Discover delicious spring recipes for your pellet grill!
Explore easy, seasonal grilling ideas perfect for fresh flavors and outdoor cooking this spring.
When Spring weather hits with warmer temperatures and increased daylight, you can count on signs of the season starting to appear, like birds singing, flowers blooming, and the smell of grills firing up around the neighborhood every evening. And as the outdoor cooking season gets ready to heat up, it’s a great time to explore spring recipes for pellet grills as vegetables become more readily available and people start yearning for bright tastes like citrusy chicken and fresh herbs.
Here is a quick primer on how to prepare your pellet grill for spring cooking, a rundown of seasonal ingredients for spring grilling, and a selection of some of our favorite spring recipes.
Preparing Your Pellet Grill for Spring Cooking
While some diehards may have continued grilling through the winter months, it’s totally understandable if your grill remained covered and stored while temperatures dropped and frosty weather was a constant threat. But once the conditions thaw, it’s time to take a few simple steps to prepare your pellet grill for spring cooking.
If you followed the ATBBQ guide on How to Deep Clean Yoder Smokers Pellet Grills before putting your grill away for the winter, this will be a pretty straightforward process. If not, you can follow those steps now and set a reminder to do so again in late fall. Once those tasks like clearing the fire box, wiping down the variable displacement damper rods and checking the airflow are checked off the list, you can move on to seasoning the inside and outside of your grill and then running it at 400 degrees for at least 30 minutes to make sure all of the components are working properly.
Seasonal Ingredients for Spring Grilling
Whether you grow your own produce, frequent farmers' markets, or shop at your neighborhood grocery store, spring sees the availability of fresh ingredients soar. Be on the lookout for some of these items as you consider adding seasonal flavors to your recipe selection.
Best Vegetables to Grill This Spring
- Cabbage – Grilled and then braised to tender perfection, our Grilled Cabbage with White Bean Puree recipe features Rancho Gordo Marcella Cannellini Beans for a nearly complete meal in one delicious dish.
- Green Beans – Using a BBQ marinade and Trail Dust seasoning, ATBBQ staff chef Tom Jackson uses a Santa Maria style grill for his Grilled Green Beans with Gremolata recipe, but you can get nearly identical results on a pellet grill that’s set up for direct over-the-flame grilling.
Fresh Herbs That Elevate Your Grilled Dishes
- Rosemary and Thyme – For amazing Herb Roasted Chicken, stuff rosemary and thyme under the chicken’s skin after it’s been brined with Sweetwater Spice Lemon Thyme Turkey Bath. It makes for a whole bird that is simple, classic, and delicious.
- Mint – One of the best ways to top off a smoked lamb shoulder is with fresh mint chimichurri. See recipe.
Seasonal Fruits That Work Well on the Pellet Grill
- Strawberries – Most people turn to the oven for their strawberry shortcake, but the Yoder Smokers YS640s Pellet Grill will have you enjoying the great outdoors while you make your shortcake biscuits. Chef Tom’s recipe even includes a whiskey-infused whipped cream for good measure.
- Citrus – Brighten up smoked salmon with a citrusy blend of oranges and lemons. Plowboys Fin and Feather is the perfect seasoning for seafood, though adding a sprig of rosemary on top provides some extra fresh flavor.
Appetizers for Spring Gatherings
- Grilled Asparagus Wrapped in Prosciutto – A quick appetizer that perfectly sets the palette for what’s to come, this appetizer can be prepped in less than 15 minutes and then put on the pellet grill to cook while you prepare the main course.
- Black Eyed Pea Hummus – Rancho Gordo Black Eyed Peas bring an earthiness to this creative twist on a classic Middle Eastern dip. Infused with the distinct flavors of extra virgin olive oil and the aromatic depth of roasted garlic, it pairs great with the crunch of fresh veggies like carrots, cucumbers, and celery.
Healthy Spring Grill Recipes
- Grilled Cucumber Salad – Japanese BBQ sauce, chili crunch, and miso make this salad as flavorful and tasty as it is fresh. Add a slight char to the cucumber before serving for just a bit of added smokiness.
- Smoked Salmon Caesar Salad – Perfectly cook brined salmon at 250°F and top it with scratch-made Caesar Dressing for a light, fully-flavored springtime salad.
Spring Dinner Ideas on the Pellet Grill
- Grilled Salmon Burger – Avocado and a scratch-made mustard sauce top deliciously grilled salmon for a burger that’s lighter than more typical red meat options.
- Easy Chicken Tacos – Break out the cast-iron griddle insert for your pellet smoker for crispy chicken thighs that retain their juiciness in these quick and easy tacos.
Quick and Easy Weeknight Spring Recipes
- Lime Jalapeño Shrimp Skewers with Roasted Jalapeño Sauce – Spicy and tart, this recipe comes together with ease for skewers that beg to be eaten outdoors on a lovely spring evening.
- Taco Salad with Grilled Chicken – Chicken gets the headlines, but grilled corn is the secret star that may very well convince you to cook taco salad on the grill from now on.
Pellet Grilling Tips for Springtime Success
Regardless of which recipes you decide to experiment with this spring, two unique keys of pellet grilling make it the perfect option for getting your grill game up to speed in the early portion of the grilling season:
- Perfecting Temperature Control for Seasonal Dishes – Unlike charcoal or gas grills, pellet grills come with precise temperature controls that make cooking a breeze. Whether cooking hot and fast over a direct flame or taking the slower approach of indirect cooking, you can set your grill to a specific temperature and rest easy knowing that the temperature will stay consistent so you don’t have to fiddle with knobs or fuel sources constantly.
- Selecting the Right Pellets for Springtime Dishes – Your best bet is to stick with mild pellet flavors for springtime recipes. For example, Cherry pellets produce a sweet and fruity smoke that gives a rosy tint to light meats. And Pecan pellets are similar to the popular hickory flavor, but milder and sweeter. Either would be a better option for Spring recipes than the stronger flavors like Mesquite. But regardless of which flavor of pellet you select, make sure to opt for a quality pellet brand like BBQr’s Delight that are designed and produced to burn clean and hot consistently.
But the most important thing to remember this Spring is to experiment and have fun with your pellet grill. We are always here for you if you ever need guidance, encouragement, or supplies. See us in person, visit our online library of recipes and cooking tips, and sign up for our newsletter so you’ll stay informed about sales and new online content. We love cooking for our friends and family and want to do everything we can to ensure you do as well.
