Griddles are an incredibly versatile cooking tool, offering the ability to cook everything from breakfast favorites to hearty dinners. Whether you’re using an outdoor flat top grill or an indoor electric griddle, the even heat distribution ensures perfectly cooked meals. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most popular griddle recipes, packed with tips and techniques to help you make the most of your griddle.
Cooking on a griddle is convenient for families and gatherings, thanks to its large cooking surface. We’ll cover griddle breakfast recipes, lunch and dinner options, and answer common questions about griddle cooking. We’ll also sprinkle in some griddle cooking tips along the way to ensure you achieve professional results at home. If you’re new to griddle cooking, you may also want to read this griddle seasoning guide from Serious Eats to learn how to properly season and maintain your griddle.
Introduction to Griddle Cooking
Griddle cooking is ideal for achieving an even cook across a large surface, making it a go-to method for family meals, camping trips, or outdoor cooking events. From pancakes to burgers, the flat, open surface allows multiple ingredients to be cooked at once, ensuring efficient use of time and space.
What makes the griddle so effective? It’s all about the uniform heat distribution and the ability to use the entire surface for different recipes. The flat surface allows food to brown evenly, leading to better textures and flavors. Additionally, it’s easier to control cooking temperatures, which is key when making certain dishes, like smash burgers or delicate fish. For those who want to dive deeper into flat top grill recipes, check out the Blackstone Griddle Recipes: A Comprehensive Guide to learn more about how a griddle can transform your meals.
Breakfast Griddle Recipes
Griddles shine the brightest when it comes to breakfast. The even cooking surface is perfect for whipping up classic breakfast staples, like pancakes, bacon, and eggs. But beyond the basics, you can experiment with more complex dishes, making breakfast a feast that everyone will enjoy.
1. Classic Pancakes
Pancakes are one of the most popular griddle recipes for breakfast, and for good reason. The flat surface of the griddle ensures that pancakes cook evenly, creating that perfect golden-brown color without burning.
- Ingredients: Flour, sugar, baking powder, eggs, milk, butter.
- Cooking Tips: First, heat your griddle to medium-high. Butter the surface before pouring the batter. Flip your pancakes once bubbles appear on the surface, ensuring an even cook on both sides.
Pancakes can be easily customized with add-ins like blueberries, chocolate chips, or bananas. You can also experiment with different toppings, such as whipped cream, syrup, or fruit preserves.
Want to elevate your pancake game? You can explore Griddle Dinner Recipes for more breakfast-to-dinner ideas.
2. French Toast
Another breakfast classic, French toast cooked on a griddle turns out crispy on the outside while soft and fluffy on the inside. French toast is a crowd-pleaser, and the griddle makes it easy to prepare several pieces at once.
- Ingredients: Thick-cut bread, eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon.
- Cooking Tips: Dip your bread slices in the egg mixture, allowing them to soak for a few seconds. Cook on medium heat, flipping when the edges are golden brown.
You can experiment with toppings like powdered sugar, fresh berries, or even a drizzle of honey. French toast is one of those easy griddle meals that’s perfect for weekend breakfasts or brunch.
3. Hash Browns
Hash browns are a beloved breakfast side, and the griddle allows you to achieve that crispy, golden texture that’s hard to replicate with a skillet. Cooking hash browns on a griddle gives them a satisfying crunch on the outside while keeping the inside soft.
- Ingredients: Potatoes (shredded), butter, salt, pepper.
- Cooking Tips: First, shred the potatoes and pat them dry to remove excess moisture. Butter the griddle and press the potatoes down with a spatula to create an even layer. Flip them once they’re crispy on the bottom for an even cook.
Hash browns are also great for customizing. Add ingredients like cheese, onions, or peppers to give your hash browns extra flavor and texture. This recipe is a must-have on any best griddle recipes list.
4. Breakfast Tacos
Looking to mix things up for breakfast? Breakfast tacos are an easy griddle meal that’s perfect for mornings. They’re quick, customizable, and packed with flavor.
- Ingredients: Eggs, tortillas, sausage or bacon, cheese, salsa.
- Cooking Tips: Scramble the eggs on one side of the griddle while warming the tortillas on the other. Once the eggs are cooked, fill the tortillas with eggs, sausage or bacon, cheese, and salsa.
These breakfast tacos are perfect for a fast, protein-packed meal. They’re one of the most versatile popular flat top grill recipes, making them a great option for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Lunch and Dinner Griddle Recipes
Your griddle is not just for breakfast—it’s a fantastic tool for whipping up savory, satisfying lunches and dinners as well. Below are some popular griddle recipes perfect for both mid-day meals and evening dinners.
5. Smash Burgers
If you’re looking for the ultimate burger experience, smash burgers are it. The high heat from the griddle gives the burgers a crispy, caramelized crust, while the inside remains juicy and tender. They are easily one of the most popular griddle recipes for lunch or dinner.
- Ingredients: Ground beef, burger buns, cheese, onions.
- Cooking Tips: First, heat your griddle to high. Form the ground beef into balls and place them on the griddle. Use a spatula to “smash” the burgers flat, creating a crispy outer edge. Cook for 2-3 minutes, flip, and top with cheese.
Smash burgers pair well with classic toppings like lettuce, tomato, pickles, and onions. Serve with crispy fries for the perfect meal. Want more burger variations? Check out Top 10 Blackstone Recipes for more ideas.
6. Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches
This East Coast favorite is even better when made on a griddle. The large surface area allows the steak, onions, and peppers to cook together, absorbing all the delicious flavors. It’s one of the best griddle recipes for a savory lunch or dinner.
- Ingredients: Thinly sliced steak, bell peppers, onions, cheese, hoagie rolls.
- Cooking Tips: Sauté the onions and peppers first, then cook the steak. Once cooked, pile the steak, onions, and peppers onto the hoagie rolls and top with cheese.
For the best results, use provolone cheese or Cheese Whiz for that authentic Philly cheesesteak flavor. Toast the hoagie rolls on the griddle for added texture.
7. Chicken Quesadillas
Quesadillas are an excellent option for quick, family-friendly meals, and the griddle makes it easy to prepare several at once. Griddling gives the tortillas a crisp, golden texture while ensuring the cheese melts perfectly.
- Ingredients: Chicken, cheese, tortillas, salsa, sour cream.
- Cooking Tips: First, grill the chicken until fully cooked. Then, assemble the quesadilla by placing cheese and grilled chicken between two tortillas. Cook on the griddle until golden brown and crispy on both sides.
Serve with salsa and sour cream for a complete meal. Quesadillas are among the most popular griddle recipes for both kids and adults, offering endless possibilities for fillings and flavors.
8. Grilled Salmon
Grilled salmon is a go-to meal for seafood lovers. The griddle allows you to cook the fish evenly, creating a crispy skin while keeping the inside tender and juicy. Salmon is one of the best griddle recipes for dinner, offering a healthy, flavorful option.
- Ingredients: Salmon fillets, olive oil, lemon, garlic.
- Cooking Tips: Preheat your griddle to medium-high heat and oil the surface. Cook the salmon skin-side down first to get it crispy. Flip the fillets and cook until the inside is flaky and cooked through.
Serve with a side of vegetables, also cooked on the griddle, for a healthy and delicious meal.
9. Fried Rice
Fried rice is an excellent way to use up leftovers, and the griddle allows you to cook all the ingredients together quickly. It’s perfect for meal prep, and you can customize it with different proteins and vegetables.
- Ingredients: Rice, eggs, mixed vegetables, soy sauce, sesame oil.
- Cooking Tips: First, scramble the eggs on the griddle, then push them to the side. Add the rice and vegetables, stir-fry everything together, and season with soy sauce and sesame oil.
Fried rice is one of the easiest griddle meals to prepare and works great as a side dish or a complete meal when paired with grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu.
Advanced Griddle Recipes and Techniques
Now that you’ve mastered some of the basic and popular griddle recipes, let’s take it up a notch with more advanced techniques.
10. Steak and Shrimp Stir Fry
This steak and shrimp stir fry is perfect for showing off your griddle skills. The large cooking surface allows you to cook both the protein and vegetables at the same time, ensuring even cooking and maximum flavor.
- Ingredients: Steak, shrimp, bell peppers, onions, soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil.
- Cooking Tips: First, cook the steak on high heat until seared, then add the shrimp. Once the proteins are nearly done, add the vegetables and stir-fry everything together with soy sauce and sesame oil.
This stir fry is one of the best griddle recipes to impress your guests with its bold flavors and colorful presentation.
FAQs About Griddle Cooking
How do you keep food from sticking to the griddle?
To prevent sticking, use a light coat of oil with a high smoke point, like vegetable or canola oil. Additionally, make sure your griddle is properly seasoned or coated before cooking.
What’s the best temperature for cooking on a griddle?
Most recipes cook well between 350°F and 400°F. Pancakes and eggs prefer a lower temperature (around 325°F), while burgers and steaks require higher heat (375°F–400°F).
Can you cook everything on a griddle?
Griddles are highly versatile and can cook almost anything, from breakfast foods like pancakes and eggs to dinner options like steak and grilled vegetables. Many popular griddle recipes can be adapted for any meal, making the griddle a kitchen essential.
How do you clean a griddle after cooking?
After cooking, use a scraper to remove any stuck-on food while the griddle is still warm. Wipe down the surface with a damp cloth, and apply a thin layer of oil to prevent rusting.
What oil is best for griddle cooking?
Use oils with high smoke points such as avocado oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil to avoid burning.
Whether you’re cooking up a quick breakfast or grilling a hearty dinner, your griddle will become your best kitchen companion with these recipes. Experiment with new flavors, try out advanced techniques, and use the links provided for even more delicious ideas to get the most out of your griddle. Explore popular flat top grill recipes and try out a variety of meals to become a griddle pro.
For more inspiration, explore these internal links from the Recipes Abigail website:
Happy cooking!