When it comes to barbecue and grilling cookbooks, there are literally thousands from which to choose.
And while there are so many among them that are chocked full of great recipes, tips, and how-tos, there are 10 that I would rank above all others when starting your personal collection.
It is these titles that have helped take my grilling to new heights and continue to be my "go-tos" when looking for some recipe inspiration.
Do you have particular books that you feel deserve a space among the "10 BBQ and Grilling Cookbooks Everyone Should Own"? If so, be sure to add them in the comments section below to provide further book buying inspiration to your fellow grill masters!
SERIOUS BARBECUE
In Serious Barbecue, Adam Perry Lang has translated his intimate understanding of culinary technique into easy-to-follow advice to help a nation of backyard cooks unleash the raw power of one of the most flavor-packed cuisines around: American barbecue.
PEACE, LOVE, AND BARBECUE
In Peace, Love, & Barbecue - a unique combination of cookbook, memoir, and travelogue - Mike Mills, the unrivaled king of barbecue, shares his passion for America's favorite cuisine--its intense smoky flavors, its lore and traditions, and its wild cast of characters.
BIG BOB GIBSON'S BBQ BOOK
4 time overall winners of the Memphis in May World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest, nobody does barbecue better than Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Alabama. Chris Lilly, executive chef of Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q and great-grandson-in-law of Big Bob himself, passes on the family secrets in this quintessential guide to barbecue.
BON APPETIT'S THE GRILLING BOOK
The ultimate summertime grilling companion, featuring more than 350 recipes, full-color photographs, how-to guides, and tips to simplify your grilling life, from the experts at Bon Appetit.
THE BARBECUE! BIBLE
A 900,000-copy bestseller and winner of the IACP/Julia Child Cookbook Award, The Barbecue! Bible includes full-color photographs illustrating food preparation, grilling techniques, ingredients, and of course those irresistible finished dishes.
GASTRO GRILLING
Gastro Grilling is for everyone who loves to fire up the grill any time of the year. Within its pages are kicked up recipes like Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Fire-Roasted Red Pepper and Goat’s Cheese, Grilled Half Chicken with Kick O’Honey BBQ Glaze, and Hot English Cheese Steak with Pale Ale and Stilton.
WEBER'S BIG BOOK OF GRILLING
Weber's Big Book of Grilling is packed with 350 of the tastiest and most reliable recipes ever to hit the grill, hundreds of photos, and countless techniques and tricks of the trade guaranteed to turn anyone into a barbecue champion.
MEATHEAD: THE SCIENCE OF GREAT BARBECUE AND GRILLING
Meathead is the definitive 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, Meathead applies the latest research to backyard cooking more than 100 thoroughly tested recipes.
COOL SMOKE: THE ART OF GREAT BARBECUE
Flame, smoke, and meat―these simple elements combine to make great barbecue. Creating the perfect bite of tender, spicy, smoky barbecue is a science and an art form, and Tuffy Stone―five time World Champion Pitmaster, co-host and judge of Destination America’s BBQ Pitmasters, and co-owner of the award-winning Q Barbecue restaurants―has mastered it.
SMOKE & SPICE
Cheryl and Bill Jamison’s path-breaking Smoke and Spice was the first, and remains by far the best-selling, book on real barbecue—slow-cooking over smoke—for home cooks. This new and expanded edition appears on the twentieth anniversary of the classic book’s first edition.