Best Brisket Recipes 

beef brisket is served with pickles and bbq sauce

Y’all asked for advice on leveling up your brisket game, so today I’m sharing my Best Brisket Recipes to show…

The post Best Brisket Recipes  appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

beef brisket is served with pickles and bbq sauce

Y’all asked for advice on leveling up your brisket game, so today I’m sharing my Best Brisket Recipes to show you how it’s done. There’s nothing better than a perfect brisket slice that melts in your mouth and bursts with smoky, sweet and savory flavors. On the flip side, there’s nothing worse than your first brisket coming out tough and under-seasoned. So, let’s make sure that doesn’t happen!

Juices melting down a freshly sliced brisket for The Best Brisket Recipes cover photo.

To avoid brisket disasters, let me guide you to the best ways to make all your hard work pay off with my tried-and-tested recipes. Whether you’re a seasoned pitmaster, a BBQ newbie or just interested in living vicariously through a flavor-packed journey, this roundup has something for everyone. So, grab your pitmaster apron, and let’s get cooking!

Why You’ll Love my Brisket recipes

First off, why do I love brisket so much? Well, it’s simple. Brisket is the ultimate BBQ cut. With the right techniques, this naturally tough cut of meat transforms into a symphony of tenderness and bold smokiness. Imagine biting into a piece of juicy brisket perfectly cooked with a beautiful smoke ring and a mouthwatering bark. Trust me, it’s a game-changer. So, if you’re all about those big bold flavors, you’re gonna love these recipes. 

Holding up a sliced brisket so you can see the juices and texture.

regional differences in brisket making

Brisket game changes big time, depending on where you are. In Texas, it’s all about that low and slow smoke with just salt and black pepper, letting the meat’s natural flavor and smoky goodness shine. Kansas City, though, loves it sweet and spicy, with a thick rub that includes brown sugar and finishes off with a rich, tangy barbecue sauce. Head over to the Carolinas, and you’ll find brisket served with a vinegar-based mustard sauce for a tangy kick that contrasts perfectly with the smoky meat. Different regions, different vibes, all so freakin’ delicious.

Tips for The Best Brisket Recipe

Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Here are some top tips for making the best brisket ever:

  • Choose the Right Cut: Go for a whole packer brisket which includes both the flat cut and the point cut. This gives you a perfect balance of lean and fatty meat.
  • Trim the Fat Side: Trim off excess fat. There’s no need for a thick fat cap because not all of that fat will render. I like to leave about a quarter of an inch of fat on the fat cap because I’ve found it’s enough fat that it’ll render while cooking, but it’s also not too much so that it doesn’t overwhelm you when slicing and eating the brisket later.
  • Brisket Rub: A flavor-packed spice rub can make all the difference for your brisket results. However, sometimes simplicity is the vibe. In that case, all you need is some black pepper, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder and onion powder for your dry rub.

Add flavor to everything you’re cooking

shop over the fire spice lines

Brisket Recipe Tips Continued…

  • Internal Temperature: Aim for an internal temperature of 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit, and remember to invest in a meat thermometer to get this very important detail right. 
  • Resting Time: Let your brisket rest, wrapped in butcher paper or aluminum foil, for about 2 hours or before it hits the cutting board. It may seem like a long wait, but this step helps lock in the juices.
  • Pencil-thin Slices: As a general rule of thumb, make your meat slices the width of a #2 pencil.
  • Against the Grain: Finally, to get the most enjoyment out of every bite, brisket should always be cut against the grain.

Ultimately, the best tip I can give is to be patient when it comes to slow cooking the best brisket. Remember, good brisket takes time but the reward is always worth the extra effort. 

Best Brisket Recipes

Get ready to explore mouthwatering recipes and expert tips that will take your brisket game to the next level. Let’s fire up those smokers and dive in!

The sliced shot of a smoked brisket.

Smoked Brisket

This recipe delivers perfectly rendered savory slices of beef perfection.
View Recipe

Overnight Smoked Brisket

Yet another classic recipe that turns a full-packer brisket into an insanely juicy masterpiece.
View Recipe
A close up shot of the sliced Texas Smoked Brisket.

Texas Smoked Brisket Recipe

This is a simple and straightforward brisket recipe that honors the best of Texas BBQ.
View Recipe
Mesquite Peppercorn Lager Smoked Brisket

Mesquite Peppercorn Lager Smoked Brisket

This recipe is all about the mesquite lager rub infusing the meat with a unique and insanely good flavor.
View Recipe
The Foil Boat Brisket is tender and juicy with a crisp bark.

Foil Boat Brisket

The Foil Boat Brisket method ensures super tender meat that melts in your mouth.
View Recipe
Easy Smoked Brisket

Easy Smoked Brisket

This easy recipe is perfect for your first time smoking brisket, walking you through all the steps to perfect meat!
View Recipe
hot-and-fast-smoked-brisket

Hot & Fast Smoked Brisket

This recipe features Wagyu Brisket and a faster cooking time, which yields surprisingly awesome results.
View Recipe

Leftover Brisket Recipes

Brisket is a big cut of meat, so what are you going to do with all that leftover brisket? Well… Lucky for you, I have some ideas!

a pile of brisket burnt ends on a plate held next to a smoker

Brisket Burnt Ends

Brisket Burnt Ends is the ideal recipe for the point of your Texas Smoked Brisket.
View Recipe
BBQ Burnt Ends in a foil container.

BBQ Brisket Burnt Ends

If you think it can't get any better than smoked brisket, hold my beer. These succulent BBQ Burnt Ends sauced up with honey, chipotles, and my favorite Cherry Chipotle Ale Rub for some sweet heat.
View Recipe
BBQ brisket melt

BBQ Brisket Melt

BBQ brisket melts are a great way to use the meat from my foil boat brisket recipe to make some freakin' delicious sandwiches.
View Recipe
A close up shot of a chopped brisket sandwich.

Chopped Brisket Sandwich

View Recipe
Leftover Brisket Breakfast Skillet Recipe

Leftover Brisket Breakfast Skillet

Start your morning off with a hearty breakfast skillet using leftover brisket. The best way to reuse some delicious beef again for even more flavor!
View Recipe

Texas Twinkies

If you are a bacon lover like myself, then you'll love these Texas Twinkies. This appetizer is the ultimate sweet, savory, and salty combo!
View Recipe
bbq brisket nachos

BBQ Brisket Nachos

From some of the leftover brisket we cooked up earlier this week, we have these BBQ Brisket Nachos. Super easy and fun to put together so make sure to give it a try! 
View Recipe
A chip that's been dipped in the smoked brisket queso.

Smoked Brisket Queso

Smoked Brisket Queso for a delicious bowl of melty cheese and savory brisket.
View Recipe

What to Serve with Brisket

A good brisket recipe deserves a serving platter full of delicious accompaniments, starting with your favorite BBQ sauce. Classic sides like potato salad, coleslaw and baked beans are always a hit. And don’t forget the cornbread (or white bread slices, depending on where in the South you’re from). 

If you haven’t tried it yet, check out my HNY FYR BBQ Sauce. It’s a small-batch, artisanal barbecue sauce that’s a sweet and spicy blend of clover honey, garlic and a kick of cayenne pepper. Perfect for brisket!

Brisket is served with pickles and bbq sauce.

Leftovers & reheating

Got leftovers? No problem. Store the leftover brisket in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. For the best results, slice only what you need keeping the rest whole to preserve moisture.

The best way to reheat brisket on the grill for perfect results is to wrap the brisket in aluminum foil to retain moisture, then place it on the grill over indirect heat. Set your grill to a low temperature, around 225-250 degrees Fahrenheit. Reheat the brisket slowly to prevent it from drying out, aiming for an internal temperature of 145-155 degrees Fahrenheit. To enhance the flavor, you can, of course, add a little beef broth, beer, or juice inside the foil before sealing it. This method ensures your brisket stays juicy and tender while regaining some of that delicious smoky flavor.

Also, don’t forget to try some of those other brisket recipes the next day when you’re wondering what to do with all your tasty leftover brisket! They’re pretty fantastic!

Let’s not forget the insanely delicious burnt ends. Here’s a roundup featuring all my Best Burnt Ends Recipes. Some of them are made with brisket, but I’ve also written Poor Man’s Burnt Ends, Smoked Salmon Burnt Ends and Maple Bourbon Pork Belly Burnt Ends recipes. All delicious and cooked in less time!

FAQs for Brisket Recipes

Where can I buy the best whole brisket online?

For the best whole packer brisket online, check out Snake River Farms or Crowd Cow for their insanely decadent American Wagyu Brisket. Another awesome option is Porter Road, where you can snag some pasture-raised brisket with killer marbling and flavor. These online butchers are all about quality and sustainability, making sure you get premium brisket delivered right to your door.

What are some different methods for cooking brisket? 

There are so many cool ways to cook brisket, each bringing its own flavor vibes and textures. Smoking is the OG method—cooking low and slow over wood or charcoal to get that deep smoky flavor, beautiful bark, and perfect smoke ring. If you don’t have a smoker, no worries! Oven roasting is your friend. Just cook the brisket at a low temp in the oven, maybe in a Dutch oven with tomato paste and apple cider vinegar for a super rich cooking liquid.

Get The Cookbooks!

Flavor X Fire & FOOD X Fire

By Derek Wolf

All the major tastes—salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and umami—are explored in depth, along with an investigation of other components you should consider when it comes to flavor, such as aroma, heat, and texture.

The post Best Brisket Recipes  appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

The Best Taco Recipes

Pulled pork elote tacos

There’s no party like a taco party. And I say that because every taco night feels like a party, especially…

The post The Best Taco Recipes appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

Pulled pork elote tacos

There’s no party like a taco party. And I say that because every taco night feels like a party, especially with the best taco recipes. Warm tortillas, freakin’ delicious proteins, your favorite toppings — it doesn’t get much better than that.

Pulled pork elote tacos sitting on a serving plate.

That’s probably why I’ve made many, many taco recipes over the years. So, I’ve rounded up my favorite taco recipes so you can find your go-to Taco Tuesday dinner. 

Why You’ll Love These Taco Recipes

First, I’ll start with what I love about tacos. It’s because you can go all-out a special occasion, make an easy recipe for family dinner or just throw together your favorite homemade tacos for any meal. Breakfast tacos or burritos, anyone? There’s really something for everyone!

Steak tacos ready to eat

And that something for everyone extends to how much you can vary tacos. You can go with corn tortillas and flour tortillas, or even crispy shells. You can cook up steak tacos, tacos al pastor, chicken tinga tacos, a smashburger take on classic ground beef tacos, fish tacos, shrimp tacos and so much more.

Then, don’t even get me started on the ways you can create your own taco seasoning mix or put out a variety of toppings — the possibilities are endless. 

Tips for Making the Best Tacos

​With all this variation, you want to make sure you’re set up for success. Here are my suggestions to make sure you deliver the best taco night. 

  • Tortillas: First, you’ve got to decide if you’re going with soft shells or hard taco shells. I’m a soft corn tortilla guy myself, given the texture, flavor and ability to prepare them according to your personal preference. Whether you’re using corn tortillas or flour tortillas, make sure you heat them up in a dry skillet first so they don’t break on you. Dumping the contents of your perfect taco all over your plate before you even take a bit is the worst!
  • Proteins: When you’re picking your protein, double-check the cooking time. Ingredients like pork shoulder or chicken thighs will take longer than steak (though check your marinating times!), ground beef, ground chicken or fish taco recipes. So, make sure you’re allowing the right amount of time to cook your delicious taco filling.
  • Toppings: Here’s where your imagination can run wild. Refried beans, sour cream, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, diced red onion, fresh cilantro, avocado — the list goes on. Don’t forget the lime wedges and your favorite FYR hot sauce!
  • Seasonings: For homemade taco seasoning, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder and ground cumin are great to have on hand, plus chiles to kick up the heat a notch. 
Holding up the grilled steak elote!

A Note on Chiles

There are tons of different types of chiles out there. To make sure you’ve got the right spice level so you hit family favorite status, you can always check the spice level of chiles on the Scoville scale. The Scoville scale, named for Wilbur Scoville, measures the heat level in hot peppers. Good old Wilbur’s scale ranges from 0 to 16 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Zero is no heat, 16 million is burn your mouth maximum heat. Pick your chiles accordingly! 

Get stoked for life

This sauce is FYR!

an all-new line created for live fire cooking

Born from a deep passion for food and flavor. Whether you’re grilling in the backyard or live fire cooking around the world, we have what you need to transform every meal into an adventure.

My Favorite Taco Recipes

Without further ado, let’s dive into these taco recipes. ​Buckle up, because we’re about to find your new favorite taco recipe!

Beef Taco Recipes

Cowboy butter steak taco

Cowboy Butter Steak Tacos

Cowboy butter steak tacos are another way to use this spicy garlic herb butter, which is freakin' delicious on everything.
View Recipe
Grilled Steak Elote Tacos

Grilled Steak Elote Tacos

For your next cookout, make some flavor-packed Grilled Steak Elote Tacos—the popular Mexican street food you can make in your own backyard.
View Recipe
Steak tacos ready to eat

Steak Tacos with Corn Salsa

The next time you're on the road, skip the PB&Js and fire up your portable grill to make the best Steak Tacos with Corn Salsa.
View Recipe
Crispy Cheese Tortilla Beef Tacos

Crispy Cheese Tortilla Beef Tacos

Are you a flour or corn tortilla kind of person? I like both, but you know what is also amazing, Crispy Cheese Tortilla Beef Tacos!
View Recipe
Quesabirria tacos ready to devour.

Quesabirria Tacos

Nothing like these Quesabirria Tacos to brighten up a rainy day here in Nashville! Braised beef and cheese turned taco. Delicious!
View Recipe
Cheese Gordita Crunch.

Cheesy Gordita Crunch

Cheesy Gordita Crunch tacos are the best copycat recipe! Insted of ground beef, a spicy grilled steak, with the best flavor, gets tucked into a a crispy tortilla stuffed into a soft tortilla with melty cheese.
View Recipe
dirty skirt steak on the coals

Dirty Skirt Steak Tacos

Skirt steak tacos made right on the coals topped with limes, cilantro, and other delicious ingredients.
View Recipe
Close up of a Grilled Steak Vampiro Taco ready to eat!

Grilled Steak Vampiro Tacos

Grilled Steak Vampiro Tacos for the vampires… and humans too! Happy Halloween.
View Recipe
Carne Asada Breakfast Tacos

Carne Asada Breakfast Tacos

Nothing like a Carne Asada Breakfast Tacos recipe to get your day started on the right foot! Topped with a fried egg, you're sure to love them!
View Recipe
Smoked Carnitas Tacos

Smoked Carnitas Tacos

Want to crush the taco world? These Smoked Carnitas Tacos are absolutely delicious when using some Reynolds Wrap® Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil!
View Recipe
Cheeseburger Tacos

Cheeseburger Tacos

View Recipe
A finished steak and egg taco, ready to eat

Steak and Egg Tacos

These steak and egg tacos are delicious for any meal, thanks to perfectly grilled ribeyes, fried eggs and smoked cilantro chimichurri.
View Recipe

Pork Taco Recipes

Tacos Al Pastor is a showstopper that adds more excitement to Taco Tuesday.

Tacos Al Pastor

This showstopper of a taco recipe features marinated pork and an infusion of fresh flavors from the chile-pineapple marinade and homemade jalapeno salsa. 
View Recipe
Al Pastor Pork Belly Tacos served on a platter.

Al Pastor Pork Belly Tacos

Al Pastor Pork Belly Tacos
View Recipe
Crispy BBQ Pulled Pork Tacos garnished and sitting on a serving platter.

Crispy BBQ Pork Tacos

Crispy BBQ Pork Tacos for a delicious treat, or meal!
View Recipe
Hatch Chile Mezcal Pork Tacos

Hatch Chile Mezcal Pork Tacos

Anybody else up for cooking a pile of pork slices on a rotating spit? Taking our tacos to the next level with this Hatch Chile Mezcal Pork Tacos recipe!
View Recipe
Pulled Pork Elote Tacos assembled so that we can go serve them.

Pulled Pork Elote Tacos

Pulled Pork Elote Tacos
View Recipe
Fried Pork Belly Tacos Recipe

Fried Pork Belly Tacos

Fried Pork Belly Tacos with a fresh salsa and avocado cream sauce are so freaking delicious.
View Recipe
A close up shot of Chorizo Smash Tacos so you can see the fixings inside.

Chorizo Smash Tacos

Chorizo Smash Tacos for a fun, Taco Tuesday dinner that can be enjoyed any night of the week.
View Recipe
Epic Chorizo Tacos

Chorizo Tacos

Want something epic? These Epic Chorizo Tacos are the ticket for some backyard deliciousness.
View Recipe

Seafood and Fish Taco Recipes

Crispy Steak and Shrimp Tacos served on a plate.

Crispy Steak and Shrimp Tacos

Crispy Steak and Shrimp Tacos for a savory, crispy taco experience.
View Recipe
grilled shrimp tacos

Grilled Shrimp Tacos

Try some delicious grilled shrimp tacos over some hot Cowboy Charcoal. They are sure to make your grilling a night to remember all year round.
View Recipe
Shrimp "Al Pastor" garnished and plated ready to eat.

Shrimp “Al Pastor” Tacos

Shrimp “Al Pastor” Tacos for an "Al Pastor" take on shrimp.
View Recipe
A Surf and Turf Smashburger Taco being held up close to the camera so you can see it's different ingredients.

Surf and Turf Smashburger Tacos

Surf and Turf Smashburger Tacos for the best of the land and sea in a taco.
View Recipe
Salmon Al Pastor Tacos are served!

Salmon Al Pastor Tacos

Salmon Al Pastor Tacos for a dinner that's sure to be a fan favorite!
View Recipe

Lamb Taco Recipes

american lamb tacos al pastor

American Lamb Tacos Al Pastor

Try my edited version of the Classic Tacos Al Pastor with Lamb meat instead. Juicy, tangy and perfect for tacos!
View Recipe
Barbacoa Lamb Tacos

Barbacoa Lamb Tacos

Barbacoa Lamb Tacos are the triple threat of deliciousness: tender, juicy and packed with flavor! Here's how to make it your next dinner.
View Recipe

What to Serve with the Best Taco Recipes

The possibilities for taco side dishes are almost as endless as the tacos themselves. Given that, chips and salsa, Mexican rice or cilantro-lime rice, a simple slaw with lots of green onions and lime juice are all great options. Finally, add in a classic margarita and your taco party is complete. 

Quesabirria tacos with lime wedges and dipping sauce

Leftovers and Reheating

Keep your filling in an airtight container in the fridge for three days. Some proteins, like pork shoulder or brisket, taste even better the day after you make them. When you’re reheating, you want to make sure the meat doesn’t dry out. The best way to do this is to reheat in a large skillet over medium heat with a little bit of liquid. 

More Recipe Roundups!

FAQs

Can I make these taco recipes in a slow cooker? 

​For the longer-cooking proteins like pork shoulder, chicken thighs or brisket, definitely! But I’d stick to stovetop for quicker-cooking ones like steak, ground beef, fish or shrimp.

How do I adjust the spice level? 

For chiles, you can remove the ribs and seeds to take the heat down a notch (or keep ’em in if that’s what you’re into). That’s because the ribs and seeds are where most of the spice lives. You can also reduce or increase the amount of chiles or spicy pantry ingredients like chili powder.

Should I use corn or flour tortillas? 

​I’m sure people could spend hours debating this one. Basically, all you need to know is that corn tortillas are firmer and have an earthier flavor. Then, flour tortillas are softer and sweeter. My opinion: you can’t really go wrong.

Get The Cookbooks!

Flavor X Fire & FOOD X Fire

By Derek Wolf

All the major tastes—salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and umami—are explored in depth, along with an investigation of other components you should consider when it comes to flavor, such as aroma, heat, and texture.

The post The Best Taco Recipes appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

Best Chimichurri Recipes

A close up shot of chimichurri.

If you want to elevate your grilling game, without a doubt, you’ve come to the right place. Today, we’re diving…

The post Best Chimichurri Recipes appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

A close up shot of chimichurri.

If you want to elevate your grilling game, without a doubt, you’ve come to the right place. Today, we’re diving deep into the world of chimichurri, one of South America’s most beloved cowboy cooking sauces. We’ve curated this roundup article to highlight all our best chimichurri recipes in one place!

The classic chimichurri sauce mixed together in a serving bowl.

With its tangy flavor and fresh, herbaceous vibes, chimichurri is a surefire way to level up any of your favorite grilled meats! In this post, we’re diving into the best chimichurri recipes that you’ll want to make on repeat. Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned pro, there’s something here for everyone.

Sauce Origins

Before diving too deep into the ins and outs of chimichurri, we need to take a moment to talk about the origins of the famous sauce.

Chimichurri hails from Argentina and Uruguay, where it’s especially a staple in traditional cuisine. This herbaceous sauce is traditionally served with grilled meats, adding a burst of flavor to dishes like skirt steak and flank steak.

Authentic Argentine chimichurri combines flat-leaf parsley, garlic, vinegar and olive oil. This creates a bright green sauce that’s both savory and tangy. The addition of red pepper flakes or fresh tomatoes can turn it into a delicious chimichurri rojo, offering a slightly different, but equally awesome taste.

My Experience

Adding chimichurri to a choripan.

I had the incredible opportunity to attend a friend’s asado while visiting South America some years back. We spend the afternoon around a fire grilling up all kinds of meats and adding chimichurri to every bite of it.

One of my favorites was enjoying the chimichurri on a choripan! The above and below photos are from that very asado in Patagonia. We cracked open a jar of my friends chimichurri that he sells to local restaurants with the community and dug in! If you want to give choripan a try, check out my Loaded Choripan and Cheese Stuffed Choripan recipes!

A cutting board full of sliced steak, topped with chimichurri.

One thing I learned at that asado is that American’s tend to enjoy fresh chimichurri. We like to use fresh parsley and oregano and make a very bright sauce out of it. It’s actually more traditional for South American’s to make their chimichurri out of dried ingredients. They love their dried herbs and let the chimichurri sit at room temperature to marinate for a while before using it. It makes for a really flavorful and delicious sauce.

If you really get into chimichurri, you should give both a try! Then drop a comment below and let me know if you prefer the fresh herbs vs the dried herbs when it comes to your chimichurri.

Why You’ll Love Chimichurri

My best chimichurri recipes are all about those fresh ingredients, mostly because the fresh version of chimichurri is my favorite. Chimichurri is an easy sauce made with a mixture of several things.

Fresh parsley, fresh cilantro and fresh oregano tend to be the mainstays that get combined with the zing of red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. The addition of garlic cloves, red pepper flakes and a good dose of extra virgin olive oil creates a sauce that’s bursting with flavor.

Chimichurri marinated tri-tip getting placed on the grill.

It’s the perfect way to add zesty and vibrant flavor to your dishes, and it doubles as a great marinade for your favorite cuts of meat like picanha, skirt steak, flank steak, sandwiches and lamb chops. Plus, it stores well in an airtight container, making it a great make-ahead option for your next gathering or backyard BBQ.

Best Chimichurri Recipe Basics

The basic ingredients for chimichurri include fresh parsley, fresh cilantro (optional) and then fresh oregano (also optional), which form the herbaceous base of the sauce. I mention the optional piece of the sauce because it’s all about your preferences! Most of my chimichurri recipes consist of a base that’s just parsley, but if you’re a fan of cilantro and oregano then definitely add them in.

Garlic cloves and red pepper flakes add a punch of flavor and heat. For the acidic component, red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar is used, providing the tangy flavor that balances the herbs and spices.

My mainstay ingredients for this sauce all set out on a cutting board.

To bring everything together, extra virgin olive oil is essential, giving the chimichurri its smooth and cohesive texture. Lemon juice or lime juice adds an additional layer of acidity and brightness. Season with kosher salt or sea salt and black pepper to taste. Red onion can also be added for an extra burst of flavor, though it is optional. These simple ingredients create a vibrant and versatile sauce perfect for enhancing a variety of dishes.

Tips for Making Chimichurri

  1. Dried vs Fresh Herbs: For me, the fresh parsley, cilantro and oregano are the key to getting that authentic chimichurri flavor. However, you might like the dried herbs more! Give both a try to decide your favorite before getting too adventurous with the sauce.
  2. Balance the Acidity: Adjust the vinegar (red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar) and citrus (lemon juice or lime juice) to taste. This balance gives chimichurri its signature tangy flavor.
  3. Storage: Keep your chimichurri in a Mason jar or an airtight container at room temperature for a few hours to let the flavors meld. For longer storage, of course, refrigerate and then consider using ice cube trays to freeze individual portions for easy use.
  4. Variety: Experiment with chimichurri verde and chimichurri rojo. The green chimichurri is classic, while the red version adds a kick with red chili peppers or Fresno chiles.

Best Chimichurri Recipes for Picanha Steaks

The Best Chimichurri Recipes roundup would clearly be incomplete without these picanha steak recipes.

Skewered Picanha with Bone Marrow Chimichurri served on a cutting board.

Skewered Picanha with Bone Marrow Chimichurri

Why is bone marrow chimichurri gaining popularity? This recipe will show you why!
View Recipe
Chimichurri and Cheese Stuffed Picanha

Chimichurri and Cheese Stuffed Picanha

How about throwing some cheese in the mix for a stuffed picanha? Let’s freakin’ gooooo!
View Recipe
Smoked Picanha with Spicy Smoked Chimichurri

Smoked Picanha with Spicy Smoked Chimichurri

This amazing Smoked Picanha with Spicy Smoked Chimichurri is your ticket to Brazilian steakhouse flavor.
View Recipe
Skewered Picanha with Chimichurri Butter made on the FYR Grill.

Picanha with Chimichurri Butter

Skewered Picanha with Chimichurri Butter, cooked rotisserie-style, is one of the easiest ways to make picanha steaks taste phenomenal.
View Recipe

Skillet Steaks

Perfectly seared steak bites in a skillet then paired with farm-fresh eggs and potatoes? Yes! And then for the final touch, they are finished with a zesty chimichurri sauce.

Steak Bites with Smoked Chimichurri

Steak Bites with Smoked Chimichurri

This isn’t your typical steak, egg and potato recipe—the smoked chimichurri sauce is the star.
View Recipe
a skillet next to a fire filled with fried eggs, sliced steak, and potatoes topped with charred scallion chimichurri

Steak and Eggs with Charred Scallion Chimichurri

This recipe knocks it out of the park with juicy steak, tender chunks of potato and fluffy scrambled eggs all topped off with homemade charred scallion chimichurri.
View Recipe

Best Chimichurri Recipes for Grilled steaks

Fire up the grill and get ready to enjoy juicy, flavorful steaks topped with vibrant chimichurri sauce. These recipes combine the smoky char of perfectly grilled steaks with the fresh, herbaceous kick of chimichurri. The result? A mouthwatering experience that elevates any barbecue or dinner gathering.

Brazilian Steaks with Habanero Chimichurri sliced and topped with the chimichurri.

Brazilian Steaks with Habanero Chimichurri

These Brazilian steaks are topped with a habanero chimichurri for an extra spicy kick that is so freakin' delicious.
View Recipe
closeup of a pile of cubed steak topped with tomato herb chimichurri

Parmesan Crusted Steak Skewers with Tomato Herb Chimichurri

These Parmesan Crusted Steak Skewers are juicy bites of grilled steak crusted in parmesan and served with fresh Tomato Herb Chimichurri. 
View Recipe
steak and smashed potatoes being drizzled with a spoonful of chimichurri butter

Beef Short Ribs with Chimichurri Butter

These Grilled Beef Short Ribs with melted chimichurri butter are cooked over a smokeless firepit until tender and served with crispy smashed potatoes.
View Recipe
Wagyu Secreto Steak with Roasted Chimichurri

Wagyu Secreto Steak with Roasted Chimichurri

American Wagyu is the best of the best when it comes to steak. Grilled over an open flame and then topped with roasted chimichurri, it's next-level perfection.
View Recipe
The Rotisserie Beef Ribs smothered in Chimichurri.

Rotisserie Beef Ribs with Chimichurri

Rotisserie Beef Ribs brings the best of slow cooking to your backyard, yielding fall-off-the bone tender beef smothered in a flavor-packed chimichurri sauce.
View Recipe
Chimichurri Steak & Shrimp Cooked Over the Fire

Chimichurri Steak and Shrimp

Perfectly grilled filet mignon, smoky bacon and succulent shrimp are leveled up by our delicious chimichurri sauce.
View Recipe
grilled skirt steak

Grilled Skirt Steak with Chimichurri

With a nice crusted outer layer and a tender, juicy inner layer, this cut is a fan favorite, especially because of the chimichurri sauce on top.
View Recipe
beef back ribs

Beef Back Ribs with Chimichurri

Juicy and well marbled beef back ribs thrown on the smoker and cooked till they fall off the bone. Maybe add some chimichurri?
View Recipe

Steak Sandwich Recipes

Elevate your sandwich game with the fresh, tangy flavors of chimichurri. These recipes combine the bold, herbaceous sauce with a variety of delicious fillings, creating mouthwatering sandwiches that are perfect for any meal. Whether you’re packing lunch or making a quick dinner, chimichurri sandwiches are an absolutely delicious way to enjoy the sauce.

The epic Chimichurri Burger.

Chimichurri Burger

Tender slices of picanha beef help create a totally unique and different way to make an insanely satisfying, over-the-top juicy burger.
View Recipe
Smoked Sausage Chimichurri Sandwich

Smoked Sausage Chimichurri Sandwich

Grab a win this football tailgating season with the Smoked Sausage Chimichurri Sandwich. This zesty and smoky sandwich is all you need in your winning ritual!
View Recipe
Chimichurrie Steak Sandwich being held close to the camera to show the assembly of the sandwich.

Chimichurri Steak Sandwich

The Chimichurri Steak sandwich is my idea of the perfect meal, whether for lunch or dinner.
View Recipe
side view of buns layered with ground sausage, egg, and chimichurri on a plate

Cheese Stuffed Sausage Sandwich with Chimichurri

This Cheese Stuffed Sausage Sandwich is stuffed with gooey cheddar and layered with Italian sausage, a fried egg, and fresh chimichurri.
View Recipe
two halves of a cheese stuffed choripan sandwich held over a fire

Cheese Stuffed Choripan with Tomato Chimichurri

This Cheese Stuffed Choripan is made of provolone-stuffed hoagie rolls topped with chorizo sausage, tomato chimichurri, and spicy habanero.
View Recipe

Chimichurri Marinated Tri-Tip with Grilled Fries

This delicious cut of meat is best served with a homemade chimichurri sauce full of fresh herbs and French fries on the side.
View Recipe
Viral pizza sandwich made with chorizo and chimichurri

Pizza Sandwich with Chimichurri Sauce

The Pizza Sandwich features spicy chorizo, melted mozzarella, and homemade chimichurri on a pizza bun.
View Recipe
Choripan Burger

Loaded Choripan with Spicy Serrano Chimichurri

Loaded Choripan for a delicious, hand held kind of dinner.
View Recipe
The steak frites sandwich prepared and ready to serve.

Steak Frites Sandwich with Chimichurri

Steak Frites Sandwich for a delicious way to enjoy the best of steak and freshly fried French fries all in one bite!
View Recipe
Chimichurri steak sliders.

Chimichurri Steak Sliders

Chimichurri Steak Sliders are my mouthwateringly delicious take on the classic beef burger sliders with onion rings.
View Recipe

Best Chimichurri for Lamb Recipes

Mint chimichurri anyone?! Check out the below recipes to see how I customize my chimichurri recipes to pair with all types of lamb!

A close up shot of Rotisserie Leg of Lamb.

Rotisserie Leg of Lamb with Chimichurri

Rotisserie Leg of Lamb is an epic recipe that pairs marinated and roasted lamb with a zesty chimichurri sauce.
View Recipe
white wine herb lamb skewers

Lamb Skewers with Mint Chimichurri

St. Patrick’s Day, here we come! For this year’s celebration I made a White Wine Herb Lamb Skewers with Mint Chimichurri recipe.
View Recipe
Spiced Lamb Kebabs with Mint Chimichurri on the grill with flames in the background.

Spiced Lamb Kebabs with Mint Chimichurri

Spiced Lamb Kebabs with Mint Chimichurri is the perfect dinner switch up.
View Recipe

More Chimichurri-Inspired Recipes

Discover the endless possibilities of chimichurri. These recipes, in particular, prove just how incredibly adaptable and delicious chimichurri can be.

Pancetta Empanadas with Citrus Herb Chimichurri

It is time to dive into these Fried Pancetta Empanadas. Fried them up, paired with Citrus Herb Chimichurri & we are ready to go!
View Recipe

Beef Empanadas with Chimichurri

Flavorful meat and melted cheese in a crispy dough are paired with my favorite chimichurri dipping sauce.
View Recipe
fire baked chimichurri wings

Fire Baked Chimichurri Wings

If you’re looking for a fun twist on regular old chicken wings, then you need to try these Fire Baked Chimichurri Wings!
View Recipe
A sliced shot of the pizza bread being held up to the camera.

Chorizo Pizza Bread with Tomato Chimichurri

Chorizo Pizza Bread is everything you love about pizza on a delicious piece of Italian bread!
View Recipe
Surf and Turf Jalapeño Poppers with Cilantro Chimichurri plated and served

Surf and Turf Jalapeño Poppers with Cilantro Chimichurri

Surf and Turf Jalapeño Poppers for a seafood twist on a griller's favorite appetizer.
View Recipe

How to Smoke Chimichurri

If you follow me, you know how excited I was after experimenting with smoked chimichurri. It’s a weird and crazy way to make this sauce even more delicious. After I made the traditional sauce with a hot coal from the fire, I couldn’t wait to try smoked butter—and it turned out spectacularly! It should be obvious, but when it comes to depth and flavor, a smoky chimichurri sauce is unbeatable!

Chimichurri getting added on top of a sandwich.

Seafood is a fantastic match for these smoked chimichurri sauces. They effortlessly level up grilled shrimp, salmon, or a robust fish like swordfish. Moreover, the chimichurri’s smoky and herbaceous notes provide an insanely good contrast.

Additionally, don’t forget the vegetables! Roasted or grilled vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, and asparagus become even more freakin’ delicious when paired with smoked chimichurri butter. The sauce enhances their natural sweetness, adding a rich, smoky undertone.

Garnishing a skillet of streak, potatoes and eggs.

FAQs

Can I use dried herbs instead of fresh?

Definitely! While fresh herbs give the best flavor, you can nevertheless use dried herbs in a pinch. Just remember to adjust the quantity, because dried herbs are more concentrated.

How long does the sauce last?

Chimichurri can last up to a week in the fridge when stored in an airtight container, such as a Mason jar. Alternatively, you can also freeze it in ice cube trays for up to three months.

Can the sauce be made in advance?

Absolutely! In fact, chimichurri tastes even better after sitting for a few hours. Make it ahead of time and then store it in a Mason jar or an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge.

Get The Cookbooks!

Flavor X Fire & FOOD X Fire

By Derek Wolf

All the major tastes—salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and umami—are explored in depth, along with an investigation of other components you should consider when it comes to flavor, such as aroma, heat, and texture.

The post Best Chimichurri Recipes appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

Hot Honey Butter

Hot honey butter

After making smoked chimichurri and smoked butter, I had to do the next logical thing: keeping expanding our sauce horizons with hot honey…

The post Hot Honey Butter appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

Hot honey butter

After making smoked chimichurri and smoked butter, I had to do the next logical thing: keeping expanding our sauce horizons with hot honey butter. This spicy honey butter hits all the right notes, as it’s sweet, spicy and smoky from the coals. Call it a trifecta of flavor! Trust me, it’s a 10/10, a so freakin’ delicious recipe that you’ll want to make over and over again. 

Smoke rising from the hot honey butter in a mason jar.

Why You’ll Love Hot Honey Butter

I know I don’t need to sell you on the merits of butter, but here goes. Hot honey butter combines the sweetness of honey, a healthy spice kick from red pepper flakes and FYR Red Hot Sauce, fresh and dried herbs and smoke flavor to round it out. This perfect balance is fantastic with beef and seafood, so it makes the perfect topping for surf and turf. But really, you can use this honey butter sauce on any dish, like chicken wings or even spicy salami pizza. 

Steak and oysters topped with butter.

For more steak recipes that would be perfect with this hot honey butter, check out The Best Grilled Steak Recipes.

Hot Honey Butter Ingredients

The biggest thing here is you want high-quality natural charcoal from your grill to drop into the jar. ***Please note, you should not make this recipe with a briquette!*** The natural, lump charcoal plays a very important role in taking this spicy butter to the next level. Here’s what goes in the rest of the jar:

  • Clarified, Melted Butter: Don’t stress, I’ve got a recipe tip for you for clarified butter below! Alternatively, you can also find it at most major grocery stores.
  • Local Honey: Obviously. 
  • Pantry Ingredients: My FYR Red Hot Sauce, kosher salt, smoked paprika, black pepper, onion powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, cayenne pepper and red chili flakes bring the heat to this butter.
  • Fresh Ingredients: We add freshness with minced garlic, chopped parsley and lemon juice. 
Ingredients for hot honey butter.

How to Make Clarified Butter

Clarified butter has a higher smoke point than regular butter, making it perfect for high-heat cooking and grilling. It’s worth the extra time to get this recipe right for the hot honey butter!

First, grab your unsalted butter — you’ll want about four sticks. Melt the blocks of butter slowly over direct heat (low setting) in a small saucepan. The goal is to let the butter melt gradually and completely without boiling it. As it melts, you’ll notice the milk solids start to separate from the butter “oil”. Next, pour the liquified butter into a clear glass container and let cool for two minutes. As it cools, the milk solids will sink to the bottom of the jar.

Then, pour the top portion of the butter into a new jar. That is the golden, pure yellow portion of the butter, aka the clarified butter. Try to keep any of the white, milk solids from getting poured into the new jar. That’s all there is to it! Now, you have your very own clarified butter.

Get stoked for life

This sauce is FYR!

an all-new line created for live fire cooking

Born from a deep passion for food and flavor. Whether you’re grilling in the backyard or live fire cooking around the world, we have what you need to transform every meal into an adventure.

How to Make Hot Honey Butter

Super easy, super flavorful. The effort to results ratio doesn’t get much better than this. Whisk butter and all your ingredients in a mason jar, then add a smoldering coal (not a briquette, real charcoal only) from your grill fire. Ideally, you want this coal to be white hot. So, use tongs to grab one! Cover the jar quickly to capture the smoke, then set to the side to marinate for 20-30 minutes. 

Letting the coal smoke in the jar.

If you want to adjust the amount of smoke flavor in the hot honey butter, then just reduce or increase up the amount of time the coal sits in the butter. I found the 20-30 minute time range to be the sweet spot, but figure out what works best for your taste buds. 

What to Serve with Hot Honey Butter

Oh man. The better questions is what NOT to serve with hot honey butter. This little miracle takes steaks, seafood, burgers and other meats to the next level. I also think it’s a great dipping sauce for cornbread or a slice of hearty sourdough. Let me know how you use it in the comments!

Another favorite sauce of mine is chimichurri. If you want another sauce to add to your meals that’s fresh and herby, then make sure to check out my Best Chimichurri Recipes!

Mixing the hot honey butter in the mason jar.

Storing and Reheating

Once you’ve made your hot honey butter, let it cool to room temperature (no longer than a couple of hours) before placing it in the fridge for up to two weeks. You can also freeze the butter in ice cube trays for up to six months.

For More Butter Flavor

FAQs

Do I have to use clarified butter? 

Clarified butter is definitely better in high-heat cooking and grilling recipes because of its higher smoke point. You can use regular butter for the hot honey butter recipe, but just keep in mind that the milk solids and water in regular butter can burn during smoking, which leaves you with some odd flavors. 

What type of charcoal should I use for hot honey butter? 

If you’ve been here a while, you know I think Cowboy Charcoal is the best thing. The coals get super hot and burn really clean, which is ideal here.

What smoked sauce are you making next? 

You tell me! I think this charcoal method can work in a variety of settings, so I’d love to hear your ideas. Smoked pesto butter over grilled chicken seems like a solid possibility…

Get The Cookbooks!

Flavor X Fire & FOOD X Fire

By Derek Wolf

All the major tastes—salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and umami—are explored in depth, along with an investigation of other components you should consider when it comes to flavor, such as aroma, heat, and texture.

Hot honey butter
Print

Hot Honey Butter

Hot honey butter combines sweet, spicy and smoky flavors, and it's so freakin' delicious on steak, seafood and more.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 677kcal
Author Derek Wolf

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cup Unsalted Butter clarified & melted
  • 2.5 tbsp Local Honey
  • 2 tbsp Minced Garlic
  • 2 tbsp Chopped Parsley
  • 1.5 tbsp FYR RED Hot Sauce
  • 2.5 tsp of Kosher Salt
  • 2.5 tsp of Smoked Paprika
  • 1 tsp of Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp of Onion Powder
  • 1 tsp of Dried Oregano
  • 1 tsp of Dried Thyme
  • 1 tsp of Cayenne Powder
  • 1 tsp Red Chili Flakes
  • 1 small Lemon juiced

Instructions

  • Add all the ingredients for the butter to the mason jar and mix.
  • Then add a smoldering coal from the fire (ideally white hot) to the mason jar. Cover quickly to encapsulate the smoke. Then set to the side to marinate for 20-30 minutes.
  • Remove coal from mason jar before stirring the butter one more time and serving with your meal of choice.

Notes

How to Make Clarified Butter
Clarified butter has a higher smoke point than regular butter, making it perfect for high-heat cooking and grilling. It’s worth the extra time to get this recipe right for the hot honey butter!
First, grab your unsalted butter — you’ll want about four sticks. Melt the blocks of butter slowly over direct heat (low setting) in a small saucepan. The goal is to let the butter melt gradually and completely without boiling it. As it melts, you’ll notice the milk solids start to separate from the butter “oil”. Pour the liquified butter into a clear glass container and let cool for two minutes. As it cools, the milk solids will sink to the bottom of the jar.
Pour the top portion of the butter into a new jar. That is the golden, pure yellow portion of the butter, aka the clarified butter. Try to keep any of the white, milk solids from getting poured into the new jar. That’s all there is to it! Now, you have your very own clarified butter.

Nutrition

Calories: 677kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 70g | Saturated Fat: 44g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 183mg | Sodium: 1.604mg | Potassium: 168mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 3.317IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Hot Honey Butter appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

Smoked Steak Butter

Smoke billowing out of the butter sauce.

Smoked Steak Butter is the next evolution of our smoked butter and smoked chimichurri journey. Adding that charcoal to the…

The post Smoked Steak Butter appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

Smoke billowing out of the butter sauce.

Smoked Steak Butter is the next evolution of our smoked butter and smoked chimichurri journey. Adding that charcoal to the sauce for added savory smokiness really does change the flavor! It will amplify your steaks whether you cooked them over the new FYR Grill or just on your skillet inside your house. It really makes a huge difference!

ANNOUNCEMENT – FYR Grill goes live for orders on Tuesday July 9th! Check it out and get ready.

Steak being dipped in the Smoked Steak Butter
Smoke billowing out of the butter sauce.
Print

Smoked Steak Butter

Smoked Steak Butter will not only elevate your grilled steak, but will make almost anything taste incredible!
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 850kcal
Author Derek Wolf
Cost $10

Ingredients

Smoked Steak Butter:

  • 2 cups Clarified Butter melted
  • 1/2 cup Garlic Confit
  • 2 tbsp Chopped Parsley
  • 2 tsp Chopped Chives
  • 2 tsp Dried Rosemary
  • 2 tsp Dried Thyme
  • 1 tsp of Kosher Salt
  • 1 tsp Black Pepper
  • Smoking Charcoal

Confit Garlic:

  • 12-15 Garlic Cloves
  • Oil enough to cover the garlic

Instructions

  • Add a small skillet with your garlic cloves and enough oil to cover the cloves. Add to a medium heat fire and let gently simmer for at least 30-45 minutes until softened and dark amber brown. Pull off and cool, then smash up for the butter.
  • Add all the ingredients for the butter to the mason jar along with a smoldering coal from the fire (ideally white hot). Cover quickly to encapsulate the smoke, then set to the side to marinate for 20-30 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 850kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 90g | Saturated Fat: 56g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 26g | Cholesterol: 230mg | Sodium: 591mg | Potassium: 179mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.4g | Vitamin A: 217IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Smoked Steak Butter appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

Jalapeño Popper Dip 

Jalapeño popper dip

Dips really make everything better, and this jalapeño popper dip recipe is right on target. It’s similar to the Buffalo chicken…

The post Jalapeño Popper Dip  appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

Jalapeño popper dip

Dips really make everything better, and this jalapeño popper dip recipe is right on target. It’s similar to the Buffalo chicken dip we did a couple months back. This time, our easy jalapeno popper dip — a spicy, cheesy Tex-Mex mix — finds a home in the middle of freakin’ delicious stuffed crust pizza dough. It’s the perfect appetizer for the big game, your next party or even your family’s Taco Tuesday. Also, I’d bet no one would blink if you served this jalapeno popper dip recipe as a main course for dinner. 

An overhead shot of the jalapeño popper dip as its pulled from the fire oven.

I was able to get the ingredients for this delicious dip thanks to Kroger’s new online delivery service. It’s super convenient because professional drivers deliver everything in refrigerated trucks, the day after you order it. That means more time to make this cheesy dip or one of my favorite chicken wing or taco recipes to round out your meal!

Sponsored by Kroger

Why You’ll Love Jalapeño Popper Dip 

Stuffed crust pizza with Spiceology’s Everything Bagel Blend meets a spicy, cheesy, bacon-y dip, and then the rest is easy appetizer history. It’s what everyone loves about jalapeño poppers, but in dip form, so it’s great to share and simple to prepare. You can make this recipe in an oven, pizza oven or directly on a hot grill. 

A forkful of jalapeño popper dip.

For more appetizer ideas, check out Smoked Steak Queso Dip, Buffalo Chicken Fries and Birria Fries.

​Jalapeño Popper Dip Ingredients

  • Pizza Dough: Kroger makes things easy with premade refrigerated pizza dough, which we’ll stuff with sharp cheddar cheese and season with Everything Bagel Blend
  • Dip Mix: Our jalapeño popper dip comes together with shredded Monterey Jack cheese, crispy bacon bits, BBQ seasoning, diced red onions, diced fresh jalapeños, full fat cream cheese and sliced fresh jalapenos to garnish. 
All the dip ingredients set out and ready to be mixed.

How to Quickly Soften Cream Cheese

Forgot to take the cream cheese out of the fridge in time? Because we’ve all been there. The easiest way to get softened cream cheese for a recipe like this jalapeño popper dip is to leave it at room temperature on the counter for 30 minutes to an hour. But, there are other ways to get it ready in a pinch. My favorite is to submerge the sealed cream cheese packet in a large bowl of warm water for about 10 minutes. You can also use the microwave, though it’s a bit riskier since you might melt the cheese. First, unwrap the cream cheese from its foil wrapper. Then, put it on a microwave-safe plate and microwave the block in 10-second bursts until you reach your desired softness. 

Add flavor to everything you’re cooking

shop over the fire spice lines

How to Make Jalapeño Popper Dip

This great dip is going to be the star of the party. Grab your skillet, fire up your grill or oven and we’ll get cooking. 

The Pizza Dough

First, preheat your grill or oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for indirect cooking. Once you’ve done that, take your pizza dough and divide it into 3″x3″ segments. Then, add a cube of soft cheddar cheese to the dough and roll into a ball. Repeat this until you have 18-20 balls. 

Preparing stuffed pizza crust and lining it around the edge of the cast iron skillet.

Then, grease your skillet and line the outside with the dough balls. Add your 2 packets of cream cheese to the middle of the skillet. 

Placing cream cheese in the center of the cast iron skillet.

The Dip

Place your skillet in the smoker for 15 minutes, making sure to rotate it every 5 minutes for even cooking. After that, pull the skillet out of the smoker and combine cream cheese with 1/2 cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese, 1.5 tablespoons of chopped bacon bits, 1.5 tablespoons of BBQ seasoning, 1 tablespoon of diced red onions and 1 tablespoon of diced jalapeno peppers.

Once you’ve mixed that cheesy base together thoroughly, top the cream cheese mixture with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese, 1.5 tablespoons of chopped bacon bits, 1.5 tablespoons of BBQ seasoning, 1 tablespoon of diced red onions and 1 tablespoon of diced jalapeños. 

Mixing together the jalapeño popper dip.

The Seasoning

​Mix together 1 tablespoon of melted butter, 1 fresh egg and 1 tablespoon of water. This is your egg wash, which will help the pizza dough bake up golden brown. Brush the top of the dough balls with the egg wash, then season it all over with 1.5 tablespoons of Everything Bagel Blend.

Finishing the Jalapeño Popper Dip

Place the skillet back in the smoker or oven to cook for 15 more minutes at 400 degrees F. Make sure to rotate the skillet around every 5 minutes for even cooking. Once the dough is cooked through and golden brown, pull out the skillet and let this perfect dip cool for 5-10 minutes. Garnish the top of the dip with chopped chives and sliced jalapeños and enjoy!

The finalized and served jalapeño popper dip.

What to Serve with Jalapeño Popper Dip

Tortilla chips or pita chips are the perfect dipping implements (or diplements, as I like to call them) for this spicy dip. It’s a delicious appetizer for chicken wings or chicken legs, or even your favorite taco recipe. I also think this jalapeño popper dip plus my honey fire BBQ wings would make for an off-the-charts meal.

Leftovers and Reheating

For any leftover dip, place it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. When you’re ready to eat, reheat on a medium-high heat grill or in a 350-degree oven, in a baking dish or the original skillet covered with aluminum foil, for about 10-15 minutes.

For More Poppers

FAQs

​What’s the best way to keep this dip from getting too spicy? 

You can easily adjust the amount of jalapenos, depending on how you feel about spicy food. If you want just a little bit of heat, you can halve the amount of diced jalapeños inside the dip. An equally good option is to skip the sliced jalapeño peppers in the garnish. 

Can I use different cheeses? 

​I’d stick with cream cheese for the base of the dip, since something like Greek yogurt might separate and curdle and ruin it. But, you could use sharp cheddar cheese instead of Monterey Jack inside the dip, and something like mozzarella or pepper Jack in the stuffed crust.

Where can I learn more about Kroger delivery? 

​Kroger makes it super easy to get all the ingredients you need, delivered right to your doorstep. Check out this link for more info!

Get The Cookbooks!

Flavor X Fire & FOOD X Fire

By Derek Wolf

All the major tastes—salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and umami—are explored in depth, along with an investigation of other components you should consider when it comes to flavor, such as aroma, heat, and texture.

Jalapeño popper dip
Print

Jalapeño Popper Dip

Jalapeño popper dip is a spicy, cheesy appetizer — right in the middle of stuffed pizza crust — that's perfect for your next party.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 721kcal
Author Derek Wolf

Ingredients

Dough:

  • 16 oz Pizza Dough
  • 2 cups Cubed Soft White Cheddar Cheese
  • 1.5 tbsp Everything Bagel Rub
  • 1 tbsp Melted Butter
  • 1 Fresh Egg
  • 1 tbsp Water

Jalapeno Popper Mix:

  • 1 cup Shredded Jack Cheese
  • 3 tbsp Chopped Bacon Bits
  • 3 tbsp BBQ Seasoning
  • 2 tbsp Diced Red Onions
  • 2 tbsp Diced Jalapeños
  • 2 packets Cream Cheese
  • Sliced Jalapeños garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat your grill or oven to 400F for indirect cooking.
  • Take your pizza dough and divide into 3”x3” segments. Add a cube of soft cheddar cheese to the dough and roll into a ball. Repeat this until you have 18-20 balls. Next, take a greased skillet and line the outside with the dough balls. Add to the middle your cream cheese.
  • Place the skillet in the smoker to cook for 15 minutes at 400F. Make sure to rotate the skillet around every 5 minutes to get even cooking.
  • Pull the skillet out and add half of the cheese, bacon bits, bbq rub, red onions and diced jalapenos. Mix together thoroughly. Finally, top the sauce with the rest of your cheese, bacon bits, bbq rub, red onions and diced jalapenos.
  • Mix together the water, egg and melted butter. Brush the top of the dough with the egg wash and season with everything bagel seasoning.
  • Place the skillet in the oven to cook for 15 more minutes at 400F. Make sure to rotate the skillet around every 5 minutes to get even cooking.
  • Once the dough is cooked through and browned, pull out the skillet and let cool for 5-10 minutes. Garnish with chopped chives and enjoy!

Notes

How to Quickly Soften Cream Cheese
Forgot to take the cream cheese out of the fridge in time? We’ve all been there. The easiest way to get softened cream cheese for a recipe like this jalapeño popper dip is to leave it at room temperature on the counter for 30 minutes to an hour. But, there are other ways to get it ready in a pinch. My favorite is to submerge the sealed cream cheese packet in a large bowl of warm water for about 10 minutes. You can also use the microwave, though it’s a bit riskier since you might melt the cheese. First, unwrap the cream cheese from its foil wrapper. Then, put it on a microwave-safe plate and microwave the block in 10-second bursts until you reach your desired softness. 

Nutrition

Calories: 721kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 131mg | Sodium: 1.791mg | Potassium: 192mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1.31IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 736mg | Iron: 8mg

The post Jalapeño Popper Dip  appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

Smoked Butter

Smoked Butter in a Mason jar.

After experimenting with smoked chimichurri, I couldn’t wait to try smoked butter—and it turned out spectacularly! This recipe delivers a…

The post Smoked Butter appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

Smoked Butter in a Mason jar.

After experimenting with smoked chimichurri, I couldn’t wait to try smoked butter—and it turned out spectacularly! This recipe delivers a subtle yet delightful smoky flavor that enhances the savoriness of any dish. I paired this smoked butter with bacon-wrapped filets and lobster meat, and the results were phenomenal. I’m undoubtedly adding this butter recipe to my regular rotation!

Smoked Butter in a Mason jar.

Why You’ll Love Smoked Butter

Smoked butter is so freakin’ delicious, you’ll wonder how you ever survived without it. Combining the rich taste of the butter, some key ingredients and that smoke flavor is my new favorite way to add insanely good flavor to any dish.  

The butter is slathered over bacon-wrapped steaks and lobster meat.

You’re gonna love this because it’s super easy to make and ridiculously versatile. It pairs perfectly with everything: beef, seafood, chicken, roasted veggies or even just a slice of warm French bread. Whether you want to level up a special occasion meal or just add some gourmet vibes to your everyday dishes, smoked butter is your new kitchen MVP.

Butter can be a cook’s greatest companion! I’ve made plethora of butters, from chili butter to black garlic butter to garlic butter to the most classic of herb butters. It elevates steak and seafood dishes, and can even be added to sandwiches for a cowboy butter slider situation.

Ingredients Roundup

The ingredients are fairly simple and straightforward. And don’t feel intimidated by clarified butter, because you can either buy it or make your own (see the recipe below).

For the star of the Smoked Butter, you’ll obviously need some high-quality natural charcoal from your grill to drop into the jar. If you’ve been following my journey for a while, you already know I reached directly for that Cowboy Charcoal.

Our tasty and spicy butter is prepared with a white hot piece of charcoal from the grill.

Then, you’ll need to grab some clarified butter, chopped parsley, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, FYR GLD hot sauce and red chili flakes.

You can leave out the hot sauce (or add less) if you don’t want the slightly spicy finish. 

Get stoked for life

This sauce is FYR!

an all-new line created for live fire cooking

Born from a deep passion for food and flavor. Whether you’re grilling in the backyard or live fire cooking around the world, we have what you need to transform every meal into an adventure.

Easy Clarified Butter recipe

Making clarified butter is easier than you might think. First, grab your unsalted butter—about four sticks. Melt the blocks of butter slowly over direct heat (low setting) in a saucepan. The goal is to let the butter melt gradually and completely without boiling it. As it melts, you’ll notice the milk solids start to separate and rise to the top while the water and other impurities sink to the bottom.

Use a spoon to skim off the milk solids floating on top once the butter is fully melted. Don’t stress if you don’t get every last bit. After skimming, slowly pour the liquid gold into a heatproof container, using a fine mesh strainer if needed.

Voila! Pure butter with a superior flavor. This stuff has a higher smoke point than regular butter, making it perfect for high-heat cooking and grilling.

How to Make Smoked Butter

No need for a food processor to make this tasty sauce. Add all the ingredients to the jar along with a white-hot smoldering coal from the fire pit. Cover quickly to capture the smoke, then set to the side to mingle for 20-30 minutes.

Trapping the smoke is the key to the best butter.

The amount of smoky flavor imparted on the butter might surprise you. I did not find it to be overpowering, however, if you do, simply adjust the amount of time the coal sits in the butter. I found it to be a really fun way of adding more fire flavor to the food.

What to Pair with Smoked Butter

Looking to level up your seafood, veggies, or meats? Smoked butter is your go-to for adding insanely delicious flair to your dishes.

One of the best combos ever is smoked butter with freshly grilled seafood like oysters, salmon, lobster or shrimp. The butter’s smoky richness perfectly complements the seafood’s natural sweetness, creating an unbeatable flavor explosion.

Every bite of steak and lobster surf and turf is more delicious with this recipe.

And don’t forget about meats! A couple of spoonfuls of smoked butter melting over a hot, juicy steak or a fresh-off-the-grill burger adds an extra layer of depth and richness.

Storing and smoked Butter

Once you’ve crafted your batch of delicious smoked butter, proper storage is key to maintaining its rich flavor and quality. After you’ve prepared it, let the smoked butter cool to room temperature (no longer than a couple of hours) before placing it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze the butter in ice cube trays for up to 6 months.

More Flavored Butters

FAQs for Smoked Butter

Can I use regular butter instead of clarified butter to make smoked butter?

Sure, regular butter works, but clarified butter is definitely the way to go. It has a higher smoke point and packs more flavor. Regular butter’s milk solids and water can burn during smoking, leaving you with some funky flavors. Clarified butter, on the other hand, gives you a smoother, richer result that amps up your dishes with that perfect smoky taste.

What types of wood are best for smoking butter?

Picking the right wood is key to nailing the flavor of your smoked butter. Fruit woods like apple, cherry or peach add a mild, sweet smokiness that goes great with buttery goodness. If you’re after a bolder taste, go for hardwoods like oak or hickory. Try out different woods and then see which one gives your butter the perfect smoky vibe.

What’s the difference between slow cultured butter, clarified butter, and butter? 

Slow-cultured butter, clarified butter, and regular butter each bring their own vibe to the table. Slow-cultured butter gets its tangy, rich flavor from fermenting cream with bacterial cultures, making it perfect for gourmet dishes. Clarified butter is regular butter melted down to ditch the milk solids and water, leaving pure butterfat with a higher smoke point for high-heat cooking. Regular butter is your classic churned cream with salted and unsalted options.

Get The Cookbooks!

Flavor X Fire & FOOD X Fire

By Derek Wolf

All the major tastes—salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and umami—are explored in depth, along with an investigation of other components you should consider when it comes to flavor, such as aroma, heat, and texture.

Smoked Butter in a Mason jar.
Print

Smoked Butter

As crazy as it sounds, we're dropping hot charcoal into a savory and spicy butter sauce that levels up ANY dish!
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 3201kcal
Author Derek Wolf

Ingredients

Smoked Butter:

  • 2 cups Clarified Butter liquid
  • ¼ cup Chopped Parsley
  • 2 tbsp Minced Garlic
  • 1 tbsp Dijon Mustar
  • 1.5 tsp FYR GLD Hot Sauce
  • 1.5 tsp Red Chili Flakes
  • Smoking Charcoal

Instructions

  • Add all the ingredients for the butter to the mason jar along with a smoldering coal from the fire (ideally white hot). Cover quickly to encapsulate the smoke, then set to the side to marinate for 20-30 minutes.
  • Remove coal from the butter before adding it to any steak or seafood dish of your liking!

Video

Notes

Easy Clarified Butter Recipe
Making clarified butter is easier than you might think. First, grab your unsalted butter—about four sticks. Melt the blocks of butter slowly over direct heat (low setting) in a saucepan. The goal is to let the butter melt gradually and completely without boiling it. As it melts, you’ll notice the milk solids start to separate and rise to the top while the water and other impurities sink to the bottom.
Use a spoon to skim off the milk solids floating on top once the butter is fully melted. Don’t stress if you don’t get every last bit. After skimming, slowly pour the liquid gold into a heatproof container, using a fine mesh strainer if needed. 
Voila! Pure butter with a superior flavor. This stuff has a higher smoke point than regular butter, making it perfect for high-heat cooking and grilling. 

Nutrition

Calories: 3201kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 359g | Saturated Fat: 223g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Monounsaturated Fat: 104g | Cholesterol: 922mg | Sodium: 391mg | Potassium: 237mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2175IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 2mg

The post Smoked Butter appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

The Best Slider Recipes

Cowboy Butter Sliders

Slider recipes have range. Easy meal, busy school nights, game day appetizer, perfect party food — these little guys are…

The post The Best Slider Recipes appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

Cowboy Butter Sliders

Slider recipes have range. Easy meal, busy school nights, game day appetizer, perfect party food — these little guys are a guaranteed hit no matter what. 

A pile of Cowboy Butter Sliders, served and ready to eat.

​Plus, there are so many possibilities for what goes on these slider buns. I’m stoked to show you how to make some of my favorite slider recipes!

What You’ll Love About Slider Recipes

How is it that something the size of mini burgers can be such a crowd pleaser? I think it’s because having bite-sized sandwiches is a fun way to enjoy lots of different flavors and textures and not feel like you’re locked into one kind of meal.

If you need a good reason to try a few of these slider recipes, invite a hungry crowd over and make the filings ahead of time. Since many of these slider recipes use big roasts or a ground beef mixture, you can easily cook a day or two in advance and store the meat in the fridge until you’re ready to chow down.

A close up shot from our BBQ beef slider recipe.

For more sandwich ideas, check out my recipes for Pizza Sandwich, Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich, Birria Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Surf and Turf Sandwich.

How to Cook the Best Sliders

With slider recipes, we know the meats get all the love. And when they’re this freakin’ delicious, they should! But making sure you have delicious sauces or glazes, the best buns and a foolproof assembly strategy will take your dish to the next level. 

The Filling for Slider Recipes

Since a lot of sliders use large roasts like chuck roast and pork shoulder, check your recipe to make sure you’re allowing enough time for marinating and cooking. As you’re grilling, check the internal temperature of the meat to make sure it’s cooked correctly. Slider recipes with faster-cooking cuts like pork sausage, roast beef, lean ground beef and steak won’t take as long, so you have a little more wiggle room there. 

Shredding BBQ chuck roast with jalapenos for slider recipe

The Toppings

This is really the special sauce (literally, in some cases) for our slider recipes. What you put on the top half of the rolls and the bottom buns really depends on your filling. With something like shredded beef, a slice of melty cheese like provolone or Swiss cheese and caramelized onions is so freakin’ delicious. For pork BBQ, pile your favorite coleslaw on top. You could even put a pineapple ring on top of tangy shredded barbecue chicken. There’s no wrong answer here. 

Beer cheese for steak sliders.

Hot sauces, your favorite BBQ sauce or mustard are great options for condiments. I’ve also got sauces and glazes in my favorite slider recipes that pair perfectly with what you’re cooking! 

Get stoked for life

This sauce is FYR!

an all-new line created for live fire cooking

Born from a deep passion for food and flavor. Whether you’re grilling in the backyard or live fire cooking around the world, we have what you need to transform every meal into an adventure.

The Buns

For me, sweet Hawaiian rolls are always the way to go. I’m a huge fan of King’s Hawaiian Slider Rolls. These soft Hawaiian rolls go with everything! Slider recipes will also work great with one of your favorites from your local bakery or grocery store. Just remember that the best quality bread always results in the best-tasting sandwich. 

King's Hawaiian Rolls with Italian slider recipe ingredients.

The Assembly for Slider Recipes

Having all the rolls already lined up out of the package is an easy way to make assembly go quickly. When you’re ready to put your mini sandwiches together for your slider recipe, keep each sweet roll joined and slice the slab of bread in half horizontally with a serrated knife. Then, grease a foil pan so the sliders won’t stick. Place the bottom half in the foil pan, spread a layer of sauce on them, then pile on a good amount of your meats, cheese slices, more sauce, and finally, the top halves of the buns. 

Adding cheese and meat to the slider recipe.

Brush some melted butter on the tops of the buns, then put the foil bin with the sliders on the smoker and let them cook at medium heat until they’re golden brown and crispy, about 10-12 minutes.

Toasting the assembled steak and cheese slider recipe.

Once they’re done, take them off the smoker and let them cool for a couple of minutes before serving on your cutting board. Slice rolls along the bread’s edges for individual sliders and enjoy whatever slider recipe you made!

My Favorite Slider Recipes

Now that we’ve talked about all the options for sliders, here’s the roundup of my favorite slider recipes! Be sure to let me know in the comments which ones you tried and liked the best! 

Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Sliders done, plated and ready to devour.

Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Sliders

Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Sliders for a handheld dinner delight.
View Recipe
A Nashville Hot Chicken Slider getting pulled from the serving platter.

Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders

Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders for a spicy, savory treat.
View Recipe
Am Italian Slider ready to get dipped into the spicy marinara.

Italian Sliders

Italian Sliders for a delicious handheld dish!
View Recipe
Cowboy Butter Sliders

Cowboy Butter Sliders

Cowboy Butter Sliders are the ultimate comfort food. Tender sliced filets are slathered in the zesty spicy butter and paired with caramelized onions and gooey mozzarella cheese.
View Recipe
Chimichurri Steak Sliders

Chimichurri Steak Sliders

Chimichurri Steak Sliders are as straightforward and good as it gets. Tender ribeye steaks are grilled, sliced, and paired with melted mozzarella and a zesty homemade chimichurri sauce.
View Recipe
BBQ Beef Sliders are the ultimate comfort food.

BBQ Beef Sliders

BBQ Beef Sliders made with my new HNY FYR BBQ Sauce from FYR are the ultimate comfort food for your next game-day party.
View Recipe
Steak Sliders with Beer Cheese plated next to the beer cheese ready to serve.

Steak Sliders with Beer Cheese

Steak Sliders with Beer Cheese for tender slices of steak on soft slider rolls with beer cheese and sautéed onions.
View Recipe
A close up shot of the Grilled Steak Elote Sliders so you can see the filling.

Grilled Steak Elote Sliders

Grilled Steak Elote Sliders for a so freaking delicious meal!
View Recipe
The pulled beef sliders with steakhouse baked beans sitting all together on a cutting board so that we can serve the dish.

Pulled Beef Sliders with Steakhouse Baked Beans

Pulled Beef Sliders with Steakhouse Baked Beans
View Recipe
Steak Au Poivre Sliders assembled and ready to devour.

Steak Au Poivre Sliders

Steak Au Poivre Sliders for a fun steak sandwich!
View Recipe
Close up shot of Guinness Pulled Beef Sliders

Guinness Pulled Beef Sliders

Guinness Pulled Beef Sliders ready for your next dinner!
View Recipe
A Roast Beef and Cheddar Slider close up.

Roast Beef and Cheddar Sliders

Roast Beef and Cheddar Sliders for a filling snack or delicious dinner.
View Recipe
Final product of the Steak and Cheese Sliders

Steak and Cheese Sliders

I love some good sliders, and I thought it would be fun to grill up some steak and make an epic Steak and Cheese Sliders meal on my Oklahoma Joe Judge.
View Recipe
Philly cheesesteak Sliders assembled and ready to serve!

Smoked Cheesesteak Sliders

These Smoked Cheesesteak Sliders are made up of buttery slider buns loaded with juicy steak, caramelized onions, and Monterey jack cheese.
View Recipe

What to Serve with Sliders

The perfect way to turn a slider recipe into an easy meal is to add tasty sides. A simple green salad, sautéed spinach, grilled asparagus or zucchini, French fries or sweet potato fries, baked beans, potato salad and tater tots are some great options!

For More Burgers

Leftovers and Reheating

If you find yourself with leftovers from your slider recipe, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, simply warm them up on a medium-high heat grill or a 350-degree F oven while wrapped in aluminum foil. You can also repurpose any leftover filling by adding it to sandwiches, salads, or tacos. 

​FAQs

​Can I make sliders ahead of time? 

Definitely! You can make the filling 1-3 days ahead of time and then assemble your sliders the day of. If your slider recipe calls for any glazes or sauces, you can make them on the stovetop and store it for 1-3 days before serving. Heat those up in a small saucepan when you’re ready to serve.

What other meats can I use? 

Deli meats like ham or turkey work great in slider recipes. These are great options if you have some picky eaters at your table. You can even do half and half of your recipe, so you have whatever you cooked on one side and ham or turkey on the other. Then everybody wins!

Don’t be mad — I don’t have a smoker. Can I make oven-baked sliders? 

Of course! If you don’t have a smoker, you can still make one of these delicious slider recipes using alternative methods. For making them in the oven, I suggest using a slow cooker or Instant Pot to cook the roasts until they’re tender and easily shredded with a fork. Finish off in the oven. 

Get The Cookbooks!

Flavor X Fire & FOOD X Fire

By Derek Wolf

All the major tastes—salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and umami—are explored in depth, along with an investigation of other components you should consider when it comes to flavor, such as aroma, heat, and texture.

The post The Best Slider Recipes appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

Best Lobster Tail Recipes

If you’re a lobster fan looking for an epic lobster tail recipe, stop scrolling and discover what kind of steakhouse-level magic you can…

The post Best Lobster Tail Recipes appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

If you’re a lobster fan looking for an epic lobster tail recipe, stop scrolling and discover what kind of steakhouse-level magic you can create with your own backyard grill or smoker.

Today, I’m curating my best lobster recipes all in one spot. As you’ll soon see, the boiled lobster tail is not the only way to celebrate this wondrous seafaring crustacean. Lobster tail meat is meaty, hearty, and always the perfect centerpiece for a meal that’s so freakin’ delicious!

Stuffed Lobster Tails with garlic butter as they finish cooking on the grill. Lobster Tail Recipes

Why You’ll Love Each Lobster Tail Recipe

There are few things better in life than taking a bite of some buttery lobster. As any seafood lover knows, lobster and melted butter (with garlic and a sprinkling of fresh parsley) is already a match made in foodie heaven!

When you have the right recipe in front of you, you can make lobster with the best flavor that rivals any steak. The sweet, tender meat pairs perfectly with a variety of seasonings and cooking methods.

Skewered Lobster tails cooking in the grill.

Each recipe card below expands on the possibilities and ventures into the world of seasoned lobster tails. The bold, zesty, spicy, and citrusy flavor combinations are all designed to bring out the natural goodness of the lobster.

Whether smoked, grilled, stuffed or cooked in a cast-iron pan, lobster tails offer versatility and a gourmet touch to any meal. Plus, they cook quickly, making them a win-win for your next special occasion or weeknight dinner.

Cooking Tips for the Best Results 

  1. Best Quality Lobster: Sourcing live lobster is the first step to having the best lobster tail dinner ever. If you can’t get fresh lobster tails, frozen is a great option, but make sure they are properly thawed before cooking.
  2. Butterfly the Tails: For even cooking and a beautiful presentation, butterfly your lobster tails by cutting down the top of the shell with a pair of kitchen shears and spreading the meat open.
  3. Season Generously: Lobster meat is sweet and delicate, so don’t be afraid to season generously. Garlic, butter, herbs and a bit of lemon juice can enhance its natural flavor. If you haven’t tried my seasonings yet, they would also add the perfect burst of complex flavor.

Add flavor to everything you’re cooking

shop over the fire spice lines

  1. Monitor the Temperature: Lobster tails cook quickly, so watch them closely to avoid overcooking. They are done when the meat is opaque and firm. The recommended internal temperature of the lobster is 140 degrees F. 
  2. Handy Tools: When making lobster, grab a cutting board, a pair of sharp kitchen shears to break through the hard shell, and a small saucepan for melting butter. 

Smoked Lobster Tails

The smoking process takes more patience than grilling, but it’s worth it every time. In fact, sometimes this is the easier option because they cook slower and therefore make it more difficult to overcook. Not impossible… but more difficult.  Plus, the smoky flavor that gets imparted on the lobster meat is delicious!

a platter with smoked lobster tails and esquites held next to a smoker

Smoked Lobster Tails with Esquites

Smoky lobster is paired with the creamy, tangy taste of esquites, a Mexican corn salad.
View Recipe
Honey Cajun Smoked Lobster Tails before being pulled from the smoker.

Honey Cajun Smoked Lobster Tails

Sweet and spicy, these lobster tails are glazed with honey and seasoned with Cajun spices, creating a mouthwatering bite.
View Recipe
Smoked Lobster Tails

Smoked Lobster Tails with Spicy Garlic Butter

These smoked lobster tails are drenched in a spicy garlic butter sauce that enhances their rich, smoky taste.
View Recipe
Smoked Lobster Tails with Parmesan Butter

Smoked Lobster Tails

Simple and straightforward, these smoked lobster tails let the lobster's natural flavor shine through with just a hint of smoke.
View Recipe

Grilled Lobster Tails

Grilled lobster is a classic way to give the buttery meat a deep and satisfying flavor from your smoky charcoal. The lobster cooks faster this way, so be ready when it’s go time.

Grilled Lobster Tail

Grilled Lobster Tail

Simple and classic, these grilled lobster tails are perfect for purists who love lobster's natural flavor.
View Recipe
Grilled Garlic Butter Lobster Recipe

Grilled Lobster Recipe

Grilled Garlic Butter Lobster because who doesn't love protein covered in butter and cheese?
View Recipe
grilled lobster tails

Grilled Lobster Tails with Honey Cajun Butter

Grilled to perfection and basted with honey Cajun butter, these lobster tails are sweet, spicy, and smoky.
View Recipe
Grilled Lobster Tail Skewers

Grilled Lobster Tail Skewers

Simple, succulent lobster tail skewers that are perfect for grilling season. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
View Recipe
grilled lobster tails

Grilled Lobster Tails with Honey Cajun Butter

Simple and easy grilled lobster tails basted with a honey cajun butter sauce. This is the ideal backyard cook for those that need some sweet and spicyness!
View Recipe
Lobster Skewers with Bang Bang Sauce plated and served.

Lobster Skewers with Bang Bang Sauce

Tender chunks of lobster tail grilled on skewers and served with a spicy, creamy Bang Bang sauce that's sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
View Recipe
delicious sriracha butter lobster tails

Sriracha Butter Lobster Tails

For those who like it hot, these grilled lobster tails are slathered in a sriracha butter sauce that packs a punch.
View Recipe
Coal Roasted Baja Lime Lobster

Coal Roasted Baja Lime Lobster

Cooking some seafood straight on the coals today with this Coal Roasted Baja Lime Lobsters recipe. Inspired by the dish from the Southwest.
View Recipe
dirty lobster tails

Dirty Lobster Tails with Hatch Chile Butter Sauce

Grilled with the shell on and smothered in a Hatch chile butter sauce, these lobster tails are full of bold, Southwestern flavors.
View Recipe
wood plank lobster tails

Wood Plank Lobster Tails

Grilled on a wood plank, these lobster tails take on a subtle, smoky flavor that's absolutely irresistible.
View Recipe

Stuffed Lobster Tails

Stuffed lobster tails are a true showstopper, bringing together the rich flavors of lobster with a variety of mouthwatering ingredients.

Stuffed Lobster Tails with garlic butter as they finish cooking on the grill.

Stuffed Lobster Tail with Garlic Butter

Lobster tails stuffed with a rich garlic butter mixture create a luxurious and indulgent dish that's perfect for special occasions.
View Recipe
Bacon Stuffed Lobster Tails garnished with parsley and ready to serve.

Bacon Stuffed Lobster Tails

Everything's better with bacon! These lobster tails are stuffed with a savory bacon mixture that adds a delicious, smoky flavor.
View Recipe
Grilled Garlic Butter Lobster Recipe

Crab Stuffed Lobster

The ultimate seafood indulgence, these lobster tails are stuffed with a rich, creamy crab mixture for a double dose of decadence.
View Recipe

Cast-Iron Skillet Lobster Recipe

Last but not least, one of my favorite ways to cook lobster tail is in my well-seasoned cast-iron skillet.

parmesan crusted lobster tails

Parmesan Crusted Lobster Tails

Cooked in a cast-iron pan, these lobster tails with simple ingredients are topped with a crispy Parmesan crust that adds a savory crunch to every bite.
View Recipe
A fork full of lobster Mac and cheese.

Stuffed Cajun Lobster Mac and Cheese

Who doesn’t love homemade mac and cheese?! That’s the foundation for this Stuffed Cajun Lobster Mac and Cheese recipe.
View Recipe

What to Serve with Your Lobster Dinner

Pair your lobster tails with classic sides like garlic mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus or a fresh garden salad. For a more luxurious touch, consider making truffle mac and cheese, parmesan risotto or rice pilaf. Obviously, don’t forget a glass of crisp white wine or a refreshing cocktail to complete the insanely good meal.

Make it a Surf and Turf!

Leftovers & Reheating Lobster Tail

Leftover lobster tails can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to two days. To reheat, gently warm in the oven at 350°F until heated through. Avoid the microwave, as it can make the lobster tough and rubbery. You can also use leftover lobster meat in salads, sandwiches, or pasta dishes.

If you enjoyed this lobster recipe round up, check out my some of my other round ups for grilled steak, burnt ends and even chicken legs!

FAQs for Lobster Tails

Why are Maine lobsters the best?

It’s the cold water. The icy, nutrient-rich waters of the North Atlantic provide the ideal environment for lobsters to grow slowly, which results in tender, sweet meat.

Can I still make lobster tail recipes if I buy a whole lobster?

Absolutely! If you buy a whole lobster, you can definitely still make lobster tail recipes. Simply remove the tail from the rest of the lobster by twisting it off where it meets the body.  The remaining lobster meat can be used for other dishes like lobster bisque, lobster rolls, or seafood pasta.

Where can I find the best Maine lobsters?

You can find high-quality Maine lobsters online from reputable seafood suppliers or usually at your local grocery store. Many offer overnight shipping to ensure freshness. Look for suppliers with good reviews and a solid reputation for quality.

What kind of charcoal do you recommend when grilling lobster tails?

I prefer lump charcoal for grilling lobster tails because it burns hotter and cleaner than briquettes. It imparts a wonderful smoky flavor without any chemical taste. Brands like Cowboy CharcoalRoyal Oak or Kamado Joe are excellent choices for high-quality lump charcoal.

Get stoked for life

This sauce is FYR!

an all-new line created for live fire cooking

Born from a deep passion for food and flavor. Whether you’re grilling in the backyard or live fire cooking around the world, we have what you need to transform every meal into an adventure.

The post Best Lobster Tail Recipes appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

Smoked Fried Jalapeño Poppers

Smoked fried jalapeño poppers, ready to dip in dressing.

Smoked jalapeño poppers are a classic appetizer, so here’s our delicious twist on perfection. We still smoke the jalapeño poppers…

The post Smoked Fried Jalapeño Poppers appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.

Smoked fried jalapeño poppers, ready to dip in dressing.

Smoked jalapeño poppers are a classic appetizer, so here’s our delicious twist on perfection. We still smoke the jalapeño poppers until the bacon is done, but to make this smoked jalapeño popper recipe so freakin’ delicious, we then dredge and fry ’em up. It’s not that complicated, but there are a few tricks that make a huge difference for these little bites. 

Post sponsored by Cowboy Charcoal.
Smoked fried jalapeño poppers, ready to dip in dressing.

We get even more smoky flavor in this recipe from Cowboy Charcoal. The coals from Cowboy Charcoal burn really clean, so they’re ideal for any grilling recipe. I’ve used this stuff for everything from grilled steak nachos to birria egg rolls and stuffed lobster tails. Those coals get super hot and make it so we get the best poppers!

Why You’ll Love Smoked Fried Jalapeño Poppers

A jalapeño poppers recipe is always a hit for game day or a special occasion, and with good reason — that little extra kick from fresh jalapeño peppers, the different flavors in the cream cheese and the umami from the savory bacon make this classic appetizer hard to resist. By going the extra mile and frying these bad boys, you know that dish of poppers is going to disappear as soon as it hits the table. 

Smoked fried jalapeño poppers coming off the grill.

Here’s what to keep in mind for a successful smoked fried jalapeño popper. First, make sure the bacon is wrapped super tight on the poppers. If you need to, stick toothpicks through the poppers so the bacon strips don’t fall off. Then, dredge the wrapped peppers twice in the batter for the best results when it comes to coating. The frying doesn’t take too long, so keep an eye on the clock so you don’t burn the outside batter.

For other ways to enjoy our jalapeño popper combo, you can check out my shrimp jalapeño poppers. I’ve also made a surf and tuff popper that included lobster claw meat and beef bacon strips, or even something called Texas Twinkies which offer a version of poppers that include stuffing them with brisket!

Smoked Fried Jalapeño Poppers Ingredients

  • Jalapeño Poppers: We’ll use fresh jalapeño peppers, slices of your favorite bacon and your favorite BBQ rub, with a filling mixture made up of cream cheese and sharp cheddar cheese. Ranch dressing for serving rounds it all out.
  • Batter: We make this smoked fried jalapeño popper recipe next level with our fry batter, which has eggs, panko breadcrumbs, white flour, kosher salt, garlic powder, black pepper, paprika and cayenne pepper. 
Dredging smoked jalapeño poppers in batter.

I also paid these smoke fried jalapeño poppers with a ranch dressing for dipping because it’ll help cool any of the remaining heat from the popper. You can use store bought ranch dressing if you’d like, or check out my homemade recipe below!

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Ranch dressing from scratch is super simple. In a small bowl, mix together 1/2 cup of sour cream, 1/3 cup of buttermilk, 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt, 1 minced fresh garlic clove and chopped fresh herbs of your choice (I like to use cilantro, dill and parsley). Stick it in the fridge for about 15 minutes to let the flavors meld, then serve and enjoy. 

How to Make Smoked Fried Jalapeño Poppers

​Game on! I’m so stoked for you to try these smoked jalapeño poppers. It might be my new favorite appetizer. 

Stuffing the Peppers

To make the smoked jalapeño popper filling, mix one block of full-fat cream cheese and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese together in a bowl.

Next, pick up one of your fresh jalapeños and slice a “T” shape into it, with the top slice underneath the steam and the long slice going the length of the pepper. Using gloves or a small spoon, scoop out the seeds and ribs from the inside of the jalapeño. Be careful not to break off the stem. 

Stuffing the fresh sliced jalapeño peppers.

Once you’ve cleaned out the jalapeño, stuff the pepper with the cream cheese mixture. Next, take 1-2 slices of uncooked bacon and carefully wrap those around the whole jalapeño, making sure to fully encase the pepper.

Season the outside of the strips of bacon with your favorite BBQ seasoning and set aside. Repeat this process for your other seven jalapeños. 

Wrapping the stuffed jalapeños in bacon and coating in BBQ seasoning.

Smoking the Jalapeño Poppers

Preheat your smoker or grill to 250 degrees F for indirect heat cooking. Add some wood chips or wood chunks for added smoke flavor. Then, place your jalapeño poppers on the smoker and cook for about 90 minutes, or until the thick cut bacon has become dark amber and crispy. Once the peppers are done, pull them off and place them in the freezer for 15-20 minutes to fully cool.

Stuffed jalapeño poppers on the smoker.

Frying the Smoked Jalapeño Poppers

Preheat your frying oil to 350 degrees F. I like to use enough oil to get 2-3 inches in the skillet.

Mix 2 cups of white flour, 1 tablespoon of kosher salt, 1 tablespoon of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of black pepper, 1 tablespoon of paprika and 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper in a bowl. Then, whip 3-4 fresh eggs in another bowl. Finally, place 2 cups of panko breadcrumbs in a third bowl. 

Next, take the cooled smoked jalapeño poppers out of the freezer. Dredge them in the seasoned flour, then coat them thoroughly in the egg wash, and finish by dredging in the panko crumbs. Set that little smokie aside and repeat for all of the poppers. 

Frying the smoked jalapeño poppers.

Add the smoked jalapeño poppers to the oil and fry for 3-4 minutes, or until golden crispy brown. Once done, place them on a paper towel-lined plate and let them cool. Serve this spicy bite with some ranch dressing or sour cream and enjoy!

What to Serve with Smoked Fried Jalapeño Poppers

These delicious smoked jalapeño poppers will be right at home kicking off a game day spread. Think burgers, nachos, grilled chicken, sausages or even steak if you’re feeling fancy. 

For More Jalapeño Recipes

Leftovers and Reheating

If you have leftover poppers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Then, reheat on a grill or in a 350-degree oven until warmed. Just know that we find that the texture of smoked jalapeño poppers is best the day of, right off the grill.

FAQs 

​What size peppers should I use? 

The size of your peppers should be about 3 inches long. If they’re bigger than that, they get floppy and hard to eat with your hands. If they’re smaller than that, they can be hard to stuff and get all that extra flavor!

​What’s the best way to cut fresh jalapeño peppers?

Ever cut a spicy pepper and touched your eyeball? WORST! The easiest way to prevent this experience is to wear disposable gloves while you’re cutting the peppers.

Make sure you wash your hands well afterward, along with your cutting board and the knife you used to cut. If you do get some capsaicin — the compound in hot peppers that gives it the kick we all love — on your hands and it causes a burning sensation, you can use dish soap, rubbing alcohol or even yogurt to cool things down. 

Where can I find Cowboy Charcoal

Cowboy Charcoal has built a well-earned reputation as some of the cleanest and best stuff around, so you can find it almost anywhere. Check out the company’s store locator to see which hardware stores carry it near you.

Get The Cookbooks!

Flavor X Fire & FOOD X Fire

By Derek Wolf

All the major tastes—salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and umami—are explored in depth, along with an investigation of other components you should consider when it comes to flavor, such as aroma, heat, and texture.

Smoked fried jalapeño poppers, ready to dip in dressing.
Print

Smoked Fried Jalapeño Poppers

Smoked fried jalapeño poppers, wrapped in bacon and stuffed with cheese, are a delicious twist on a classic game day appetizer.
Course Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine American, Mexican
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 883kcal
Author Derek Wolf

Ingredients

Jalapeno and Stuffing:

  • 6-8 Jalapeños
  • 6-8 Bacon Slices
  • 1 block Cream Cheese
  • 1 cup Cheddar Cheese shredded
  • 1 cup Favorite BBQ Rub
  • Ranch Dressing for serving

Batter:

  • 3-4 Fresh Eggs whipped
  • 2 cups Panko Crumbs
  • 2 cups White Flour
  • 1 tbsp Kosher Salt
  • 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tbsp Black Pepper
  • 1 tbsp Paprika
  • 1 tbsp Cayenne
  • Frying Oil

Instructions

Smoking:

  • Begin by mixing together the cream cheese and cheddar cheese in one bowl.
  • Next, take a jalapeno and slice a “T” shape with the top slice being underneath the steam and the long slice going the length of the pepper. Using gloves or a utensil, scoop out all the filling and seeds from the inside of the jalapeno. Be careful not to break the stem off.
  • Once cleaned, stuff the pepper full of the cream cheese mixture.
  • Next, take 1-2 slices of bacon and carefully wrap it around the whole jalapeno making sure to fully encase it.
  • Season the outside of the bacon with your favorite BBQ seasoning and set to the side. Repeat this for all the other jalapenos until completed.
  • Preheat your smoker/grill to indirect heat at 250F. Add some wood chips or wood chunks to the smoker for added smoke flavor.
  • Add your jalapeno poppers to the smoker and let cook for about 90 minutes or until the bacon has become dark amber and crispy.
  • Once done, pull them off and place in the freezer for 15-20 minutes to fully cool.

Frying:

  • Preheat frying out to 350F.
  • Add flour, salt, pepper, garlic, paprika and cayenne to a bowl and mix.
  • Whip your eggs in a separate bowl and place the panko crumbs in a third bowl.
  • Pull out the cooled jalapeno poppers and place in the seasoned flour, then into the egg wash (coat thoroughly) and then lastly into the panko crumbs. Set to the side and repeat for all of your poppers.
  • Add the jalapeno poppers to the oil to fry for 3-4 minutes or until golden crispy brown. Once done, pull off and let cool.
  • Serve with some spicy ranch or sour cream and enjoy!

Notes

Homemade Ranch Dressing
Ranch dressing from scratch is super simple. In a small bowl, mix together 1/2 cup of sour cream, 1/3 cup of buttermilk, 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt, 1 minced fresh garlic clove and chopped fresh herbs of your choice (I like to use cilantro, dill and parsley). Stick it in the fridge for about 15 minutes to let the flavors meld, then serve and enjoy. 

Nutrition

Calories: 883kcal | Carbohydrates: 120g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 180mg | Sodium: 2829mg | Potassium: 1287mg | Fiber: 30g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 2337IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 1441mg | Iron: 27mg

The post Smoked Fried Jalapeño Poppers appeared first on Over The Fire Cooking.