple football scholarship offers to play at the college level, but during the last game of the season in his senior year of high school, he tore his ACL and had to sit those dreams out. Scholarship opportunities went by the wayside and Kyle took a new path — through a job at Honeywell Aerospace, where he works today.
Kyle had to have surgery to repair his injured knee and while he recovered, his father came to stay with him to help out until he could walk again. Jerry traveled a lot when Kyle was younger, so Kyle didn’t see his dad much growing up. But what came next for them would be the humble beginnings of Your Behind BBQ, a can’t-be-stopped father-son duo that has been on a fast-paced thrill ride through the world of competition cooking that neither could have fathomed. And it all started with a television show.
During the downtime of his recovery, Kyle and his dad began watching a series called BBQ Pitmasters. They were immediately captivated and the show “lit a fire” under the duo, propelling them to learn to cook competition-style BBQ and eventually compete. That year for Christmas, Kyle bought Jerry a little offset smoker and the two got to work cooking almost every weekend, determined to teach themselves how to smoke meat on a competitive level.
In the spring of 2014, Kyle and his dad entered their first Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) competition in Scottsdale, Arizona. With their now well-seasoned offset smoker and two WSM smokers in tow, they competed against more than 100 teams that weekend — and heard their name called at the awards ceremony. With a seventh place call in chicken, Kyle and his dad got to walk the stage in their first official contest. Those in the BBQ circuit know that this is not only a rarity, but the very thing that is sure to set the hook for the BBQ obsession. And so it began for Kyle and Jerry.
Seeing the glowing look on his father’s face was priceless for Kyle, who admits his dad is his biggest critic. But also his biggest fan. Kyle immediately knew this is where he belonged and what he wanted to do — with his father by his side. After that first unforgettable moment, Your Behind BBQ started seeking out BBQ events, doing about two each month and even traveling out of state to compete.
No rest for the weary, Kyle continued to use his competitive edge to push himself to get better, cooking for practice week in and week out. He loved the atmosphere of the contests, which he likens to a big tailgate party — making great friends that have become like family, having some drinks around a fire, cooking great food and serving it to the masses. In fact, it was that “People’s Choice” element of the competitions which sparked another fire for Your Behind BBQ. Kyle enjoyed serving samples to the crowd and loved seeing their eyes light up when they tasted his food. That feeling led Kyle and his father to become involved in events in beyond competition — vending.
Going all in once again, in 2018 Kyle sold his house and spent almost every penny he had to build the kind of BBQ trailer that dreams are made of. Custom designed to serve as a functional cook trailer for both competition use and for vending, the trailer allowed Kyle and his dad to take Your Behind BBQ to the next level. They began participating in major crowd-drawing events, serving BBQ at festivals such as Glendale Glitters, and catering weddings and other private events, which they still do to date.
That same year, Kyle began competing in Steak Cookoff Association (SCA) contests, which, in addition to steak, offered a wide variety of competition in the way of ancillary contests. He might not admit it himself, but Kyle quickly became the king of the ancillaries — winning nine first place ancillary contests in 2019 alone, not to mention multiple top 10 steak calls including his first No. 1 in that same year.
He loved the creativity that came with these ancillary challenges — and he exceeded those challenges with wildly innovative entries that judges couldn’t get enough of. His passion burned a little brighter and he began to chase points on a national level.
Then COVID hit. With more time at home to cook and cook… and cook, Kyle honed his craft with intensity. Once contests resumed in 2021, he competed in more than 50 SCA contents, earning two first place steak awards, 13 first place ancillary awards, 14 second place awards, 11 Top Ten steak calls and the title of SCA World Ancillary Reserve Grand Champion.
Still competing in KCBS contests, Kyle has earned four grand championships (two in partnership with another team), 19 first place awards, 40 Top Ten calls, five KCBS ancillary 180 pins (with a perfect-perfect score, another rare feat in the competitive BBQ game!), and 14th place in the rib category at the prestigious 2021 American Royal World Series of BBQ Invitational. He also earned seventh place in the dessert category at the 2021 Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational BBQ competition in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Kyle has participated in more than food competitions in 11 states since he and his father started Your Behind BBQ.
While Kyle enjoys the ride that Your Behind BBQ is taking, he’s in the driver’s seat — steering his fate and pursuing his next challenge. Continuing to compete in any type of food contest he can, he wants to see Your Behind BBQ become a household name. He wants to help teach moms and dads — the weekend backyard BBQ warriors — how to create outstanding meals to feed their family and friends, and perhaps open up a small restaurant one day. Meanwhile, he’s happy chasing his dreams with no limits and having fun doing it… with father by his side.
Follow Kyle on his journey:
www.youtube.com/c/YourBehindBBQ/featured
www.facebook.com/kyle.matuszewski.1
www.instagram.com/your_behind_bbq_/