Matthew Eads didn’t just follow his passion; he grilled it to perfection. The founder of GrillSeeker.com and author of two sizzling cookbooks, Eads has carved out a flavorful career that’s as bold as his barbecue. From the Marine Corps to backyard boots-on-the-ground grilling, his journey is anything but ordinary.
Eads first felt the heat at age 12, cooking over open flames and falling in love with the primal rhythm of fire and food. At 17, he joined the Marines, where he learned to make magic out of whatever meat was on sale. “Anyone can make a wagyu steak taste great,” he says, “but it takes skill to make a chuck roast shine.” That resourcefulness stuck with him, even as he transitioned from active duty to college freshman, and later to a Fortune 100 executive. The corporate world couldn’t hold a candle to his true calling.
In 2017, Eads launched GrillSeeker, and the fire caught fast. Shortly after, he landed a publishing deal and released Grill Seeker: Basic Training for Everyday Grilling, followed by Fire, Smoke, and Flavor. His debut book climbed to #8 on Amazon’s list of all books and claimed the top spot in the Grilling-and-BBQ category. Since then, he’s appeared on The Today Show, Fox and Friends, WGN Chicago, and been featured on the cover of Inside Tailgating Magazine. Now working on his third book, tentatively titled Grill Seeker: Once Isn’t Enough, Eads is turning leftovers into culinary gold, honoring his Depression-era dad’s mantra: waste nothing.
For Eads, grilling isn’t just cooking; it’s therapy. “It quiets the noise of everything else,” he says. “Fire and food bring me back to center.” That philosophy fuels his mission to make grilling accessible. He encourages beginners to start with rotisserie cooking over fire, a forgiving method that builds confidence and teaches fire management. His site is packed with guides, but if you only have time for one, he recommends mastering juicy chicken breasts or the perfect steak, foundational recipes that unlock a world of flavor. And when fall rolls into Texas, his go-to crowd-favorite recipe is smoked apple crisp, a sweet and smoky crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for cooler evenings.
Despite his success, Eads stays grounded. He’s open about sponsored content but holds firm to his values. “I won’t endorse anything I wouldn’t gift to a friend,” he says. His product reviews are uncompensated and unbiased, with gear either returned or donated, proof that integrity still has a place at the Eads family table.
Of course, not every grill session goes off without a hitch. A memorable mishap involved a pricey prime rib and a thermometer set to the wrong temperature. “It came out like leather,” he laughs. “But it’s given us years of jokes, and I’ve got plenty more stories like that.”
For Eads, grilling is more than technique; it’s a connection that he feels around the flame. Differences disappear as he slips into his happy place of food, memories, and community. So fire up the grill, gather your loved ones, and make some memories with a GrillSeeker recipe, because as Eads has shown, chasing your dreams is always better with a little smoke and a lot of flavor.
“For me, grilling isn’t just cooking; it’s therapy. Fire and food bring me back to center,” Eads shares,