How To BBQ Without A Grill This Memorial Day Weekend

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Memorial Day Weekend is the one time of year when many of us come out of the woodwork sporting something patriotic. It’s a time to commemorate all the men and women whom we’ve lost in military service, but it’s also a time to wear red, white and blue onesies, escape to the beach and have a cookout with friends. For those of you who can’t access a grill for MDW but still want to feel like you’re participating in the festivities, here’s what you can do.

Use a broiler.

When you don’t have a grill to give your food that charred look, you can rely on your broiler to add that extra layer of crispiness and color. Think of your broiler as an upside-down grill. You’re exposing your food directly to high heat, which is perfect for thin cuts of meat, vegetables and cheesy dishes. You can bake your marinaded chicken or veggies and then put them under the broiler for a few minutes afterward to give them that charred crispy element.

Sprinkle smokey spices.

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An easy way to add a BBQ effect to your food is through smokey spices. Find yourself a quality chipotle seasoning or a powerful smoked paprika. If you have access to any specialty food stores, you might be able to find a mesquite or hickory powder that you can sprinkle all over your food. With the right spice combination, you might not even need to grill your food at all.

Use a grill pan.

As long as you have a stove, you can grill. And grill pans won’t put a dent in your budget, either. You can buy an 11-inch, cast-iron grill pan for $20 and pretend like you have an outdoor grill. You can also use a grill pan regardless of whether you have an electric or gas stove. Depending on the size of your grill pan, you’ll want to turn on the appropriate amount of burners about 20 or 30 minutes ahead of cooking time to get the pan nice and hot.

The best way to make sure your food doesn’t stick to the pan is to wipe it with a thin coating of oil before cooking. You can either do this with a pastry brush or roll up a towel, dip it in oil, grab the towel with a pair of tongs and coat the whole surface with an oil that has a high smoke point. You’ll be able to get those beautiful grill marks on your meat and veggies this way. You can also use your grill pan to toast any bread you need for the table.

There’s no reason you should let grill access hinder your MDW festivities (or any BBQ festivities for that matter). It’s just another excuse to get creative.

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