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

Sides & Sauces

Side dishes

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:…

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…

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…

Queso Fundido (Queso Flameado)

Queso Fundido (Queso Flameado)

Queso fundido is the easiest dip to make and only takes two ingredients. Also known as queso flameado or chorizo con queso, this melty, cheesy dip recipe is one that you’ll love! One Dip, Two Ingredients This Mexican dip only takes two ingredients: That’s it.…

Fried Pickle Dip with Smoked Cream Cheese

Fried Pickle Dip with Smoked Cream Cheese

Pickles have grown in even more popularity recently and the fried pickle dip recipe is now the perfect dip to try! This easy pickle dip recipe stands out as it uses smoked cream cheese, ranch seasoning, and bacon. And dill pickles, of course (amongst other…

BBQ Burger Sauce

BBQ Burger Sauce

Elevate your burger game with the flavors of BBQ burger sauce! This burger sauce is made of condiments such as ketchup, mayonnaise, relish, and BBQ sauce. It’s the perfect compliment to your burger and is great on sandwiches. It is also the perfect dipping sauce…

How to Caramelize Onions

How to Caramelize Onions

Caramelized onions elevate the flavor of regular onions to a whole new level. Caramelizing onions is a very simple process: cook the sliced onions with butter and salt at a medium-low temp for about an hour. They make a great topping for burgers and sandwiches.…

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Roasted garlic mashed potatoes are so good that you can skip the gravy and eat them as is! The depth of flavor from the roasted garlic and the rich, buttery taste of yellow potatoes make this garlic mashed potatoes recipe the best out there! Ingredients…

Chimichurri Recipe

Chimichurri Recipe

This chimichurri recipe is the best steak sauce you can have with your meat! The flavors of herbs, vinegar, garlic, red pepper and olive oil create a truly unique sauce that goes perfectly with steaks and other grilled meats. In this chimichurri recipe, we will…

Tangy Cilantro Lime Crema

Tangy Cilantro Lime Crema

This tangy cilantro lime crema is so easy to make that I can’t believe I was intimidated to try it for so long! This recipe uses common ingredients found in the refrigerator and pantry and only takes less than five minutes to make! What is…

Smoked Buffalo Chicken Dip

Smoked Buffalo Chicken Dip

An epic party dip that is super easy to make, this smoked Buffalo chicken dip combines the flavors of Buffalo style chicken, cheeses, and Rotel. Add in some hot sauce for an extra kick and a kiss of smoke flavor then you’ve got the perfect…

Jalapeño Popper Cheese Ball

Jalapeño Popper Cheese Ball

Break away from the traditional cheese ball by making this jalapeño popper cheese ball using smoked cream cheese and ingredients to make bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers! This is my favorite way to make a cheese ball and I’ll walk you through the easy recipe! Cheese…

Easy Mexican Street Corn Dip

Easy Mexican Street Corn Dip

This easy Mexican street corn dip, also known as elotes dip or esquites (Mexican street corn salad), takes the popular Mexican corn treat and turns it into one of the best tasting dips you’ll ever try! Grill the corn to your liking and incorporate with…

Grilled Sweet Potatoes

Grilled Sweet Potatoes

Grilled sweet potatoes are the perfect Thanksgiving side dish! These are essentially baked potatoes on the grill, but with the addition of a nice smoky flavor. This sweet potato recipe is more like a candied yams recipe in that we add brown sugar and marshmallows…

Smoked Cream Cheese with Pepper Jelly

Smoked Cream Cheese with Pepper Jelly

Smoked cream cheese is one of the easiest, tastiest appetizers you’ll ever make! It’s one of the best game day snacks out there and I’ll show you the steps to this easy appetizer. Three Ingredients. And Smoke. The ingredients list is short for this smoked…

How to Make Bacon Jam

How to Make Bacon Jam

This bacon jam recipe is so easy and makes the perfect topping for burgers and appetizers! Follow these easy steps to make this game changing topping! What is in Bacon Jam? Bacon jam is a perfect blend of sweet and savory. Bacon jam ingredients include…

Easy Smoked Mac and Cheese

Easy Smoked Mac and Cheese

Homemade smoked mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food. I’ve tried different macaroni and cheese recipes over the years and this one is a winner! Using this tried and true recipe, and adding smoke flavor, makes this the ultimate side dish for any BBQ!…

Philly Cheesesteak Dip

Philly Cheesesteak Dip

Philly cheesesteak dip is a tasty twist to the classic sandwich! Only takes 30 minutes on the grill or in the oven (but smoke flavor off the grill is preferred). Let’s start by addressing what goes into a Philly cheesesteak sandwich. What Ingredients Go Into…

Smoked Prosciutto Wrapped Brie

Smoked Prosciutto Wrapped Brie

Smoked prosciutto wrapped Brie is the perfect appetizer for all types of gatherings, from formal to casual. Only three ingredients and 30 minutes on the grill! How to Make Smoked Prosciutto Wrapped Brie This smoked appetizer recipe is so simple you could jump to the…

Smoked Queso Dip

Smoked Queso Dip

This smoked queso dip recipe is the ultimate party dip your chips can’t stay away from! Easy to follow instructions for the best dip you’ll ever make! What Goes Into this Smoked Queso Dip Recipe? This smoked queso dip recipe consists of eight ingredients and…

Smoked Chex Mix

Smoked Chex Mix

Taking the traditional holiday snack mix to the next level, this Smoked Chex Mix recipe adds more of what you want! This recipe is easy to follow and only takes one hour of cooking (or should we say, smoking) time. Watch the Video! What Goes…

Green Beans with Bacon and Onions

Green Beans with Bacon and Onions

Looking for a great side dish recipe to go along with that epic holiday feast (or steak dinner)? Fresh green beans with bacon and onions provides those perfect, complementary flavors to go along with that main dish! An Amazing Green Vegetable Side Dish Even though…

Homemade French Fries (Five Guys copycat)

Homemade French Fries (Five Guys copycat)

Have you attempted making homemade french fries before? Do you wish you could make them taste like the epic fries at Five Guys? You can make these at home and they are easier than you’d expect. As long as you know THREE key tips, your…

Smoky Cuban Sliders

Smoky Cuban Sliders

Sliders seem to be all the craze lately and deservedly so. The are like mini versions of your favorite burger or sandwich and you don’t have to feel guilty eating multiples. This Cuban sliders recipe packs the flavor in a smaller size. They only take…

BBQ Holiday Recipe Guide 2020

BBQ Holiday Recipe Guide 2020

Looking for ideas for your upcoming holiday meal? Well, you’re in luck! This BBQ holiday recipe guide is a compilation of main dishes, sides/appetizers, and dessert (yep, singular. I’m working on that). The list will be updated as more recipes get developed and posted, so…

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Parmesan

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Parmesan

Folks seem to have a love – hate relationship with Brussels sprouts, mostly because some don’t know how to cook them. When Brussels sprouts are roasted, the outsides have a Milliard reaction and creates that tasty, browned crust. This roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon and…

SMOKY, FLAKY CAST IRON BISCUITS

SMOKY, FLAKY CAST IRON BISCUITS

Biscuits are the ultimate comfort food: they can be a side to your comfort food main dish or be the main dish itself. They are also acceptable to eat with any meal any time of the day. With a kiss of hickory smoke, as well…

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers with Chorizo

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers with Chorizo

If you’ve ever been to a gathering of sorts, especially those where watching sports is involved, then there’s a chance you’ve had smoked bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers. But have you had them stuffed with chorizo? And with a kiss of hickory smoke? Next level. I’ll…

BBQ PULLED PORK NACHOS

BBQ PULLED PORK NACHOS

Pulled pork nachos are a perfect for any occasion! The ideal cheese for pulled pork nachos are cheddar and Monterrey jack. Layer it on for extra cheesiness to this dish! This recipe can use either freshly cooked or leftover pulled pork. Let’s go through the…

Elotes Recipe – Mexican Street Corn

Elotes Recipe – Mexican Street Corn

In the movie Nacho Libre, Esqueleto (Nacho Libre’s sidekick) can be seen throughout the film eating corn on a cob on a stick, known as elotes. There’s a particular scene where Jack Black’s character is offered some of this Mexican street corn and Jack Black…

Southern Corn Pudding

Southern Corn Pudding

My introduction to Southern corn pudding came when I went up to the From the Ashes BBQ festival up in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Anthony DiBernardo, of Swig & Swine in South Carolina, had this side dish he was cooking in a large cauldron and immediately…

Smoked Jalapeño Pepper Jack Mac and Cheese

Smoked Jalapeño Pepper Jack Mac and Cheese

While the BBQ meat is the main event on the plate, you can’t overlook the supporting cast: the side dishes. I’d like to think the sides you make should be good enough to eat on your own after the BBQ is all gone. This smoked…

Smoked Chicken Wings

Smoked Chicken Wings

  I’ve been looking for an excuse to smoke chicken wings because my family isn’t big on eating them. Wings always remind me of watching sports with friends and family and I figured the best time to make these is when we gather for a…