BBQ recipes, product reviews, & how-to's

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Grilled Carne Asada Fries

Grilled Carne Asada Fries

What if I told you that you can make one of the most irresistible appetizers at home? These carne asada fries are a lot like nachos, but swapping tortilla chips for fries! The recipe is easy and can be done by following these simple steps:…

American Dessert Trifle

American Dessert Trifle

This American dessert trifle recipe is one my family and I look forward to every year! Remember on that episode of Friends when Rachel makes a traditional English trifle and gets the ingredients all mixed up? Thankfully, this is NOTHING like that. We have layers…

Grilled Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings

Grilled Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings

It’s not a party unless you have chicken wings! These garlic Parmesan chicken wings from the grill are a must for any occasion. Savory, buttery, mild flavors make these a crowd pleaser for all types of taste buds.

Ingredients Needed

  • Chicken wings
  • Rocky Mtn Beef Rub (trust me)
  • melted butter
  • minced garlic
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • Parsley
  • Corn starch

The Secret to Crispy Wings

Use cornstarch to get crispy wings.

Can I let you in on a little secret? You can indeed get crispy wings without having to use a deep fryer or air fryer. Here are the three things I do:

  1. Pat the wings dry. Use a paper towel to absorb the moisture from the skin.
  2. Add corn starch. This helps absorb even more oil and/or moisture from the chicken skin.
  3. Cook at 400 degrees. Cooking at a higher temp helps crisp the skin faster.

When adding a teaspoon of corn starch, use your favorite chicken seasoning or my very own Rocky Mtn Beef Rub. This gives a great blend of salt, pepper, garlic, coriander, and a hint of lime.

How Long to Cook Grilled Parmesan Chicken Wings

Mixing the ingredients for wings altogether.

With the grill preheated to 400 degrees over indirect heat, place the seasoned chicken wings on the grill. Make sure to space them out just enough to where they aren’t touching. If they are touching, then the skin won’t cook as well and leave you with soggy spots.

Grill the wings for 30 minutes away from the flames with pecan wood. Remove and place in a large mixing bowl with two cloves of minced garlic, 1/2 Cup of grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 Cup of chopped parsley, and four tablespoons of melted butter. Mix ingredients by hand until all wings are coated evenly.

How Do I Know When Wings are Done?

Wings on the grill. What a beautiful sight!

Place wings back on grill for another 10 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 175 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook by temp, not time.

Once internal temp of chicken wings is achieved at 175 degrees, remove and coat with extra Parmesan cheese and a little extra seasoning. Serve immediately.

How Long Are Leftover Chicken Wings Good For?

If you happen to have leftover chicken wings, simply store them in an airtight container and place them in the refrigerator. They can be stored like this for up to four days.

What is the Best Way to Reheat Chicken Wings?

If you happen to have leftover chicken wings from your Super Bowl party (for example), the best ways to reheat are either in the broiler for two to three minutes or in the air fryer. You can air fry them at 375 degrees for four minutes.

Similar Recipes to Try

Mango Habanero Chicken Wings

Classic BBQ Chicken Wings

Smoked Queso Dip

Bacon Wrapped Chorizo Jalapeño Poppers

Fried Pickle Dip

Animal Style Sliders (In-N-Out Burger Copycat)

Grilled Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings

Grilled Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings

Yield: 24 wings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings are perfect for parties at events such as the Super Bowl, New Year’s, Fourth of July, or any tailgate! Tips for crispy chicken wings included!

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. chicken wings
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • 1/4 Cup seasoning
  • 4 Tbsp melted butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 Cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 Tbsp parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat grill to 400 degrees over indirect heat, using pecan wood.
  2. Pat chicken wings dry with paper towel and place in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Add cornstarch and seasoning. Mix ingredients well together by hand.
  4. Place chicken wings on grill evenly, spaced apart. Cook for 30 minutes.
  5. After 30 minutes, remove from grill and place in large mixing bowl along with garlic, Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, and melted butter. Mix by hand and place back on grill for 10 more minutes or until internal temperature of chicken reaches 175 degrees. Serve immediately.

Notes

  1. Measure cooking by temp, not time. Dark meat on poultry is finished cooking at 175 degrees (165 degrees for white meat).
  2. Fruit woods such as cherry and apple also pair well with chicken.
  3. My Rocky Mtn Beef Rub also works well on chicken and was used in the making of this recipe.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: Four chicken wings (flats, drummettes)
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 396Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 136mgSodium: 584mgCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 21g

NOTE: Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.

How to Cook a Chuck Eye Steak

How to Cook a Chuck Eye Steak

In this recipe, I’m going to teach you how to cook a chuck eye steak on the grill. I’ll also tell you some fun facts about the cut, the other names it goes by, and what else to serve with it. What Makes Chuck Eye…

Animal Style Burger Sliders (In-N-Out Copycat)

Animal Style Burger Sliders (In-N-Out Copycat)

Kick up your mini burger game by making these mouthwatering animal style burger sliders! You may want to double the recipe because they will get gobbled up quick! I’ll walk you through the simple process below. What is Animal Style on a Burger? Animal style…

Buffalo Chicken Jalapeño Poppers

Buffalo Chicken Jalapeño Poppers

Buffalo chicken and jalapeño poppers – two of the food world’s greatest gifts. What if I told you that you could have a mouthwatering appetizer featuring both at once? With these Buffalo chicken jalapeño poppers, it is possible!

These buffalo chicken jalapeño poppers on the grill are a game changer for your next party, tailgate, movie night, or just when you’re in the mood for something ridiculously delicious. Let’s get down to the tips and tricks to make sure these poppers are as perfect as they sound.

Watch the Tutorial Video!

Ingredients for Buffalo Chicken Poppers

Here’s the brief rundown of ingredients for Buffalo chicken poppers:

  • Jalapeños
  • Chicken breast
  • Cream cheese
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Buffalo sauce
  • Blue cheese dressing
  • BBQ seasoning

Aren’t Jalapeños Really Spicy?

Poppers with blue cheese dressing

You want your poppers to have a good balance of flavor without totally burning your taste buds off. The majority of the spice from jalapeños come from the seeds and membranes. When those are removed, jalapeños have very little heat to them.

Cut jalapenos in half long ways, then scoop the seeds and membranes out to make room for the Buffalo chicken stuffing. But if you want extra heat, leave some of the seeds in.

Cooking the Chicken

Since this is a BBQ page, I love using smoked chicken in my buffalo chicken jalapeño poppers. Simply take one chicken breast, season with your favorite BBQ rub (I’m using Chicken Rub from Girls Can Grill), and cook on the grill at 375 degrees over indirect heat. I like using hickory wood for smoking this way.

The target temperature of the chicken breast should be 160 degrees. Remove, let rest, and internal temp should rise to the FDA approved 165 degrees. Shred with forks or with your hands. I like to use food safe gloves for this as it helps provide a little insulation from the hot chicken breast.

Note: You can use cooked chicken from a rotisserie, oven, grill, or slow cooker. The key is to keep that chicken nice and juicy.

Not All Cream Cheese is Created Equal

You know how cream cheese makes everything better? Well, in the case of jalapeño poppers, it’s doing some heavy lifting. It’s the secret to a creamy, dreamy filling that will make you forget you’re eating plain ol’ jalapeño. I’ve used generic and premium brands of cream cheese and I notice a difference in flavor.

With that said, I highly recommend a premium brand of cream cheese such as Philadelphia or Tillamook. An eight ounce package, or “brick” of cream cheese, is just the right amount. Make sure the cream cheese is softened by either pulling it out of the refrigerator an hour beforehand. Or do what I usually do and cut the block up into pieces and microwave for 20 seconds.

Making the Filling

Prepping jalapeño poppers for the grill

In a large mixing bowl, put in the shredded chicken breast, softened brick of cream cheese, 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup of Buffalo sauce (or hot sauce), and some blue cheese dressing. Add in a tablespoon of BBQ seasoning for more flavor.

Mix ingredients by hand or with a large spoon. Once mixed well, spoon the creamy Buffalo chicken filling into the hallowed out jalapeños. This should fill between 16 to 20 jalapeño halves (sizes of jalapeños will vary). Place on a large baking sheet and top the poppers with a light amount of shredded cheddar cheese.

Buffalo Chicken Jalapeño Poppers on the Grill

Jalapeño poppers on smoker.

With the grill preheated to 350 degrees over indirect heat, place baking sheet full of Buffalo chicken poppers in smoker and cook for 25 minutes. Remove from the grill and serve immediately. That’s it!

What to Serve with Buffalo Chicken Poppers

While you can eat this game day appetizer exactly how it is, they do taste great when dipped in blue cheese dressing. Serve alongside carrots and celery to give it a more authentic Buffalo chicken wing effect.

Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing for Buffalo Chicken?

Folks from Buffalo, where Buffalo wings were created, prefer blue cheese dressing to pair it with. The Midwesterner in me loves ranch and uses it with a lot of foods, so it is tempting to pair it with Buffalo chicken poppers. Ultimately, it is a matter of personal preference.

Other Game Day Appetizers to Try

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers w/Chorizo

Smoked Queso Dip

Queso Fundido

Smoked Chex Mix

Pulled Pork Nachos

Smoked, Fried Pickle Dip

Buffalo Chicken Jalapeño Poppers Recipe

Buffalo Chicken Jalapeño Poppers

Buffalo Chicken Jalapeño Poppers

Yield: 16-20 poppers
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

These buffalo chicken jalapeño poppers are a game changer for your next party, tailgate, movie night, or just when you're in the mood for something ridiculously delicious.

Ingredients

  • 10 jalapeños, cut in half and scooped out
  • 1 chicken breast
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 Cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 Cup Buffalo sauce (or hot sauce)
  • 1/4 Cup blue cheese dressing
  • 2 Tbsp BBQ rub or seasoning

Instructions

  1. Preheat grill to 375 degrees over indirect heat with hickory wood. Season chicken breast with one tablespoon of BBQ seasoning. Cook chicken for 30 minutes or until internal temp reaches 160 degrees. Remove, wait 10 minutes, and shred.
  2. While chicken is cooking prepare jalapeños by cutting off stems, cutting in half, and scooping out seeds and membrane. Place jalapeno halves on large baking sheet. Set aside.
  3. In large mixing bowl, combine shredded chicken, softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, Buffalo hot sauce, blue cheese dressing, and a tablespoon of BBQ seasoning. Mix ingredients altogether until consistent.
  4. With a spoon, spread the Buffalo chicken mixture into jalapeño halves and top with shredded cheddar cheese.
  5. Place on grill at 375 degrees with indirect heat for 25 minutes. Remove and serve.

Notes

  1. Have no time to cook chicken? No problem! Simply use a rotisserie chicken from the store and substitute one cup of white meat for one smoked chicken breast.
  2. Buffalo hot sauce is ideal, but feel free to use something hotter (or milder) as your taste buds prefer.
  3. This recipe can be made in the oven instead of the grill.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 2
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 250Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 344mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 7g

Note: Nutrition information isn't always accurate.

Easy Baked Beans

Easy Baked Beans

Baked beans are a classic side dish for any barbecue. They pair well with smoked brisket, pulled pork, and ribs. Most baked beans recipes will require soaking dry beans for hours then simmering all of the ingredients together for a few hours more. While the…

Smoked Apple Pie

Smoked Apple Pie

If there is such a thing as dessert comfort food, then apple pie would be it! The balance of sweet and tart in the apples, combined with cinnamon and nutmeg. Add in the smell of it coming fresh out of the oven or grill makes…

Smoked Cream Cheese w/ Apple Cinnamon

Smoked Cream Cheese w/ Apple Cinnamon

This smoked cream cheese with apple cinnamon is the ultimate cream cheese dessert recipe! This dip is very easy to make and is sure to vanish fast at your holiday party or any other gathering! Let’s dig into the process.

The Ingredients

  • Cream cheese
  • Apple pie filling
  • Sugar
  • Cinnamon
  • Confectioner’s sugar
  • Milk
  • Vanilla extract
  • Salt (optional)

Why Cream Cheese in Desserts?

Scoring the cream cheese.

Cream cheese is often used in desserts due to its unique flavor, creamy texture, and appearance. Adding a hint of cherry wood smoke adds another element of flavor!

Smoking Cream Cheese

Cream cheese dessert getting smoke flavor.

To begin, preheat your grill to 250 degrees with cherry wood over indirect heat. While the grill is preheating, take out two 8 ounce bricks of cream cheese and place on a greased cookie sheet. I prefer to use the premium brands of cream cheese as the quality makes a difference in the taste. If you would like a savory smoked cream cheese dip, follow this recipe.

Score the top of the cream cheese with 1/4 inch cuts that are an inch apart in a diagonal direction. Cut diagonally the other direction to make hash marks. We do this to get more smoke flavor into the cream cheese.

Season the cream cheese with a blend of sugar and cinnamon. I like to make this mix in a small bowl by doing four parts sugar and one part cinnamon. Mix together and sprinkle on top of cream cheese. Place the cream cheese on the grill and smoke for 90 minutes.

Tip: line the cookie sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.

Adding that Apple Cinnamon Flavor

Apple cinnamon on cream cheese.

Take a 28 ounce can of apple pie filling and pour it onto a cutting board. With a knife, take the apple slices and cut them into fourths. We do this to get more apple bits with each dipping into the smoked cream cheese dessert.

Do a light sprinkle of cinnamon on your apple pie filling to enhance the flavor. When done, place the filling in a medium sized bowl and pour evenly over the two bricks of smoked cream cheese while they are on the grill. Close the lid and smoke for another 30 minutes to get the apple cinnamon dessert warm.

If you prefer to make an apple pie filling of your own, then by all means do it! I have a recipe for that here. Doing the canned version saves time and is more convenient.

Easy Icing Recipe for the BBQ Dessert

Homemade icing on smoked cream cheese dessert recipe.

The final step in the smoked cream cheese dessert recipe is to make the icing. This is simply done by combining one cup of confectioner’s sugar, two tablespoons of milk, and a half teaspoon of vanilla extract in a small bowl. Stir with a small whisk until ingredients are well mixed together.

Drizzle the icing over the apple cinnamon smoked cream cheese and serve immediately. This recipe is best while it is warm.

Tip: for thicker icing, add more confectioner’s sugar. For thinner icing, add more milk. Also, add a pinch of salt for balance.

What to Serve with this Cream Cheese Dessert

Crostini for dessert dip.

This dessert dip goes great with baked bread slices such as crostini and bagel chips. Feel free to venture out and dip with fruits such as strawberries and …more apples!

Can this Dip be Served Cold?

While it is possible to eat this dip chilled, the cream cheese firms up and will be tougher to eat as a dip. Reheat in the microwave for 30 seconds or until soft.

Other Dips and Desserts

Smoked, Fried Pickle Dip

Cast Iron Apple Crisp

Caramel Apple Empanadas

Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball

Banana Pudding

Smoked Cream Cheese with Apple Cinnamon

Smoked Cream Cheese with Apple Cinnamon

Yield: 16 servings

This smoked cream cheese with apple cinnamon is the ultimate cream cheese dessert recipe! This dip is very easy to make and is sure to vanish fast at your holiday party or any other gathering!

Ingredients

  • 2 8 ounce bricks of cream cheese
  • 1 28 oz. can of apple pie filling
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

For Icing

  • 1 Cup confectioner's sugar
  • 2 Tbsp milk
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat grill to 250 degrees with cherry wood over indirect heat.
  2. Place the two, 8 oz. cream cheese bricks on a greased cookie sheet. Score bricks of cream cheese with diagonal, 1/4 inch deep cuts that are one inch apart. Repeat process in opposite direction to create hash marks.
  3. Season with sugar and ground cinnamon. Place on grill and smoke for 90 minutes.
  4. Empty can of apple pie filling onto cutting board, cutting the slices of apples into smallier pieces. Scoop into bowl and spread evenly on both bricks of cream cheese. Cook for another 30 minutes then remove.
  5. To make icing, combine confectioner's sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Use whisk to mix until smooth. Drizzle over the apple cinnamon smoked cream cheese as desired.

Notes

  1. Use premium brands of cream cheese for better flavor. While I use generic brands for some ingredients, cream cheese is one that is worth paying for name brands.
  2. For icing, add a pinch of salt if you want it to be less sweet.
  3. Make your own apple pie filling by following a recipe I have for cast iron apple crisp.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 2 Tbsp
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 140Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 95mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 2g

Note: Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.

Smoked Pork Belly (Brisket Style)

Smoked Pork Belly (Brisket Style)

This smoked pork belly recipe is an absolute must try for any BBQ lover! This pork belly brisket uses simple ingredients and cooks in less time than the traditional beef brisket. As a bonus, it also costs less. Let me show you the process. Watch…


All Time Favorites

Grilled Carne Asada Fries

Grilled Carne Asada Fries

What if I told you that you can make one of the most irresistible appetizers at home? These carne asada fries are a lot like nachos, but swapping tortilla chips for fries! The recipe is easy and can be done by following these simple steps:…

American Dessert Trifle

American Dessert Trifle

This American dessert trifle recipe is one my family and I look forward to every year! Remember on that episode of Friends when Rachel makes a traditional English trifle and gets the ingredients all mixed up? Thankfully, this is NOTHING like that. We have layers…

Grilled Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings

Grilled Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings

It’s not a party unless you have chicken wings! These garlic Parmesan chicken wings from the grill are a must for any occasion. Savory, buttery, mild flavors make these a crowd pleaser for all types of taste buds. Ingredients Needed The Secret to Crispy Wings…

How to Cook a Chuck Eye Steak

How to Cook a Chuck Eye Steak

In this recipe, I’m going to teach you how to cook a chuck eye steak on the grill. I’ll also tell you some fun facts about the cut, the other names it goes by, and what else to serve with it. What Makes Chuck Eye…

Animal Style Burger Sliders (In-N-Out Copycat)

Animal Style Burger Sliders (In-N-Out Copycat)

Kick up your mini burger game by making these mouthwatering animal style burger sliders! You may want to double the recipe because they will get gobbled up quick! I’ll walk you through the simple process below. What is Animal Style on a Burger? Animal style…