Tired of cooking over the stove inside but not looking forward to another season of traditional brats and burgers on the grill? Look no further- the Big Green Egg is your answer for all things food! With its wide array of abilities, not to mention EGGcessories, you’ll be grilling, roasting, and smoking dishes outside like a pro in no time. Shrimp tacos anyone? Beef tenderloin tostadas ? Jalapeno popper pizza ? Or maybe breakfast outdoors with a mushroom and spinach quiche ? Try the Large Big Green Egg (or bigger!) and get ready to impress your friends and family this outdoor dining season with new Big Green Egg recipes to suit everyone’s tastes!

Why the Big Green Egg?

Many people ask why they need a Big Green Egg when they’ve been cooking successfully on a standard propane grill for years. The concise answer? Because it’s better.

The Big Green Egg is a versatile cooking tool that can grill food in the traditional way, but it can also function as a roaster, slow cooker, oven and smoker. The Big Green Egg is made of ceramic, which retains heat better, making it a more efficient cooking method than a traditional propane grill. The Egg utilizes charcoal in a controlled firebox, which means it lights easily, heats up quickly, and maintains heat for a long period of time. However, it’s not just for hot and fast grilling. The Big Green Egg’s ventilation and airflow system utilizes top and bottom vents, which work together to maintain low temperatures for smoking and slow cooking. Clean up is also a cinch because residual heat burns off excess fat so all that’s left is to sweep out the ash and dream up your next meal!

Which Big Green Egg is right for you?

The Big Green Egg family includes sizes built large enough for big family reunions and small enough to take on the go. So how do you know which one to get?

The Large Egg is the most popular size with room to cook 8 steaks, a 20 pound turkey, or 7 racks of ribs vertically. Cooking for your family and a guest or two or three can be easily accommodated in the size Large, but it’s also not so big that you wouldn’t want to use it for a romantic meal at home for just two.

However, if you rarely cook for others or don’t want to cook your main dish and sides all in one Egg, size down with the Medium or even Small egg. Go even smaller to take your Egg on the road for tailgating or camping with the MiniMax or Mini. The smallest Egg, the Mini, is great for apartment balconies and has room for 2 chicken breasts or 1 steak. On the other hand, if you often cook for larger groups, size up with the XLarge or super size to the 2XL, which has room to roast a suckling pig!

How to get started?

Now comes the fun part- accessorize your Egg with a full complement of tools to begin your next level cooking and dining experience!

Begin by stabilizing your Egg with a “nest.” Nests start with a basic metal frame only for stabilization. Elevate your Egg with a more advanced nest to bring your nest to standing height, add wheels, or even “egg mates” (detachable side tables) for a more convenient cooking experience.

Start your Egg heating up with Big Green Egg Natural Hardwood Charcoal and a Charcoal EGGgnitor. Use the Big Green Egg premium charcoal for a delicious hardwood flavor without the chemical aftertaste that comes with lesser quality products. The EGGnitor makes lighting charcoal a breeze with superheated air so you can focus on the important part- the food!

Next, select the EGGcessory to go with your meal. Select a flat pizza stone for a thin or traditional crust pizza, or the deep dish pizza stone for a thick Chicago style crust. Grab the 5 piece EGGspander kit to maximize the space in your Egg, allowing you to cook multiple dishes at once. Add even more flexibility with a Half Moon Cast Iron Grate or a Cast Iron Skillet. Make sure to protect your hands as you’re handling all that delicious, hot food with a good pair of BBQ gloves. When you're finished cooking, you can easily store some EGGcessories–convEGGtors, cooking grids and baking stones for eggs–in the Nest Utility Rack so they’re ready for next time.

What to cook?

Now that you’ve got your Egg and your EGGcessories, get cooking! Try these ideas below or look through the Big Green Egg recipe selection to start showing off your new cooking expertise!

Start with a traditional outdoor meal such as a Smoked Spatchcock Chicken which utilizes the Big Green Egg Sweet and Smoky seasoning for some amazing flavor! Or try a simple rack of Beef Ribs to start testing the Egg’s slower cooking abilities. Pair either with some Roasted Potatoes and your meal is nearly complete!

Ready to show off? Try Waygu Beef with Roasted Shallots and Eggplant Ragout . Or how about some Raspberry Glazed Salmon ? Dinner doesn’t have to outshine the other meals, either. Take breakfast outside this season with A Very Berry Croissant Breakfast Bake or a Dutch Oven Breakfast .

Last, don’t forget dessert! Apple Crumble with Cherry and Peach Jam will bring a light, sweet finish to any summer meal, or try a Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie for some Southern style comfort.

Be it breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert, expand your horizons with this green delight. Your newfound appreciation for outdoor cooking will easily extend into the cooler months, too, with the Egg’s ease of use, high efficiency, and wide ranging versatility. The sky’s the limit with the Big Green Egg!