Pepper Onion Beer Sauce

I had a bunch (and I do mean a bunch!) of ham leftover from cooking a big ham on my Char-Broil Big Easy. I could’ve made more sandwiches. Or I could dice up some ham for omelets. Instead, I decided to warm up some nice thick slices and top them with this wonderful pepper onion beer sauce. It looks like your pretty standard vegetable topping, but with a twist: orange marmalade. Whoa! I wasn’t expecting that!

Pepper Onion Beer Sauce

This pepper onion beer sauce really goes well with ham, but I also think it’d compliment grilled chicken just as well. Don’t like orange marmalade? I bet you could substitute your favorite marmalade or preserves.

I like to use my good ole trusty Dutch oven to make this sauce and pretty much darned near anything like it on my stovetop. It’s nice and big and sturdy. That extra weight helps it maintain and distribute heat perfectly. As an added bonus, it’s actually pretty easy to clean up too!

Pepper Onion Beer Sauce
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4 from 1 vote

Pepper Onion Beer Sauce

I decided to warm up some nice thick slices and top them with this wonderful pepper onion beer sauce. It looks like your pretty standard vegetable topping, but with a twist: orange marmalade.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword beer, sauce, vegetable
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 177kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat
  • Add the bell peppers and onion and saute for 5 minutes
  • Add the beer, orange marmalade, soy sauce and hot sauce. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and continue simmering until the vegetables are softened and the sauce is reduced.
  • Serve over sliced ham or grilled chicken.

Nutrition

Calories: 177kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 280mg | Potassium: 146mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 546IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Jalapeno Onion Steak and Burger Topping

Ok, I admit it. I sometimes buy cheap steaks on sale. They make for a quick lunch. Since I work from home I can just toss them on the grill and in no time I’m chowing down. But let’s face it. Cheap steaks aren’t the same as not-cheap-steaks so I often add a bit of something to kick them up a bit. This jalapeno onion steak and burger topping was so good I ended up making another batch to top some hamburgers later in the week. Sweet lightly-caramelized onions in a creamy sauce with just a little beat of jalapeno heat and a slight vinegary tang.

Jalapeno Onion Steak and Burger Topping

Next time I cook up some hot dogs I’m going to make another batch of this jalapeno onion steak and burger topping. It’ll really crank up anything grilled, from hot dogs to smoked sausages to burgers to grilled chicken sandwiches, too! There’s not a tremendous amount of heat, so don’t be afraid that the topping is too hot. It’s quite mellow and packed with great flavor.

You don’t have to make these ‘spicy’. Instead, you can substitute other non-hot peppers. Sliced green bell pepper or poblanos will still add wonderful pepper flavor without adding the heat.

Also try my molasses chili steak marinade.

Jalapeno Onion Steak and Burger Topping
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5 from 1 vote

Jalapeno Onion Steak and Burger Topping

This jalapeno onion steak topping was so good I ended up making another batch to top some hamburgers later in the week.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword burgers, sauce
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 2 cups
Calories 379kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
  • Add the onions, jalapenos, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, sugar and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Cover and cook 15-20 minutes until the onions are softened and golden in color. Stir often.
  • Add the heave cream and stir. Cook for 2 more minutes.
  • Add the apple cider vinegar and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Stir and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 379kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 134mg | Potassium: 558mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 1161IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 123mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Kraut-Stuffed Sausages

For years and years I have grilled my sausages after they spent some quality time in a ‘bath’ of beer and peppers and onions. And they are great, I admit it. But these kraut-stuffed sausages, well, they’re really beyond great. Tender, moist, and just packed with flavor. Such a wonderful texture in every single bite. I couldn’t stop eating them. Topped with plenty of mustard, these are now my only go-to grilled sausages.

Kraut-Stuffed Sausages

You have to use the right kind of sausages to make these kraut-stuffed sausages. Get the fresh sausages, with casings. You need to be able to poke your finger inside to make a cavity for the fantastic (but easy) filling. If you don’t have casings to help keep the sausage together you might end up bursting them. Then what will you do? Cry. I would. And unless your fingers are really, really long, don’t get really, really long sausages!

I suggested to my wife that we try adding other things to the stuffing, such as chopped roasted jalapenos, or poblanos or the like and she gave me a dirty look. The “don’t mess with this” look. So I won’t.

Also try my bratwurst bath. Perfect for getting brats ‘happy’ before grilling them.

Kraut-Stuffed Sausages
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5 from 1 vote

Kraut-Stuffed Sausages

These kraut-stuffed sausages, well, they’re really beyond great. Tender, moist, and just packed with flavor. Such a wonderful texture in every single bite. I couldn’t stop eating them.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword hot dogs
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 5 servings
Calories 482kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh sausages Italian, Kielbasa, whichever you prefer, just make sure you get the sausages in casings. I used Johnsonville Italian sausages which come 5 to a pound
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 large sweet onion cut thin
  • 1 pound kraut plus some of the juice
  • 1 cup shredded cheese Monterey Jack, mozzarella, any good white melting cheese will work
  • 5 sausage buns
  • prepared mustard

Instructions

  • Using your fingers, make a hole down the center of each sausage, creating a cavity that runs the full length of the sausages.
  • Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
  • Add the onion, kraut, and a bit of the juice from the kraut jar.
  • Stir and let cook until the onions are softened.
  • Remove from heat and let cool completely.
  • Stir in the cheese. It won’t melt but it will help bind the kraut mixture together.
  • Fire up your grill for indirect cooking.
  • Using your hands, grab some of the kraut mixture and force it into the cavity in the sausages. Just keep packing it in. Don’t worry about being all pretty and what-not, just get it in there. But don’t shove so hard that you have a blowout!
  • Place sausages over indirect heat on the grill and cook for 30 minutes until nice and dark and done.
  • Toast the buns.
  • Add cooked sausages to the buns and top with plenty of mustard.

Nutrition

Calories: 482kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 105mg | Sodium: 1541mg | Potassium: 468mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 448IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 167mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Oklahoma Fried Onion Burgers

The tastiest burgers are cooked on a flat-top griddle or in a hot skillet. Unlike a grill, the fat doesn’t drip down into the fire below. Instead, it stays on the burger, keeping it moist. And the added plus of a griddle is that you get that wonderful char. These Oklahoma fried onion burgers would be your standard fantastic griddle burgers, but they have a very tasty twist: onions that are griddled into the patties. The result is divine.

Oklahoma Fried Onion Burgers

I use a griddle insert from Weber that fits into my charcoal and gas grills to griddle burgers like these Oklahoma fried onion burgers. It not only gets super hot, it gets hot consistently across the entire griddle. This ensures that I get nice evenly cooked burgers no matter how many I am cooking at once.

Also try my super-cheesy queso burgers.

Oklahoma Fried Onion Burgers
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5 from 1 vote

Oklahoma Fried Onion Burgers

These Oklahoma fried onion burgers would be your standard fantastic griddle burgers, but they have a very tasty twist: onions that are griddled into the patties. The result is divine.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword burgers
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 610kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place the onion slices in a large bowl.
  • Toss with 1 teaspoon of salt and let rest for 30 minutes to extract as much liquid out of the onions as possible.
  • Transfer the onions to a towel or a few sheets of paper towels, roll up tightly and squeeze to remove as much liquid as you can.
  • Divide the onion slices into 4 equal piles on a cutting board or flat surface.
  • Divide the beef into 4 patties and form into balls.
  • Place beef on top of the onions and, using the palm of your hand or the bottom of a small skillet, flatten the beef into patties. The onions will stick to the bottom of the patties. That’s what you want.
  • Season patties with salt and pepper.
  • Heat up a griddle or cast iron skillet on your stove top or grill over medium-high heat.
  • Add the butter and swirl it around to coat the griddle or skillet.
  • Add the patties, onion side down, and cook for 6-8 minutes. You’ll see the onions starting to turn golden brown and get crispy around the sides.
  • Flip and continue cooking until the burgers are done, about 2 more minutes.
  • Top with cheese and remove.
  • Toast the buns, if desired.
  • Add the patties, mayonnaise, mustard, and pickles.

Nutrition

Calories: 610kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 896mg | Potassium: 469mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 323IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 335mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Sriracha Bacon Onion Rings on the Char-Broil Big Easy

These Sriracha bacon onion rings on the Char-Broil Big Easy give new meaning to kicked-up goodness. I mean, come on, what could be better than Sriracha and bacon? I have to tell you, these rings don’t get all super crispy like deep-fried, but they more than make up for that with flavor. You can’t possibly make enough of these to satisfy your guests!

Sriracha Bacon Onion Rings on the Char-Broil Big Easy

Basically, you can serve the Sriracha Bacon Onion Rings on the Char-Broil Big Easy ‘as-is’. Or do as I did and mix a few squirts of Sriracha and Ranch dressing together and use that as a dipping sauce. The cool Ranch will help cool off the spicy goodness, but it doesn’t hide it. Heck, I added Sriracha to it so it’s not like it’s wimpy.

You can’t fit a whole bunch of Sriracha bacon onion rings on the standard basket that comes with your Big Easy. To really make a batch, you’ll need the bunk bed basket. It adds a lot of cooking room.

Love your Big Easy as much I love mine? Check out my Big Easy Add-Ons page and my free Big Easy eCookbook!

Note: This recipe was developed using the Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-Less Fryer. If you are cooking using the Char-Broil Smoker-Roaster Grill you should cook with the lid open and the temperature set to High. You might also need to adjust the cooking time.

Sriracha Bacon Onion Rings on the Char-Broil Big Easy
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5 from 1 vote

Sriracha Bacon Onion Rings on the Char-Broil Big Easy

These Sriracha bacon onion rings that I made on my Char-Broil Big Easy give new meaning to kicked-up goodness. 
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword Big Easy, Char-Broil, onion rings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 12 rings
Calories 109kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

  • 2 large Vidalia onions
  • Sriracha
  • 12 slices bacon

Instructions

  • Fire up your Big Easy.
  • Slice the onion into thick ‘steaks’ about 1/2″ thick.
  • Push out the inner rings (save for another use), leaving the last two outer rings still together as one. Do not separate them. Note: If the rings are particularly thick then you can separate them as cook them as single rings.
  • Squeeze some Sriracha into a bowl that’s just big enough to fit an onion ring.
  • Place the ring into the sauce. Using your fingers, spread the sauce all over the ring. Flip the onion and repeat. Get it coated, but not drenched.
  • Wrap bacon around the rings. Don’t wrap too tightly since the bacon will shrink. Don’t wrap it too loose or it’ll fall off.
  • Brush (or just use your fingers) more Sriracha on the outside of the bacon.
  • Place the rings on your Big Easy rack and lower into the Big Easy.
  • Cook the rings until the bacon just starts to crisp. Gently flip them and cook another 10-15 minutes. Remove to a baking sheet and let firm up a bit.

Nutrition

Calories: 109kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 150mg | Potassium: 109mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Jersey City Hot Dog

I love a good hot dog. Easy to make, fun to eat. Stuff has to fall off while you’re eating it. That’s the sign of a great hot dog (actually, it’s the sign of good food, period). This Jersey City hot dog combines some of the best things you can have: spicy BBQ sauce, smoked bacon, onion, and of course… cheese. A little crunch and a little kick. Perfect!

Jersey City Hot Dog

I used some of my homemade applewood-smoked maple bacon on my Jersey City hot dog. Wow, what a great combination of flavors. Don’t skimp on the bacon. Life’s too short for tasteless cheap bacon. I didn’t go wimpy on the BBQ sauce. Nope, I used my favorite Bayou BBQ Cajun sauce from Frog Bone. It’s a nice thin sauce with great spice and kick.

Also try my Memphis-style BBQ hot dogs.

Jersey City Hot Dog
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5 from 1 vote

Jersey City Hot Dog

This Jersey City hot dog combines some of the best things you can have: spicy BBQ sauce, smoked bacon, onion, and of course… cheese. A little crunch and a little kick. Perfect!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword hot dogs
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 1312kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

  • 4 hot dogs
  • 4 hot dog buns
  • your favorite spicy BBQ Sauce
  • extra sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 small white onion chopped
  • 4 slices bacon cooked, crumbled or chopped

Instructions

  • Cook or grill your dogs as desired.
  • Warm buns.
  • Add dogs to buns and top with BBQ sauce and cheese. Place under broiler just long enough to melt the cheese.
  • Add the onion and bacon and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 1312kcal | Carbohydrates: 126g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 68g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 2667mg | Potassium: 755mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 36IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 358mg | Iron: 11mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Cedar-Planked Hot Dogs

Oh my goodness. I was just about as happy as a kid on Christmas morning as I cooked these cedar-planked hot dogs. I knew I was going to enjoy a truly tasty fantastic dog, topped with onion and crispy bacon that also had just a hint of cedar to them. The dogs cooked up super plump and moist. No overpowering sense of cedar. Just enough, there in the background. Perfect. After the onion and bacon got some cedar ‘happiness’ they went into a cast iron skillet on the grill to get cooked up the rest of the way.

Cedar-Planked Hot Dogs

Just thinking about these great cedar-planked hot dogs has my stomach growling. What great tastes in each and every bite. One of my favorites of all time, that’s for sure.

Cooking on cedar planks (I use my Weber grills!) can really change the ordinary into something special, which is why I do it often. Check out my other cedar plank recipes: creamy mashed potatoes, Cajun mashed potatoes, Twinkies, beef sliders, chorizo portabellos, sausage sandwiches, shrimp and grits and spicy grilled shrimp.

Cedar-Planked Hot Dogs
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5 from 1 vote

Cedar-Planked Hot Dogs

Oh my goodness. I was just about as happy as a kid on Christmas morning as I cooked these cedar-planked hot dogs.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword cedar plank, hot dogs
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 2 servings
Calories 348kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

  • 2 hot dogs
  • ½ medium sweet onion sliced
  • 2 pieces bacon chopped into 1/4″ pieces
  • 2 hot dog buns
  • Your favorite hot dog toppings

Instructions

  • Soak the cedar plank in water for 30 minutes.
  • Fire up your grill for direct and indirect cooking.
  • Place the plank rough-side down over high direct heat. Let the plank get nice and hot, smoke and even get a bit charred. Move to indirect heat.
  • Add the hot dogs, onions, and bacon to the plank. Close the grill and let the ingredients cook for 15 minutes. Make sure you have the heat high enough to make the plank smoke but don’t let it catch on fire. I keep a spray bottle full of water nearby just in case…
  • Remove the hots dogs to a plate.
  • Transfer the onions and bacon to a skillet on the stovetop over medium-high heat or use a small cast iron skillet on your grill since it’s already nice and hot.
  • Cook the onions and bacon until the bacon is crisped and the onions are done.
  • Meanwhile toast the buns as desired.
  • Serve dogs on buns topped with the bacon and onions and your favorite condiments.

Nutrition

Calories: 348kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 673mg | Potassium: 262mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Vidalia Onion Dip

I ended up with leftover Vidalia onion after I made bacon wrapped Sriracha onion rings the other day. Vidalia onions are a great thing. A marvelous thing. While they are in season I grab as many as I can, and use them in everything. Like this fantastic Vidalia onion dip. This dip may look like any other dip but it isn’t. Sure, it’s got cheese. And some creamy mayo. But it’s the onion that makes it something special and something different.

Vidalia Onion Dip

Since it was just my wife and I, I scaled this recipe for Vidalia onion dip way back. But, that’s easy to do since the ratio of ingredients is as easy as it gets: 1-to-1-to-1-to-1.

For a little twist, caramelize the onions in a bit of oil first.

Vidalia Onion Dip
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4 from 1 vote

Vidalia Onion Dip

Vidalia onions are a great thing. A marvelous thing. While they are in season I grab as many as I can, and use them in everything. Like this fantastic Vidalia onion dip. 
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword dip, onion
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 6 cups
Calories 792kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Vidalia onion chopped
  • 2 cups mayonnaise
  • 2 cups Swiss cheese shredded
  • 2 cups Parmesan cheese grated
  • pinch cayenne to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 325 F.
  • Spray a 2 quart baking dish with non-stick spray.
  • Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl and pour into the baking dish.
  • Bake for 45 minutes-1 hour or until bubble hot and lightly browned on top.
  • Serve with crackers or salty pretzels.

Nutrition

Calories: 792kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 75g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 1082mg | Potassium: 137mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 608IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 696mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Chorizo Fried Potatoes

These chorizo fried potatoes are so good you almost don’t need anything else with them. I had a batch with breakfast, but you can also use them in tacos or tortillas – just add a little shredded cheese!

Chorizo Fried Potatoes

I love Mexican chorizo. Quite often I mix it half-and-half with ground beef for a more kicked-up dish than using just plain ole beef. It certainly makes for great chorizo fried potatoes.

When I first started cooking I kept running into recipes that called for chorizo, but they didn’t say which kind. Now it’s obvious to me, but there’s a mighty big difference between Mexican chorizo (a spicy ground meat mixture) and Spanish chorizo (a dried, salami-like spicy meat). I love them both, though.

Also try my andouille Cajun potatoes.

This recipe is based on a recipe from Chef Valladolid.

Chorizo Fried Potatoes
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5 from 1 vote

Chorizo Fried Potatoes

Great as a side or on tacos or tortillas.
Course Side
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword potatoes, spicy
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 287kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Mexican chorizo
  • 1 small white onion diced
  • 1 pound red potatoes cut into 1/4″ dice

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the potatoes and boil until starting to get tender. Remove and drain.
  • Crumble the chorizo into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until browned.
  • Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the chorizo drippings. Add in the onion and potatoes and cook until the onions are tender and the potatoes are starting to brown (I like mine with crispy edges).
  • Add the chorizo back to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 554mg | Potassium: 361mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 411IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Onion Burgers

I have to admit, I can eat more than one of these delicious onion burgers without even blinking. There’s something about the sautéed onions and American cheese that just screams greatness! Simple, cheesy, dripping, messy. Just what a hamburger should be!

Onion Burgers

These onion burgers remind me a bit of the old diner-style ones I used to get as a child, except that then the onions were sliced, and cooked quickly on a flat-top griddle. Incredibly good, and dripping with flavor. Instead, these are caramelized, bringing an almost sweetness to the burgers. Add some cheese and I’m one happy guy!

I like to use a burger press when I make burgers. It, in combination with some patty papers, enables me to crank out a whole bunch of equally-sized burger patties in no time at all with little cleanup.

Looking for a little different way to make these? Check out my other version of onion burgers!

Onion Burgers
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5 from 1 vote

Onion Burgers

I have to admit, I can eat more than one of these delicious burgers without even blinking. There’s something about the sautéed onions and American cheese that just screams greatness! 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword burgers, onion
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 653kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
  • Add the onions and half of the salt and pepper. Saute until the onions are soft and lightly brown, 10-15 minutes.
  • Stir in the Worcestershire sauce a hot sauce, to taste. Cover and remove from heat.
  • Form 4 burger patties and season with remaining salt and pepper.
  • Grill burgers until done.
  • Top each burger with 1 slice of cheese and a good amount of onion. Add another piece of cheese and the remaining onion. Serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 653kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 123mg | Sodium: 2780mg | Potassium: 657mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 410IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 578mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutritional values are approximate.