With the majority of us having a long 3-day weekend, 4 if you’re like me and actually took a vacation day, parties and cookouts will be abundant. While I love me a traditional cookout with burgers and dogs (though my dog has to be burnt) I like to mix things up and have different foods. You just get tired of the same ol’ same ol’. This year when you’re planning your menu break out a few of these killer cookout recipes below! Some can be prepared ahead of time, some can be made right on the grill. Heck some can be made in the pressure cooker and then just heated up the day of the party! SCORE! More time to actually enjoy your own party versus standing over a stove or bbq all day. Even I who LOVES being in the kitchen and cooking does enjoy a party where I don’t have to stand there cooking all day.
Let’s dish first about my latest Man Candy recipes – S’mores! Yeah I know, dude! SMORE’S! It’s crispy bacon that’s coated in chocolate, broiled marshmallows and then graham cracker crumbs. This is a total game changer when it comes to your campfire smore’s! Next those addictive Butterfinger cookies. These cookies are chewy, chocolately (is that even a real word?) and loaded with Butterfinger bits. You will not be able to stop at just one! And next we have those Asian Sticky Ginger Thighs. OMG they are INSANE! And all done in the pressure cooker! So yeah you could totally make them ahead of time and instead of broiling them to get that nice char just pop them on the grill to get that real bbq char look and taste!
Now we get to probably my most favorite burger of 2016 – Southwest Turkey Burgers with Roasted Tomatillo Salsa Verde. It’s everything you ever wanted in a turkey burger and more! From the salsa verde to the Mexican corn to the tortilla chips.. ON THE BUN! Seriously make this! Next we have an unexpected but definitely welcomed guest to the party – Brussels sprouts. Yeah, Brussels sprouts. It’s kinda like that unexpected cousin you thought was totally weird that shows up uninvited only to find out later that night they are totally friggen cool! Well that’s how these Candied Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts with Maple Dijon Glaze are! They are seriously insane and over the top delicious! And next you just cannot have a cookout with out ribs! My St. Louis Ribs with Whiskey BBQ Sauce. These ribs will pretty much just fall off the bone as soon as you look at them. These are easily a 3 napkin dish and totally worth getting sauce all over your face and chin! EPIC!
With me I’m not a potato salad or macaroni salad girl.. AT ALL. I loathe mayo and there is something about the sound macaroni salad makes when you stir it that literally gags me. BUT I love salad. So instead of serving them serve up this Italian Chicken Panzanella Salad! It’s a great way to use grilled chicken and crusty bread in a recipe plus it’s super colorful and a meal in itself! Along the same lines – for me every cookout needs coleslaw not only as a side dish but also it’s great on burgers! Hello – put some of those fall off the bone rib meat on a bun and top with slaw! YUM! With my Pittsburgh Classic Coleslaw you don’t have to worry about it spoiling from mayo in it as there’s no mayo at all in it. It’s a Pittsburgh classic and one bite and you’ll be hooked! For a totally unexpected snack, instead of a simple bowl of potato chips make up a batch of these Chocolate Dipped Pringles coated with Crispy Bacon, Toffee and Sprinkles to serve your crowd. Warning though, these will be gone in minutes so make triple!
Lastly we have wings – gotta have wings. Well again unless you want to spend forever standing in front of a smoker or grill while others are enjoying your party, whip up a few batches of these Pressure Cooker Wings with Bourbon Honey BBQ Sauce in the pressure cooker and when it’s time to serve them, pop them on the grill to crisp up and char the bbq sauce! For a super simple and dish that the kiddies can help you prepare is make a batch of these Creamy Cheesecake Strawberry Parfaits and have them assemble them in little disposable cups! They can layer in the fruits and chocolate while you layer in the cheesecake! Finally – every single cookout needs my Lord Have Mercy Triple B Burgers. The burgers are half beef half bacon AND has bbq sauce in the mix! Next these puppies have even more bacon (because why not?!), bbq sauce, WAFFLE FRIES—- HELLO!!!, onion jam and more bbq sauce. If you don’t make these well, we may not be able to be friends anymore. *wink*
But before I end this post and give you the drool-worthy recipes I want to remind you and everyone that while we all love our 3-day weekend of no work, tons of food and beer that the purpose of this 3-day weekend isn’t about us at all – it’s about the men and women that have served our country or those that still do selflessly. They put the freedom of you, I and our family ahead of their own. They sacrifice so we don’t have to. This weekend thank a vet, say a toast, send them wishes and appreciate all that they do for us. God Bless America!
♥ S’mores Bacon Man Candy V – Crispy bacon coated in chocolate, graham crackers and roasted marshmallows!
♥ Chocolate Cookie Butter Cookies with Butterfinger Crumbles – Chewy Chocolate cookies stuffed with butterfinger crumbles!
♥ Pressure Cooker Asian Sticky Ginger Chicken Thighs – the most tender, delicious chicken thighs you will ever, EVER have!
♥ Southwest Turkey Burgers with Roasted Tomatillo Salsa Verde – whether you grill ’em or pan fry ’em these are the BEST turkey burgers you will ever eat!
♥ Candied Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts with Maple Dijon Glaze – the most unexpected hit of the entire cookout!
♥ St. Louis Ribs with Whiskey BBQ Sauce – these ribs are so tender they practically fall off the bone by looking at them!
♥ Italian Chicken Panzanella Salad – this dish is practically a meal in itself! And leftovers are AMAZING!
♥ Pittsburgh Classic Coleslaw – no mayo about it! It’s totally Pittsburgh, totally delicious!
♥ Chocolate Dipped Pringles coated with Crispy Bacon, Toffee and Sprinkles – FYI…you’re going to want to make a triple batch of these!
♥ Pressure Cooker Wings with Bourbon Honey BBQ Sauce – don’t spend all day over the grill when you can pressure cook these in minutes! Just grill them at the end to char the sauce and make them crispy!
♥ Creamy Cheesecake Strawberry Parfaits – super simple, super delicious no bake creamy cheesecake parfaits! Add blueberries for a Red/White/Blue dessert!
♥ Lord Have Mercy Triple B Burgers – this THIS is what a burger should be!
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