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10. Pancakes
The large flat cooktop of a griddle makes cooking dozens of perfect pancakes a breeze. Grab your favorite pancake mix, turn the griddle on to a low temperature, and get cooking.
Cooking tips: Flip the pancakes when the sides begin to dry and bubbles begin to pop, then add toppings. Once you flip, the other side should only need a minute or two to finish cooking. If the heat isn’t high enough, the pancakes may not brown. Alternatively, if the heat is too high, the pancakes may burn. Start with a medium temperature setting and make adjustments as needed.
Cooking tips: Flip the pancakes when the sides begin to dry and bubbles begin to pop, then add toppings. Once you flip, the other side should only need a minute or two to finish cooking. If the heat isn’t high enough, the pancakes may not brown. Alternatively, if the heat is too high, the pancakes may burn. Start with a medium temperature setting and make adjustments as needed.
9. French Toast
French toast is another great breakfast food to cook on a griddle. Specialty breads like brioche or cinnamon can bring a standard whole-wheat breakfast to a new level of appetizing with the help of a griddle. All you need is the bread of your choice, eggs, and milk.
Cooking tips: A good rule of thumb is to use ~¼ cup milk for each egg. Mix the milk and egg together, then dip the slices of bread before putting them on the griddle. Set the griddle temperature to medium-low and cook each side until golden brown. You can also include additional ingredients in the egg/milk mix to add flavor (vanilla, cinnamon, etc.).
Cooking tips: A good rule of thumb is to use ~¼ cup milk for each egg. Mix the milk and egg together, then dip the slices of bread before putting them on the griddle. Set the griddle temperature to medium-low and cook each side until golden brown. You can also include additional ingredients in the egg/milk mix to add flavor (vanilla, cinnamon, etc.).
8. Steak
Gas griddles can reach temperatures up to 560 degrees, making them a great option to cook steaks. Cooking times can range depending on the type and thickness of the steak, so a meat thermometer be helpful the first few cooks.
Cooking tips: Be sure to season the steaks with salt and pepper at minimum. Turn the temperature setting all the way up and sear both sides of the steak to a light brown crust, then turn the temperature down to a medium setting to cook the inside. If you have a meat thermometer, you can use the following temperatures as a guideline.
Cooking tips: Be sure to season the steaks with salt and pepper at minimum. Turn the temperature setting all the way up and sear both sides of the steak to a light brown crust, then turn the temperature down to a medium setting to cook the inside. If you have a meat thermometer, you can use the following temperatures as a guideline.
- Rare - 125 ° F
- Medium Rare - 135 ° F
- Medium - 145 ° F
- Medium Well - 150 ° F
- Dog Food - 150 ° F+
7. Eggs
Whether they’re scrambled, over easy, or cooked as an omelet, all eggs are ridiculously easy to cook on the griddle. The non-stick surface makes clean up easy too, just scrape/wipe off the cooktop when done.
Cooking tips: Cook on a very low temperature setting, especially with gas griddles. High temperatures can cause the eggs to stick and burn.
Cooking tips: Cook on a very low temperature setting, especially with gas griddles. High temperatures can cause the eggs to stick and burn.
6. Hash Browns
Hash browns are an oily mess to cook on a stove top, making them perfect for a griddle. You can shred your own potatoes or buy frozen hash browns at any grocery store. Our favorite frozen option is surprisingly the Wal-Mart house brand (found here).
Cooking tips: Add oil to the griddle then spread and organize the hash browns like the picture, cooking at a medium temperature. Use plenty of oil (vegetable or canola) as the hash browns wont “brown” without it. Be sure to add more oil when you flip as well since the oil is likely to drain away unless your griddle is perfectly level. If you prefer them crispy, cook them longer than you think you should.
Cooking tips: Add oil to the griddle then spread and organize the hash browns like the picture, cooking at a medium temperature. Use plenty of oil (vegetable or canola) as the hash browns wont “brown” without it. Be sure to add more oil when you flip as well since the oil is likely to drain away unless your griddle is perfectly level. If you prefer them crispy, cook them longer than you think you should.
5. Fajitas
Fajitas are one of the most fun meals to cook on the griddle. The large cooktop allows all of the ingredients to be cooked simultaneously and makes cooking for a large group easy. We have cooked 4lbs of fajita chicken at a time on a 28” griddle with room to spare!
Cooking tips: We get our meat from the Mexican grocery stores/meat market as they typically have the best and cheapest options. Our favorite store is La Michocana – the fajita chicken is only $3.50/lb and it comes pre shredded. Spread the meat and vegetables out as much as possible to cook quickly and evenly. We typically use a medium-high setting for the meat and a medium setting to sauté any vegetables.
Cooking tips: We get our meat from the Mexican grocery stores/meat market as they typically have the best and cheapest options. Our favorite store is La Michocana – the fajita chicken is only $3.50/lb and it comes pre shredded. Spread the meat and vegetables out as much as possible to cook quickly and evenly. We typically use a medium-high setting for the meat and a medium setting to sauté any vegetables.
4. Philly Cheesesteak
A griddle lets you cook a cheesesteak like the professionals. You can make the recipe as simple or complicated as you want, but we only use 5 ingredients: thinly sliced beef, white American cheese (or provolone), salt & pepper for seasoning, and a hoagie roll. You can add onions and peppers based on your preference.
Cooking tips: Add some oil to the griddle and cook the beef on a medium/high temperature, flipping frequently and chopping it up to help it cook evenly. Season the meat with salt/pepper during cooking. Lower the heat to medium once the meat is cooked and add in the cheese until melted. Split the hoagie roll and toast it on the griddle once meat is almost complete. If you are using onions or peppers, cook them on the other side of the griddle on a medium temperature and add them in to the meat after the cheese is melted.
Cooking tips: Add some oil to the griddle and cook the beef on a medium/high temperature, flipping frequently and chopping it up to help it cook evenly. Season the meat with salt/pepper during cooking. Lower the heat to medium once the meat is cooked and add in the cheese until melted. Split the hoagie roll and toast it on the griddle once meat is almost complete. If you are using onions or peppers, cook them on the other side of the griddle on a medium temperature and add them in to the meat after the cheese is melted.
3. Burgers
A griddle is the backyard burger king. It can cook burgers for one or for an entire party with ease. Fresh, frozen, smashed, cheese, no cheese – the options are endless. WalMart Great Value brand frozen patties are a cheap and greasy solution if you don’t want to buy fresh meat.
Cooking tips: If you are using fresh (not frozen) meat, put a quarter sized dimple in the middle to help keep the patty flat while cooking. You can use a steam/basting dome once the patty is done cooking to help melt the cheese onto the burger. Don’t forget to toast your bread on the griddle!
Cooking tips: If you are using fresh (not frozen) meat, put a quarter sized dimple in the middle to help keep the patty flat while cooking. You can use a steam/basting dome once the patty is done cooking to help melt the cheese onto the burger. Don’t forget to toast your bread on the griddle!
2. Fried Rice
Fried rice is another meal made easy with a griddle, turning the average cook into a hibachi chef. The extra cooking space allows the ingredients to cooked side by side and effortlessly mixed upon completion. With a little bit of practice, you too can create your very own onion volcano and throw shrimp into the mouths of guests.
Cooking tips: You can add as many ingredients as you want, but we just use chicken, rice, eggs, frozen peas, frozen carrots, eggs, soy sauce, salt/pepper, and sesame oil. A good tip is to make the rice the day before and refrigerate it as it helps prevent the rice from sticking together. Make sure to cut the meat down into bite sized pieces – we usually cut the meat down into “chunks” before cooking and use the spatula to cut them down further while cooking. You can cook the ingredients at the same time, but keep the meat, vegetables, rice, and egg separated until everything is done cooking. Start by cooking the meat since it will typically take the longest. Use plenty of soy sauce while cooking on the meat, vegetables, and rice. Make sure to cook the eggs on low heat to prevent them from sticking and put sesame oil on them as they cook. Mix the rice and eggs together first once the eggs are done cooking, then mix in the meat and vegetables. Add additional soy sauce, salt, pepper, and sesame oil once everything is mixed together as needed for flavor. This meal is very hard to mess up, so don’t be afraid to give it a shot.
Cooking tips: You can add as many ingredients as you want, but we just use chicken, rice, eggs, frozen peas, frozen carrots, eggs, soy sauce, salt/pepper, and sesame oil. A good tip is to make the rice the day before and refrigerate it as it helps prevent the rice from sticking together. Make sure to cut the meat down into bite sized pieces – we usually cut the meat down into “chunks” before cooking and use the spatula to cut them down further while cooking. You can cook the ingredients at the same time, but keep the meat, vegetables, rice, and egg separated until everything is done cooking. Start by cooking the meat since it will typically take the longest. Use plenty of soy sauce while cooking on the meat, vegetables, and rice. Make sure to cook the eggs on low heat to prevent them from sticking and put sesame oil on them as they cook. Mix the rice and eggs together first once the eggs are done cooking, then mix in the meat and vegetables. Add additional soy sauce, salt, pepper, and sesame oil once everything is mixed together as needed for flavor. This meal is very hard to mess up, so don’t be afraid to give it a shot.
1. Bacon
Bacon is the holy grail of griddle cooking. It’s so good, in fact, that experts recommend cooking bacon first after seasoning a griddle for two reasons: it’s the American thing to do, and the grease helps further season the cooktop. The flat surface helps the bacon cook more evenly and has no sides to creep up on like a pan. Not only is it easy, but you can cook a TON of bacon at once. Outdoor bacon cooking also prevents a time-consuming kitchen cleanup - instead, just scrape the surface and walk away.
Cooking tips: If possible, set the bacon on the cooktop before igniting the burners so it starts on a cold surface. Cook the bacon “low and slow” at a low temperature. A grill press can help bacon cook quicker and more evenly, as the weight helps ensure more of the surface of the bacon is on the heat. Bacon will continue to cook a bit and stiffen when removed from the cooktop, so keep this in mind when determining how long to cook it. As a rule of thumb, cook until the strip is browned evenly and redness is gone.
Cooking tips: If possible, set the bacon on the cooktop before igniting the burners so it starts on a cold surface. Cook the bacon “low and slow” at a low temperature. A grill press can help bacon cook quicker and more evenly, as the weight helps ensure more of the surface of the bacon is on the heat. Bacon will continue to cook a bit and stiffen when removed from the cooktop, so keep this in mind when determining how long to cook it. As a rule of thumb, cook until the strip is browned evenly and redness is gone.
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