Charcoal grilling isn’t just cooking—it’s a ritual. The fire, the smoke, the sizzle… it’s where flavour is born.

When it comes to outdoor cooking, few things can match the flavour, aroma, and experience of cooking over charcoal. If you’re new to grilling with charcoal or want to level up your skills, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know. 

Why Choose Charcoal? 

Charcoal grilling brings a flavour that gas simply can’t match. The natural smoke infuses your food with a deep, wood-fired taste, and you get higher direct heat, which is perfect for those beautiful grill marks and caramelized crusts. While it may take a little longer to get going, the payoff is worth it. 

It is great to start with a smaller grill, something like a Weber Kettle is great for beginners. Kettles are easy to take camping and show off those grilling skills while enjoying a scenic site. For something a bit more advanced any kamado style cooker is awesome for a longer cook. Check out all CHARCOAL GRILL OPTIONS HERE.

When it comes to choosing the charcoal, it can be a bit overwhelming. Lump charcoal burns hotter and faster; briquettes are consistent and long-lasting. Depending on what you like to cook, picking a flavour can vary. Some common flavours that are always a tasty choice are mesquite, hickory or oak charcoal.

Let's Fire-up the Grill! 

A chimney starter is a useful tool to start your grill fast. It is the easiest and most reliable way to light your coals quickly and evenly. You can try our Big Boy The Smokestack Charcoal Chimney. Add your coals to the chimney, you can use a longer lighter, match or an electric charcoal wand. 15 or 20 minutes after the charcoal has been lit you can drop the coals in the grill and start your grilling process to make sure the coals are ashy and glowing.

EXPERT ADVICE: leave the lighter fluid behind... The fluid will leave a chemical taste that often over-powers the fantastic flavour you are trying to achieve. Instead, we recommend using one of these simple solutions:

• $6 Big Boy Fire-Starter Squares.
• $12 Flamers Natural Fire Starters
• Under $80 Big Boy The Big Bad Wolf Electric Charcoal Wand. Just plug it in and you're ready to light your charcoal. No extra accessories like lighting squares, fluid or even newspaper kindling are needed.

Direct vs Indirect Cooking 

Controlling heat is the secret to great grilling. If you stack your coals on one side this allows for direct heat in one general area. This is great for searing steaks, burgers and hotdogs. While all your coals are on one side, you can use the empty side to indirect cook. This allows for a slower longer cook duration, best for ribs, chicken, and pork.

So, why choose charcoal grilling? The work is worth the wait. Charcoal grilling is part science, part art and 100% fun! The more practice, the better you'll get at managing heat, timing and flavour. Your family and friends will thank you.

EXPERT ADVICE: Remember to join our charcoal loyalty program. Ember Members Save $25 When They Spend $250 on Charcoal and Pellets! Details in-store.

Discover the great variety of both lump and briquette charcoal options available at your local Barbecues Galore store:

🔥 Lump Charcoal

• African Superior Lump Charcoal – Floral flavour, long burn, sustainably sourced.
  
• Big Boy Hardwood Lump – Extra-large chunks for longer burns and fewer refuels. 22lb bags provide extra value vs competitive 20lb bags.
  
• Buffalo Lump Charcoal – Hickory | Oak | Mesquite – Hickory = smoky, Oak = steady, Mesquite = bold & aromatic.
  
• Jealous Devil Onyx Binchotan – Ultra-hot, smokeless, reusable Japanese-style charcoal.
  
• Jealous Devil Chunx XL – South American hardwood, more heat, less ash.
  
• Big Green Egg Lump – Oak & Hickory – Pure carbonized wood, no additives.
  
• Kamado Joe Big Block – Dense hardwood XL lumps, reusable up to 3x.
  
  

🔥 Briquette Charcoal

• Blues Hog Charcoal Briquettes – 100% natural hardwood with Southern hickory for smoky flavour and long burn.
  
• Weber Charcoal Briquettes – Consistently sized, long-burning 100% hardwood, in a resealable 20lb bag.
  
• Cowboy Hardwood Briquets – Cleaner burn, authentic wood-smoked flavour, no fillers or chemicals.
  

Special thanks to our Barbecues Galore Edmonton team, and Alisa Cleary for their contribution to this article.