Christopher Prieto (chef)

Christopher Prieto is an American pitmaster, restaurateur and cookbook author.[1] He is co-author of Southern Living’s Ultimate Book of BBQ.[2] In 2025, he was named a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southeast.[3] He has been featured in Southern Living[4], and his restaurant has received Michelin Guide to the American South with a Bib Gourmand designation.[5]

Biography

He was raised in Texas by parents who immigrated from Puerto Rico.[6] His early exposure to barbecue came through family gatherings and meals.[7] Prieto attended East Carolina University, where he studied prior to launching his professional barbecue career.[8]

Career

Prieto began competing in barbecue competitions at approximately age 21. Over the next 14 years, he traveled across the United States on the barbecue circuit.[9] He led winning teams in the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KSBS).[10] In 2011, he was named Grand Champion at the Beer, Bourbon, & Barbecue Festival in Cary, North Carolina.[3]

Before opening his own restaurant, he worked for nearly a decade as a manager and trainer for Carrabba’s Italian Grill.[11]

In March 2020, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Prieto opened Prime Barbecue in Knightdale, North Carolina.[12] The restaurant has been mentioned in the inaugural Michelin Guide for the American South with a Bib Gourmand designation.[13] It has been featured in Southern Living’s list of the 50 best barbecue joints in the South and consistently placed as the top barbecue restaurant in North Carolina in Southern Living’s South’s Best Poll.[14] The restaurant has also been ranked in Texas Monthly’s list of top Texas-style barbecue establishments outside Texas.[4] In 2023, Prieto expanded his culinary offerings with Primo Latin Cuisine, a food truck located behind Prime Barbecue. The concept celebrates his Puerto Rican heritage through Latin-inspired dishes that incorporate barbecue techniques and flavors.[15] Prieto’s second restaurant, Prime STQ, a hybrid steakhouse and barbecue concept, is under construction at the Horseshoe Hub development in Durham, North Carolina. The restaurant is slated to open in 2026 and has been highlighted by Axios Raleigh as one of the most anticipated restaurant openings in the Research Triangle area.[16][17]

Prieto has participated on competitive national television programs focused on barbecue and competitive cooking, including BBQ Pitmasters[18], BBQ Brawl with Bobby Flay and Michael Symon[19], Chopped[20], and Man Fire Food.[21] He has contributed as a co-author to Southern Living’s Ultimate Book of BBQ: The Complete Year-Round Guide to Grilling and Smoking.[22]

Awards

See also

References

  1. ^ Demirci, Mehmet (2021-06-25). "2021 40 Under 40 Awards: Christopher Prieto with Prime Barbecue (Gallery)". Triangle Business Journal. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  2. ^ Weigl, Andrea; Bettis, Kara. "Barbecue champ Chris Prieto writes cookbook". The News & Observer.
  3. ^ a b Chou, Renee (2025-02-13). "Prime Barbecue pitmaster Christopher Prieto has barbecue down to a science". WRAL.com. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  4. ^ a b "Serving Those Who Served—How Christopher Prieto Of North Carolina's Prime Barbecue Supports Veterans Through His Craft". Southern Living. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  5. ^ "Prime Barbecue Pitmaster Christopher Prieto relocated from his native Texas to North Carolina". MICHELIN Guide. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  6. ^ Purvis, Kathleen (2025-04-29). "The Chef's Muse". Our State. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  7. ^ kyle (2025-05-22). "Beyond the Flame: Pitmaster Christopher Prieto's Secret Ingredient for a Great Barbecue—Plus a Recipe! - Midtown Magazine". www.midtownmag.com. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  8. ^ Rice, Julia (2024-08-13). "High on the Hog at the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival". Our State. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  9. ^ "Christopher Prieto". Pinehurst Barbecue Festival. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  10. ^ Coley, Ben (2024-11-18). "Award-Winning Pitmaster Christopher Prieto to Open Barbecue Steakhouse Concept in North Carolina". FSR magazine. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  11. ^ dathan (2026-01-05). "Meet the Chef – Christopher Prieto". www.5westmag.com. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  12. ^ Kazsuk, Dathan (2020-05-12). "Triangle's newest barbecue spot opens in middle of pandemic – here's how it's going". Triangle Business Journal. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  13. ^ Vaughn, Daniel (2024-08-28). "These Are the Best Texas-Style Barbecue Joints in America". Texas Monthly. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  14. ^ Moss, Robert F. "The No. 1 BBQ Joint In The South Is In South Carolina—See The List Of Top 50". Southern Living.
  15. ^ "Christopher Prieto Brings Prime STQ to RTP". Triangle Around Town. 20 November 2024.
  16. ^ Kruchten, Lauren. "Combined Barbecue Restaurant/Steakhouse Coming to RTP". Raleigh Magazine.
  17. ^ Eanes, Zachery (9 January 2026). "The most anticipated restaurant opening in the Triangle in 2026". Axios.
  18. ^ Cahn, Lauren (2021-06-08). "The Truth About Christopher Prieto From BBQ Brawl Season 2". Mashed. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  19. ^ "Champion pitmaster Christopher Prieto cooks up steaks and spiritual encouragement at LU Convocation". Liberty News. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
  20. ^ "Christopher Prieto of Prime Barbecue to Appear on Chopped: Grill Masters". Tabletop Media Group. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  21. ^ "Chopped Grill Masters, Season 4: Meet the Grillers". Food Com. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  22. ^ "Chris Prieto and the Ultimate Book of Barbecue". Dave-DeWitt.com. 2015-07-11. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  23. ^ "The 2025 James Beard Award Semifinalists". www.jamesbeard.org.
  24. ^ "2021 40 Under 40 Awards: Christopher Prieto with Prime Barbecue (Gallery)". Triangle Business Journal. 25 June 2021.
  25. ^ "Prime Barbecue's Award-Winning Pitmaster Christopher Prieto Announces NEW Barbecue-Meets-Steakhouse Concept for Horseshoe at Hub RTP". Research Triangle Park. 18 November 2024.
  26. ^ "Christopher Prieto". Pinehurst Barbecue Festival.
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