Posts tagged: grill
Foil-Wrapped Cheesy Potatoes
Have you broken out your grill yet? If not, I’ve got the perfect recipe for you to kick off grilling season with! Foil-wrapped cheesy potatoes! Whether you are grilling or heading out on a camping trip, these cheese potatoes are AWESOME. Wrapped up tightly in foil they can cook over any type of grill or straight over the campfire. They are bursting with all the flavors you love from cheesy potatoes, with just the right hint of spice to balance out that ooey gooey mess.
Lemon Pepper Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Skewers
I can’t seem to stop myself from wrapping things in bacon and to be honest, I don’t want to stop. These little lemon pepper bacon wrapped shrimp skewers are the perfect spring recipe to kick off the grilling season! They are so simple to make, the marinade comes together in a snap, and the lemon pepper bacon is my new favorite bacon flavor! It has just the right amount of tart acidity to balance the thick-cut, greasy, delicious por
Craft Beer Can Chicken
How do you kick beer can chicken up a notch? Swap out that Budweiser for a specialty craft beer! When you get tired of burgers, hot dogs and ribs (or in addition to all those burgers, dogs and ribs!), a roasted chicken on the grill is a great way to shake things up at your yearly barbecues. Remember Memorial Day is just around the corner! This is the perfect way to celebrate.
BBQ Chicken Avocado Flatbreads
Welcome to 2017 piggy peeps! I don't know about you but I am not ready to get back into the swing of things to kick off the New Year. It feels like there are 5 million to-do's on my list and I am barely making a dent in them a few days into the new year... One thing that's falling off my radar? Dinner. I am struggling with pumping out tasty meals without spending wayyyyy too much time on them. Since I have too much to do at work, I am starting to rely on meals of popcorn and soda - NOT how I wanted to start the year.
Instead, I'm pulling out my Pig of the Month BBQ Shredded Chicken and I'm making something more than just a sandwich with it. These flatbreads are one of the easiest meals EVER and there's no one that can resist them, I don't care how picky of an eater they are. The fluffy naan with BBQ sauce, chicken and avocado is the best base for any pizza. Throw in the bite of some red onion and salty cheese and holy wow, this pizza is one the entire family will be begging you to make on a regular basis. Not to mention it's pretty dang healthy in terms of pizza, so you can feel ok about sticking to those New Year resolutions ;)
INSTRUCTIONS: Place naan on a lined baking sheet.
Spread each with half of the BBQ sauce.
Top with chicken, red onion and cheese.
Place under broiler set to high for approximately 2 to 3 minutes, or until the cheese melts.
Remove from oven, top with avocado, cilantro and a sprinkle of queso fresco. Serve.
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Pig of the Month BBQ Shredded Chicken
Pig of the Month BBQ Love Me Tender Sauce
*Recipe and photos by Meghan Bassett
Grilling 101: How to Light a Charcoal Grill
Hey BBQ peeps! Put down the lighter fluid and listen up. It’s about time you quit it with that stuff and learned how to light a proper grill, isn’t it?
Yea, that’s what we thought too. There are some hard and fast rules that you need to know when lighting a charcoal grill. Get to know them, memorize them, and never stray from them. Trust us, we won’t steer ya wrong!
Don’t Use Briquettes There are wayyyy too many fillers and chemicals in briquettes. If you use them, all that nasty stuff is getting into your food and no one wants that. Real hard-wood charcoal is the only way to go - it even burns hotter without the chemicals which is a major bonus. Don’t Use Lighter Fluid Lighter fluid = NO. Repeat that 10 times if you have to in your head. The chemicals in lighter fluid ruin the whole point of using real hard-wood charcoal. Don’t do it. It’s also a major fire hazard and no one wants to go the summer without eyebrows.
Use a Chimney Starter For REAL, folks. This is an easy one. If you’ve never tried lighting one before just follow these steps:
- Stuff 2 pieces of newspaper in the chimney starter.
- Fill the chimney with charcoal.
- Light the newspaper with a match or lighter.
- Remove the grate and set the chimney down in the grill, letting it burn for a bit.
- Make sure there’s smoke coming out of there or else that’s a sign the fire’s died.
- When ready to grill, dump out the coals. If you need a two zone grill for direct and indirect heat, set the coals off to one side when you pour them in (they don’t exactly move around easily once they’re in there!)
Easy right?
Clean Your Grill Clean your grill before you use it, ideally right AFTER you use it each time. Having that leftover ash and residue will block the airflow and that will kill your fire. With these four things in mind, you’ll be grilling stronger, longer and cleaner than ever before!
Grilling 101: The Best Tools & Grills You Should Buy Now
The ultimate question from anyone hoping to become a grill master this summer is... what kind of tools and grill should I be using? With all the tools and grills out there, both good and bad, it can be tough to know which ones you should be investing your money in. As grilling pros (not that we are trying to brag or anything), we want to make your grilling lives easier. So we're rounding up the top tools and grills on the market right now to make your decision-making process a bit easier. All the essentials are here! It doesn't matter if you are a seasoned grilling pro or just starting out, this roundup of tools and grills is the one guide you should be reading this summer. It's about time you finally invested in some good tongs isn't it...? The answer is yes. It's always yes. Who's ready to spend a little cash? It's all for a worthy cause... Delicious, juicy BBQ.
Best Grilling Tools
You can't start off a roundup of grilling tools without some reliable tongs. These OXO Good Grips Tongs are sturdy and will stand the test of time, without breaking the bank.
Yes, you need to actually clean that grill. We know it's a pain, but no one wants to eat meat that tastes like the shrimp you grilled last night. Grab this Weber brush and thank us later.
Brushing those ribs with sauce? Use this bomb extra long OXO Silicone Basting Brush for maximum coverage.
In our top grilling questions roundup, we told you the benefits of using a chimney starter versus lighter fluid. This Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter will get things heating up fast.
If you are never sure when those steaks hit medium rare, skip the fuss and use this handy ThermoPro Wireless Remote Meat Thermometer. Yep, you read that right - it's wireless.
Know a wannabe grill master or simply want to have them all to yourself? Snag this Cuisinart Stainless-Steel Grill Set or this BBQ Grill Tools Stainless Steel Set and you'll be set for life.
A grill master would never be caught without his/her skewers. These X-Chef Stainless Steel Skewers are the BOMB.
Have all the essentials now? Great! Top it all off with some Cedar Grilling Planks to hit some next level grilling this summer.
Best Grills
All of these grills are seriously killer when it comes to getting the most bang for your buck. You've got top of the line down to more moderate options here, for both gas and charcoal. Take a look at each and decide which one is right for you! All we know is, if you don't have a grill or want an upgrade, there's no better convincing that a pile of tasty barbecued meats.... Can you see it? We sure can.
Char-Broil Classic 4-Burner Gas Grill
Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill
Napoleon Rodeo Charcoal Kettle Grill
Weber Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Sportsman's Charcoal Grill
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Grilling 101: The Best Way to Make Juicy Grilled Chicken
You know that magical juicy chicken you dream of getting hot off the grill in your very own backyard? It ain't as easy to make as you think. We hear it all the time - "how do I grill chicken breasts and keep them moist?" "Is there any way to avoid dry chicken? Help!" You asked BBQ-loving peeps and we are here to answer your grilling prayers. Just follow the crazy simple steps below and boom, just like that you'll be the envy of the entire neighborhood. Get that grill master cap ready...
First, use the bottom of a wide jar or glass (or even a small skillet) to flatten those chicken breasts in an even thickness. You don't need to pound them to super thin cutlets, just make them even. Now, brine that bird! Even a mere 30 minutes in a salty brine or marinade will make all the difference - plus you need time to fire up the grill anyway 😉
An easy brine is super salty water with a dash of black peppercorns will do the trick, or go fancy with a marinade for a couple of hours. Either way, make sure you are letting the chicken rest in the brine or marinade for at least 30 minutes.
Once the grill is hot, oil it up and grill the chicken breasts over medium high heat, approximately 350 to 425 degrees. Make sure they are over direct heat and grill them for just a few minutes per side. Fast and hot gives you a good sear and keeps the meat nice and juicy. When the meat reaches 155 degrees, remove it from the heat and let it rest. Don't worry, it'll keep cooking and reach that safe zone of 165 degrees while it rests. Just don't cut it too soon or you'll lose those tasty juices! Serve with any Pig of the Month BBQ sauce, chimichurri, or salsa. Happy grilling folks!
23 Memorial Day Recipes to Help You Own Your Weekend BBQ
The Memorial Day BBQs are coming… We’re already prepping our grills and rubbing down our tasty meats so we can rock this holiday like we’ve never rocked it before. Are you ready? It doesn’t matter if you are hosting the most epic BBQ ever or you’re planning on making the rounds, you need some killer recipes to wow everyone with. That’s why we pulled together a list of our ultimate Memorial Day recipes, just for our piggy peeps to get in on. We’ve got the cream of the crop recipes here, from cocktails to desserts, snacks to the main grilling event. You’ll find everything you need to make this Memorial Day weekend the best celebration EVER. The only question is, which ones will you be busting out like a boss?
Holiday Weekend Sipping Red White and Blue(berry) Margaritas - Gimme Some Oven DIY Fresh Fruit Ice Cubes + Cocktails - Sauce + Style Red, White, and Blue Sangria - Examiner.com Quick & Easy Margarita Shandy - Serious Eats Grilled Citrus Sangria - Sauce + Style Red White and Blue Ice Cubes - Momtastic Steak Island Beer Cocktail - Serious Eats Patriotic Punch - Sauce + Style
Grillmaster Favorites The Best Garlic Burgers Ever - Foodiecrush Ultimate Bacon Cheeseburgers - Serious Eats
Grilled Chili Rubbed Flank Steak - Sauce + Style Barbecue Bacon Burgers - Serious Eats
The Double Bacon Hamburger Fatty Melt - Serious Eats
Spicy Dry Rub Ribs - Sauce + Style
Snack Attack Sriracha Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeños - Sauce + Style Loaded Guacamole - What’s Gaby Cooking? Bacon-Wrapped Onion Rings - Sauce + Style
Open-Faced Pulled Pork Sliders - Sauce + Style Sriracha Lime Baked Chicken Wings - Sauce + Style Sweet Finishes Firecracker Jell-O Cups - Cincy Shopper
Red White and Blueberry Yogurt Popsicles - the view from great island
Red Velvet Cupcakes - Your Cup of Cake
Independence Day Ombre Cake - Brit & Co. Happy Memorial Day, BBQ-lovin’ fans! May your grills burn hot and your beers stay cold in the summer heat.
Grilling 101: Top Questions Answered!
If you’re anything like us, you’re already busting out the charcoal and grilling ALL the things. Whether you are grilling up ribs, veggies or a whole lot of burgers and hot dogs, there’s nothing better than the smell of burning coals and smoke. We get all sorts of grilling questions every year, from gas or charcoal preference to how to clean the grill. So this year we’re going to be covering a ton of grilling recipes, techniques and tips and tricks throughout the summer! To kick things off, we’ve rounded up our most-asked grilling questions. Before you fire up those grills again, get to know your stuff!
What’s better gas or charcoal? This is the ultimate grill question we get! There are a few factors that come into play to help you decide. First, price. Gas is more complicated and will cost more because of all the moving pieces inside the grill. Charcoal is a simpler grill so it will always be substantially cheaper. Second deciding factor? Taste. Gas burns clean so you’ll get the char marks, but you won’t get any special flavor in your food like using charcoal will get ya. Of course, gas grills will get to temperature faster and charcoal grills tend to take a long time to get hot. Gas grills are also a lot easier to clean up since charcoal grill cleaning can send ashes scattering all over the place. That’s a lot of back and forth, you guys. Yea, we know. If you want our honest opinion, charcoal always wins out when it comes down to it. You get better flavor, better heat management and you aren’t forking over as much money. When in doubt, go with the coal. Do I need to preheat my grill? YES. You need to preheat your grill whether you are using a gas or charcoal grill. A good rule of thumb is about 15 minutes for high temperatures (i.e. for searing) or 10 minutes for lower temperatures (i.e. for fish and such). Getting that preheat done before you start grilling the food will also help remove some of the residue left on the grill from past cooking.
How do I season my new grill? Oooohhhh look at you with your new killer grill! You are probably itching to get to grilling, but you have to season that baby first. No one wants the new grill residue on their food, trust us. Start with a cold grill and rub all the cooking surfaces down with canola oil. Wipe off any excess oil with a paper towel and light the grill. Let the grill heat up for about 15 minutes, or until the oil starts burning off and smoking. At this point the shiny finish that came with the grill should be turning dark brown or bronze. Turn off the grill and once coal, add a light coat of oil. To keep your grill in tip top shape, repeat this last light oil application step after each time you grill. Why you should never ever use lighter fluid...ever It’s all about the taste and smell. If you use lighter fluid, you’re going to get all those chemicals on your food. It’s really pointless to use lighter fluid when you can use a chimney starter so easily. Plus no one wants to smell like lighter fluid all day. Yuck.
How do I deal with flare-ups? First, get that food off the grill so it doesn’t get charred to oblivion. Then cover it up and wait it out. Flare ups survive off of the oxygen in the air so if you can smother it with the lid of the grill, do that. No matter what you do, DON’T squirt a water bottle on a flare up. It will get an ashy mess everywhere and it doesn’t actually subdue the flare. Be sure to keep an extinguisher nearby though… Just in case. Keep checking the blog for new Grilling 101 features throughout the summer. Your grill master status depends on it.
Don’t forget to check out our featured grilled recipes!
Grilled Chili Rubbed Flank Steak
Lemon Pepper Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Skewers
Recipes & recipes photos by Meghan Bassett
How to Grill Pizza
Want that killer grilled pizza at home? Just follow our super simple How to Grill Pizza video!
You might think grilled pizza is a luxury that you can only get when you go out, but you couldn't be more wrong! As long as you have a grill, a rolling pin and some toppings, you are mere minutes away from the best pizza of your LIFE. Grilled pizza is my all-time favorite thing to eat during the summer. The flavor from the charcoals and the crispy texture are totally drool worthy! I always keep some pizza dough in the freezer or refrigerator just for this reason during the summer. You can throw whatever toppings you want to and in about a half hour, you have the best pizza ever - no pizza oven or pizza stone required! Directly on the grill is the only way to do it, am I right? So just follow the video below the recipe card and get to grilling already!
Pig of the Month BBQ on Vimeo
Recipe, Photos & Video by Meghan Bassett 1 2 Next »
