Grilling is a staple of outdoor living and cooking in America. Visit any city, and you’ll find grills in backyards, on porches and patios, on apartment balconies, and in breezeways. You could even argue that the simplest outdoor kitchen consists of a grill and its accessories.    

You probably grill burgers and hot dogs for the big game, chicken breasts for weeknight meals, or steaks for date nights. But as tasty as these succulent meats are, if that’s the extent of your grilling activity, you may find yourself in a bit of a rut. The good news is that with the right attachments, accessories, and cookware, you can expand the potential of this trusty backyard appliance and unlock a whole new world of outdoor cooking! Read on to find out how!

1. Transform boring vegetable sides into mouth-watering delights! The concept of grilling veggies is probably not a new one for you. But have you explored the full potential of your grill to convert humble produce into delicious fare? Well-prepared side dishes can elevate even the simplest of meals from “just okay” to “outstanding!”
   
   Keep things fresh by experimenting with what’s in season and by using different marinades and seasonings. You can also play around with various methods of cooking to get just the right amount of smoke and char. Place large vegetables right on the grill like you would a piece of meat. For smaller veggies or bite-sized pieces, use a rotisserie basket, a grill basket, or even some aluminum foil.
   
   Check out some recipes and discover new favorites! 
   
   
2. Elevate your meat cooking game with a roasting rack! Grilling is an art. If you find yourself struggling to attain perfectly prepared, juicy cuts of meat, a roasting rack may help. These tools are designed to cook meat more evenly and keep it from sticking on the grill. Additionally, many roasting racks are made to fit into drip trays, allowing you to preserve all those tasty juices for an extra flavor boost!
   
   
3. Unlock a new way of cooking meats and more with a rotisserie! Our partners at BBQGuys sell a wide variety of rotisserie attachments for grills, including rotisserie baskets, trays, and kits. Each has its pros and cons, but all of them enable you to prepare your food on the grill in a novel way. Spit-roast a whole chicken, slowly roast a rack of ribs, or try your hand at chicken wings! Browse the available options here.
   
   
4. Turn your grill into a smoker! There’s no need to purchase yet another appliance for your outdoor kitchen. If you want to give your meat an extra punch of flavor, consider using a smoker box or tray in your grill. Options vary in size, material, and price, so choose one that would best suit your grill and get smoking! 
   
   
5. Get fancy with specialty grill cookware! For those who love to cook, it’s fun to collect kitchen tools that allow you to prepare unique foods. Just as with indoor kitchen utensils, we’re happy to share that there are a plethora of grill accessories designed specifically for cooking certain foods!
   
   If you’re a fan of seafood, these grill-ready, oyster-shaped vessels from BBQGuys enable you to bake, grill, or broil oysters, shrimp, clams, scallops, and more!
   
   Have you ever tried beer can chicken? The Camp Chef Roost Beer Can Chicken Holder allows you to attempt this out-of-the-box method of roasting a whole chicken while eliminating the struggle of trying to figure out how to balance the chicken on a can while it cooks.
   
   And who doesn’t love a roasted or stuffed jalapeño?! With a tool like the BBQGuys Non-Stick Jalapeño Roaster, you can prepare a restaurant-quality appetizer right in your own backyard! 
   
   
6. Convert your grill into a pizza oven! In our previous blog, we extolled the many merits of the backyard pizza oven, but did you know that it’s possible to bake up a delicious pie on your grill? Purchase an attachment, like this Kamado Joe DoJoe for Big Joe 24-inch grills, to transform your grill into a pizza oven. Or, if cost is a consideration for you, turn any grill into a pizza oven with a grill-safe pizza stone stacked on a few bricks. 
   
   
7. Get a griddle and eliminate the stress of losing food through the grill grates! Is there anything sadder than watching tasty morsels slip through the bars in your grill and succumb to a fiery death? Griddles are a great solution to this problem, AND they considerably expand your grill’s versatility by allowing you to prepare foods that would otherwise be impossible to cook on the grill.
   
   Craving bacon, eggs, and pancakes for breakfast? Throw them all on your griddle! Wanting Asian food without the cost of eating out or ordering in? Use your griddle to whip up some stir fry or fried rice!
   
   Brainstorm your favorite recipes and use a grill griddle to take them to the next level!   
   
   
8. Get the most bang for your buck with a cooking plate! The Blaze 15-inch 4-in-1 Stainless Steel Cooking Plate is made to fit the Blaze Kamado grill. Even for the budget-conscious, it’s a fantastic investment. This cooking plate accommodates pots and dutch ovens, allowing you to add extra layers of flavor to your favorite soups, stews, or pasta dishes.
   
   And that’s not all. In this single grill accessory, you get three of the tools we’ve already highlighted. It can be used as a smoker, a pizza stone, and a griddle.
   
   How’s that for a great deal? 
   
   
9. Save time and money by using your grill as a stovetop! Cooking in your outdoor kitchen can be extremely enjoyable, but it’s considerably less so if you find yourself constantly running back into your indoor kitchen. This is especially true when you are hosting in your backyard and would like the opportunity to chat with and entertain your guests while you’re preparing food.
   
   One strategy to cut down on these trips is to treat your grill like a stovetop. With grill-safe cookware, you can do things like boil water, make pasta, and prepare sauces.
   
   Not only will this strategy save time, but it could also save you money on electricity by keeping heat outside. Less fluctuation in the internal temperature of your home means less strain on your AC and smaller spikes in your electricity usage! 
   
   
10. Use your grill to bake! Last but not least, did you know that your grill is capable of baking?! Similar to treating your grill like a stovetop, utilizing it for baking will help keep heat outdoors. Additionally, it will impart a unique, smoky flavor to your baked goods. Ensuring that you have the appropriate grill-safe cookware is key here! Once you’ve secured the necessary equipment, it’s time to scour the internet for recipes.
    
    Ooey-gooey desserts, homemade breads, comforting casseroles . . . you get the idea! Think about your favorite foods to bake in the oven, but the next time you pull out the recipe, try throwing it on the grill instead! 

We hope we’ve helped you view your grill with new eyes! This humble backyard appliance is a must-have in an outdoor kitchen of any size. If you have questions about grills, grill attachments, or grilling accessories, don’t hesitate to reach out! We would love to help you find the perfect tools for your open-air cooking needs!