Grill Power, Vol. 4: Susie Bulloch
A conversation with the woman bringing backyard BBQ to every home, one recipe at a time
By: Karly ForsytheAs our Grill Power series continues, we’re celebrating another woman who's helping redefine what BBQ looks like, and who it’s for.
Meet Susie Bulloch the founder of Hey Grill Hey, a recipe developer, educator, and self-taught pitmaster who's built a career from the grill up. From backyard cookouts to her own media brand, Susie’s mission has always been to make BBQ more approachable, and to make sure women feel seen around the fire.
How It All Started
Susie’s BBQ story didn’t begin in a smoke-filled family tradition. It started with pure curiosity, and a Craigslist grill.
“My first experiences with grilling were born from a love of tasty grilled foods, but very little experience,” she said. “I had a camping grill in the parking lot of my college apartment, and later a free grill in the tiny backyard of our first home.”
Then came an opportunity: recipe development for a company that made wood-fired smokers.
“I jumped in with enthusiasm, not knowing that one little job would turn into a full career in backyard BBQ.”
Finding Family in Fire
Despite being in a male-dominated space, Susie found warmth and welcome, at least in person.
“People that are really dedicated to the craft of BBQ, especially on the competition circuit, refer to themselves as BBQ Family. In that space I never felt like I was treated as differently than any of the guys. As long as I loved to cook, share, learn, and be a part of the family, I was truly welcomed with open arms.”
But online was another story.
“A lot of people are happy to hide behind anonymity and leave terrible comments about my skills, methods, qualifications... you name it. But I really do feel like all of that goes away if we can sit around a table and share a meal together. It’s hard to hold onto hate over ribs.”
Visibility Matters
In 2012, Susie began writing BBQ recipes for another company, but her first name never appeared on the posts.
“I realized they were concerned that their audience wouldn't respond to the recipes as well if they knew it was a woman who wrote them. Their brand was very focused on targeting a male demographic.”
When she launched Hey Grill Hey in 2015, she flipped the script.
“I made it a priority to be the face of the brand,” she said. “Women were completely underrepresented in BBQ. I believed if more people saw us cooking, it would feel less intimidating, and more inviting.”
Since then, the tides have changed.
“Now, I’m getting more opportunities because I’m a woman. Brands and TV shows want to reflect who’s actually out there cooking, and it’s not just dudes.”
No BBQ Background? No Problem
Susie is quick to point out that her biggest early challenge wasn’t gender - it was experience.
“I didn’t grow up in BBQ culture. I’m from Utah. No backyard smoker, no cookoff stories, no generational recipes. That was intimidating.”
But what she did have was a background in restaurants, a deep love of food, and a hunger to learn.
“What I learned is that, no matter your gender, it really all comes down to how well you can cook. Once I was able to get some more experience and start putting together recipes that worked and people liked... it really helped.”
Advice for Women
Susie’s biggest tip for women new to grilling? Start simple.
“Try something affordable and easy like chicken thighs or pork chops,” she said. “Give yourself time to preheat the grill, prep your ingredients, and make a good workspace.”
And don’t forget the power of a solid recipe.
“A good recipe gives you a roadmap. Do it once, then again, and pretty soon you’ll have the confidence to freestyle.”
The Industry Is Changing
“When I started, I could count the number of women in BBQ on one hand,” Susie said. “Now there are hundreds, and more joining every day.”
The proof? Her website demographics now show a 50/50 split between men and women. “People are hungry to learn, and more women than ever are stepping up to the grill. It’s awesome!”
Signature Style
Susie’s style is all about approachable, backyard BBQ. The kind you can try, love, and do again, even if you’ve never touched a smoker before.
“You should be able to come to my website and find something delicious that you want to cook (and feel confident enough to try), even if you've never fired up the grill before.”
On Being a Role Model
In 2015, when Susie launched Hey Grill Hey, she asked herself a powerful question:
“How can I raise my daughter to believe she can do anything, if I’m too scared to do it myself?”
That single moment changed everything.
“Now, ten years later, I’m so proud of what I’ve built, and proud of my daughter too. She’s not into BBQ at all,” she laughed, “but she’s absolutely confident in her ability to make her own path.”
“And that will always be my greatest accomplishment.”
Follow Susie
👉 @heygrillhey
👉 HeyGrillHey.com
Grill Power wraps up next week with one final feature - don’t miss it.
