Three racks of ribs with three bowls of salad and a beer

Enjoy the sun!

How to cook meat on the BBQ

The barbecue is a versatile cooking tool, it’s an oven and smoker as well as a fierce grill, and we don’t think we’ve been harnessing its true potential. With a bit of planning and care, you can create something truly magical – and here’s how.

Start early. Light the coals or get the gas barbecue up to temperature, and tend it. The trick with low and slow barbecuing is to keep the temperature even. Brits tend to throw a whole bag of coal with a pack of firelighters and cook when it’s raging hot. Don’t. Start with a third of a bag, or find the right level on the gas and keep it there. This is an exercise in restraint and patience. Find your inner Zen. Use breathing techniques. Calmly does it.
The meat is also important. Most cuts of brisket in the UK have been trimmed of almost all fat. You need this fat when cooking low and slow. It’ll keep the meat beautifully moist.
Buy a meat thermometer. There are some people who can tell how the inside of a piece of meat is cooking from 1,000 yards away, most can’t. A meat thermometer lets you know exactly how the meat is cooking and when it’s ready.

Best BBQ food ideas

Best BBQ mains

Jerk chicken

Fire up the BBQ to make our easy jerk chicken recipe, best served with rice and peas or a fresh crisp salad.

The best BBQ burger

We like our burgers piled sky-high. This version comes with our secret sauce (made from four very simple ingredients), sweet and sour onions, emmental cheese, gherkins, frilly lettuce, and more. We have lots more great burger recipes for you to check out.

BBQ buttermilk chicken with charred courgette sauce

Buttermilk creates the juiciest chicken on the BBQ – serve simply in a bun or with our smoky-sweet tomato and courgette sauce plus crunchy crumbs.

a plate of buttermilk chicken on a table outside in the sun

Grilled kofte (izgara köfte)

Grilled kofte – a Cypriot meat dish made with lamb or beef mince – makes a brilliant alternative to burgers at a barbecue (you can cook it in the oven, too).

Plate filled with grilled meat patties, sliced tomato and flatbread

Paneer BBQ skewers with charred naans

This vegetarian skewer recipe will make your summer BBQ much more interesting. Marinade paneer then thread onto skewers and grill on the BBQ alongside homemade naans.

Vietnamese BBQ caramel pork loin

Try our glazed Vietnamese BBQ pork. This recipe is great for family BBQs; it's delicately sweet, gluten-free and easily serves six.

On the podcast we catch up with author, food writer and live fire expert Helen Graves to get tips and tricks for creating the perfect BBQ, including lots of exciting recipe inspiration.

Chicken tikka

Cooking these chicken tikka skewers – marinated in yogurt, ginger, garlic and spices – on a barbecue provides extra flavour.

A tray of golden spiced chicken pieces on metal skewers with a bowl of pink pickled onions

BBQ pulled pork

Pulled pork is a great recipe to feed a crowd at a summer BBQ. Ours are served up in soft buns with crunchy coleslaw – plus we've included extra instructions on how to make this recipe in a slow cooker.

BBQ steak sandwich

A great option for your next BBQ, this elevated bavette steak has it all: mustardy heat from the wasabi mayo and punchy umami from the marinade and juicy charred steak.

a sub-style sandwich packed with steak, rocket and radishes on a concrete surface outside

BBQ kofte with whipped feta and tahini slaw

Fancy something different at your next BBQ? Serve a spiced BBQ kofte with a nutty tahini dressing and a creamy whipped feta sauce.

A silver tray topped with a large grilled flatbread meatballs and slaw on a blue background

BBQ lamb with malt vinegar sauce

This malt vinegar sauce is a British riff on a Carolina-style BBQ sauce and makes a great acidic partner for rich lamb, cooked over coals.

A wooden surface topped with slices of crispy lamb breast

BBQ pork belly

Slow cook your pork belly slices for fall-apart meat, soft, melting fat and lots of flavour. Finish off on the BBQ for a smoky flavour and caramelised edges.

BBQ chilli chicken wings

These juicy chicken wings are spiced with paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper and fresh oregano. Crisp up on the BBQ and serve with a light yogurt sauce to feed a hungry horde.

BBQ kebabs

Make these Turkish-style lamb kebabs at your next BBQ. They're named after the city of Adana and flavoured with chilli and sumac. We have more great BBQ skewer recipes.

Blackened cod po boys

Turn your hand to Cajun cooking for your next BBQ with grill expert Helen Graves’s charred, smoky cod dish, served with fresh salad and stuffed into white sub rolls.

Various plates scattered over a washed blue wooden surface, filled with a sub roll of blackened cod, lettuce, salsa and creamy sauce

Ultimate grillable vegan burger

Looking for some plant-based options for your BBQ? These loaded, grillable vegan burgers are a must, with their full-on flavour and meaty texture.

Fish kebabs

These turmeric-infused kebabs work well on a skewer, or served inside a baguette with some mayonnaise. If that doesn’t appeal, a pile of sesame-dressed rice noodles or lettuce leaf cups make perfect accompaniments.

BBQ jackfruit burger

Check out this impressive recipe for a vegan alternative to pulled pork, served in a burger bun with apple slaw. Our easy BBQ jackfruit is super meaty but with a sweet, fruity taste – an ideal plant-based BBQ option.

Spicy BBQ chicken kebabs with grilled pineapple

This skewer recipe has it all: spicy chicken, sweet, caramelised charred pineapple and plenty of refreshing mint. Definitely a dish worth firing up the BBQ for.

Paprika chicken kebabs on a plate, next to grilled pineapple chunks

BBQ masala fish

Inspired by a Keralan fish fry, this recipe for flaky, succulent sea bass in a rich, spicy masala has been adapted for the barbecue, making it ideal for summer entertaining. Serve with a fresh rice, mango and coconut salad.

Barbecued fish on a platter with a side salad, laid out on an orange tablecloth

Oven-BBQ brisket with blue cheese slaw

Get that slow-cooked BBQ vibe without having to slave over hot coals for hours. Serve with a rich creamy blue cheese slaw and fries

BBQ chicken and sausages with a Carolina mustard BBQ sauce

Fiery, piquant and less sweet than other varieties, Carolina BBQ sauce complements caramelised, smoky meat perfectly. Get it involved with your next BBQ using this great recipe that serves eight.

Barbecue chicken and sausages with Carolina mustard BBQ sauce

BBQ butter chicken wings

Check out these super succulent, creamy BBQ butter chicken wings from chef Karam Sethi at Indian restaurant, Brigadiers.

BBQ scallops

Check out this easy barbecue scallop recipe for a quick yet impressive BBQ dish, perfect for pescatarians.

Butter burgers

These burgers are inspired by the butter-drenched ones they serve in Wisconsin, USA. We’ve been a little bit more restrained with the application of butter but they’re still super-indulgent and ideal for a BBQ.

Perfect BBQ chicken

Learn how to cook a perfectly seasoned and juicy chicken on the BBQ and get the most of the bird with this recipe and our tricks of the trade.

Bulgogi

Cook this popular Korean beef dish on the barbecue for added smokiness.

BBQ brisket

Get the most out of your BBQ this summer with our seriously tender, home-smoked brisket. We've included some tricks and tips to help you nail this recipe, every time.

‘Indian Takeaway’ seekh kebabs

Get these juicy lamb kebabs on the grill. Fragrant with coriander stalks, they pack a fair whack of chilli and are perfect wrapped inside a soft naan with pickled red onion salad, sliced cucumber and raita.

BBQ chicken thighs with ras el hanout and honey

Marinade chicken thighs in warming ras el hanout and sweet honey before throwing over those coals, for a fragrant twist on classic BBQ chicken.

An oval platter topped with six BBQ chicken thighs with a red and blackened skin

Whole chilli and lemongrass sea bream

Our recipe for delicately soft BBQ sea bream, with a fiery chilli and punchy lemongrass marinade, makes a great BBQ dish. This recipe is inspired by the food of coastal regions of Vietnam, where market customers choose their fish and marinade, before getting it cooked on a huge charcoal grill.

BBQ prawns with roasted gooseberry salsa

Prawns make for a quick, simple and delicious BBQ dish. Believe it or not, they pair a treat with gooseberries – try them together in this super simple BBQ recipe.

A silver tray topped with juicy pink prawns with a green sauce on the side

Brazil burger

All the flavours of Brazil are crammed into one epic mouthful here – peri peri bacon, smoky chimichurri relish, cumin-spiced onion rings, creamy lime and avocado mayo – it’s a bit of extra effort but take the challenge and you’ll be rewarded with a gold-medal BBQ burger.

BBQ pork ribs

If peanut butter caramel sounds like something you’re more likely to drizzle over ice cream, think again. It elevates BBQ pork ribs to a whole new level – they’re best simply served with a citrussy slaw and rice.

Caramelised Pork Ribs with Peanut Butter

Cajun picanha with bean salad

Check out this epic BBQ beef recipe with punchy cajun spices and a fresh bean salad. Popular in the US and Brazil, picanha is a pointed cut, so is great for serving a crowd as you’ll get well done to rare from the same piece of beef.

Miso-glazed ribs with Asian slaw

Check out these melt-in-the-mouth baby back ribs with a crunchy, vibrant Asian slaw. Clook them slowly in the oven to get the meat nice and tender before finishing off on the BBQ to crisp them up.

Best BBQ sides

BBQ corn on the cob

Pep-up this grilled Mexican street snack with punchy Korean gochujang sauce and serve as a zingy side dish at your next BBQ.

BBQ courgettes

The combination of smoky, charred courgettes, creamy labneh and crunchy savoury granola makes this a perfect side dish when you're entertaining.

A platter of charred courgettes on a linen napkin

BBQ aubergines

For a BBQ veggie side dish which will complement almost everything, make this sweet and smoky aubergine and pepper muhammara with a little hint of tang.

BBQ aubergine and pepper dip in a bowl with a blue and orange background

Charred lettuce with ranch dressing

Rustle up this charred lettuce salad with bacon bits and creamy ranch dressing to serve as a side dish at a summer BBQ.

A plate of charred lettuce with creamy ranch dressing topped with bacon bits on a blue fabric napkin

BBQ cabbage

Take BBQ hispi cabbage to the next level by drizzling over a super-savoury Marmite, egg yolk and bacon sauce for the ultimate smoky side dish.

A black plate topped with charred cabbage and drizzled with a rich egg yolk sauce

Barbecued carrot, ricotta and toasted pecans

If you've never grilled a carrot before, try it out with this epic BBQ side dish, paired with ricotta and toasted pecans.

Herb, watermelon and rice noodle salad

This is a vibrant and refreshing BBQ side dish. Our Vietnamese-style herb salad is packed fresh mint, Thai basil and coriander, as well as juicy watermelon and fine rice noodles.

Watermelon and Rice Noodle salad with mint and holy basil

Best BBQ marinades and sauces

BBQ marinades

Give your BBQ meat, fish and veg a little extra oomph this summer with these punchy marinades – from easy spiced jerk (great for ribs) to Asian chilli (ideal for salmon fillets and chicken thighs).

Easy aïoli

Want to make a silky, garlicky aïoli with all of the flavour but none of the faff? Try this super-simple version and serve it with your BBQ meats and veggie sides.

Homemade BBQ sauce

This multi-tasking sauce can be served with burgers and bangers or used to glaze ribs and chicken – a staple for your BBQ this summer.

Three glass bottles and a small wooden dish all filled with a vibrant red sauce

Best BBQ desserts

Rum cake

This classic rum and ginger cake is best made a day before – it’ll get fudgy and hold together better when crisping up on the barbecue or under the grill.

Freezer key lime pie

This is a great summer dessert to serve at a BBQ. It freezes brilliantly, so can be made well in advance. Just leave the cream topping off until you're about to serve. Check out more great summer dessert recipes here.