Springtime is upon us and that means it’s time to run for the grill and finally rip that weather cover right off. If the start of warm weather means one thing, it’s that you can finally make your favorite meals outside again. Whether you love cooking for just yourself or if hosting backyard barbecues are your favorite ways to get your friends and family together, cooking outside is the perfect way to both relax and add some amazing flavor into your meal.
Before you get started, make sure you have everything you need to kick off springtime with a bang. First, do a little inventory of your seasonings and sauces. Then you’ll want to head to the store to grab what’s missing along with all your favorite fresh ingredients. On the way home, make sure you don’t forget the easiest thing to miss – the propane itself. Just stop at your local propane supplier and grab all you might need for the upcoming meals.
Chicken Skewers
A meal like this will be great if it’s just you, or your small family, but something like chicken skewers really shine if you are cooking for a large group. Everyone loves grilled chicken, sure, but what else they want on their skewer is really going to vary. There’s no need to stress; you just need to ask what everyone wants on their own skewer.
These are as customizable as they are tasty. To keep it universal, marinate the chicken with a base of soy sauce and brown sugar. From there, customize to what you think will go over well with your group. In terms of additional fixings, think of things like peppers, onions and even pineapple as options.
Shrimp Tacos
Here’s another customizable option that will be delicious without you having to break a sweat. Everyone loves shrimp tacos, and preparing the shrimp on the grill will round out the typical flavor with a perfect smokiness. And before the shrimp hit the grill, coat them with a nice dusting of chili powder, cumin, and a spritz of lime juice.
Once they are nice and ready, put them in a soft shell with some cilantro, avocado, and tomato. Shrimp tacos might not be the first thing you thought of for grilling the season, but they are sure to become a staple from here on out. If even more flavor is calling your name, think about adding your favorite salsa to the mix.
Cheeseburger
It’s always a blast to both prepare and eat exciting new dishes, but there is nothing that’s going to feel as good as the first bite of the perfect cheeseburger. While you’re at the store, make sure you grab the highest quality ground beef. Not everyone thinks it’s important, but that might be the reason you think burgers aren’t all that exciting.
Before the beef patties and up on the grill, make sure they get a healthy dose of salt and pepper into the mix. For a little excitement, don’t stop there. Garlic is a great addition as well. If you know you want something more but aren’t sure where to start, there’s plenty of grill seasoning mixes at the supermarket and those are great for figuring out where you’d like to take your burger skills.