Many people use their griddles for breakfast items such as pancakes and eggs, which is okay. However, a griddle can do much more than that. The flat surface of an electric griddle is a treasure chest for cooking: it is incredibly versatile, and there is basically no limit to what you can cook on it.
Even if you just cook at home, you can completely delight your family with the recipes made from your griddle. If you own a commercial griddle, you can add several incredible items to your menu and attract more customers.
Here are ten unexpected delicious, juicy foods you can cook on your electric griddle, along with some tips for success.
1. Pizza
Pizza looks harder to cook than it is, especially if you have an electric griddle. In fact, if you really enjoy cooking, you’d probably prefer cooking your pizza on the griddle. You get to be much more in control, and the high heat helps to create a crispy, well-browned crust, often even in less time than a regular oven would.
Here are some steps on how to cook pizza on the griddle
- Start by preheating your griddle to 350°F–375°F.
- Roll out pizza dough thinly and brush one side with olive oil.
- Place the oiled side down on the griddle and cook for 3-5 minutes until it starts to bubble and the bottom becomes golden.
Add Toppings
Flip the dough, quickly spread tomato sauce, sprinkle shredded cheese, and add your toppings.
Cover with a lid or foil tent to trap the heat and melt the cheese. Cook for another 5–7 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Tips for cooking
If possible, use pre-made dough. It is just a lot easier that way.
Keep the toppings light. That way, the crust stays crispy and nice.
2. Quesadillas and Tacos
If you are like 86% of Americans, you probably love Mexican food. Well, with an electric griddle, you can make the most delicious quesadillas and tacos at home or for sale at your business: it brings out the best textures and flavors in each. Here’s how to cook quesadillas on your griddle.
- Preheat the griddle to medium-high (around 350°F).
- Place a tortilla on the griddle, sprinkle cheese and other fillings (chicken, beans, veggies), and top with another tortilla.
- Cook each side for 2–3 minutes until the cheese is melted and the tortilla is golden and crispy.
Cooking Tacos on a Griddle
Use the griddle to heat the tortillas.
For fillings like ground beef or shredded chicken, cook them on the griddle first, then fill warmed tortillas.
Tip: To get that extra crispiness on the outside, use a bit of butter or oil
3. French Toast Casserole
Yes, you can make French toast and casserole at home with a griddle. Your griddle provides a large, flat cooking surface that heats evenly, ensuring that each slice of French toast cooks uniformly without hot spots.
The process is also really simple:
- Preheat your griddle to 300°F–325°F.
- Dip thick slices of bread (like brioche or challah) in an egg mixture (whisk eggs with milk, a pinch of cinnamon, and a splash of vanilla).
- Place the bread on the griddle.
- Cook each side for 3–5 minutes until golden brown.
Making it Casserole Style
Arrange slices close together so they touch slightly, creating a casserole effect.
Cover with foil to help the inside cook thoroughly.
French toasts are best served with powdered sugar, maple syrup, or fruit compote.
4. Stir-Fry Vegetables
Stir-fry vegetables are healthy, delicious, immensely nutritious, and quite easy to make with your griddle. You can make them and serve them with every meal. Here’s a short guide on how to stir-fry vegetables on a griddle.
- Set the griddle to medium-high and add a little oil.
- Once hot, add thinly sliced vegetables like bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and snap peas.
- Stir the vegetables frequently for 5-8 minutes until they are tender-crisp.
Tip For Serving
- For extra flavor, you can add a splash of soy sauce, teriyaki, or garlic powder.
- Also, you can pair the stir-fry vegetables with cooked rice or noodles, and voila, you will have a full meal!
5. Grilled Fruits
A griddle is also perfect for grilling fruits such as pineapples, peaches, and watermelon. The heat distributes evenly, allowing the natural sugars in the fruits to caramelize beautifully and get that delicious char on the outside. Here’s how to grill fruits on your griddle.
Set your griddle to medium and lightly brush it with oil.
Add fruit slices (pineapple, peaches, watermelon, etc.) in a single layer. Go for fruits with a high natural sugar, like peaches and pineapples.
Grill for 2–3 minutes on each side until they develop a slight char and caramelize.
Tips for Serving
These grilled fruits pair well with vanilla ice cream, yogurt, or drizzled honey.
6. Burgers (Including Stuffed Burgers)
People are often surprised that the food items you can cook on your griddle also include burgers. The griddle is arguably better for burgers because it provides an even, high-heat surface that enhances flavor and texture.
Here’s how to cook burgers on your griddle.
Preheat your griddle to 350°F–375°F.
Season burger patties with salt and pepper (you can also create a stuffed burger by sandwiching cheese or other fillings between two thin patties).
Cook each side for 4–6 minutes, flipping once, until burgers reach your desired doneness.
Tip for Cooking
Press gently with a spatula while cooking, but don’t overdo it; it releases juices.
7. Omelets and Frittatas
A griddle works great for cooking omelets and frittatas because of its large, flat surface. There is enough space for you to spread out the eggs and fillings and allow for the larger omelets or multiple smaller ones to be cooked at once. Because you can set the temperatures at different stages of the cooking process, you can get even that delicious crispiness on the outside, too!
Follow these steps to cook omelets and frittatas on your griddle
- Preheat the griddle to low-medium heat. Pour whisked eggs mixed with salt, pepper, and fillings (cheese, veggies, ham) directly onto the griddle.
- Omelet Cooking: For omelets, use a spatula to fold the eggs once the bottom starts to set (around 2–3 minutes).
- Frittata Style: For a frittata, let the eggs cook undisturbed until set. Cover with a lid to help the top cook through.
Tip For Service
Keep the temperature low to avoid browning the eggs too much before they’re fully set.
8. Sandwiches and Paninis
Sandwiches are also great to cook on a griddle. The heat is consistent and even, which helps cook your sandwiches uniformly and ensures that both sides get that perfect golden-brown crust.
Here’s how to cook sandwiches on a griddle：
- Preheat the griddle to medium heat. Assemble sandwiches with your fillings (cheese, meats, veggies) and place on the griddle.
- Cook Time: Cook for 3–4 minutes per side, pressing down gently with a spatula (or another pan) for a panini effect.
Cooking Tip
Brush the outside of the bread with butter for a golden, crispy finish.
9. Nachos
Griddles are also great for making nachos. The heat is distributed evenly across the surface, which ensures that the nachos are heated evenly so that each chip is adequately warmed and the cheese melts uniformly. The spacious surface also allows you to spread a generous layer of nachos, making it easy to create large portions for sharing or serving a crowd.
How to Cook
- Preheat the griddle to medium. Spread a layer of tortilla chips on the griddle, then sprinkle cheese, beans, jalapeños, and any other toppings you like.
- Cover with a lid or foil and cook for 5 minutes until the cheese melts.
Tips for Serving:
Add toppings like sour cream, guacamole, or salsa after cooking.
For even melting, layer chips and cheese in thin layers across the griddle.
Getting a Griddle
Cooking all of these items is really easy, but you will easily run into trouble if you do not own a good, high-quality, durable griddle. And for those, there is only one place to go: Wilprep’s Kitchen.
Wilprep offers a wide collection of griddles both for commercial and home use. You will surely find the right size for your home or business, from countertop electric griddles to gas griddles. Here are some extra advantages of Wilprep’s griddles.
Why Wilprep Griddles?- Even the smallest electric models are equipped with two heating tubes, ensuring speedy and uniform heating.
- The expansive cooking surface of all Wilprep griddles lets you cook large batches of your favorite dishes with ease.
- With a temperature range from 120°F to 570°F, Wilprep electric griddles come with adjustable knobs to let you dial in the ideal settings for achieving the perfect sear on food items.
- Features like the handy drainage hole and removable tray make cleanup easy. They efficiently collect excess oil and food residue.
- Crafted with food-grade 430 stainless steel, Wilprep’s electric griddles offer superior corrosion resistance and easy maintenance.
Check out Wilpep for the best electric and gas griddles and other kitchen equipment to bring your best recipes to life. Also, don’t forget to check out other useful tips and information from Wilprep, such as how to clean your griddle and how to cook other items on it, like steak.
