Tag: BBQ

Gluten Free Brunswick Stew

Restaurants have long known the secret, that today’s leftovers can be reinvented into tomorrow’s soups and stews.  It eliminates waste and makes good economic sense too.  I try to follow this principle in my own kitchen by using every last bit of food so that nothing goes to waste.

Brunswick Stew was always a restaurant favorite of mine.  This thick, spicy stew is the ideal way to use up leftovers.  So, whenever I make pulled pork, I put aside some of the meat to make this easy stew.  I add chicken as well, and the rest of the ingredients are pantry staples.

I’m excited to tell you that no oddball ingredients were needed to make Brunswick Stew gluten free.  Of course, when dining out always check with the kitchen to be sure it is safe to order.  At home, you know what to do.  Check labels when using canned products, condiments and seasonings.

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Ingredients:

 Preparation:

Shred 3 cups total of leftover pulled pork and/or chicken.  I used 2 cups of leftover pulled pork and 1 cup cooked chicken (meat from one leg quarter).  Look it over carefully to be sure there are no bones.  I also removed most of the visible fat.

In a 4 qt. nonstick soup pot, heat olive oil and butter until melted.  Add the diced onion and cook until translucent.

Make a space in the center of the pan and add the tomato paste.

Let it toast for a minute then add the stock, tomatoes, BBQ Sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings.

Finally add the fire roasted corn and stir everything together.

Keep it on a low simmer until all ingredients are heated through, about 20 minutes.  Remember, most of the ingredients are already cooked, so we are warming it up and giving the flavors a chance to meld together.  Like all soups and stews, this one is even better the next day!

Notes ♪♫ As you add the ingredients be sure to taste for seasoning.  If you held back on the pepper flakes and BBQ Seasoning, you could add a bit more for those who like it spicy.  If you prefer a sweeter taste add another tsp. of brown sugar.

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Homemade Gluten Free BBQ Sauce

This is a simple BBQ sauce that you can make at home in small batches.  My husband said he likes it better than his favorite store brand, very high praise indeed!  Use it to baste and glaze meats, as a dipping sauce, even a pizza sauce.

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Ingredients:

Preparation:

Whisk the ingredients together and warm in a small saucepan.

Try using it on my BBQ Beef Short Ribs or my BBQ Chicken Pizza!

Notes ♪♫ I keep this recipe lower in sodium by choosing unsalted ketchup and low sodium Worcestershire sauce.  Use garlic granules (or powder) instead of garlic salt.

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Country Style Pork Ribs

I love having Country Style Pork Ribs all year round, and this easy oven preparation means that we can enjoy them rain or shine!  Cooking ribs slowly on very low heat ensures tender juicy meat.  A simple, dry rub helps keep the meat moist as it cooks, and I finish it with a homemade BBQ sauce.

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An oven proof skillet with cover is perfect for this recipe, you can also use a Dutch oven or braising pan with a lid.

You may be thinking that an oven temperature of 225º is too low, but if you check with a meat thermometer you will find that the center is perfectly cooked after 4 hours.  The meat is moist and delicious, and it smells amazing!

3-4 Servings (can be doubled or tripled)

Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs. country style pork ribs, bone in
  • 1 large, sweet onion, cut into chunks
  • BBQ Rub, see below
  • Cooking spray
  • Gluten free BBQ sauce

Rub:

  • 3 tbsp. brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp. paprika
  • 1 tbsp. onion powder
  • 2 tsp. garlic granules
  • 2 tsp. salt

Preparation:

Whisk together the dry rub ingredients.  It’s a mild flavored rub, but you can add bolder spices like cayenne pepper to kick up the heat.  Use your hands to coat the ribs evenly with the rub.  Be sure to cover the entire surface.

Mist a covered skillet, Dutch oven or braising pan with cooking spray.  Cut the onions into large chunks and arrange in a single layer, to create a base for the ribs.

Place the ribs on top of the onions.  As the ribs cook down, they will release liquid, and you want them to be elevated for most of the cook time, not submerged.

Cover and roast at 225° for 4 hours total.  After 3-1/2 hours, uncover and brush liberally with BBQ sauce.

Continue cooking 1/2 hour longer.  The meat will be falling off the bone tender!

See how much liquid has accumulated in the bottom of the pan, yet the ribs are not swimming in it?

To plate, spoon some of the onions and pan juice over the ribs.  I served the ribs with a side of BBQ Baked Beans and fire roasted corn.  Have extra BBQ sauce available for dipping.

Notes ♪♫ I won’t tell if you use a store-bought BBQ rub and/or BBQ sauce, just be sure they are gluten free.  Stubbs is my favorite 😉!

Originally posted 8/06/2018      *     Photos updated 7/04/2023, 9/21/2024

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Gluten Free BBQ Beef Short Ribs

We love beef short ribs!  So, when they go on sale it’s time for a BBQ dinner, rain or shine.  In this very easy recipe, boneless beef short ribs are baked slowly at a low temperature and basted with a simple homemade barbecue sauce that Mr. Cucina said was better than his favorite store brand!  It’s a meal that you can enjoy no matter what the weather or the season.

The beef will shrink considerably during cooking, so start with twice as much as you think you need.  For the two of us I used 1.5 lbs. of boneless beef short ribs.  It looked like a lot to begin with, but there were no leftovers 🙂

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 lbs. boneless beef short ribs
  • salt and pepper
  • cooking spray
  • 1 batch homemade Gluten Free BBQ Sauce
  • fresh chives for garnish

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 300º.  Cut each short rib into 3 pieces and place in a square baking dish coated with cooking spray.  Season both sides with salt and pepper.

Whisk together the BBQ Sauce ingredients or use your favorite store brand (I won’t tell).  Spoon 3 tbsp. of the sauce over the ribs.

Turn them over and spoon another 3-tbsp. sauce to coat.  Cover tightly with foil.

Roast for 2 hours at 300º, then use tongs to carefully remove the foil.  If there is too much liquid, you can remove some of it with a ladle.  Cook 30 minutes more, uncovered.

Warm the remaining sauce for serving.  Remove the short ribs and arrange on a serving platter.  Brush with the extra sauce and garnish with fresh chives.

This meal was so good!  I served the ribs with roasted carrots, parsnips and baby potatoes.  Use your favorite seasonal sides (sweet corn in summer for sure).

Notes ♪ ♫: If you prefer to buy the BBQ sauce, I recommend Stubbs.  All of their BBQ sauce flavors are delicious and gluten free.

Originally posted 05.27.2018                       Updated 08.06.2022

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Gluten Free BBQ Turkey Meatloaf

Today my usual meatloaf recipe gets a spicy BBQ twist and dare I say a bit of a healthy spin, with the addition of ground turkey.  I’m calling it a “Turkey-Meat” Loaf!

I subbed ground turkey for half of the beef, and instead of ketchup I used a smokey BBQ sauce.  And instead of Italian seasoning I used a BBQ rub with some heat.  It was so delicious and moist (and no one was the wiser about the turkey)!

Did you know that gluten free meatloaf can be soggy and falling apart using only breadcrumbs?  I use a blend of breadcrumbs, rolled oats and mashed potato flakes for a meatloaf that is moist and holds together when you slice it!

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Ingredients:

Preparation:

Mince the veggies in an electric chopper, you will need about 1-1/2 cups total.  Use what you like or what you have on hand, this is a great way to use up bits of veggies you have in the fridge.  I used sweet onion, garlic, mushroom and zucchini.

Heat a small skillet with 1 tbsp. olive oil.  Add the minced veggies and cook over low heat until most of their liquid has evaporated.  They will reduce to about 1/2 cup.  Transfer to a bowl and cool to room temperature.

Mix the breadcrumbs, rolled oats and potato flakes together.

In a large bowl, whisk together 1 egg, 1/4 cup BBQ sauce and 1/2 tsp. BBQ seasoning.  Add the ground meat along with the cooled veggies.  Mix thoroughly with your hands.  Be sure that everything is well combined.

Begin adding the dry ingredients to the meat mixture a little at a time, incorporating with your hands.

Mist a loaf pan with cooking spray.  I love this silicone loaf pan for quick cleanup!  Spread the meatloaf evenly in the pan, be sure to get into the corners.  Drizzle a bit more BBQ sauce and use a fork to spread it over the top.

Bake for 35 minutes at 350º.  When it’s done, the meatloaf will be browning around the edges and pulling away from the sides of the pan, like this.

I served the meatloaf with mashed potatoes and butternut squash.  Everyone loved the smokey BBQ flavors.

Notes ♪♫ My favorite BBQ brand is Stubbs.  They have delicious sauces and rubs, everything from spicy to sweet, all gluten free.  My favorite is their Smokey Mesquite, which I used in this recipe.

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Gluten Free BBQ Chicken Pizza

Ever since my Celiac diagnosis, I have slowly been recreating all of my favorite recipes to be gluten free.  Pizza has been one of “the last frontiers”!  Have I made gluten free pizza?  Sure, I’ve come up with a few acceptable recipes.  Here’s a Sausage and Mushroom Pizza with a Cauliflower Crust that was actually quite good.  I also made a Cauliflower Pizza with BBQ Chicken, a grain free version of today’s recipe.

Still, I was missing the real deal, the pizza that I used to make back in the day.  Then along came Better Batter with their gluten free Artisan Flour Blend, and everything changed.  This flour makes a gluten free pizza with the most amazing crust.  Just the right balance of crisp and chewy.  If you haven’t treated yourself to a bag of this extraordinary gluten free flour yet I hope this post will inspire you!

Today pizza is back in our dinner rotation.  BBQ Chicken Pizza is my favorite, and my “go-to” recipe.  It’s a crowd pleaser that both kids and adults love.  The sweet and savory toppings compliment the crispy gluten free crust.  It is the closest thing to the wheat pizza that I remember so fondly.

*** When you shop Better Batter and use my (affiliate) code MGFC30 at checkout, you will receive 30% off any non-sale item! 

CLICK HERE to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to try the flour that I call my little miracle in a bag!

Ingredients:

Dough Ingredients:

Topping Ingredients:

  • 12 oz. boneless chicken breast, cut into 1/4″ medallions
  • 4 strips of gluten free bacon, cut into 3/4″ dice
  • 1 medium sweet onion, sliced
  • 1 dozen mushrooms, sliced
  • olive oil
  • gluten free BBQ Sauce (I like Stubbs)
  • gluten free BBQ Seasoning
  • 1-1/2 cups grated cheese

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Preparation:

Combine warm water, yeast and sugar.  Proof for 10 minutes.

Sift the flour and salt into the bowl of a stand mixer.  Combine the yeast mixture, sifted flour and olive oil.  Beat for 6-8 minutes.

Bring the dough together in the bowl, cover and refrigerate for one hour.

While the dough is resting, prepare the toppings.  Heat a large nonstick skillet on medium low.  First cook the bacon and drain on paper towels.  Leave the bacon fat in the skillet.

Cook the onions in the bacon fat until browned and soft, adding more olive oil as needed.  Drain the onions in a colander then transfer to a bowl.

Tip: Drain all of the toppings in a colander so your pizza dough won’t be soggy!

Next, add the mushrooms to the skillet with more olive oil and seasoning.  Cook until they release their liquid, then drain in a colander and transfer to a bowl.

Finally, add the chicken medallions to the skillet with more olive oil and seasoning, turning to brown both sides.  Drain the chicken and transfer to a bowl, then toss with 2 tbsp. BBQ Sauce.

Trim 2 sheets of parchment paper to fit your pizza stone.  Place the pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500º.  Remove the proofed dough from the refrigerator, it will have doubled in size.

Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces, place each one on a sheet of the prepared parchment and roll each out into a 1/2″ thick circle.  Proof for an additional 30 minutes while the oven preheats.

Brush each piece of dough with olive oil, sprinkle with seasoning then spread with 2-3 tbsp. of BBQ Sauce.

Divide the onions, mushrooms, chicken and bacon between the 2 pizzas.  Top with grated cheese and drizzle with more BBQ Sauce.

Use a large spatula or pizza peel to slide one pizza (including the parchment) onto the heated pizza stone.  After 5 minutes, carefully slide the spatula under the pizza and remove the parchment paper.  Continue baking for an additional 12-13 minutes.  When the first pizza is done, repeat with the second.  There it is!

Two pizzas will generously feed 3-4 people.  The crust was nice and crisp, even in the middle.

Notes ♪♫ This pizza crust was made with Better Batter Artisan Flour Blend which I absolutely love and recommend.  I have not tested the recipe with other brands, so if you do substitute be aware that results will be different.

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Crock-Pot Pulled Pork

This is THE best melt in your mouth pulled pork!  Yes, it’s better than that local BBQ Restaurant you go to, and safer too because you made it at home!  The secret, don’t rush the recipe.  Twelve full hours in the crockpot on low heat will transform this tougher cut of meat into the most tender and moist BBQ dinner you have ever had!

This isn’t a new recipe, but I haven’t made it in years.  Not since my Celiac diagnosis.  So the first thing I did was to read over the ingredients, to see what I would have to change to make it gluten free.  Guess what?  I didn’t have to change a thing.  All of the ingredients were already gluten free!  Score!

The Meat:

Pork butt is a cut of pork that comes from (surprise) the upper part of the shoulder.  It’s tasty and economical, perfect in this slow cooked preparation.  If you don’t see it in the meat case, ask the butcher.  You will want 1/2 lb. per person.

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Ingredients:

  • 4 lb. pork butt (shoulder)
  • 1 onion, peeled and diced
  • 1 apple, peeled and diced
  • cooking spray

The Rub:

  • 2 tbsp. brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp. paprika
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper

The Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp. gluten free Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. mustard powder
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)

Preparation:

Rinse the meat and pat dry.

Whisk together the brown sugar, paprika, salt and pepper, and rub it into the roast.

Mist your crock-pot with cooking spray.  Peel and dice the onion and apple, and spread in a single layer.

Place the meat on top.  You want the meat to be elevated an inch or so from the bottom of the pan, to keep it out of the liquid for the first few hours of cooking.

Whisk together the sauce ingredients and pour 1/4 cup of the mixture over the pork.  Don’t be tempted to add more.  The meat, onions and apples will cook down and create their own liquid.

Cover and cook 12 hours on low (time indicated is for a 4 lb. roast).

At the end of the cook time, you can set the crockpot to warm until ready to serve, up to 2 hours.  Spoon some of the pan juices over the meat.

Heat the reserved sauce on a low simmer.

Remove the meat to a serving dish and shred with 2 forks.

It should be falling apart tender.  Spoon a little of the reserved sauce over the top.  You can strain out the pepper flakes if you like.

Serve with a drizzle of your favorite BBQ sauce.  I also made air fryer French fries and broccoli to go with the meal.  For more serving ideas, check out my BBQ Baked Beans and this Easy Apple Sauté.

Notes ♪♫ You can make a small batch of Homemade BBQ Sauce to go with this meal or use your favorite store brand.  I love Stubbs, especially their Hickory Bourbon and Smokey Mesquite.

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Easy Apple Sauté

This Easy Apple Sauté is a favorite of mine.  It makes a great breakfast accompaniment to oatmeal or pancakes.  Do you ever have a side of fruit with dinner instead of a veggie, just to change things up?  Apples go well with any pork dish or BBQ meal.  And if you like, this basic recipe can stand in as a light dessert without all the extra fat and carbs.  Best of all, it’s ready in 5 minutes, no baking!

Ingredients:

  • 2 apples (I used Cortland)
  • 1 tbsp. brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp. unsalted butter
  • cinnamon and nutmeg

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Preparation:

Peel and dice the apples.

Heat a 10″ skillet on medium and melt the butter.

Add the apples to the skillet and toss to coat.  Cook 1-2 minutes.

Sprinkle with  brown sugar, and stir it in to melt.

Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.  Cook for 2-3 more minutes, stirring frequently.  A light syrup will form in the pan.

I love this diet friendly treat as a standalone side or as a topping for other fall veggies, like my Apple Walnut Butternut Squash.

Notes ♪♫ Granny Smith apples are most often recommended for cooking, but there are so many varieties that would be delicious in this fast and easy preparation.  Honey Crisp is always a top choice for me, but I used Cortland apples in this post, because a dear neighbor had gifted me a bag.  They were so good, so use what you have!

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Gluten Free BBQ Beef Tips

Beef Tips are a year round favorite that can be served in so many ways.  I got 2 big family packs on sale earlier this summer and broke them down into 6 portions for the freezer.  Since then I have made Grilled Beef Kabobs, Asian Beef and Broccoli, and today I made the easiest BBQ Beef Tips.  This simple dish can be prepared stovetop or on the grill.

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Ingredients:

Preparation:

Combine the sirloin tips with 1 tbsp. olive oil and 1/2 tsp. Montreal steak seasoning.  Cover and marinate 45 minutes at room temperature.

Heat a stainless-steel skillet on medium, brush the pan with butter and the remaining tbsp. of olive oil.  Add the sirloin tips and cook for 6 minutes, turning once.

Don’t crowd the pan, cook in batches if needed.

To finish, add 2 tbsp. gluten free BBQ sauce and toss to coat.

Cook for 1-2 more minutes.

Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with chives.  Serve with more BBQ sauce for dipping.  BBQ Beef Tips can be served over rice or try my yummy Corn Cakes or BBQ Baked Beans!

Notes ♪♫ When I began my gluten free journey, I experimented with making my own BBQ sauce.  It is delicious, but very high in sugar.  So, when my husband was subsequently diagnosed with diabetes, I started looking for a gluten free BBQ sauce with less carbs.  Stubbs checks all my boxes, and they have several flavors to choose from.  They even have a reduced sugar option!  Check it out!

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Gluten Free Steak Marinade

Summer is here and it’s time to fire up the grill!  This Gluten Free Steak Marinade has been one of my most popular posts, and no wonder!  It’s an easy and tasty blend that goes perfectly with steaks and kabobs!  And now, for those of us who want all of the flavor but with less salt, I’ve added a lower sodium option.

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Ingredients:

Lower Sodium Option:

Preparation:

Whisk all of the marinade ingredients together in a glass bowl or baking dish.

Add steaks or beef tips, turning to coat.  Cover and rest at room temperature for 1 hour, turning the meat halfway through.  Then cook or grill as usual.  For dinner ideas, check out my ribeye steak or beef kabobs!

Notes: ♪♫ Soy sauce contains gluten, so choose one that is specifically labeled gluten free.  I actually prefer the flavor of gluten free soy sauce, Kikkoman is one of my favorites, and I also love San-J brand gluten free tamari.  If you are limiting sodium, try the lower salt alternative using Coconut Aminos, I have successfully substituted it for soy sauce in many of my recipes.  Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce is gluten free in the US, but thanks to my reader Denise for pointing out that in Canada the ingredients may be different and are not gluten free.  McCormick clearly lists gluten containing ingredients in their labeling.  I use their Montreal Steak Seasoning on steaks, burgers and kabobs.

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