Cuisinart Griddler Archives

Roasted Red Pepper Panini using the Cuisinart Griddler

Oh you delicious, crunchy, dripping, yummy sandwich you! This roasted red pepper panini using the Cuisinart Griddler is just another reason my Griddler is right there on my countertop. Front and center. Used almost daily. Because in just minutes I can have a restaurant-quality sandwich for a fraction of the cost. Hot off the press. Perfect.

The World Is Your Panini

I tend to put Italian deli meats on my sandwiches. It’s not required. You can use your favorites. But I have found that makes this wonderful pack of Italian meats that also includes provolone cheese. It’s priced right and makes for fantastic sandwiches like this roasted red pepper panini using the Cuisinart Griddler. This isn’t rocket science, as they say. Just use good ingredients and you’ll have a great sandwich.

Just Leave It Be

After you place your sandwich on the hot griddle just leave it alone. Don’t go playing with it. Don’t turn it. Or flip it. Don’t open it to see what’s going on between the slices of bread. Just wait until the outsides get toasty crunchy brown. Then remove it. Then enjoy.

Cuisinart Panini Press, Stainless Steel Griddler, Sandwich Maker & More, 5-IN-1, GR-4NP1

Also try an Italian panini with giardiniera relish.

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5 from 1 vote

Roasted Red Pepper Panini using the Cuisinart Griddler

A restaurant-quality sandwich for a fraction of the cost.

Course Main

Cuisine American

Keyword Griddler, sandwich

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Servings

Calories 473kcal

Equipment

Cuisinart Griddler

Ingredients

4 slices Italian bread thicker is better
4 slices Genoa salami
6 slices hot salami or sandwich pepperoni
2 slices provolone cheese
roasted red pepper to taste, cut into strips or chopped, patted dry
2 teaspoons vegetable oil olive oil
mayonnaise to taste, optional

Instructions

Pre-heat your Griddler with the dials set for high-heat panini griddles.
Set out the bread slices on a cutting board or counter top.
Top with the meats and cheese.
Top the sandwiches with the peppers.
Add the top slices of bread to form the sandwiches.
Brush the outsides of the bread slices with the oil.
Transfer to the Griddler and close the lid. Cook until the bread is golden brown and crunchy.
Remove and let cool slightly before opening to add mayonnaise to inside of top pieces of bread.
Slice and serve.

Notes

Do not put a lot of pressure on the griddle lid while cooking as it will cause the meats and cheese to escape. Try to keep the lid level so that the tops of the sandwiches cook evenly.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

OXO Good Grips Electric Grill and Panini Press Brush, Black

Cuisinart GR-WAFP Electric Griddler, Waffle Plates Set of 2

Garlic Naan Pizzas using a Griddle

I love cooking outside on a griddle. Or inside on one. They’re very versatile and one of my favorite cooking ‘toys’. In the nicer months, you’ll find me out manning a griddle on a gas or charcoal grill. When it gets cooler, you’re likely to find me inside cooking on my countertop griddle. There’s just something fun about cooking on them. Like when I made garlic naan pizzas using a griddle.

Learn As You Go

I found that I had a little bit of a learning curve when I made these garlic naan pizzas using a griddle on my outdoor griddle. It fits over a large gas grill and gets super hot. So my first pizza was a bit… crunchy shall we say. I learned my lesson. On that griddle I keep the heat a little lower and keep on eye on the bottom of the crust after about 4 minutes to make sure I don’t burn it.

Garlic Naan Pizzas using an Outdoor Griddle

Outdoors Or Indoors

My indoor griddle of choice is my Cusinart Griddler. I can easily fit two naan on it at once. It does take a bit longer to get the bottom of the naan crunchy like I like. But it can’t get any easier and I don’t have to heat up an oven to get a delicious dinner or lunch meal.

Garlic Naan Pizzas using an Indoor Griddle

Less Is More

You want your naan pizza crust to be crunchy. Or at least I do. So that means use as little wet ingredients as possible. Don’t go nuts brushing them with oil. And don’t use a lot of sauce. If your toppings are ‘wet’, pat them dry with a paper towel first before adding them.

Weber Griddle Essential 5 Piece Tool Set

Also try my copycat of Pizza Hut’s meaty marinara pasta!

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5 from 1 vote

Garlic Naan Pizzas using a Griddle

Easy and delicious and ready in minutes!

Course Main

Cuisine American

Keyword griddle, pizza

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 8

Servings

Calories 3kcal

Ingredients

2 garlic naan
1 tablespoon olive oil or less, use as little as possible
Your favorite pizza sauce
Your favorite pizza toppings

Instructions

Turn on your griddle for medium high heat cooking.
Brush both sides of the naan lightly with the oil.
Place the naan on the griddle and toast for 1 minute per side. Remove to a wire rack.
Add the pizza sauce and swirl around with the back of a spoon. Less is more here. Use as little sauce as you can. The more you add the more your naan might end up soggy instead of crunchy.
Add cheese, if using. Make sure you get it edge-to-edge. All the way.
Add the remaining toppings. Like with the sauce my advice is to not go crazy with it. Less is more.
Return the naan to the griddle and toast 5-8 minutes. Check the bottoms every minute or so after 4 minutes to make sure they aren't getting too dark. If so, reduce the heat and/or move the naan to a cooler part of the griddle. You're not cooking anything here, just melting the cheese and getting the toppings hot so you don't have to toast them very long.
Remove from the griddle to the wire rack and let cool 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

I like to add a small sprinkling of pizza seasoning to make naans after adding the sauce for extra flavor.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

OXO Good Grips Electric Grill and Panini Press Brush, Black

Cuisinart GR-WAFP Electric Griddler, Waffle Plates Set of 2

Italian Panini With Giardiniera Relish using the Cuisinart Griddler

I think that the Cuisinart Griddler is one of the best kitchen appliances that I own. I use (often) it for everything from pancakes to burgers to these Italian panini with giardiniera relish. Paninis come out spectacularly on the Griddler. The bread gets perfectly crunchy and golden brown. The cheese gets nicely ooey and gooey. All this in minutes with really easy cleanup. It’s impossible to go wrong with it.

Relish for the Win

The giardiniera relish adds a wonderful flavor to these Italian panini made using the Cuisinart Griddler. I used a mild relish but you can go with a hotter version if that’s what you like. The relish comes in a flavorful oil that adds even more flavor to the sandwiches.

Aldi for the Win

For the bread, meats and cheese my go-to place has become my local store. They have great breads and their deli meats are available at a great price. And they have a great variety of them too, so I never get bored with my paninis.

Alpino Relish Giardiniera Mild, 12 oz

Also try a great toasted Italian sandwich using the Cuisinart Griddler.

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5 from 1 vote

Italian Panini With Giardiniera Relish using the Cuisinart Griddler

The giardiniera relish adds a wonderful flavor to these Italian panini.

Course Main

Cuisine American

Keyword Griddler, sandwich

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Servings

Calories 473kcal

Equipment

Cuisinart Griddler

Ingredients

4 slices Italian bread thicker is better
4 slices Genoa salami
6 slices hot salami or sandwich pepperoni
2 slices provolone cheese
Gardiniera relish to taste
2 teaspoons vegetable oil olive oil

Instructions

Pre-heat your Griddler with the dials set for high-heat panini griddles.
Set out the bread slices on a cutting board or counter top.
Top with the meats and cheese.
Top the sandwiches with the relish. Be heavy handed or go light with it, it's up to you. Be sure to get some of the oil from the relish too.
Add the top slices of bread to form the sandwiches.
Brush the outsides of the bread slices with the oil.
Transfer to the Griddler and close the lid. Cook until the bread is golden brown and crunchy.
Remove and let cool slightly before slicing (if desired) and serving.

Notes

Do not put a lot of pressure on the griddle lid while cooking as it will cause the meats and cheese to escape. Try to keep the lid level so that the tops of the sandwiches cook evenly.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

OXO Good Grips Electric Grill and Panini Press Brush, Black

Cuisinart GR-WAFP Electric Griddler, Waffle Plates Set of 2

Smash Burgers using the Cuisinart Griddler

I’m a huge fan of hamburgers. Although I can enjoy a big thick-ole pub burger too, I’m always craving that thin diner-style patty with lightly crusty edges. No fancy toppings for me either. I’ll take ketchup, mustard and pickle, thank you very much. Yeah, sure, if I’m feeling adventurous I might add some onion or lettuce, but that’s where the craziness ends. Just give me that juicy, thin, hot patty topped with melted cheese and I’m one happy guy! And though I often cook my hamburgers on a grill, these Smash Burgers using the Cuisinart Griddler are outstanding too!

The Keys To Success

For me there are just a few things to keep in mind when making smash burgers using the Cuisinart Griddler. They’re easy, so no need to over-complicate them. First, get that Griddler flat plate hot. I mean hot hot. Screaming hot. Second, season the meat well and do not over-work it. Just loosely form it into balls. Don’t pack them. And last, smash! Smash! Push down on the top lid to smash them as flat as you can! That’s it! Enjoy!

Cuisinart Panini Press, Stainless Steel Griddler, Sandwich Maker & More, 5-IN-1, GR-4NP1

Step your smash burgers up and slather them with some smash burger sauce.

The Griddler also makes tremendous steak sandwiches.

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4.29 from 7 votes

Smash Burgers using the Cuisinart Griddler

The Cuisinart Griddler makes outstandingly good Smash Burgers!

Course Main

Cuisine American

Keyword burgers, Griddler

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Servings

Calories 486kcal

Equipment

Cuisinart Griddler

Ingredients

8-9 ounces ground beef do not use lean, I prefer 75/25 or 80/20
kosher salt to taste
fresh ground black pepper to taste
2 slices American cheese
2 hamburger buns
ketchup
prepared yellow mustard
other toppings dill pickle slices, iceberg lettuce, sliced onion

Instructions

Place the flat plates on your Griddler. Do not use the ridged sides. Heat your Griddler by turning the Selector to 'Grill-Panini' and the Grill-Panini knob to 'Sear'.
While your Griddler is heating up, place the ground beef in a medium bowl. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Don't be shy with it!
Divide the beef in half and form into 2 balls. Do not pack them tightly, just shape them enough so they are ball-like. They don't have to be perfect.
Place the meat onto the griddle and close the top. Press down until the top cannot go any further. Smash them burgers!
Cook the burgers for 4-6 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 F. Toast your hamburger buns, if desired, while the burgers are cooking.
Open the griddle and top the patties with the cheese. Let melt slightly then remove to the buns.
Top patties with pickles, squirt the ketchup and mustard on top. Add any desired other toppings and serve.

Notes

After you make a few smash burgers the process becomes very easy and always delivers great results.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

OXO Good Grips Electric Grill and Panini Press Brush, Black

Cuisinart GR-WAFP Electric Griddler, Waffle Plates Set of 2

Quick Fix Steak Sandwich using the Cuisinart Griddler

You’re at this post for a reason. Maybe, like me, you actually like Steak-Umms. Like many, I was first exposed to them in a school lunch cafeteria years and years ago. And like many kids of the time, I would go home and beg mom to get them so I could have a steak sandwich there too. Mom wasn’t too keen on them, but would buy them for me as a rare treat. I’d have them about as simple as you could get: fried the Steak-Ummm, put it on a bun or white bread with ketchup, eat. Well, now I step things up with my quick fix steak sandwich, made using the Cuisinart Griddler.

Easy Is Right. And Good.

The Griddler makes making a steak sandwich about as easy as you can get. Having the two big cooking griddles lets you cook several things at once. Without it, I’d end up with a skillet for the Steak-Umms, another for the onions and peppers, and I’d probably fire up the oven or toaster just to toast my sub roll. Sheesh, that’s a lot of stuff when I can do it all on my Griddler.

The History Of Steak-Umms

The history of the Steak-Umm is actually rather interesting. You can read about it here.

Cuisinart Panini Press, Stainless Steel Griddler, Sandwich Maker & More, 5-IN-1, GR-4NP1

You can also make outstandingly good smash burgers on the Griddler.

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5 from 1 vote

Quick Fix Steak Sandwich using the Cuisinart Griddler

The Griddler makes making a steak sandwich about as easy as you can get. Having the two big cooking griddles lets you cook several things at once.

Course Main

Cuisine American

Keyword Cuisinart, Griddler, quick fix, sandwich

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Servings

Calories 326kcal

Equipment

Cuisinart Griddler

Ingredients

1 hoagie sandwich roll split
1 slice Steak-umm or other thin-sliced frozen steak
¼ green bell pepper sliced thin
¼ cup mushrooms sliced thin
¼ cup onion sliced thin
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
kosher salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons Cheez Whiz or other cheese dip, warmed

Instructions

Open your Griddler so that the griddle plates are open flat. You want to use the smooth griddles.
Turn the Griddler Selector knob (the center one) to 'griddle'. Set the temperature know to 425 F, the maximum.
Once the green light is lit, indicating that the Griddler is at 425 F, you can being cooking.
Place the bell peppers and onion in a small bowl. Drizzle with the oil and season with salt and pepper. Stir and transfer to one side of one of the griddle plates. See my picture for how I arrange things on the Griddler.
On the other plate place the bread halves. Let them toast as long as desired as the rest of the ingredients cook.
Let the onion and peppers cook for 5 minutes, stirring a few times.
Add the mushrooms to the onion and peppers. Stir and cook another 5 minutes. The vegetables should be just starting to turn tender.
Place the Steak-umm on the griddle plate alongside the vegetables. Season as desired.
Continue cooking the Steak-umm until it starts to brown along the edges. Flip and continue cooking until done.
Assemble the sandwich by placing the Steak-umm on the bottom bread half. Add the cooked vegetables. Drizzle on the cheese, add the bread top.

Notes

Serve with plenty of napkins. The cheese will be nice and runny!

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

OXO Good Grips Electric Grill and Panini Press Brush, Black

Cuisinart GR-WAFP Electric Griddler, Waffle Plates Set of 2

French Toast using the Cuisinart Griddler

I don’t need an excuse like it being morning to have breakfast. I’ll have it for lunch or dinner, too. And one of my long-time favorites to have is French toast. And this here is my go-to recipe for making perfect French toast using my Cuisinart Griddler. My Griddler gets a lot of use. For everything from paninis to French toast, it’s a real workhorse.

I Like It Simple

I like my French toast to have just a bit of a crunchiness along the edges so I cook mine longer than the time I have in the recipe. It’s up to you. And I admit, I’m not too fancy when it comes to topping it either. Warm maple syrup and maybe some butter, that’s it. I always think about sprinkling on some powdered sugar. Or adding some fruit. But in the end, I end up with the simple approach.

Cuisinart Panini Press, Stainless Steel Griddler, Sandwich Maker & More, 5-IN-1, GR-4NP1

As an aside, the Griddler is the perfect cooker for travel. I always take mine with me if we are renting a place on the beach or a cabin in the woods. You never know what there’ll be available to cook on where you’re going. When I take the Griddler I know I can make breakfast, lunch and dinner without any worries.

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5 from 1 vote

French Toast using the Cuisinart Griddler

This is my go-to recipe for making perfect French toast using my Cuisinart Griddler.

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword Cuisinart, French toast, Griddler

Prep Time 4

Cook Time 15

Servings

Calories 455kcal

Equipment

Cuisinart Griddler

Ingredients

4 large eggs beaten
½ cup whole milk
1 tablespoon Turbinado sugar
1 pinch Kosher salt
1 pinch cinnamon
4 slices bread thick is best
2 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
Your favorite toppings for serving

Instructions

Whisk together the egg, milk, sugar, salt and cinnamon. Pour into a shallow pan (I used an 9" x 11" baking dish).
Add the bread slices. Refrigerate for 4 hours. Optionally, flip after 2 hours (carefully! the bread may be very soft and want to fall apart).
Heat up your Griddler using the griddle plates. Set the Griddle dial to 425 F and the Selector to Griddle. Open the Griddler with the plates flat, side-by-side.
Once the griddles are hot place 1 tablespoon of butter on each griddle plate. Using a nylon brush or heat proof spatula, spread the butter out evenly. You don't want the bread to stick.
Add 2 slices of the bread to each griddle plate.
Cook for 5-10 minutes per side. Cook time is going to depend on how thick your bread is and how you like your bread done. This recipe produces a moist, soft French toast. If you like yours to have a bit of a crust you will have to cook the bread longer. Be careful flipping the bread
When the bread is done to your liking remove and serve with your favorite toppings.

Notes

I prefer Brioche bread for making French toast. Texas toast is great too. Any nice thick bread makes for the best results.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are approximate.

OXO Good Grips Electric Grill and Panini Press Brush, Black

Cuisinart GR-WAFP Electric Griddler, Waffle Plates Set of 2