BBQ gadgets come and go. BBQ & Smoking books stay with us forever.
If you’re serious about improving your BBQ — whether that’s grilling better steaks, mastering ribs, or finally nailing low-and-slow smoking — a good BBQ book will take you further than another accessory ever will.
The problem for UK cooks is that most BBQ books are written for the US market. Different cuts, different fuel assumptions, different temperatures — and a lot of confusion.
This guide cuts through that. Below are the best BBQ and smoking books you can buy on Amazon UK, chosen specifically because they actually work for UK BBQers, whether you cook on gas, charcoal, pellet, or electric smokers.
How These BBQ Books Were Chosen
This isn’t a random list or a popularity contest. Each book here meets all of the following:
- Available on Amazon UK
- Useful for UK cooks, not just US competition pitmasters
- Technique-driven, not just recipe dumps
- Suitable for common UK setups (gas BBQs, kettles, pellet and electric smokers)
If a book only works if you own a huge offset smoker and a wood yard, it didn’t make the cut.
The Barbecue Bible – Best All-Round BBQ Book for Beginners
If you’re buying one BBQ book to start with, this is it.
This book teaches BBQ properly, from the basics of fire and heat control right through to smoking, rotisserie cooking, and indirect methods. It explains why things work, not just what to do, which makes it ideal if you want confidence rather than blind following.
Why it works for UK cooks
- Techniques translate perfectly to gas, kettle, and electric smokers
- Focuses on methods rather than obscure American cuts
- Easy to adapt to UK supermarkets and butchers
Best for:
People who are new to BBQ but want to learn it properly, not just copy recipes.
- The biggest, baddest, best salute to our passion for barbecue, in glorious full-colour, from “America’s master griller” (Esquire)
- 500-recipe celebration of sizzle and smoke, Steven Raichlen’s award-winning The Barbecue! Bible unlocks the secrets of live-fire cooking with top dishes, the tastiest sauces, and insider techniques and tips
- It’s got everything: how to grill the perfect T-bone
- Succulent chicken from around the world: Jamaica, Senegal, Brazil, India, Thailand, Uruguay
- A perfect meeting of fire and ice: Fire-Roasted Banana Splits
If you’re only buying one BBQ book this year, this is the safest place to start.
Project Smoke – Best Book for Smoking Meat
This is where grilling turns into real BBQ.
Project Smoke focuses on low-and-slow cooking, smoke management, wood choice, and patience — the things that actually separate good BBQ from dry disappointment. It’s detailed without being intimidating and works brilliantly alongside modern smokers.
Why it works for UK cooks
- Ideal for pellet and electric smokers
- Doesn’t assume you’re burning logs all day
- Very adaptable to smaller outdoor spaces
Best for:
Anyone moving from “BBQing” into proper smoking — ribs, pork shoulder, brisket, and more.
- How to smoke everything, from appetizers to desserts! A complete, step-by-step guide to mastering the art and craft of smoking, plus 100 recipes-every one a game-changer -for smoked food that roars off your plate with flavour
- Here’s how to choose the right smoker (or turn the grill you have into an effective smoking machine)
- Understand the different tools, fuels, and smoking woods
- Master all the essential techniques: hot-smoking, cold-smoking, rotisserie-smoking, even smoking with tea and hay-try it with fresh mozzarella
- Here are recipes and full-colour photos for dishes from Smoked Nachos to Chinatown Spareribs, Smoked Salmon to Smoked Bacon-Bourbon Apple Crisp
Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue – Best for Consistent Results
This is the book for people who hate guesswork.
Rather than endless recipes, this book explains the science behind BBQ: heat transfer, moisture loss, carryover cooking, smoke chemistry, and temperature control. It busts a lot of BBQ myths and replaces them with repeatable logic.
Why it works for UK cooks
- Equipment-agnostic — works on any BBQ or smoker
- Encourages thermometer use (a big win)
- Makes you a better cook, not just a recipe follower
Best for:
Improvers, tinkerers, and anyone who wants consistent results every time.
- New York Times BestsellerNAMED A BEST COOKBOOK BY Serious Eats • Christopher Kimball • Chicago Tribune • BBC • Wired • Epicurious • Leite’s Culinaria • Food & WineFor succulent results every time, nothing is more crucial than understanding the science behind the interaction of food, fire, heat, and smoke
- This is the definitive, myth-busting guide to the concepts, methods, equipment, and accessories of barbecue and grilling
- The founder and editor of the world’s most popular BBQ and grilling website, AmazingRibs
- com, and a BBQ Hall of Fame member, “Meathead” Goldwyn applies the latest research to backyard cooking and 118 thoroughly tested recipes in his masterpiece on the science of barbecue and grilling
- He explains why dry brining is better than wet brining; how marinades really work; why rubs shouldn’t have salt in them; how heat and temperature differ; the importance of digital thermometers; why searing doesn’t seal in juices; how salt penetrates but spices don’t; when charcoal beats gas and when gas beats charcoal; how to calibrate and tune a grill or smoker; how to keep fish from sticking; cooking with logs; the strengths and weaknesses of the new pellet cookers; tricks for rotisserie cooking; why cooking whole animals is a bad idea, which grill grates are best;and why beer-can chicken is a waste of good beer and nowhere close to the best way to cook a bird
Weber’s Ultimate Barbecue – Best Practical Everyday BBQ Book
This is a no-nonsense, highly usable BBQ book.
It focuses on practical cooking rather than competition theatrics, with clear layouts, sensible portions, and recipes you’ll actually cook more than once.
Why it works for the UK
- Weber gear is extremely common here
- Recipes scale well to smaller BBQs
- Perfect for weekend and mid-week cooking
Best for:
Regular BBQ cooks who want reliable results without overthinking things.
- Ninety-five mouthwatering recipes, with tips on preparing sauces, flavoured butters and marinades, Weber’s Barbecue Cookbook demonstrates the variety of dishes that can be successfully cooked on the grill
- Weber is the most successful manufacturer and retailer of barbecues in Europe and the United States
- The secret to Weber kettles is that not only can they grill they can also roast and bake
- Indeed, the covered grill provides the dual option of indirect and direct methods of cooking, thus utilising more heat, reducing the overall cooking time, and enabling more control over the finished food
- This inspired collection of recipes is dedicated to using the most delicious combinations of ingredients; fans of the barbecue will be seduced by the tempting aromas of grilled fish, meat and vegetarian dishes
Fire & Smoke – Best Modern BBQ Book (Great Gift Choice)
This is the most modern and accessible book on the list.
It’s visually appealing, clearly written, and balances easy wins with deeper techniques. It doesn’t feel dated or overly macho, which makes it an excellent entry point or gift.
Why it works for UK cooks
- Less obsession with niche US cuts
- Strong flavour focus
- Works well with mixed BBQ styles
Best for:
Casual BBQ fans, newer cooks, or anyone buying a BBQ book as a gift.
- ‘Rich’s recipes are exciting, accessible and fun
- Everything a great barbecue should be’ Heston BlumenthalRich Harris shows you how to barbecue mouthwatering recipes with smoky and succulent flavours that will see you through the summer and beyond in style
- Featuring chapters on:* From the Sea – delicious fish and seafood dishes* Crowd-pleasers – food to impress friends, such as Beef Short Ribs and Sticky Pork Belly & Rice Noodle Salad* Hand-held – get messy with Chilli Dogs, Smoked Chicken Wings and Lamb Shish Kebabs* Smoking – including hot-smoked classics like Pulled Pork and Prawns with Dirty Romesco Sauce to Cold smoked Salmon* Veggies, Sides & Breads – barbecues aren’t just about meat so indulge in Chargrilled Leaves with Burnt Lemon Dressing, Cauliflower Steaks and Chipotle Slaw* Sauces, Dips & Pickles – accompaniments to take your dishes to the next level* Cocktails & Coolers – drinks to wash down and complement your grilled dishes* Desserts – indulge in Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream and what barbecue would be complete without s’Mores?* Restoke the Flames – ideas for the morning after including Buttermilk Pancakes and Brunch Pizzette This is the ultimate guide to cooking with fire and smoke
US vs UK BBQ: What to Watch Out For
Most BBQ books are written for Americans. That doesn’t make them useless — but you do need to translate a few things:
- Cut names differ
- Pork butt = pork shoulder
- Brisket trims vary widely in the UK
- Temperatures are often in °F
- Keep a quick °F → °C conversion handy
- Fuel assumptions
- Many books assume offset smokers and wood splits
- UK BBQers often use gas, charcoal, pellet, or electric smokers
This is why technique-based books are far more valuable than recipe-only ones.
Do You Still Need BBQ Books in 2026?
YouTube is brilliant. Blogs are useful. But books still have one huge advantage:
Structure.
A good BBQ book teaches skills in the right order, builds understanding, and helps you connect the dots. That’s something random videos can’t always do.
Learn the skills once, and they pay you back every time you light the BBQ.
Final Thoughts: Which BBQ Book Should You Start With?
If you’re unsure, use this simple rule:
- Total beginner: start with The Barbecue Bible
- Getting into smoking: move to Project Smoke
- Want repeatable results: add Meathead
- Everyday BBQ cooking: Weber’s Ultimate Barbecue
You don’t need them all — but owning one good BBQ book will improve your cooking more than most gadgets ever will.
Not ready for a book yet? Start with our beginners guides
