5 Easy Grilling Recipes Using Kinder's Rubs

One of the best things about Kinder's seasonings is how easy they make it to cook incredible food at home. You do not need culinary school training or hours of prep time. A great cut of meat, the right Kinder's rub, and a hot grill are all it takes to produce restaurant-quality results in your own backyard.

Here are five of our favorite grilling recipes using Kinder's seasonings. Each one is simple enough for a weeknight dinner and impressive enough for a weekend cookout.

1. Perfect Ribeye Steak with Buttery Steakhouse Seasoning

What You Need

• 2 bone-in ribeye steaks, 1.25 inches thick
• Kinder's Buttery Steakhouse seasoning
• 1 tablespoon high-heat oil (avocado or grapeseed)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Fresh rosemary sprigs (optional)

How to Cook It

Remove your steaks from the refrigerator 45 minutes before cooking. Pat them completely dry with paper towels -- this step is critical for a good sear. Season both sides generously with Kinder's Buttery Steakhouse seasoning. You want a visible coating on every surface.

Preheat your grill to high heat, around 500 degrees Fahrenheit. If using a charcoal grill, create a two-zone fire with coals banked to one side. Oil the grates lightly. Place steaks directly over the hottest part of the grill and sear for 3-4 minutes per side without moving them. The Buttery Steakhouse seasoning will create an incredible caramelized crust.

Move steaks to the cooler side of the grill and close the lid. Continue cooking until they reach 130 degrees for medium-rare, about 4-6 more minutes. Remove from grill, top with a pat of butter and a rosemary sprig, and rest for 8 minutes before cutting. The butter melds with the Buttery Steakhouse seasoning for a flavor combination that rivals any high-end steakhouse.

2. Smoked Chicken Thighs with Woodfired Garlic

What You Need

• 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• Kinder's Woodfired Garlic seasoning
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Your favorite BBQ sauce for finishing (we recommend Kinder's Black Garlic)

How to Cook It

Pat the chicken thighs dry and brush lightly with olive oil. Season all sides with Kinder's Woodfired Garlic seasoning, making sure to get under the skin as well. The oil helps the seasoning adhere and promotes crispy skin.

Set up your grill for indirect cooking at 350 degrees. Place chicken thighs skin-side up on the indirect side. Close the lid and cook for 35-40 minutes. During the last 10 minutes, move the thighs to direct heat, skin-side down, to crisp the skin. Brush with BBQ sauce during the final 5 minutes if desired.

The Woodfired Garlic seasoning creates an incredibly aromatic smoke ring on the chicken that makes these thighs taste like they were cooked in a professional smoker. Internal temperature should hit 175 degrees in the thickest part. The thighs will be juicy, flavorful, and have perfectly crispy skin.

3. Competition-Style Baby Back Ribs with SPG Rub

What You Need

• 2 racks baby back ribs, membrane removed
• Kinder's SPG seasoning
• Yellow mustard (as a binder)
• Apple juice in a spray bottle
• Kinder's Founder's Reserve BBQ sauce
• Brown sugar, honey, and butter for the wrap

How to Cook It

The night before, remove the membrane from the back of each rack. Apply a thin layer of yellow mustard to both sides, then coat generously with Kinder's SPG seasoning. The mustard acts as a binder and its flavor cooks off entirely. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate overnight.

Set your grill or smoker to 250 degrees using indirect heat. Place ribs bone-side down and smoke for 3 hours, spraying with apple juice every 45 minutes. After 3 hours, wrap each rack in foil with a drizzle of honey, a few pats of butter, and a sprinkle of brown sugar. Return to the grill for 2 more hours.

Unwrap the ribs and brush with Kinder's Founder's Reserve BBQ sauce. Return to the grill, sauce-side up, for a final 30 minutes to let the sauce set. The SPG creates the perfect peppery bark foundation, and the Founder's Reserve adds the ideal finishing glaze.

4. Smash Burgers with The Blend Seasoning

What You Need

• 1.5 lbs ground beef (80/20 blend)
• Kinder's The Blend seasoning
• American cheese slices
• Brioche buns, toasted
• Your preferred toppings: pickles, onion, lettuce, special sauce

How to Cook It

Divide the ground beef into 3-ounce balls. You should get about 8 balls. Do not season the meat yet -- you want to season after smashing. Get your grill grate or flat-top screaming hot. Place a ball of beef on the surface and immediately press flat with a sturdy spatula or burger press. Season the exposed top generously with Kinder's The Blend.

Cook for about 2-3 minutes until the edges are deeply browned and crispy. Flip the patty, add a slice of American cheese, and cook for another minute. The thin patty cooks quickly and develops maximum surface area for caramelization. Stack two patties per bun for the ultimate double smash burger.

The Blend seasoning is perfect here because its balanced salt, pepper, garlic, and onion profile enhances the beef without competing with it. The result is a burger with a crunchy, flavorful crust and a juicy center that puts any fast food chain to shame.

5. Cedar Plank Salmon with Lemon Pepper

What You Need

• 2 cedar planks, soaked in water for at least 2 hours
• 2 lbs salmon fillet, skin on
• Kinder's Lemon Pepper seasoning
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Fresh dill and lemon wedges for serving

How to Cook It

Soak your cedar planks in water for a minimum of 2 hours. This prevents them from catching fire and creates that beautiful cedar smoke. Pat the salmon dry and brush the flesh side with olive oil. Season generously with Kinder's Lemon Pepper seasoning.

Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, around 400 degrees. Place the soaked cedar planks on the grill grates and close the lid for 2-3 minutes until they start to smoke lightly. Place the seasoned salmon fillets skin-side down on the planks. Close the lid and cook for 12-18 minutes, depending on thickness, until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees.

The cedar plank does double duty: it infuses the salmon with a subtle woodsy smokiness and acts as a natural barrier between the fish and the direct heat. The Lemon Pepper seasoning brightens the rich salmon flavor, and the combination of cedar smoke and citrus is absolutely irresistible. Serve with fresh dill, lemon wedges, and a simple arugula salad.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Kinder's Seasonings

No matter which recipe you choose, here are a few tips that will improve your results every time:

• Season early. For best flavor penetration, season your meat 30-60 minutes before cooking. For ribs and larger cuts, season the night before.
• Pat meat dry first. Moisture is the enemy of a good sear. Dry surfaces take seasoning better and brown more effectively.
• Do not be shy. Kinder's seasonings are designed to be applied generously. A light dusting will not give you the bold flavor these rubs are capable of producing.
• Let meat rest. Always rest your cooked meat for at least 5-10 minutes. This redistributes the juices and lets the seasoning crust set properly.

Ready to try these recipes? Grab your Kinder's seasonings and sauces at numnumkosmos with free shipping on every order.