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8 Quick and Easy Recipes for your Grill
Blame an interstate move and the fact that most of my grilling and smoking equipment is still in storage pods. But I wasn’t able to do much outdoor cooking this past winter. Now I’m chomping at the bit, incredibly eager to enjoy the incomparable flavor of wood smoke. But I look around my property, which includes an antique house, and there’s so much work to do! Gutters to be cleaned, a big yard to be raked, repainting, replanting… the list goes on.
So forgive me if I feel like keeping things simple the first few times I fire up my Weber Performer. You, too?
Here are several recipes that deliver wonderful flavor without taking up much of your time.
8 Quick and Easy Recipes for your Grill
1. Maple Sriracha Glazed Chicken Drumsticks
I usually brine chicken before grilling it. But if you skip that step—and you can—this recipe only has four primary ingredients. And they complement each other beautifully. The glaze can be used on chicken quarters or wings, too. We predict it will be one of your “go to” recipes for years to come.
2. NOLA Smoked Shrimp
They don’t call it “The Big Easy” for nothing. New Orleans is a great eating town, one of the few places in the U.S. with a distinctive regional cuisine. Their barbecued shrimp are out of this world, and only require a sprinkle of your favorite Cajun rub and a dab of olive oil. You can even skip the barbecue sauce, if you’d like, and replace it with a bottle of Louisiana-style hot sauce like Frank’s RedHot or Crystal. White rice and a salad round out the meal.
3. Basic Beer Can Chicken
This is the first recipe I ever grilled for Steven. Was I nervous? I sure was. But the recipe, which originally appeared in How to Grill is so easy. An oldie but goodie. We love to serve it with homemade coleslaw or potato salad.
4. The Great American Hamburger
Is there anything better than that first burger of the grilling season? We’d walk across hot coals for this. Nothing fancy-schmancy to see here. Just a fabulous burger with traditional trimmings.
5. Planked Salmon with Maple Mustard Glaze
This recipe always gets rave reviews. Don’t have a plank? Cook the salmon directly on the grill grate or even a piece of aluminum foils. Don’t have fresh dill? Substitute another fresh herb like chives or scallions, parsley, or whatever you have on hand. Steven likes to turn the skin into an appetizer: He brushes it with toasted sesame oil, dusts it with salt and pepper, and grills until crisp. (This will happen quickly.) Break into pieces and sprinkle with white sesame seeds, black sesame seeds, or a mix.
6. Smoky Dutch Pancake
You likely have everything you need for this impressive-looking pancake in your pantry. It’s a great thing to serve when you’re hosting overnight guests, especially with fresh fruit or smoked applesauce.
7. Catalan Grilled Tomato Bread
Called pa amb tomaquet in Catalonia, this is a popular tapa, and is sometimes served for breakfast. It’s simple, but can rise to great gustatory heights when the ingredients are pristine. Use the best-quality olive oil, vine-ripened tomatoes, and rustic bread with a rough crumb.
8. Monroe County Pork Steaks with Spicy Vinegar Dip
Our late friend Rob Baas, formerly a fire wrangler on Steven’s television show, Project Smoke, introduced us to this little-known regional specialty. Steven even made a special trip to Monroe County (Kentucky) to check it out: He wrote about it for the New York Times. Pork blade steaks are cut from the shoulder, but offer a completely different experience than pulled pork. The vinegar sauce, by the way, isn’t for the faint of heart! Brush the steaks with your favorite barbecue sauce, if desired.
Are these recipes too easy for you? Then take a look at these 6 challenging recipes to try!