Cooking Inspiration

Ultimate Barbecue Guide: Cooking tips, tricks & recipes

28 May 2026

From smoky barbecue favourites to clever cooking tips and fresh summer inspiration, this handy guide has everything you need for a flavour-packed BBQ season.

Cooking outdoors brings people together and somehow makes every meal feel like summer. Preparing food on the BBQ gives you flavours and textures that aren’t possible to recreate in the kitchen, think charred veggies, tender meats and a delicious smokiness running through everything. So, whether you’re grilling for a crowd, or throwing together a few easy seasonal dishes, this guide is packed with BBQ tips, recipe inspiration and simple ways to get more flavour from firing up the grill.

How to BBQ like a pro

Great BBQ food is all about transforming simple ingredients with smart techniques. Here’s how to get more from cooking on your BBQ:

Preheat your grill – A hot BBQ helps food cook evenly and gives you better colour and flavour with all that delicious char. You can also create different cooking sections by putting hot coals at one end for a more intense heat, and have a lower heat area for delicate foods like fish.
Don’t overcrowd the BBQ – Giving ingredients the space they need helps everything cook evenly and caramelise properly.
There’s more than meat – Don’t automatically reach for sausages and burgers. Vegetables, seafood, fruit and rice dishes all work brilliantly on the BBQ. Halloumi is a wonderful option to add into salads or as a side as it doesn’t melt like other cheeses, instead it becomes deliciously charred.
Check your cooking – Meat cooks differently on the BBQ than it does in the kitchen, so make sure it’s done all the way through before you take it off the grill. Chicken is easy to spot as you’ll want to make sure there’s no pink bits and the juices run clear. For meat like steak and burgers, watch out for the cooking degrees, especially if you like it pink. Reach for your cooking thermometer and aim for an internal temperature of between 54℃-57℃.
Finishing touches make the difference – Fresh flavours like herbs, citrus, yoghurt and dressings are the perfect pairings with smoky BBQ dishes. Work them into rubs, marinades, sauces or simply dollop on top as you serve.
Prep ahead where you can – Marinades, sides, salads and toppings prepared in advance make hosting on the day more relaxed and leave you free to focus on the grilling.

BBQ recipes to try this summer

The best BBQs give you the opportunity to explore new flavours, colourful sharing dishes and recipes inspired by different food cultures around the world. Think charred vegetables, fragrant rice dishes and vibrant marinades. These are the BBQ recipes worth adding to your summer table:

Barbecued Chicken Souvlaki – A Greek-inspired, zesty grilled chicken, served with a light rice salad.
Mediterranean Grilled Halloumi Rice Bowl Recipe – A super-tasty dish that’s perfect for easy lunches in the sun.
Chinese BBQ Spare Ribs – Succulent spare ribs glazed in a savoury-sweet sauce, served with flavourful Chinese fried rice that’s packed with vegetables.
Grilled Corn with Citrus Salsa – Sweet, smoky corn that’s delicious when cooked on the BBQ. Perfect as a side dish to pile on your plate and tuck in.
BBQ Peri Peri Chicken – Adding some heat to your BBQ, this sweet and peppery chicken can also be replaced by mushrooms or grilled halloumi if you’re mixing things up.

BBQ Guides and summer inspiration

Looking to up your BBQ game? Explore our outdoor cooking inspiration with BBQ guides and sensational summer sides.

The ultimate guide to BBQ equipment – Everything you need to know about choosing the right tools, grills and accessories for stress-free outdoor cooking. Unsure whether you should go gas or electric? We’ve got the info to help you make that decision.
The perfect summer BBQ side dishes – Fresh, colourful sides and easy summer recipes that bring balance and flavour to any BBQ spread.
Explore BBQ recipes – Smoky skewers, vibrant rice dishes and flame-cooked favourites, discover BBQ recipes worth gathering around.

No matter whether you’re planning a laid-back garden lunch or a full summer feast, great BBQ food is all about sharing bold flavours and enjoying recipes designed for al fresco dining.