If you have been working the grill for years, you probably know all the recipes that your family and friends like. Perhaps they already know the menu when you invite them over. A tad too much, isn’t it? If you want to surprise them with flavorful recipes and have an evening to remember, grill cookbooks are a must to have and use!
But once you decide to buy a grill cookbook, how should you decide which are the best? Are there any recommendations worth taking a peek at? For your benefit, we are here with in-depth reviews of the 5 best grill cookbooks. Go on, read the reviews and pick one that’s best for your needs.
Best Grill Cookbooks
| Image | Best Grill Cookbooks | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. Playing with Fire | 99% |
 | 2. The Complete Illustrated Book of Barbecue Techniques | 96% |
 | 3. Weber's Greatest Hits | 92% |
 | 4. The Wood Pellet Smoker and Grill Cookbook | 89% |
 | 5. 125 Best Indoor Grill Recipes | 85% |
Want to learn more?
Here is our review of the 5 best grill cookbooks.
1. Playing with Fire: BBQ & More by Michael Symon & Douglas Trattner
This grill cookbook is a journey by Symon on his exploration of smoked meat across America before opening his restaurant. In this cookbook, he walks the reader through the very intrinsic details of the process of grilling and how this preserves the food’s nutritional value. Each of the 72 hand-crafted recipes offered in the book have been tried and refined to bring consistency to the final dish.
Symon offers expert guidance on cooking the different cuts of meat, choosing the best aromatic wooden pellets for flavors, how do you work on different types of smokers and grills, etc. From his experience, he has written wonderful combinations of food and sauces, pairing each of them to side dishes that offer you nutritional value, pepping up your otherwise average day.
The authors describe setting up the grill with coals and how you can work the ‘low and slow’ coal cooking. Filled with pictures and illustrations over 240 pages, this book is a refresher to the American grilled ‘burgers and fries’ kind of food. You reach a healthy new level following these recipes.
Why do we like it?
- A fun book with a build-up to grilling techniques
- Easy and detailed explanations of varied cooking methods
- Simple recipes
2. The Complete Illustrated Book of Barbecue Techniques: How to Grill by Steven Raichlen
This award-winning book by Raichlen is a welcome gift for the new and the experienced. Filled with more than a thousand color photographs, the How to Grill cookbook gets into the minutest details of grilling food to its best.
Raichlen has covered most types of meats and meat cuts in this book. The way all the recipes are presented makes it easy to read and follow. Recipes are grouped under the type of meat and then by the meat cut. For example, under beef and veal section, it details how to smoke brisket, and then how to grill T-bone steaks.
Recipes that are spread over 512 pages explain intricate details of cooking different meats and vegetables over different types of fire. Even the weekend grill warriors hosting large or small get-togethers claim to have sneaked a peek into this bible for exciting grill recipes.
This grill cookbook has detailed illustrations and a step-by-step guide for all barbecue techniques. This book is an eye-opener for all those who know that grilling is only about putting food over the fire.
Why do we like it?
- Organized type of meat and meat cuts
- Loaded with pictures
- An amazing journey of grilling with tips and ‘why’ of things
3. Weber’s Greatest Hits: 125 Classic Recipes by Jamie Purviance
Authored by Jamie, also known as the man with smoke in his veins, this simple and easy-to-read book is a refined collection of all of Webers’ best recipes on the grill. The 125 recipes offered in this grill cookbook are the best hits from more than 2000 recipes that Webers’ has published in various cookbooks.
This cookbook is loaded with new pictures and illustrations, stories about how people grilled food earlier, and much more from Weber’s resources over the years. Jamie says this cookbook is for people who want simple preparation, accuracy, best quality results, and food full of flavors and yum to enjoy.
The book has recipes that are foolproof and do not use any exotic ingredients. All ingredients are daily to use and can be found in the superstore next door. Some people who used this grill cookbook say that it also has recipes for grilling vegetables and tips on serving them. Awesome, isn’t it?
Why do we like it?
- Foolproof, and simple recipes
- Pictures and illustrations
- Best recipes from a collection of 2000 grill recipes
4. The Wood Pellet Smoker and Grill Cookbook: by Peter Jautaikis
Now infuse your barbecue with that smoky flavor even while traveling or in the back yard or on your patio. Enjoy a rich and wide variety of meals from Peter’s experience. A master series, this book explains everything you need to know in detail. How do you pick the right pellet flavors to master the cold and hot smoke dishes?
This book has pictures of food covered over the 196 pages that make you want to pick a grill now and step out of work. Peter explains the rationale between the type of wood pellet you chose and the heating temperatures they offer. He gives you great tips and covers the most essential of cooking tips throughout the book. A joy to read, this masterpiece adds value to you and your library!
Why do we like it?
- Detailed cookbook with types of smokers and how they work
- Wide variety of recipes, indexed in a simple and easy method
- Full of pictures of food
5. 125 Best Indoor Grill Recipes by Illana Simon
Simon is a food writer, editor, and author of some wonderful cookbooks. In this cookbook, she offers 125 recipes for everyday cooking across 192 pages. She has written this cookbook focusing on the electric indoor grills that have become popular with most families. An indoor grill offers convenience and grilled food for during all-weather.
Simon has a recipe for all-day meals that you can easily cook on an indoor grill. No more venturing out to the outdoor grill. The book is full of tips and grilling techniques and introduces a few new ones to even the most experienced grill worker.
Available in paperback, this grill cookbook has great recipes like Blackened Red Fish or a Caesar Salad Burger. While the fish recipe tempts you with the southern flavors of New Orleans, the burger recipe gives you a tummy full of nutritional and healthy food.
The list doesn’t stop here. It goes on from raspberry cayenne chicken, Mexican steak, Portobello mushroom burgers, and grilled mushrooms & asparagus, and much more.
Why do we like it?
- Simple to read and easy to prepare recipes
- Nutritious recipes
- Commonly available ingredients
- Has lots of helpful cooking tips for an indoor grill
Grill Cookbooks Buyer’s Guide
A single online search of grill cookbooks throws up numerous titles. How do you select one that takes care of your needs? What should the cookbook offer? What are your needs from the cookbook? Here are some important points to consider when selecting a grill cookbook.
Author’s credentials
Does the author have mastery of the topic? Or have they studied in some culinary school known for its cuisines or recipes? Is the author(s) a celebrity chef? Or perhaps you want to follow an author who is an everyday person just like you who enjoys cooking? Do read through the authors’ background for their credentials which is all about the experience and how they add value.
Purpose
What is your need for a cookbook? Are you looking for some new recipes? Or perhaps some authentic recipes? Does the cookbook you have selected provide you solutions for this? Are you a novice at grill cooking, or do you need an advanced cookbook with recipes that require an experienced hand?
Equipment
Ensure that cookbook has recipes that you could try your hand at, at your home. It matches the grill specifications or cooking temperatures with your grill.
Hardcover/ Paperback/ Kindle
Some grill cookbooks could be heavy like the grills are; lifting them itself becomes a huge task because of their weight and size. If you prefer a hard copy, select a book that you can handle easily. For those on the move, perhaps a Kindle version is better suited for your convenience.
Pictures
Pictures of finished foods are always attractive and encourage people to cook food. Illustration in grill cookbooks may show you a step-by-step process, perhaps from marinating to cooking to cutting a particular cut of beef. Pictures are always helpful to get the dish right.
Recipes
While most grill cookbooks will have delicacies and sumptuous food displayed, tempting you to buy them, ensure it has recipes you want. Having a cookbook with certain ingredients that you are never going to try your hand at isn’t worth it.
Select grill cookbooks with easily available ingredients and exotic/rare ones.
Index: Grill cookbooks should be easy to read and follow. Look for cookbooks that have recipes in the index by the food or courses. For example, grilled vegetables, grilled beef, grilled pork, etc.
Ingredients: No. of recipes: Some grill cookbooks may have a few recipes but many pages on grilling styles and illustrations. If you are an experienced hand at grilling, you may not want to buy such a grill cookbook. Perhaps you are seeking a grilling cookbook that has more recipes.
Other features may include preparation times, number of servings, cooking tips, serving suggestions, alternatives to ingredients, history of recipes, or nutritional information. While these may appear tiny items, they are very helpful when you start to cook.
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