Grilling is often left to the guys, but this summer we’re taking back the grill. Not only is grilling a great time to have a few minutes to yourself, but it’s a fast and convenient way to cook all season long.
“The best thing by about grilling is there is minimal clean up and you get to be outside!” shares mom of two Alston Calabrese, one half of the duo behind Habitual Hostess, along with mom of three Leigh Hansen.
Below, check out their 6 grilling tips. Plus, their go-to burger recipe we’ll be grilling up from now till Labor Day.
Grill Like a Girl Tips
- Make sure to check your propane tank levels before hosting. We have invited people over only to fire up the grill and realize that our tanks were on empty!
- Let your meat come to room temperature before cooking—it makes a big difference in how tender the meat is.
- Invest in grilling equipment—especially a safe grilling brush with silicone bristles and a good set of tongs, which are my most used grilling tool.
- Clean your grill when it’s hot; it’s much easier!
- Get a grilling cookbook that will really teach you the ins and outs of grilling different kinds of proteins and veggies. We love Mark Bittman’s book How to Grill Everything.
- The proper meat thermometer can make you a grill master!
Habitual Hostess BBQ Burgers with Slaw & Pickles
Ingredients
For the burgers:
2 lb. 80/20 ground beef
2 Tablespoons BBQ seasoning
Kosher Salt & Fresh Black Pepper
½ cup BBQ sauce, divided into two bowls
1.5 cups of Slaw (see recipe below)
Dill Pickle Chips
6 Hamburger Buns
For the simplest slaw:
9 oz bag of pre-shredded coleslaw mix
Kosher Salt
¼ cup mayonnaise (we love using 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar)
½ teaspoon celery salt (or ¼ teaspoon kosher salt)
½ teaspoon garlic powder
Pinch of sugar
¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Instructions for Slaw
- Add cabbage mix to a large bowl with a teaspoon of kosher salt and massage the cabbage for about a minute.
- In a separate bowl whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, celery salt, garlic powder, sugar and black pepper.
- Add dressing to the cabbage, toss to combine and let sit for at least 30 minutes to let flavors combine.
Instructions for Burgers
- Heat your grill to high, making sure the grates are clean.
- Gently mix hamburger meat with your favorite BBQ seasoning. Form the meat into six hamburger patties. Generously season each side of your burgers with kosher salt and black pepper. We like to put a wireless thermometer into one of the burgers to ensure they are cooked to order.
- Place burgers on the grill and cook about 3 or 4 minutes. Brush with BBQ sauce, flip the burgers, brush the remaining side with bbq sauce and cook for another 3-5 minutes until desired doneness has been achieved.
- Remove burgers from the grill. Place each burger on a bun bottom, spoon bbq sauce over the burger and top with the slaw, some pickles and the bun top. Enjoy immediately.