I love putting hot dogs in baked beans. I think it harkens back to being a kid eating beans-and-weenies. That joy of digging around in the beans, in search of the never-enough hot dogs. Well now that I’m (much) older, I can add as many hot dogs as I want. No countless minutes wasted here trying to find hot dogs. My hot dog baked beans on the Char-Broil Big Easy aren’t lacking in anything. Hot dogs or flavor.
Super Easy Cook. Super Easy Cleanup.
One of the great things about the Char-Broil Big Easy is easy cleanup. I cook my hot dog based beans in a disposable pan. It’s great. You couldn’t get any easier. Just put everything in the pan and sit back and relax while the cooker does its job. The sauce will thicken as the beans heat through. In the end you get the perfect baked beans. Without any fuss.
4mediumhot dogsgrilled, boiled or roasted, sliced thin
Instructions
Preheat your Big Easy.
Empty the cans of beans into a large bowl.
In a small bowl or glass, add the cornstarch and water and stir until dissolved.
Stir the mixture into the beans.
Add the remaining ingredients and stir.
Lightly spray the pan with non-stick spray.
Transfer the mixture to the pan. Place the pan into a Big Easy basket (or better, use a bunk bed basket for easier handling). Be careful handling the pan. Always support it from the bottom so that it doesn't buckle.
Bake the beans in the Big Easy for 90 minutes, stirring every 30 minutes. The mixture will thicken as it cooks.
Carefully remove the basket from the Big Easy. Let cool 5-10 minutes before serving.
I don’t think of my Char-Broil Big Easy as just a grill. Or just an oil-less fryer. It’s also great at baking. Pretty much anything I can make in my oven, I can make in it. Like my manicotti on the Char-Broil Big Easy. Crazy delicious, with plenty of hot, melted cheese, this dish is easy to put together. And the Big Easy cooks it up perfectly, with hardly any cleanup required.
Dutch Oven Liners To The Rescue
I get these disposable aluminum Dutch oven liners online for baking large dishes like this manicotti on the Char-Broil Big Easy. They are perfect. They’re about 8″ wide and a few inches deep. They hold a lot. They’re heavy duty. Even though you need to still support them on the bottom when lifting them, you can fill them up and be confident that’ll not collapse on you.
Bunk Bed Baskets To The Rescue
My second big key to making on the Big Easy is to have a few bunk bed baskets on hand. Yes, I could get by with just one. And one fits easily into the Big Easy basket. But two are just easier. It’s hard to reach down in the original basket and get something off the bottom. With a bunk bed basket (or two), I just lift the basket and the food right out and onto my countertop (well, cutting board if it’s hot).
It’s a bit of a science to get two bunk bed baskets into the Big Easy but it’s quite doable. Play with it a few times first, without any food in them, and you’ll get the hang of it.
The Big Swap
Food near the bottom of the Big Easy basket tends to cook or bake faster than food higher up. Most of the time that’s not an issue. With this manicotti, I decided to swap the two pans of food around towards the end so they both browned evenly. With two bunk bed baskets this was very easy to do.
Oh Yeah, The Food!
Did I mention that this manicotti is delicious! The Italian sausage and spinach stuffed pasta tubes get cooked perfectly, and are just packed with flavor. I used a good quality, tasty marinara sauce. And plenty of cheese. Maybe a little extra. It’s possible. Boy, did this come out great!
Cook the pasta per the manufacturer's instructions. Drain well and spread out onto a baking sheet to cool and dry.
Meanwhile, crumble the sausage (remove from casings first if using links) into a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat until almost done.
Add the onion and continue cooking until it has softened and the sausage is cooked through.
Add the spinach. Stir and cook another 2-3 minutes or until wilted.
Remove skillet from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
Stir in 1 cup of the mozzarella and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan along with the egg, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix well.
Spray the two pans with non-stick spray.
Fire up your Big Easy so it heats up while you stuff the pasta tubes.
Spread 1/4 cup of the spaghetti sauce in the bottom of each pan.
Stuff each manicotti with the sausage mixture. I prefer to block one end of the tub with one hand while using the other hand to stuff the tubes (gently).
Place stuffed tubes into the pans. Do not stack. You might have to kind of wiggle and shove them in to get them to fit.
If you have leftover meat mixture just sprinkle it around and in between the manicotti.
Divide remaining sauce over the tops of the manicotti.
Cover the fans with foil.
Place one pan in the bottom of your Big Easy. If you have 2 Bunk Bed baskets, put the pan in a basket instead and lower it to the bottom of the Big Easy basket and attach at the sides.
Place the other pan in a Bunk Bed basket and lower it into the Big Easy basket. It will rest on top of the first basket if you are using two. Otherwise, just attach it to the sides of the Big Easy basket just above the first pan.
Cook for 35 minutes. There is no need to swap the pans.
Remove the foil. Top the pans with the remaining cheeses.
Return the pans to the Big Easy and cook another 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and turns golden brown. The top pan will cook slower than the bottom. If desired, rotate the pans after 15 minutes.
Remove pans from the Big Easy and let rest 15 minutes.
Garnish with parsley and serve.
Notes
The instructions above are for cooking both pans at the same time on a Big Easy. This requires a Bunk Bed basket (or two to make it even easier). If you do not have a Bunk Bed basket you’ll have to cook one pan at a time.
The Char-Broil Big Easy is a great cooker. I can treat it like a grill. Or an (oil-less) deep-fryer. And I can bake in it. This broccoli rice casserole on the Char-Broil Big Easy starts as your standard make-in-the-oven recipe. No magic occurring here. No strange tools required. Just a pan, a Big Easy and some simple ingredients. And great results.
I did use a bunk bed basket when I made this dish. I just think it makes everything easier to get in and out of the cooker. So, I use it whenever I can. It’s perfect for lifting this casserole out. I don’t have to worry about the pan collapsing on me.
Cheesy Greatness
This broccoli rice casserole on the Char-Broil Big Easy is packed with creamy cheesy yumminess. It takes no time at all to put together. And not much time to cook, either.
I was able to fit the entire recipe amount into a single 8″ Dutch oven disposable pan. It was close, though. You might be a little over. If so you can just divide the mixture between two pans and cook them separately.
Melt the butter in a large skillet or medium pot over medium-high heat.
Add the onion and celery and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the soups and half and half.
Add the cheese cubes and stir until melted.
Stir in the rice.
Fire up your Big Easy.
While the Big Easy is heating, place the pan into a Big Easy bunk bed basket.
Spoon the mixture into the pan. The pan will be very full. If you cannot fit all of the mixture into the pan divide it between two pans and bake separately.
Lower the bunk bed basket into the Big Easy basket and attach at the sides.
Transfer the basket to the Big Easy and cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until hot and bubbly.
Carefully remove the basket from the Big Easy. Then remove the bunk bed basket.
Make sure you support the bottom of the aluminum pan when handling it.
Serve immediately.
Notes
Although the Big Easy bunk bed basket is not required, it makes handling the pan much easier and safer.
Oh my goodness. This macaroni and cheese on the Char-Broil Big Easy is delicious. I love using my Big Easy for side dishes in addition to the many turkeys and chickens that I cook. I have several of the cookers, making it easy for me to cook up an entire meal. This recipe makes a big batch of unbelievably creamy, cheesy mac and cheese. And it makes plenty for a crowd, too.
Baking Away In Big Easy-ville
Everything in this dish is cooked indoors before you transfer it outdoors. What you want is for your macaroni and cheese on the Char-Broil Big Easy to get bubbly hot and browned to perfection. And it will.
If you’re cooking more than one pan at a time keep in mind that usually the bottom pan will get done sooner. So watch them and if you have to, take the bottom one out first.
You can also use your Big Easy to reheat any leftovers. I recommend adding a splash or two of milk first. Then cover with foil and stick into the cooker until hot and bubbly. You can actually hear it bubble if you listen real close.
Feel free to try this same approach with your favorite mac-and-cheese recipe that requires baking or reheating in the oven. The Big Easy does that and does it well. Outside. In the fresh air.
The bunk bed basket lets you double the amount of cooking space you have on your Big Easy. And it’s easy to take in and out of the cooker too!
Sprinkle panko over the tops of the macaroni and cheese.
If you do not have a Bunk Bed basket you'll have to cook the mac-and-cheese in two batches. Otherwise, place the pans into the baskets and add the baskets to the Big Easy (it takes a little finagling but you can fit two in there).
Place the basket in the Big Easy and cook 20-30 minutes or until the top of the mac-and-cheese starts to brown. See my note below.
Carefully remove pans from the Big Easy and serve.
Notes
I like to cook the pasta first, reserving it until needed. That way I use one less pan.If you are cooking using two Bunk Bed baskets note that the bottom basket will likely cook faster than the top. If need be, remove the bottom one and return the Big Easy basket to the cooker for a few more minutes.
Got a Char-Broil Big Easy? Think you can’t join the tailgating crowd with it? That it’s just for turkeys? Well, wrong! It’s time to fire up and make some fantastic crispy Cajun wings on the Char-Broil Big Easy! These great wings take just a little effort, just a little time, and they come out absolutely fantastic. And the sauce is nothing to sneeze at either! These are great tasting wings too!
It’s Super Easy
There are just two simple steps to making crispy Cajun wings on the Char-Broil Big Easy. First, you need to air dry the wings coated in seasoned baking powder (not baking soda) overnight in a fridge on a wire rack. This helps dry out the skin, making it easier to get it crispy later. And second, when it comes time to cook the wings, make sure you don’t over-crowd your Big Easy. The high heat circulates around the wings, helping crisp up the skin.
Load Up
You can use a bunk bed basket (and you’ll want to) for more wings. And in fact, if you’re patient, you can fit two bunk bed baskets into the Big Easy at once. Or do like me and get more than one Big Easy and have a wing-cooking funfest!
Sure, you can use any sauce you want on these wings. But you’ll want to keep that Cajun theme going and make a batch of the sauce below. It has a nice spicy kick to it with a great flavor that compliments the seasoned wings perfectly.
It’s always a good idea to keep a few spare grease trays on hand for your Char-Broil Big Easy.
Place the wings in a large bowl or resealable container.
Combine the baking powder and Cajun seasoning.
Sprinkle half of the seasoning mix over the wings.
Using your hands, toss the wings to coat.
Add the remaining seasoning and repeat.
Transfer the wings to a wire rack over a baking sheet.
Place in the fridge 12 hours or overnight to dry out the skin.
Fire up your Big Easy.
Lightly spray the basket and the bunk bed basket with non-stick spray. Let the Big Easy preheat for 5-10 minutes.
Add the wings to the baskets and lower into the Big Easy. Do not let the wings touch or overlap. You can stand them on end if you want to fit more wings into the baskets. You can also use up to two bunk bed baskets at a time, adding more cooking area.
Cook until the wings are lightly browned and crispy, usually 30 minutes. While the wings are cooking make the wing sauce.
Transfer the wings to a large bowl. Pour as much sauce as desired over the wings and toss to coat. Serve hot.
For the sauce
Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Stir in the hot sauce and Worcestershire.
Reduce heat and keep warm until ready to use.
Notes
Wings towards the bottom of the cooker may cook faster so check them after 30 minutes.
The Char-Broil Big Easy is great for cooking just about everything. Don’t overlook the side dishes. It’s great for those, too! Here are some of my favorites!
1
Spicy Barbecue-and-Bacon Baked Beans on the Char-Broil Big Easy
Use a hickory BBQ sauce to add a bit of that outdoorsy flavor.
Absolutely fantastic baked potatoes. I prefer to use disposable mini-meatloaf pans for this recipe. They fit into the Big Easy perfectly and are easy to handle. If you heat more than two mini pans at a time you'll need a Bunk Bed basket.
This roasted cauliflower came out absolutely delicious. Tender and flavor-packed, with just a hint of smokiness from the bacon. And as with anything I cook on my Big Easy, it was easy to make.
I used smaller baby portabella mushrooms but you can use any mushrooms you wish, even mixing up types when you make herb roasted mushrooms on the Char-Broil Big Easy. Just keep in mind that larger mushrooms or mushrooms with thicker caps might take a bit longer to cook.
Woo hoo! French fries on the Char-Broil Big Easy! Crispy, hot French fries! Perfection in a pan, and ready in only minutes. Don’t want to heat up the house with the oven making fries during the warmer months? Just toss some (frozen) fries into the Big Easy!
I can eat a scary amount of crab legs. Fortunately, I don’t have to tell you just how much a ‘scary amount’ is, but when the crab legs are as great as these Old Bay crab legs cooked on my Char-Broil Big Easy, I cannot control myself.
Honey-Chipotle Glazed Ham on the Char-Broil Big Easy
I’m a big fan of cooking honey-chipotle glazed ham on the Char-Broil Big Easy. The ham gets a nice roasted flavor, a bit of a crispy outside, and a super-moist inside.
I could’ve fired up my gas grill to cook a batch of hot dogs. Or lit some charcoal. That’s when I had a ‘duh’ moment. The Big Easy! It cooks everything great, so why not use it!
These Kick’N chicken legs on the Char-Broil Big Easy came out fantastic, just like all the other poultry I’ve ever cooked on the Big Easy. Super moist and tender.
Cooking a pork butt on the Big Easy was not only easy and quick (compared to a 10-12 hour cook time on my smoker), but the end product came out super moist and tender. The meat shreds very easily, perfect for BBQ sandwiches or my favorite, BBQ pulled pork baked potatoes.
I’d make these ribs again. And again. You can fit 2 racks into the Big Easy (they have to be cut to fit as they have to be around 11″ or so or less in length).
Beer-Can Seasoned Chicken on the Char-Broil Big Easy
The seasoning is so good you can leave out the beer can. The Big Easy cooks up chicken so moist and tender you won’t notice it’s not there, and the Weber seasoning packs such great flavor you’ll be as happy as if you did use the beer.
Deliciously sweet pineapple, brushed with coconut milk and sprinkled with cinnamon-infused sugar. Roasted to perfection. Brazilian pineapple on the Char-Broil Big Easy is a win.
“They’re too darned spicy”, Aunt Martha said. Well, today is Aunt Martha’s lucky today because now she can chow down on some super-tasty pickle poppers without worrying about the heat.
The key to cooking bacon-wrapped tater tots on the Char-Broil Big Easy is to cook them until they just start to char. They won’t be super crispy yet. That happens after you take them out of the cooker and they cool. The bacon will crisp up as it sits.
Slice it thick, and serve it with gravy and mashed potatoes. Slice it thin and pile it high for a delicious sandwich. Chop it into small chunks for a crazy good chicken salad. No matter how you serve it, this simple roast chicken using the Char-Broil Big Easy is spot-on fantastic. As with anything cooked on the oil-less fryer, you can’t get any easier. Just season and cook. The skin comes out crispy. The meat, dark and white, is juicy and flavorful. Each and every bite is perfect. This is why I love my Big Easy.
A No-Worry Cookout
I go with 20 minutes/pound as my base cooking time. Simple roast chicken using the Char-Broil Big Easy usually doesn’t take any longer than that, but it can depending on the wind and temperature. I check it after 20 minutes/pound and go from there. A little over-cooked is ok, but under-cooked isn’t, so err on the side of caution if you aren’t sure it’s done!
Better with Butter
You can baste the bird with a little melted butter right before removing it from the cooker. It adds a bit of color and helps crisp up the skin a bit. While it’s optional, I like it. But then, I’m a butter-aholic so there’s that…
It’s summer time. And summer is good. Summer is better, though, with a big ole plate of spicy barbecue-and-bacon baked beans on the Char-Broil Big Easy. These are some of the most flavor-packed beans you’ll find. And talk about easy to make, too! It’s not quite as easy as open a bunch of cans and heat, but it’s close to being that easy. A little time in the oil-less fryer and you’re ready to devour some tasty beans. Double, triple or quadruple the recipe and you’ve got a great dish for a picnic or family get-together!
Packed With Flavor
Much of the flavor in these spicy barbecue-and-bacon baked beans on the Char-Broil Big Easy comes from the Ranch style beans. Then along comes a bit of jalapeno spiciness. And just a hint of sweetness. For the BBQ sauce I went with a nice hickory BBQ sauce to add a bit of that outdoorsy flavor.
The bunk bed basket lets you double the amount of cooking space you have on your Big Easy. And it’s easy to take in and out of the cooker too!
