If you think the barbecue grill is only for the summer months, you’re missing out on a whole load of tasty treats! Just because the warm weather is drawing to a close at the end of the year, it doesn’t mean you need to pack in the BBQ.
These BBQ treats are just as tasty as anything you would cook indoors… They might even be more delicious!
1. Pizza
You don’t need a pizza oven to make your own delicious grilled pizza in your backyard. Prepare the dough and your toppings in the kitchen to minimize the amount of time you need to spend in the cold, and be sure to get your grill super-hot!
Cook your pizza dough until grill marks show on the crust (around 3 minutes), then flip it over and arrange your toppings before cooking for an extra 5 minutes. Once the cheese is melting and the crust is nice and crispy, you’re ready to go!
2. Pulled pork
Barbecued pulled pork makes a nice change from the more summery burgers and hot dogs. It’s a slow cooker, but that means you can pop the lid on your grill and leave it to roast away all day. Serve the pulled pork with coleslaw for a reminder of summer days or grilled veggies and roast potatoes for a delicious treat.
3. Lobster
Is there anything more classically luxurious than a whole lobster dripping with garlic butter? To add a bit more smokiness to your seafood, keep the BBQ out, ready to cook tasty grilled lobster all year round.
To cook your lobster on the grill, simply split the shell down the middle, remove the claws, and place the whole lobster directly on the grill. Coat the meat in garlic-parsley butter and leave the fish to poach for around 10 minutes.
4. Turkey
Believe it or not, your Thanksgiving dinner can be made even tastier when you roast your turkey on the BBQ! Not only does this save plenty of space in your kitchen for other Thanksgiving treats, but it also provides an incredible smokiness to the meat that takes the entire meal to a whole new level!
Even though you may be an expert when it comes to cooking steaks on a griddle, grilling a turkey has its own characteristics you should keep in mind. When cooking a turkey on the grill, it’s important to include a smoker box or aluminum foil packet filled with soaked wood chips to enhance the flavor. Place a pan of water directly beneath the turkey on the grill to prevent flare-ups (the water can then be recycled to create a fantastic base for gravy with drippings).
Be careful to grill the turkey over indirect heat, and use a separate oven thermometer to monitor how the bird is doing. It’s ready when the thermometer reads 165’F at the innermost thigh and thickest part of the breast.
5. Butternut Squash
Butternut squash, sweet potato, pumpkin, or any other vegetable makes an incredible side dish to perk up your favorite meals… But while you could roast these veggies in the oven, sticking them on the grill provides an incredible smoky and charred flavor that’s impossible to replicate.
Roast your butternut squash (or any other root vegetable) on a cast iron griddle that’s been generously seasoned with olive oil, salt, and pepper for approximately 30 minutes, flipping halfway through. You can cut your squash into chunks or roast them whole (this will take longer) to create the base for amazing stuffed butternut squash recipes: the perfect dish that the whole family will love!
6. Kale
Although kale is usually considered a summer vegetable, this green plant actually gets considerably tastier once the leaves have been exposed to frost… Meaning it’s much nicer as part of a dish.
The frost brings out the kale’s natural sweetness, and grilling it on the barbecue takes this flavor to whole new levels. The sturdiness of kale leaves means that you can simply toss it with olive oil, salt, and pepper and lay the leaves directly on the grill. No griddle required!
Keep an eye on your grilled kale, as if you let it burn it will be ruined. Once your kale is nicely cooked, transfer it onto a plate to be used in a whole range of different recipes.
7. Grilled Pineapple
If these cold, dark evenings are getting you down, grilled pineapple is a fantastic way to inject a little summer sweetness into the day. Any tropical fruit is delicious on the BBQ, but pineapple is perfect as it can sit directly on the grill without slipping through the cracks.
We like to toss our pineapple slices in a mixture of brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter, then grill on skewers for simplicity. The pineapple’s sweetness, the grill’s smokiness, and slightly caramelized sugar and cinnamon create a wonderful treat that reminds you of warmer weather with every bite.
Barbecuing In A Nutshell
These tasty treats taste even better when cooked on the grill. Packed full of yummy flavors with a beautiful smokiness, you’ll be so pleased you didn’t pack your BBQ away when the sun went down!