10 Best Grilling Cookbooks 2025 in the United States

The Backyard Traeger Cookbook is designed for weekend grillers who want to step up their game and become confident backyard chefs. It offers a good mix of simple recipes that don’t overwhelm beginners but still provide flavorful results. Since it's focused on Traeger grills, which are pellet grills, it’s best suited for users who own or plan to use this type of grill, as the techniques and recipes are tailored to pellet grilling.

The instructions are straightforward and easy to follow, making it accessible for those new to grilling or anyone looking to improve their skills. With 110 pages, the book covers a decent variety of recipes and includes tips to help you get more consistent results and explore different flavors. If you’re looking for a cookbook with very advanced techniques or a wide variety of grill types (like charcoal or gas), this might feel a bit limited.

For Traeger grill owners or those wanting to master pellet grilling, this book serves as a practical, friendly guide to making memorable meals for gatherings without feeling too complicated.

The Traeger Grill Bible is a handy cookbook designed for anyone interested in grilling and smoking with a Traeger grill. It offers a good range of recipes covering beef, pork, lamb, poultry, fish, seafood, vegetables, snacks, and even desserts, making it suitable for users looking to expand their outdoor cooking variety. The book is concise, with 108 pages, which makes it approachable for beginners and those who prefer straightforward guidance without overwhelming detail.

While it’s tailored specifically for Traeger grills, which are popular for their wood pellet smoking style, the recipes and tips can inspire users of similar grills as well. The instructions are generally clear and aimed at making the grilling process easy and enjoyable, which is great for less experienced cooks wanting to gain confidence. Some experienced grillers might find the book a bit basic or brief, as it doesn’t dive deeply into advanced techniques or complex smoking methods.

Additional tips and tricks are included but remain simple and practical, focusing on enhancing flavor and ease rather than professional-level insights. If you own or plan to use a Traeger grill and want a straightforward recipe guide that covers many types of food with clear directions, this book is a solid choice. Those looking for more detailed technique explanations or a wider grill brand focus might want to supplement it with other resources.

'Project Smoke' by Steven Raichlen is a solid choice for anyone interested in mastering smoked foods, whether you're a beginner or already have some grilling experience. The book is well-structured around seven key steps to smoking, which helps make the process less intimidating for newcomers. It covers a variety of grill types and smoking methods, making it adaptable no matter what kind of equipment you have.

With 100 recipes that range from classic favorites like brisket to more unique options such as smoked bacon with bourbon, it offers plenty of variety to keep things interesting. The instructions are clear and approachable, guiding you through each recipe and technique with enough detail to help you succeed without feeling overwhelmed. Additionally, the book provides useful tips and insights to improve your smoking skills over time.

A limitation is that the book focuses solely on smoking rather than general grilling, so if you're looking for a wide range of grilling styles beyond smoking, this might feel a bit narrow. Also, while the recipes aim to be accessible, some might require ingredients or equipment not everyone has on hand, which could be a minor hurdle. At around 336 pages, it’s comprehensive yet still manageable to explore. This makes 'Project Smoke' a great pick for anyone looking to dive into smoked cooking with clear guidance and recipe variety, especially if you want to focus on smoking techniques rather than all grilling styles.