5 Things You Didn't Know You Could Grill

June 19, 2020

Grills aren’t just for kebabs and steaks! (Although those are great too!) We compiled a quick list of some unlikely but delicious grill recipes you may not have heard of before! They’re quick, easy, and delicious. It’s everything you want out of a grill-out and more.

1) Pineapple

If you’ve never had grilled pineapple before it’s time to drop everything and get the grill fired up right now. Pineapple is one of those tricky fruits that contain an enzyme that some folks are reactive to -- but not when it’s grilled! Grilled pineapple can be sweet, salty, even spicy! You choose your own pineapple adventure once you’ve got the basics of grilling one down.

Start with a whole, fresh pineapple. You know it’s ripe when you smell the base and it has a pineapple-y smell you can’t mistake. Next, peel, core, and cut your pineapple into one inch rings. There are a lot of different methods to processing a pineapple. If you’re not quite sure how to go about it, we suggest you take a quick journey down a YouTube rabbit hole before you begin, in order to formulate a plan of attack.

Next, on medium heat, grill your slices for 2-3 minutes. Now rotate those slices 45 degrees and you’ll get those perfect diamond grill marks. Once both sides are cooked, you’re ready to season! Looking for something simple? Try a dash of cinnamon. How about sweet yet spicy? Colorado Spice’s Sweet Mesquite Sriracha will do the trick. And what about those citrus lovers? Try Colorado Spice Chipotle Lime, you’ll never go back to regular old chili powder again. Just a light dusting should do the trick!

2) Pizza

Yes, you can grill a pizza. In fact, you should most definitely be grilling your pizza. Since a grill can get much hotter than an oven, it’s actually ideal for the job. Get that delicious char and crispy crust with the right grilling method. Try to heat your grill to at least 550 degrees and get your ingredients prepped. You can make the pizza any way you like: thin crust, cheesy, spicy, veggie, whatever.

First roll out the dough and make sure it’s lightly greased with olive oil to prevent sticking. Next, throw it on the direct heat. No toppings yet, just make sure that dough is getting a little browned before flipping. Once you flip, it’s assembly time. Get creative, throw an egg on it, make a balsamic chicken pizza with Colorado Spice Balsamic Chicken Rub, anything you like. Now close the lid and let the grill do the work. You’ll know it’s ready when you can see that the edges of the dough are crispy and the cheese is gooey.

3) Shrimp

These little guys might have appeared a little too tricky to grill in the past, but no more! Have you ever tried grilling in a grill basket? It’s a metal, slotted basket that won’t let small pieces of seafood fall through, but still allows the smoky grill flavors to penetrate the basket.

Before grilling, marinate your shrimp for at least 20 minutes while the grill preheats to a medium heat. We like Colorado Spice Blackening Spice on our shrimp for a Cajun twist, plus they make the perfect taco filling! The shrimp will take mere minutes to cook, so keep an eye on them. No one likes overcooked shrimp! Remove the shrimp as soon as it’s pink. Remember, food often continues to cook for minutes once removed from the grill so don’t worry about under-cooking the shrimp, worry about turning them into rubber. But trust us, the risk is worth the reward. Taste for yourself why you should always cook shrimp on the grill when feasible.

4) Potato Salad

It seems like everyone has their own classic potato salad recipe, passed down from grandma to grandma, from Memorial Day picnic to Memorial Day picnic. We don’t want to get in the way of tradition, however, have you considered grilling those potatoes before they enter the salad? Just a crazy idea that would add a whole lot of flavor and even some crispy texture. Your grandma won’t mind.

First, you have to boil the potatoes. As you normally would, boil until potatoes are tender but not falling apart. On medium heat, place your cooked potatoes on the grill. Turn them until all sides are browned and crispy. To encourage the utmost crispiness, you can lightly coat your potatoes in olive oil and spices before grilling and roughen up the surfaces of the potatoes when tossing. Now when your potatoes are grilled, you can add the other ingredients and dressing of your choice to finish up your new/old potato salad recipe!

5) Bacon

But what about grease fires? Forget about that, we have aluminum foil! To begin, sprinkle your bacon with some Colorado Spice BBQ Seasoning blend for some unique flavor. Next, around your bacon on a baking sheet lined in aluminum or in an aluminum foil pan. Make sure the bacon strips are not touching. Now you’re ready to grill.

Indirect heat is best for grilling bacon. If you’re using a charcoal grill, move the coals to one side and cook the bacon on the other. If you’re using a gas grill, use the cooling rack or alternatively only light part of the grill. The grill should be at medium heat, around 300 – 350 degrees. Cook for 10 -15 minutes until the bacon is crispy but not charred and viola! You just grilled bacon!