These smoked chicken thighs are juicy, tender and loaded with flavor. The blood orange glaze adds a sweet and spicy kick that everyone will love.

Trimming and Preparing Chicken Thighs

Since this is just a backyard recipe we don’t need to do anything crazy when it comes to prepping the chicken thighs. When I compete in KCBS competitions it is a painstaking meticulous process involving a number of steps. Just look for any bone fragments or cartilage that may have been missed by the butcher. I also like to take off any big pieces of fat that are hanging over the thighs. Flatten out the thighs and square them up so they cook as evenly as possible.

After the thighs have been trimmed let them sit in the fridge uncovered for at least a few hours to dry out the skin. This will help the skin crisp up when it cooks. About 30 minutes before I am going to cook I will take the thighs out of the fridge and season them generously on both sides with a bbq dry rub of your choosing. I have been using the Yardbird dry rub from plowboys bbq for my chicken both in competition and at home.

How to Smoke Chicken thighs on a pellet grill.

Pellet grills are my favorite way to smoke meat at home.  You don’t have to tend to a fire or constantly add fuel. I personally have a RT-700 pellet grill from Rectec. It’s not only a great looking grill but it has great temperature control and can be monitored or adjusted from anywhere using the app connected to WiFi.

Chicken thighs absorb smoke quickly and are a much smaller cut than briskets or pork shoulders allowing you to cook at. Higher temperature. This will give you much crispier skin than if you were to smoke at a lower temperature. Another trick to getting crispy skin is to spray the chicken thighs with Avocado oil pan spray every 30 minutes during the cooking process. It's a little more expensive but avocado oil is much cleaner and has a smoke point above 500 degrees F.

Blood Orange Glaze

Blood oranges have been available in my imperfect foods box lately so I’ve been taking advantage of using the beautiful citrus fruit. Traditionally blood oranges are used in mostly Mediterranean cuisine but I find it also lends itself well to Asian recipes.  The flavor of blood oranges has notes of raspberry combined with a sweet & slightly sour finish. The combination of Orange Blossom honey and Blue Agave Sriracha from Yellowbird balances out the tangy bite of the blood orange. It also gives the glaze a glossy Lacquered finish when brushed on the chicken thighs.

What temperature to cook chicken thighs?

Poultry should always be cooked to at least 160 degrees F. to prevent salmonella and other food borne illness. That being said I prefer to cook my dark meat longer to around 185-190 degrees F. Dark meat has a higher fat content and will remain juicy even when cooked to a higher internal temperature. Cooking to 185 degrees F. will also give you that fall off the bone tenderness that I prefer from dark meat. I use the same rules when smoking chicken wings. When preparing chicken breast I only cook to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. otherwise it drys out very quickly. The probes that come with most pellet grills are ok but I always compare with an instant read thermometer. They're also the best way to check for tenderness when probing larger cuts like brisket.

More Chicken Recipes

• Easy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
• Chesapeake Garlic Parmesan Wings
• Bacon Wrapped Chicken Lollipops 
• Buffalo Chicken Fatty

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Smoked Chicken Thighs w/ Blood Orange Glaze

Course Main Course

Cuisine BBQ, Chicken Thighs, Pellet Grill, Rectec

Keyword Blood orange, Chicken recipes, Chicken thighs

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Servings 6

Calories 361kcal

Equipment

• Pellet Grill (I used the Rectec RT-700)

Ingredients

• 2 lb Chicken Thighs About 6 chicken thighs
• 2 Blood Oranges
• 2 tbsp Orange Blossom Honey
• 2 tbsp BBQ Dry Rub I use Yardbird from Plowboys BBQ
• 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
• 1 tbsp Blue Agave Sriracha Yellowbird
• 1/4 tsp Chinese Five Spice

Additional ingredients

• 1 tsp Avocado Oil Spray
• 3 tbsp Butter

Instructions

• Trim chicken thighs, cut any extra pieces of fat or bone fragments. if possible let thighs sit uncovered in the fridge for a few hours to dry out the skin. Once its time to season coat chicken thighs on both sides with bbq rub then let come up to room temperature.
• Pre Heat pellet grill to 375 degrees F. once grill has come to temp smoke the chicken thighs skin up for 1 hour. Spray Chicken thighs with avocado oil spray every 30 minutes.
• After an about one hour move the chicken thighs to a pan with 3 tbsp of butter and cook until chicken has reached an internal temp of 160 degrees F. and skin is crispy.
• Brush chicken thighs with glaze every 15 minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 185 degrees F.
• Pour glaze from the bottom of the pan over the chicken thighs before serving. I prefer to rest the chicken for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Serving Size 1 Chicken thigh w/ Sauce

Nutrition

Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 148mg | Sodium: 342mg | Potassium: 333mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 163IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg

The post Smoked Chicken Thighs w/ Blood Orang Glaze appeared first on Grilling 24×7.

Boiled lobster at home is easier than you think. Grab a lobster Bibb because in a few easy steps you'll be dinning on this Crimson Crustacean from the confines of home whether you want to or not.

Boiled Lobster during a pandemic??? WTH!!

It might seem strange to be doing a boiled lobster recipe during a global pandemic. However the price of Coldwater lobster has actually dropped significantly since most restaurants are closed and demand is at an all time low. China is actually the biggest importer of live lobster and since the Coronavirus hit China the demand and ability to ship overseas has almost stopped completely causing the drastic price drop. I recently called up my local seafood market and had them order me two 2 lb. live lobsters. I was blown away by how cheap they were. Now I’m not saying this is a budget friendly meal by any means but if you’ve got a few bucks and wanted to try boiling lobster at home how’s the time to do it.

A brief history of Boiled Lobster

The first mention of Boiling lobster goes all the way back thousands of years to first century Greece. Vikings actually ate lobster during their deep sea voyages. Early settlers in the northern Colonies lived off of lobsters because they were so plentiful, sometimes known as the poor man's protein.

Later lobsters were even served in prison. It was served so often that there were complaints that it was cruel and unusual punishment. It wasn’t until the advent of the railways that lobster went from prison fare to exotic upscale cuisine. Cross country travelers developed a taste for lobster often perceived as a dish of the well to do. In World War II lobster was one of the only foods not rationed by the government. This made lobster affordable and readily available option for Americans. This however would cause a surge in this crustaceans popularity causing the price to surge.

Why do you cook lobsters alive?

First and foremost lobster is best when it’s fresh and live lobster is as fresh as you can get. Secondly lobster meat decays very quickly causing the meat to become mushy and have an unpleasant taste. The most important reason to cook lobsters while they’re still alive is safety. Lobsters are highly susceptible to a bacteria known as vibrio. After a lobster is only dead for a few hours, vibrio can begin to show up on the meat. Even cooking the lobster won’t kill all the bacteria. Vibrio is no fun and can even cause death in rare occasions. Mostly when consumed by people with weakened immune system‘s

Do lobsters scream when you cook them?

No, lobsters don’t have vocal cords and it’s uncertain if their pain receptors even realize they’re being cooked. If you're having a moral dilemma over preparing lobsters you can place them in the freezer for about 45 minutes. This “puts them to sleep and is considered the most humane way to cook lobster. Alton Brown said it best when he brought up the point that lobster's closest relative is the cockroach and  I don’t have any issue killing those. My advice is you do what feels right to you. I drop them in the hot water as soon as it comes to a boil. If you feel that putting them in the freezer puts your conscience at ease then go with that.

How to Extract the meat from Lobster.

There are a lot of different ways to break down a lobster. I’ve linked a Gordon Ramsay video below that is short and to the point. I like to chill my lobster immediately after boiling. It makes them easy to handle and ensures that they don’t get overcooked. Then I reheat them in copious amounts of drawn butter and serve with crusty bread. A few tools that will come in handy are a good sturdy pair of kitchen shears, seafood forks and even a lobster picking set. 

How long to cook a lobster?

• 1 pound lobster 8-10 minutes 
• 1.5 pound lobster 11-12 minutes
• 2 pound lobster 15 minutes
• 2.5 pound lobster 20 minutes
• 3 pound lobster 25 minutes

How to make Drawn Butter

The easiest way to make clarified butter is to cut a stick of salted butter into 1 inch chunks and melt in a heavy bottom saucepan over the lowest heat setting. Don’t stir the butter because we want the butter solids to separate from the fat. Once the butter has melted you will see a foamy white layer on top. Using a spoon skim off as much of the foam as possible. Then pour the golden butter into a Pyrex Measuring Cup leaving the white milk solids that sink to the bottom in the pan. You can stop there and be done or you can take it one step further by pouring the clarified butter through a few layers of cheesecloth to get any leftover milk solids.

More Seafood Recipe Ideas

• New Orleans Style Barbecue Shrimp
• Seafood Salad Sandwich w/ Martin's Potato Roll
• Creamy White Crab Chili
• Chesapeake Crab Butter Sauce
• Keto Seafood Imperial
• Chesapeake Crab Dip
• Cedar Plank Smoked Crab Cakes
• Ultimate Guide To Steamed Blue Crabs

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Boiled Lobster

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, French

Keyword Boiled Lobster, Drawn Butter

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Servings 2

Calories 533kcal

Equipment

• 12 Qt Stock Pot
• Lobster Cracker
• Seafood Fork

Ingredients

• 2 Live Lobsters Between 1.5-2lbs. Each
• 1 stick Butter
• 1/4 cup Real Salt
• 2 Lemons

Instructions

• Fill 12 Qt Stock Pot about 3/4 full of water along with Real salt and 1.5 Sqeezed Lemons. Bring to a boil
• Place lobsters into the pot quickly and be careful as them ma splash. Boil for about 16 minutes until fully cooked. Test by grabing one of the intenas of the lobster. if they pop off with little tension they are done.
• Remove lobsters from the stock pot and place in an ice bath to chill immediately

Nutrition

Calories: 533kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 29g | Cholesterol: 281mg | Sodium: 15085mg | Potassium: 401mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1412IU | Vitamin C: 57mg | Calcium: 156mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Easy At Home Boiled Lobster w/ Drawn Butter appeared first on Grilling 24×7.

Look in your pantry and you probably have everything you need to make this Beefy French Onion Rice & Beans. This is a fantastic way to feed the family on a budget costing less than $2 per portion. Home cookin on the cheap with beefy French onion goodness.

Rice & Beans Pantry RAID!!!

Lately I think we have all been cooking with what we have got on hand a lot more. Looking for inspiration with the ingredients we have on hand. Rice & Beans are two ingredients I have on hand at all times. I’ve always got a few different varieties of rice including white, brown and Aborio (for Risotto). I also keep a variety of beans on hand, some dry and some canned. Dry beans are great to keep on hand because they last forever but if I have my choice I use canned because it’s quick to make and I can control the consistency.

You can take these two simple ingredients and literally turn them into an endless possibility of dishes. I prefer brown rice because it fills me up and keeps me full longer. The down side is brown rice takes a lot longer to cook. If you make this recipe with white rice it will take about 20 minutes less time to prepare. I use the Risotto method to cook the rice by adding the liquid gradually throughout the cooking process instead of just pouring it all in at once. This helps you monitor the rice and make sure it’s not overcooked.

French Onion Rice & Beans: perfect way to feed a crowd 

Since most of us are stuck at home it’s nice to make simple one skillet dishes that are warming as well as satisfying. This is a recipe that I wouldn't make in late March but since it feels like i'm stuck home in a blizzard I’ve definitely been craving comfort food. Dishes like rice and beans are always great for meal prep. I made a batch on Monday and we ate it throughout the week. I garnished the skillet with the crispy fried onions that we all love but if you plan on eating this over the course of a few days just garnish each portion when you eat it so the onions don’t get soggy. 

Canned vs Dry Beans

I Always keep a bag of dry beans on hand in my Apocalypse box along with a few bags of pasta and rice. Truth be told I hate cooking dry beans. You have to soak them overnight and then when you cook them you have to keep a close eye so you don't turn the beans to mush. I prefer using the canned beans for most recipes because of how convent they are. You can use any variety of beans you like or have on hand to make French Onion rice & Beans. It just so happens that I had Black and Kidney Beans on hand and I find them to be some of the most common varieties of Legumes.

Homemade French Onion Soup Mix

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup Dry Minced Onion
• 2 tbsp Beef Bone Broth Powder
• 1 tbsp Kosher Salt
• 1/2 tbsp Dry Chives
• 1/2 tbsp Dry Parsley
• 1 tsp White Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Celery Seed
• 1 tsp Granulated Garlic
• 1 tsp Granulated Onion

Instructions:

• Pour all ingredients into a small Masson jar, shake to combine. Store in a cool dry place for up to 6 months

More Casserole Recipe Ideas

• Meatball Parmesan Casserole
• Cast Iron Cuban Casserole
• Easy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
• Coney Dog Casserole

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French Onion Rice & Beans

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Budget Friendly, Casserole, Cast Iron

Keyword Budget recipe, Casserole, Cast Iron, French onion

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Servings 12

Calories 506kcal

Equipment

• 12″ Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients

• 2 cups Brown Rice
• 4.5 cups Beef Broth or Water
• 2 lb Ground Beef
• 1 cup Yellow Onion Diced
• 15 oz Kidney Beans 1 can
• 15 oz Black Beans 1 Can
• 1 pouch French Onion Soup Mix
• 2 tbsp Butter
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Additional Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Canned Fried Onions
• 1 cup Shredded Swiss or Provolone
• 2 tbsp Grated Parmesan
• 1/4 cup Sliced Scallions

Instructions

• Brown off the ground beef and diced onions in butter until beef is almost fully cooked. Next ad in the brown rice and continure to saute until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid.
• Add Worcestershire, French onion soup mix and 2 cups of water. Simmer over medium low heat for about 20 minutes stirring occasionally. Pre heat oven to 425 degrees F.
• add Another 2 cups of water and continue to simmer over medium low heat. Once the water has almost fully absorbed stir in both cans of beans. make sure the beans are drained and rinsed before adding. Pour in the final cup of water and stir.
• Place Skillet into oven to cook for about 15 minutes. Check to make sure the rice is cooked to you liking. Finally top withshredded swiss and grated parmesan. Bake for 10 more minutes until cheese is golden and fully melted.
• Garnish with sliced scallions and Canned Fried Onions

Nutrition

Calories: 506kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 463mg | Potassium: 661mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 162IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 137mg | Iron: 4mg

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