Learn championship-level barbecue from a five-time Louisiana State BBQ Champion in a live, interactive experience that’s anything but a typical cooking class.
Mike combines real competition expertise with a laid-back, high-energy teaching style, incredible food, and the kind of finger-licking, lip-smacking moments that keep audiences laughing, engaged, and talking long after the class ends.
Great barbecue doesn’t come from guessing — it comes from proven techniques, attention to detail, and learning from someone who’s done it at the highest level.
Our virtual classes are:
Live and highly interactive — questions are encouraged throughout the class
Easy to follow — designed for beginners through experienced backyard cooks
Technique-driven — real competition methods you can actually use
Professionally produced — multiple camera angles and clear audio so nothing is missed
Your audience doesn’t just watch — they stay engaged, ask questions, learn something new, and walk away with skills they can use immediately.
All classes are led by Mike Steele, founder of BBQ Champs Academy and five-time Louisiana State BBQ Champion (2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024).
Mike is also featured on the Food Network hit TV show BBQ USA hosted by Iron Chef Michael Symon (Season 2, Episode 5), where he showcased his competition-level barbecue expertise.
Cooking and teaching world-class barbecue is what Mike loves to do — and it shows in every class he leads.
Each class is built to deliver a smooth, professional, and engaging experience:
✔ Live instruction with real-time interaction
✔ Multiple camera angles to capture every detail
✔ Lapel microphone for crystal-clear audio
✔ Step-by-step techniques and explanations
✔ Audience questions encouraged throughout
This format keeps attendees focused, involved, and excited from start to finish.
BBQ Champs Academy specializes in corporate virtual cooking events, making these classes ideal for companies looking to engage their audience while delivering a message.
Our classes are commonly used for:
Many companies pair their presentation or product messaging with our live BBQ class, creating a high-energy experience that keeps attendees engaged while your message lands.
This unique format transforms a standard virtual meeting into a memorable, high-impact event.
We offer a wide variety of championship-level classes, including:
"Mike Steele and BBQ Champs Academy has consistently delivered top notch service for us. Mike is incredibly knowledgeable about barbeque and will answer any question. You can feel the passion through his classes. The questions he asks and the way he teaches keeps our attendees engaged during the entire class! He has made a lasting impression at each event for both us and our attendees. He by far is our number one vendor with tracked sales of $3.1 million from the 5 classes he did for us in one year! Needless to say, he is on our schedule for another round of classes!"
"The level of detail that Mike dives into during his classes in incredible. The audience is completely engaged and our reviews are always 5 stars. He is our most requested vendor. You can count on Mike to bring bold, delicious flavors in his classes, and in his delivery in unmatched."
"The Alteryx Summer BBQ Experience transformed a seasonal challenge into one of the company's most successful programs. This was the first time working with Mike and BBQ Champs Academy, and we were not disappointed. With 300 clients attending, Mike delivered an amazing class that captivated our clients from start to finish. Within one month, using rounded numbers, this program delivered over 830% ROI compared to original projections and continues to grow as the event lives on as an ondemand offering. It was so successful that we booked another event with Mike just one month later. What began as a solution to low summer engagement has become one of Alteryx's top pipeline - driving programs, second only to Free Trial. You will not be disappointed with these classes!"
"Mike has been an amazing addition to our event schedule. He is always flexible, accommodating, and incredibly easy to work with, no matter the request. The classes consistently deliver high-energy engagement, and the food is absolutely delicious. Our audiences love the experience, the feedback is always outstanding, and the results speak for themselves. Mike is our most requested vendor to bring back. We confidently recommend Mike and BBQ Champs Academy to anyone looking to host a memorable, high-impact event."
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We’ll respond with availability and help you create a memorable, high-impact event.
If you would rather call, contact us at 318-458-4900
