🍖 BBQ MCP Server

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server for BBQ cooking guidance with live ThermoWorks Cloud integration. Connect your ThermoWorks account to get real-time temperature readings, expert cooking guidance, stall detection, and perfectly timed cooks.

✨ What's New: Real ThermoWorks Authentication

Connect your actual ThermoWorks devices! This MCP server now authenticates directly with ThermoWorks Cloud using your existing account credentials (same as the ThermoWorks mobile app).

You: "Connect to my ThermoWorks account"
MCP: thermoworks_authenticate(email, password)
→ ✅ Connected! Found 1 device: Signals (SIG-12345)

You: "How's my brisket doing?"  
MCP: thermoworks_get_live_readings() + bbq_analyze_temperature()
→ 🌡️ Probe 1: 168°F | Target: 203°F | 78% complete
→ ⚠️ You're in the stall zone! Consider wrapping.

Features

• 📱 ThermoWorks Cloud Integration: Live readings from Signals, Smoke, BlueDOT, Node
• 🎯 Cooking Guidance: Comprehensive instructions for 20+ proteins
• 🌡️ Temperature Analysis: Real-time progress tracking with trend detection
• ⏱️ Time Estimation: Accurate cook times based on weight and method
• 🛑 Stall Detection: Detect and get recommendations for the dreaded stall
• 😴 Rest Calculations: Know exactly when to pull and how long to rest

Supported Proteins

Beef

• Brisket, Ribeye, Tri-Tip, Prime Rib, Short Ribs

Pork

• Shoulder, Butt, Spare Ribs, Baby Back Ribs, Loin, Tenderloin, Belly

Poultry

• Whole Chicken, Breast, Thighs, Wings, Whole Turkey, Turkey Breast

Lamb

• Shoulder, Leg, Rack

Seafood

• Salmon

Cooking Methods

| Method | Temperature Range | Best For | |--------|------------------|----------| | Low & Slow Smoke | 225-250°F | Brisket, Pork Butt, Ribs | | Hot & Fast Smoke | 275-325°F | Poultry, Pork Loin | | Direct Grilling | 400-500°F | Steaks, Chops | | Indirect Grilling | 300-350°F | Roasts, Larger Cuts | | Reverse Sear | 225°F → 500°F | Thick Steaks | | Spatchcock | 325-400°F | Whole Birds | | Rotisserie | 300-350°F | Whole Birds, Roasts |

Installation

Local Installation

# Clone or copy the server files
cd bbq-mcp-server

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Build
npm run build

# Run (stdio mode for local use)
npm start

# Run (HTTP mode for remote access)
TRANSPORT=http npm start

Deploy to Smithery

This server is designed to work with Smithery for hosted deployment. Smithery handles containerization and scaling automatically.

1. Push to GitHub

git init
git add .
git commit -m "BBQ MCP Server"
git remote add origin https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/bbq-mcp-server.git
git push -u origin main

2. Connect to Smithery

1. Go to smithery.ai and sign in
2. Click "Add Server" and connect your GitHub repository
3. Smithery will auto-detect the smithery.yaml and package.json configuration
4. Click "Deploy"

3. Configure Session

When users connect to your server on Smithery, they can provide their ThermoWorks credentials via session configuration:

| Parameter | Description | |-----------|-------------| | thermoworks_email | ThermoWorks account email (optional) | | thermoworks_password | ThermoWorks account password (optional) | | use_legacy_smoke | Set true for older Smoke Gateway devices |

Users who don't provide credentials can still use all BBQ cooking guidance tools - only the live device reading tools require authentication.

4. Local Development with Smithery CLI

# Install Smithery CLI
npm install -D @smithery/cli

# Start development server with hot reload
npm run dev

# This opens the Smithery Playground for testing

ThermoWorks Cloud Authentication

Connecting Your Account

The MCP server authenticates directly with ThermoWorks Cloud (Firebase backend). Your credentials are sent directly to ThermoWorks servers and are never stored.

{
  "tool": "thermoworks_authenticate",
  "args": {
    "email": "[email protected]",
    "password": "your-password"
  }
}

For Automated/Headless Use

Set environment variables:

export THERMOWORKS_EMAIL="[email protected]"
export THERMOWORKS_PASSWORD="your-password"

Security Notes

• ✅ Credentials sent directly to ThermoWorks/Firebase (HTTPS)
• ✅ No credentials stored by the MCP server
• ✅ Tokens auto-expire after 1 hour
• ✅ Tokens auto-refresh when needed
• ⚠️ Use environment variables in production, never hardcode credentials

Available Tools

ThermoWorks Cloud Tools

thermoworks_authenticate

Connect to ThermoWorks Cloud with your account.

{
  "email": "[email protected]",
  "password": "your-password",
  "use_legacy_smoke": false
}

thermoworks_get_live_readings

Get current temperature readings from all connected devices.

{
  "device_serial": "SIG-12345",  // optional, defaults to all
  "response_format": "markdown"
}

thermoworks_analyze_live

Get live reading and analyze against cooking targets.

{
  "device_serial": "SIG-12345",
  "probe_id": "1",
  "protein_type": "beef_brisket"
}

BBQ Cooking Tools

bbq_get_cooking_guidance

Get comprehensive cooking guidance for a specific protein.

{
  "protein_type": "beef_brisket",
  "weight_pounds": 14,
  "serving_time": "2024-12-25T18:00:00"
}

bbq_analyze_temperature

Analyze current temperature and get progress/recommendations.

{
  "current_temp": 165,
  "target_temp": 203,
  "protein_type": "beef_brisket",
  "previous_readings": [
    {"temp": 155, "timestamp": "2024-12-25T10:00:00"},
    {"temp": 160, "timestamp": "2024-12-25T11:00:00"},
    {"temp": 165, "timestamp": "2024-12-25T12:00:00"}
  ]
}

bbq_get_target_temperature

Get target temperature for a protein at specified doneness.

{
  "protein_type": "beef_ribeye",
  "doneness": "medium_rare"
}

bbq_list_proteins

List all supported proteins and their cooking info.

{
  "category": "beef"
}

bbq_estimate_cook_time

Estimate total cooking time.

{
  "protein_type": "pork_butt",
  "weight_pounds": 10,
  "cook_method": "smoke_low_slow"
}

bbq_detect_stall

Detect if your cook is experiencing a temperature stall.

{
  "protein_type": "beef_brisket",
  "current_temp": 160,
  "readings": [
    {"temp": 158, "timestamp": "2024-12-25T10:00:00"},
    {"temp": 159, "timestamp": "2024-12-25T11:00:00"},
    {"temp": 160, "timestamp": "2024-12-25T12:00:00"},
    {"temp": 160, "timestamp": "2024-12-25T13:00:00"}
  ]
}

bbq_get_cooking_tips

Get cooking tips for a protein and cooking phase.

{
  "protein_type": "beef_brisket",
  "current_phase": "stall"
}

bbq_calculate_rest_time

Calculate rest time and carryover cooking.

{
  "protein_type": "beef_brisket",
  "current_temp": 200
}

bbq_analyze_device_reading

Analyze readings from a ThermoWorks device.

{
  "device_type": "Signals",
  "probe_readings": [
    {"probe_id": "probe1", "name": "Brisket", "temperature": 175},
    {"probe_id": "ambient", "name": "Smoker", "temperature": 250}
  ],
  "protein_type": "beef_brisket",
  "target_temp": 203
}

bbq_convert_temperature

Convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius.

{
  "temperature": 225,
  "from_unit": "fahrenheit",
  "to_unit": "celsius"
}

Example Usage

Planning a Brisket Cook

"I have a 14 lb brisket and want to serve dinner at 6 PM. When should I start?"

The server will calculate:

• Estimated cook time (~17-18 hours for low & slow)
• Recommended start time (accounting for rest and buffer)
• Target temperatures
• Stall warnings
• Resting instructions

Monitoring Progress

"My brisket is at 165°F and hasn't moved in 2 hours. Is this normal?"

The server will:

• Detect the stall
• Confirm this is normal behavior
• Provide recommendations (wrap or ride it out)
• Estimate remaining time

Getting to the Finish Line

"Brisket just hit 200°F. How long should I rest it?"

The server will:

• Recommend 60+ minute rest
• Calculate expected carryover (+5°F)
• Provide resting instructions
• Suggest cooler method for extended holding

ThermoWorks Integration

This server is designed to work with ThermoWorks Cloud-connected devices:

• Signals: 4-probe thermometer with Billows fan control
• Smoke: 2-probe wireless thermometer with gateway
• BlueDOT: Bluetooth thermometer with app connectivity

While full API integration requires ThermoWorks Cloud credentials, the server can analyze temperature readings provided by users and simulate device workflows.

Temperature Guidelines (USDA)

| Protein | Safe Minimum | Recommended | |---------|-------------|-------------| | Beef (whole cuts) | 145°F + 3 min rest | Medium-rare: 130°F | | Pork (whole cuts) | 145°F + 3 min rest | Medium: 145°F | | Ground meats | 160°F | 160°F | | Poultry | 165°F | Breast: 165°F, Thigh: 175°F | | Brisket/Pulled Pork | 145°F safe | Pullable: 200-205°F |

License

MIT

Smithery Deployment

This server is compatible with Smithery for hosted deployment.

Quick Deploy

1. Push to a GitHub repository
2. Connect to Smithery and import your repo
3. Smithery will detect smithery.yaml and deploy automatically

Configuration Schema

When users connect, they can optionally provide:

| Parameter | Type | Description | |-----------|------|-------------| | thermoworksEmail | string | ThermoWorks account email | | thermoworksPassword | string | ThermoWorks account password | | useLegacySmoke | boolean | Use legacy Smoke Gateway API | | defaultTempUnit | enum | "fahrenheit" or "celsius" |

Local Development with Smithery CLI

# Install Smithery CLI
npm install -g @smithery/cli

# Run dev server with hot-reload
npm run dev

# Or run playground
npx @smithery/cli playground

Files for Smithery

• smithery.yaml - Smithery configuration
• src/smithery.ts - Smithery-compatible entry point with configSchema export

Contributing

Contributions welcome! Areas of interest:

• Additional protein profiles
• Regional BBQ style variations
• Enhanced ThermoWorks Cloud integration
• Smoker/grill-specific recommendations