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Grilling is basically an American pastime. Summer just isn’t the same without our favorite grilled foods, especially after a long day of swimming and outdoor fun.
When it comes to grilling your favorite foods or new dishes, it also doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you prefer your grilled food over a propane or charcoal fire, or want the authentic Italian experience with a brick oven, or maybe the smoky flavor from a pellet grill, Watson’s has a large selection of grills to choose from to add to your outdoor dining or cooking area!
The best part about a grill is that you can cook almost anything on it! From appetizers to main courses and side dishes, to desserts! So, to spice up your summer dishes, we’ve put together some fun and classic grilling recipes that are easy and flavorful!
Starters
Start your meal off with one of these grilled starters. These are also great for those in-between swim session snacks.
Grilled Bruschetta
If you have a garden and happen to have tomatoes and basil planted, this is perfect for you! But you can also head over to the grocery store and get it. This recipe is easy, light, and fast to serve, making it an instant hit with anyone.
Grilled or Smoke Guacamole
If you want to take your guacamole up a notch, put it on the grill! For a smoky flavor, you can put it on your pellet grill! Simple to make and serve, prepare yourself to make this a LOT this summer for your family and friends.
Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
Anything bacon-wrapped is going to be delicious and you can pretty much wrap anything in bacon, but for this recipe, we’re sharing an appetizer staple - the jalapeño popper! You only need four ingredients and you’re on your way to really spicing up your starter plates!
Main Course
The number of main dishes you can cook on the grill are endless, so we’re going to skip sharing the recipes of the usual suspects and just do honorable mentions of these. Instead, we want to share some main dishes you may not have thought about cooking on your grill!
Shrimp or Crab Boil Foil Packs
Recreating your favorite shrimp or crab boil on the grill is easy with some foil. Grab all your favorite ingredients and spices and pack them into a foil packet and let the grill do the rest!
Pizza
Yes, you read that right! Punch up your pizza night by using the grill or a brick oven outdoors to add loads more flavor! The best part about this is the whole family can get involved and make personal size pizzas with their favorite toppings.
Check out how to grill pizza here!
Fajitas
You’ll need a pizza stone for this one! Choose your meat of choice and veggies and grill up fajitas quickly for a taco night any day of the week. The perfect main course if you started out with the guacamole above!
Main Course Honorable Mentions:
- Hamburgers
- Brats and Hot Dogs
- Steaks
- Chicken
- Kebabs
Grilled Side Dishes
We can’t forget all the mouth-watering sides that can cook quickly on the grill. While common sides may include corn on the cob and other veggies, we’ve found some side dish recipes that may surprise you.
Grilled Caesar Salad
What would go best with a grilled pizza? How about a side salad! While you may not immediately think about grilling lettuce, it actually can have a smoky undertone. Start with the bruschetta, grill some pizza, and then complete with this Caesar salad.
Grilled Sweet Potatoes or Regular Potatoes
Fries are a staple side dish for many grilled foods and with this recipe you’ll take the potato (sweet or other based on your preference) and cook an irresistible side dish your whole family will want again and again.
Grilled Vegetable Orzo Salad
Turn your typical side salad into a flavorful dish by grilling all your vegetables, like in this orzo salad. With most vegetables in season, you can pick your favorites to add and have a simple yet filling salad to complement any dish. Or make it a main dish by adding some protein like chicken.
Grilled Dessert Dishes
Like we said above, you can cook all your meals on your grill, including your desserts! Here’s a few of our favorites that are easy and both savory and sweet.
Grilled Fruit
Not what you may think of for dessert, but the combination of sweet and smoky will make your mouth water. You can choose any of your favorite fruits, but common ones include pineapple, peaches, and watermelon.
Grilled Brownies
Yes, you can bake on your grill! You’ll need foil pans, but the rest is no different than baking in the oven, but you’re placing on the grill! Add some of your grilled fruit and some whipped cream to make this a really decadent dessert dish!
Grilled Dessert Nachos
A perfect easy-to-share dessert, these nachos can be topped with any of your favorite sweet or salty toppings. To make it even easier, you can get the cinnamon sugar tortilla chips at your local grocery story instead of making them yourself (but you can totally make them if you want!). Put all the ingredients together like you would nachos and grill to make a melty, marvelous dessert nacho experience.
10 Tips for Grilling
When you’re ready to heat up the grill and get cooking, remember these tips for prep before, during, and after cooking:
- Make sure you start with a clean grill.
- Make sure your grill is hot or to the temperature you want before cooking. This will mean a faster cook time and less waiting.
- Don’t open the lid often. This will allow the heat to escape, which means a longer cook time.
- Use a thermometer when cooking meat to assure it’s cooked through and safe.
- Don’t squeeze out juices when cooking. This is your flavor and will result in dry meat.
- Use appropriate grill utensils when cooking.
- Let your meat rest after grilling. This will keep juices (and flavor) in.
- Make your grates non-stick. Some people opt for an oil, but you can also use half a potato and rub on the grates, which will also make it non-stick.
- Create zones if you’re cooking different foods, for instance meats and veggies, and adjust heat for these zones accordingly.
- Always clean your grill once it has cooled off so you’re ready for next time!
If you’re looking to add or upgrade your grill this summer cooking season, head into any of Watson’s nine superstore locations to see our variety of grills. We offer grills in all the different fuel types and of varying sizes to accommodate your space and cooking preferences.
