BBQ Companion by Ben O'Donoghue – Hardback Cookbook

BBQ Companion is Australian chef Ben O'Donoghue's hardback collection of more than 180 barbecue recipes from around the world, written so every dish works on whatever grill you own. It covers the whole spread, from bread and starters to seafood, meat, sides, desserts, drinks, rubs and sauces.

The whole party, off one barbecue

Ben O'Donoghue cooked at London's River Café alongside Jamie Oliver before becoming a familiar face on Australian TV, and this book shows that range. It isn't a low-and-slow manual; it's a big, generous, global barbecue cookbook built for feeding people outdoors.

What's inside

It opens with equipment and tips, then runs through Breads and Bites, Vegetables and Salads, Fish and Seafood, Meat, and Sweets and Drinks, finishing with a chapter of sauces and rubs and the author's own chef's notes.

Standouts include smoked beef short ribs with nam prik pla, whole fish Thai style, drunken crabs, an Aussie steak sandwich, barbecued corn with bacon and chilli butter, and a banana tartin for afters. The publisher also highlights Mexican suckling pig, Singapore chilli crab and grilled haloumi with lemon and mint.

Who it's for

Anyone who entertains around a barbecue and wants more than snags and steak. It suits gas, kettle and open-fire cooks equally, and works brilliantly for beginners because the recipes don't depend on special gear.

About Ben O'Donoghue

Ben O'Donoghue is an Australian chef, restaurateur and TV presenter who worked at the River Café in London with Jamie Oliver. He co-presented four seasons of Surfing the Menu with Curtis Stone and Mark Gardner, has hosted his own TV shows in Australia, and is based in Brisbane.

The Rub Smuggler's Verdict

Every fridge needs a lemon, and every barbecue needs a book like this beside it. Ben's covered the lot, but the smoked beef short ribs with nam prik pla are the cargo I'd smuggle out first: fatty, smoky, then slapped awake with chilli and lime. Grab it and you'll never run out of ideas when the mates turn up. Pair it with Heat & Smoke II for Aussie smoke know-how and the Complete Australian Barbecue Kettle Cookbook to master the kettle. Spoon Jimmy Chimichurri Classic over anything that comes off the grill.

Questions answered

Who wrote BBQ Companion?

BBQ Companion was written by Ben O'Donoghue, an Australian chef, restaurateur and TV presenter who trained at London's River Café.

How many recipes are in BBQ Companion?

It has more than 180 recipes, covering bread and bites, vegetables and salads, seafood, meat, desserts, drinks, sauces and rubs.

Is BBQ Companion good for beginners?

Yes. The recipes are written to work on any barbecue, from a simple wire rack over coals to a kettle or gas grill.

Is BBQ Companion a hardback, and how many pages?

Yes. It's a 288-page hardback published by Hardie Grant Books in 2024.

Is BBQ Companion Australian?

Yes. Ben O'Donoghue is an Australian chef based in Brisbane, and the book is published by Australian publisher Hardie Grant.