😅 My First Cookout Was Chaos — Until I Tried These Recipes
I’ll admit it. When I first bought my Blackstone griddle, I had no clue what to cook.
I was overwhelmed. So many recipe videos. So many people flipping shrimp like hibachi chefs. I just wanted something simple… and delicious.
The first few tries? Burnt. Uneven. Total mess.
However, I then discovered Top 5 Recipes to Cook on a Blackstone Griddle, which changed everything.
They’re beginner-friendly, incredibly flavorful, and best of all? Every single one made my guests say, “Whoa, that smells amazing — can I have seconds?” 😄
Whether you just unboxed your griddle or want to impress friends at your next backyard cookout, these are the Blackstone griddle recipes that deliver.
Table of Contents
🛒 Tools I Use Every Time I Cook These:
These aren’t “maybe” tools — they’re must-haves if you’re serious about loving your Blackstone:
✅ Heavy-duty spatula set – flipping, pressing, and scraping like a pro
✅ Melting dome set – perfect for burgers, cheese melts, and steaming veggies
✅ Oil & sauce squeeze bottles – control is everything on a hot griddle
✅ Griddle scraper/chopper combo – for both fried rice and cleanup
✅ Burger press – makes those perfect smash patties every time
🔥 1. Classic Smash Burgers – The Crust That Started It All
If you’ve never had a griddle-made smash burger… you’re missing out.
The sizzling sear, the crispy edge, the juicy center — this is the burger that made me fall in love with flat-top cooking.
What You’ll Need:
- Ground beef (80/20)
- Salt & pepper
- Slices of cheddar
- Potato buns
- Burger press or heavy spatula
- Melting dome (optional but awesome)
How to Make It:
- Preheat your griddle on medium-high
- Form loose meatballs (~4 oz) — don’t pack tight
- Drop them on a hot griddle — press down HARD with a burger press
- Season, flip once, add cheese
- Steam with a dome for melt perfection
- Toast buns nearby in beef fat 🤤
👉 Trust me, these will ruin fast food burgers for you forever.
Blackstone Griddle Cooking Tips for Beginners – What I Wish I Knew First
How to Season Your Blackstone Griddle for the First Time
🍤 2. Garlic Butter Shrimp – Fancy Without the Fuss
This dish sounds gourmet, but it’s ready in under 10 minutes. I love making this when I want something quick that still feels “wow.”
Ingredients:
- Fresh shrimp (peeled, deveined)
- Minced garlic
- Butter
- Lemon juice
- Parsley
- Salt & pepper
- Silicone spatula set for gentle flipping
Steps:
- Heat the griddle on medium
- Add butter + garlic — wait for that amazing aroma
- Toss in shrimp — cook 2–3 mins per side
- Squeeze lemon juice and sprinkle parsley at the end
Pair it with grilled veggies or throw it in tacos — either way, your guests will be impressed.
🌮 3. Steak & Cheese Quesadillas – Ooey, Gooey Crowd Favorite
Cheesy. Crispy. Beefy. This is my ultimate “feed everyone fast” recipe — and it never fails.
What You’ll Need:
- Thin-sliced ribeye or steak tips
- Bell peppers & onions
- Shredded cheese
- Large flour tortillas
- Taco seasoning
- Oil squeeze bottle
- Griddle press (optional)
Steps:
- Cook steak with taco seasoning on high
- Add veggies to the griddle with oil, sauté until soft
- Lay down tortillas → pile on steak, veggies, cheese
- Fold and press lightly
- Flip until golden brown on both sides
👉 Slice them up and serve with salsa, sour cream, or guac. These vanish fast.
🥓 4. Blackstone Breakfast Slam – Morning Cookouts Hit Different
This one’s for the early risers. There’s something magical about griddle breakfast outside — coffee in hand, bacon sizzling, birds chirping.
You’ll Need:
- Eggs
- Bacon
- Hash browns
- Pancake batter
- Butter
- Egg rings
- Griddle scraper for cleanup
Cook Order (so nothing burns):
- Start the bacon on low — let the fat render
- Add hash browns next to the bacon to absorb flavor
- Pour the pancakes into the open space with some butter
- Use egg rings for perfect sunny-side eggs
- Flip, stack, serve — BOOM, breakfast for a crowd!
Tip: Use a dual-zone griddle if available — it lets you manage different temps for each food.
🌽 5. Loaded Griddle Fried Rice – Hibachi Vibes at Home
Want to turn heads and have your neighbors peeking over the fence? This fried rice is it. And it’s easier than you think.
Ingredients:
- Cold cooked rice (day-old is best)
- Soy sauce, sesame oil
- Eggs
- Diced onions, carrots, peas
- Garlic
- Chopped scallions
- Cooked chicken or shrimp (optional)
- Griddle chopper/scraper
Method:
- Oil the griddle generously
- Sauté veggies → push aside
- Crack eggs in the center, and scramble
- Add rice → mix with eggs and veggies
- Add sauces + protein → toss until steamy and golden
- Top with scallions
Serve it hot right off the griddle — or wrap it in foil packs to keep warm for seconds.
💬 Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need to Be a Chef to Wow People
I’m not a professional cook.
But thanks to my Blackstone griddle — and these 5 simple, ridiculously good recipes — I’ve earned compliments like:
- “These are better than restaurant burgers!”
- “Wait… you made this?”
- “This shrimp is 🔥🔥🔥”
So if you’re standing in front of your Blackstone wondering what to cook first, start here.
Then tweak, experiment, and make it your own. That’s the fun of griddle cooking.
And hey… if you mess up your first batch of pancakes? Welcome to the club. 😄
