Beef Month Spotlight: Expert Pitmaster Erica Roby Shares Beginner-Friendly Grilling Tips for Memorial Day

The award-winning pitmaster discusses choosing the right beef cuts, managing grill heat and building confidence behind the grill.

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (RFD News) — As families prepare for Memorial Day weekend cookouts, many consumers are heading to the meat counter looking for the right cuts to throw on the grill.

Award-winning pitmaster Erica Roby joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report in honor of National Beef Month to share grilling advice for both new and experienced cooks.

In her conversation with RFD News, Roby discussed the growing number of women stepping behind the grill and shared advice for building confidence during cookout season.

Roby also touched on how consumers can choose the right beef cuts for different occasions, common mistakes people make when managing heat zones, and some simple recipe ideas for beginner grillers.

All month long, RFD News is highlighting beef producers who help feed families across the country and around the world. To find more stories and recipes that celebrate beef, CLICK HERE: May is National Beef Month!

Beef Month Spotlight: Recipes
RFD-TV’s Tammi Arender visited ZK Ranches in Springfield, Tennessee, to cook some of their homegrown beef, including Date Night Filet Mignon!
Quick to prep and packed with flavor, this dish is a bold way to kick up any weekend spread.
Justin Wilson’s Seven Steaks Étouffée is a slow-simmered Cajun beef stew made with 7-bone chuck steak. It’s perfect served over rice (or Étouffée) for a rich, comforting meal.
Justin Wilson’s Hominy and Chili Casserole is a hearty, flavor-packed dish that combines canned ingredients for a comforting Cajun twist.
Tender beef shanks slow-baked with carrots, potatoes, and onions in a wine-spiked Cajun sauce—sealed in a cooking bag to lock in every bit of bold, savory flavor.
Justin Wilson’s Peanut Butter Baked Beef Brisket is a rich, tender roast slow-baked with a savory peanut butter sauce. You’ll love this bold twist on classic braised brisket, garontee!
Slow-simmered Cajun beans cooked in corned beef stock for rich, Southern flavor—just like Justin Wilson used to make.
A rich, flavorful stock made by simmering corned beef with Cajun seasonings. Justin Wilson’s Eazy Corned Beef Stock recipe adds depth to beans, stews, and classic Southern dishes.
A down-home, one-pot wonder with a Cajun kick.
This cast-iron Meat Lover’s Pizza is loaded with beef, sausage, ham, pepperoni—and ALL the cheese. It’s deep-dish, crispy-edged, and unapologetically extra.
All your cheeseburger faves—on a pizza! Beef, bacon, pickles, and melty cheese in every bite. It’s bold, beefy, and totally crave-worthy.
Paula pays tribute to Savannah’s rich Irish history by making a traditional Shepherd’s Pie with a twist! She mixes ground beef and lamb in this ultra decadent dish.
A Southern comfort classic! Justin Wilson’s Cheesy Hamburger Grits blend beef, cheddar, and bold seasoning for a hearty, flavorful meal.
Lean Ground Beef, fresh parsley, and cumin are formed into meatballs and served in flatbreads for a light and fresh summer main dish.
These Easy Roast Beef Sliders are perfect for potlucks and parties, or a quick and easy dinner main dish you can prepare in advance. Thinly sliced Deli Roast Beef is sandwiched between rolls and baked with cheese until golden and delicious.
This quick and easy beef recipe comes together in under 30 minutes and celebrates peak-season summer produce.
Ready for grilling season? Throw beef Strip Steaks and corn covered in a spicy, smoky seasoning mix on the grill for an easy, flavorful Mexican-inspired meal.
This show-stopper holiday main dish recipe will impress any guest lucky to sit at your table! The crunchy, salty pistachio crust on the succulent, slow-cooked ribeye roast pairs perfectly with the rich mushrooms, shallots, and red wine sauce.
In this go-to summer grilling recipe, Beef Back Ribs are marinated in an Asian-inspired marinade and then grilled to perfection.
A spicy sauce made with chili sauce and crushed red pepper flakes gives these Spicy Beef Back Ribs amazing flavor.
The key to success when cooking ribs is the low temperature and several hours of cooking time. However, this beef primal cut also contains popular tender, juicy cuts of meat like Ribeye Roast and Ribeye Steaks.
The Round Primal is home to lean, inexpensive cuts from the rump and hind legs. The muscles in this area are used for movement, so the beef is leaner and less tender. These cuts are often sold as roasts, steaks for marinating, or even Ground Beef.
One skillet, five ingredients and a few minutes are all you need to get this spiced up hash on the table!
The Sirloin is home to popular fabricated cuts but is first separated into the Top Sirloin Butt and Bottom Sirloin Butt. In the Top Sirloin, you’ll find steaks great for grilling, while the Bottom Sirloin provides cuts like Tri-Tip and Sirloin Bavette, which are good for roasting or grilling.
The brisket comes from the cattle’s breast, so it can be tougher because it is used for movement. An ideal cut for cooking low and slow on the barbecue or in a slow-cooker.
You’re gonna need a bigger pita. Season thin-sliced Sirloin with lemon pepper and skillet-cook, then pile it into hummus-filled pita pockets and top with your favorite veggies.

Knoxville native Neal Burnette-Irwin is a graduate from MTSU where he majored in Journalism and Entertainment Studies. He works as a digital content producer with RFD News and is represented by multiple talent agencies in Nashville and Chicago.


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Agriculture Shows
As the trusted voice of the U.S. cattle and beef industry, the National Cattlemen Beef Association strives to share timely, relevant news. NCBA’s “Cattlemen to Cattlemen” is the leading TV show for beef producers to receive cattle industry news, education, and information.
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