Where grills are concerned, the first things that come to mind are burgers and sausages. For some of you, that is as far as your imagination goes, not knowing that there are so many more meals that you can prepare on a grill top. As such, some of the best grilling cookbooks may come in handy to bring variety to your barbecue menu.
There are, of course, dozens of options to consider, with the ten mentioned below being some of the highest-rated. The list is, however, a byproduct of reviewing 35 total options and determining that the below ten stand at the pinnacle of them all. Books like Grilling, which is the editor’s choice, stand out even more due to some notable features. For instance, you get recipes that bring out the best flavor in your food, tips on how to time your grilling, and guidelines on how to prepare the food before placing it on a grill. Also, there are photographs, so you know what your end product should look like.
You will likely want to know the author, publisher as well as the type of cookbook you will get if you make the purchase. These are all things we have considered and, consequently, highlighted below. Also, previous book owners have provided valuable insight in the form of reviews for the books. In addition to that, we have checked the content on some of the best grilling cookbooks to see if they are as advertised. Consequently, you get a table and in-detail reviews of each book. As well you get information on some other grilling essentials you might need.
Other features: Revised edition; 150 flame-kissed, taste-intensive recipes; close-up photographs; fool-proof tips on timing, technique, and preparation
One of the authors of this book is a French chef who has more or less been involved in the restaurant food business since he was thirteen years old. This is inclusive of doing culinary studies before becoming the full-fledged chef that he is. The other collaborator on the book is a spice enthusiast who is always seeking new flavors. As such, you can be sure that none of the recipes in this cookbook will be bland.
You get 150 unique recipes, and these give you quite the variety to choose from.
As well, the instructions on the basics of grilling are quite detailed. As such, anybody who can master the basics can then come up with recipes of their own depending on the flavors they appreciate the most. You will also learn to love the instructions on timing and technique. As with most other cooking scenarios, a variance in timing or technique can yield an entirely different product altogether.
Also, this is a hardcover, paperback book consisting of 168 pages that you can fit snugly into your bookshelf. It has also been tested time and time again, seeing as it was first published in 2004 and is still the go-to option for many.
Other features: more than 350 foolproof recipes, dozens of luscious full-color photographs, crystal clear illustrations, and plenty of plainspoken, here’s-how-to-do-it guidelines
This grilling book offers versatile options in terms of ownership. You can purchase the hardcover option if you prefer to go old-school and or a paperback option on your counter as you grill. You can as well buy the kindle version, which is also cheaper if you’d rather have it on your tablet or computer. Either way, you still get more than 350 recipes that include illustrations, as well.
In addition to that, there are going to be crystal clear photographs in the book showing you the possible results of your cooking efforts. The total number of pages on this book is 432, and the recipes therein are more suited to the summertime. You as well have the choice to cook these recipes on your indoor as well as an outdoor grill.
Other features: features 135 recipes for great-flavored steaks of beef, veal, pork, lamb, game and chicken; a few yummy grilled desserts
When you open this book, you will find recipes for food items such as Grilled Squid coupled with Prosciutto-Wrapped Radicchio and some Caper Balsamic Sauce or Grilled Half Chicken with Kick O’Honey BBQ Glaze. Just the names of the dishes sound amazing, and you can bet that almost every single recipe will have you licking your fingers.
This 384-page turner can be owned for about 25 dollars if you want the paperback version or 19 dollars for the kindle version. It was first published in 2013, so it is current on modern cooking methods. Also, both the author and the publisher have Canadian origins and get approval from Bon Appetit, which is an American based food magazine.
Other features: features unexpected cuts of meat, seasonal produce, plenty of starters, salads, desserts, and drinks
Greg Denton and Quiñónez Denton can attribute their love story to meeting over a grill. They also own a restaurant and, as such, have a lot of experience in the commercial cooking field. Consequently, they know how to ignite your taste buds and are willing to give you the recipes for grilling so you can try them at home. This is what the book is all about providing many recipes in their 272-page write-up. It explores not only meats but also vegetable grilling and deserts as well.
Other features: 1st Edition, more than 500 recipes
The barbecue Bible lives up to the name by incorporating more than 500 recipes in its pages. As such, you will likely not find a grilling recipe not featured in this book. This is, however, a first edition book authored before the year 2000. Nevertheless, the recipes apply even when using modern grilling equipment. The only book version available is the paperback purchase.
Other features: more than 100 recipes, provides essential tips and techniques for both experienced outdoor cooks and those brand-new to the grill
Martha Stewart has been an icon in the cooking community for quite a while and is responsible for teaching quite a lot of people to cook on television. In this 2019 book release, the people that come up and edit her TV cooking recipes also impart their knowledge in the book. As such, if you enjoyed using recipes from her shows, then you will undoubtedly love the book as well.
There are more than 100 provided recipes in the 252 pages of the book. Both experienced grillers and newbies are going to love the step by step instructions that this cookbook has to offer.
Other features: first printing edition, more than one hundred recipes, evocative photographs
Although the author is famous for his wood-fired meals, he has adapted this grilling cookbook for the home chef, whether you are cooking indoors or outdoors. There are an impressive 100 recipes that you can get in either the kindle or the hardcover variation of the book. There are also going to be some photographs inside the book that are likely to inspire you to get in the kitchen.
Other features: 100 thoroughly tested recipes, the definitive guide to the concepts, methods, equipment, and accessories of barbecue and grilling
The name of the book may give you the impression that only meat recipes are incorporated into the book. This would be a wrong assumption as it refers to the name of the author. Meathead Goldwyn has dedicated his life to barbecuing, and you can see that in his Amazingribs.com website. It is this same expertise that he is trying to impart on you with the contents in the book.
You get about 400 pages, of which there are about 100 surefire recipes that you can try at home. In addition to that, some grilling concepts are explained to you in great detail so that you can try original recipes as well. Also, grilling equipment is an area that some of us find hard to navigate. With this purchase, you get information about that as well. The book is ready to be purchased both on kindle and in a hardcover option.
Other features: simple recipes, clear instructions, lots of handy tips, many anecdotes, short narratives and stories included
While this book was published slightly before the beginning of the 21st century, the recipes in it are still good enough to use today. Nevertheless, it has been converted from a mainly paperback book and is now also available on kindle. As expected, the kindle option is cheaper than the hardcover book, with the paperback being the most affordable of them all.
The book is available on Amazon and is written by authors Cheryl and Bill Jamison. These authors specialize mostly in outdoor cooking, and you thus cannot go wrong with your backyard grill alongside a copy of this grillbook. Of the 512 pages in the book, you get many simple to follow recipes. As well some handy tips help bring out the best flavor in your food. You may also appreciate the short stories included seeing as though only reading recipes may get boring after some time.
Other features: features more than 100 triple-tested recipes, 150 color photographs, one for each recipe, essential grilling techniques and barbecue secrets
This book is unique in that it specializes in recipes involving a charcoal grill. With some tweaks here and there, you will also probably be able to use it with a gas grill. Nevertheless, that will require you to have remarkable technical cooking ability. However, if you have a charcoal grill lying around, you can make the best use of it by also owning this book.
You will get 100 recipes that are easy to follow when you purchase this outdoor grilling cookbook.
You can’t just get into grilling without the right equipment. There are a few must-haves you need before you can get into it. Most of them are listed below.
An essential piece of equipment to have is the grill. There is a myriad of options to choose from grill-wise. Of course, you have to select whether you are going for an indoor or outdoor grill. If you live in an apartment, the indoor grill is a better choice. Those suited for the outdoors come with features such as weather sealing.
Fuel type also matters a lot. Some grills work with propane or natural gas, and as of today, these are the most common. They require less maintenance than their charcoal counterparts. The book Weber’s Charcoal Grilling: The Art of Cooking with Live Fire featured above is ideal for when you are using a charcoal grill. Nevertheless, most others feature a variety of recipes for all types of grilling equipment with different fuel needs.
This is not exactly an essential part of grilling if you are using a gas grill. However, if you are using the charcoal variation, you could use something to help ignite the coal. This is what the chimney starter is for.
The grate brush is more or less a housekeeping tool for your grill. They have tough, rough bristles that are most useful for cleaning the grill after use. Grime and grease are a lot easier to clean off when the grill is still hot. Consequently, every time you finish with your grill, you should make sure to brush off anything left behind before closing for the night.
For the food to cook evenly, it needs to be turned occasionally. Some meats only require turning once since they are relatively thin. Others need to be turned more often owing to their thickness. As such, you need to have equipment for this purpose, and this is where the long-handed spatula and tongs come in.
Instant-read thermometers are ideal for checking the temperature of the food you are cooking. As such, they help you determine whether the food is ready or not. You would need as well to familiarize yourself with the cooking temperatures of the particular meat on the grate. The cooking temperature indicating doneness on chicken, for example, is 165°F.
Also, if you want to prevent accidents, some safety gear would do you good. As such, grill gloves would help prevent your hands from burns should you come into direct contact with hot parts of the cooker. You can, therefore, take on the job of cooking with more confidence.
Another piece of safety equipment you need is a fire extinguisher. Accidents involving fire can be quite devastating, and if there is an extinguisher around damage can be minimized.
Also, be aware of how to use it before you hang up the extinguisher near the grill.
Once you are done cooking, it is now time to serve your guests, and this is where the paper towels come in. People can use them to wipe some of the grease from their mouths as they are eating.
Aluminum foil is used to keep some of the meat hot while you cook the rest. Just wrap the burger or ribs in foil and let sit for a while. Besides, not many people can eat meat while it is still searing hot. This allows for the dish to cool slowly giving you ample time to finish the rest of your cooking.
There are, of course, byproducts of your cooking efforts, and these sometimes include wrappers, pieces of foil or plastic, and more. The garbage can next to your grill comes in handy since you don’t need to go far to dispose of them.
Since we have already listed the grilling cookbooks in order of ratings, you already know our top three favorite picks; nevertheless, we are going to reiterate and remind you a few reasons why they are so highly regarded. The first is the Grilling book. The title says it all in that it will teach all that pertains to grilling inclusive of techniques and preparation of your meats.
The next option, The Grilling Book: The Definitive Guide from Bon Appetit, has ties to one of America’s most popular food magazines. This goes to show the quality of the recipes in the book. As well you are almost guaranteed that the clear instructions will give you the results you need.
Gastro Grilling: Fired-up Recipes To Grill Great Everyday Meals is one of the more affordable books on display, and the recipes do not deteriorate in quality as a result. Some people may find it disconcerting that there is no hardcover option, but if your only business is cooking, you shouldn’t care too much about the cover of the cookbook. However, this is only our stand on the matter, and you may be of an entirely different opinion. Which other grilling cookbooks have you tried and would recommend?
