16 Recipes That Will Make You Wonder Why You Don't Broil More (2024)

Everything You Need to Know About Using Your Oven's Broiler

Mahi Mahi with Coconut Rice and Mango Salsa

Think of your broiler as an upside-down grill. Anything you can grill over high heat — steak, chicken, fish — you can broil *under* high heat, too.

"This was amazing! I loved preparing this dish. My husband loved it and went for seconds," says community cook Codi Evans.

Teriyaki Salmon

Because of the broiler's direct high heat, you want to marinate first to keep meat from drying out as it cooks. That means the "ready-in" time of these recipes is more like one hour, but most of that is just waiting around for the marinade to work its magic.

"I have made this recipe several times. Even my picky eater loves it," reviews cook Magda Morales.

Teriyaki Marinated Chicken

And, for chicken breast, you definitely want to pound it thin before you cook it under the broiler. Thick breasts will end up like hockey pucks on the outside and raw in the middle.

Juicy Steak

Recipe contributor JENN_77 says you should broil a frozen steak for the best results, but other community cooks say that's not necessary. In fact, cooking a room-temperature steak may make the meat cook evenly and more quickly.

"This steak was amazing! I've ALWAYS used my grill but with a foot of snow outside and the wind blowing like crazy it wasn't the best of conditions for that. Sure I still prefer the grill but the butter on top definitely added moisture and flavor as well as help crisp it up a bit like a grilled steak," wrote reviewer myhope03.

• 10 Mistakes We're (Almost) All Making When Grilling Steak

Beef and Roasted Red Pepper Sandwiches

If you don't have a sandwich press, the broiler is the best option for getting sandwiches hot and the cheese nice and melty.

• Our 15 Best Melts Will Make Your Mouth Water

Stuffed Jalapeno Firecrackers

Bacon is brilliant in the broiler. You'll need to experiment with the heat of your particular broiler to get the crispiness just right, but once you do, you'll be able turn out gourmet-quality appetizers in 15 minutes.

• Browse more Bacon Appetizer Recipes.

California Melt

"Made this sandwich and absolutely loved it! Very easy, tasty, and fast. Used my toaster oven which was perfect for one person. Next time will add a little spinach for fun," writes Cateperry7.

Portobello Sandwiches

Need a quick and juicy plant-based burger? Portobello mushrooms absorb flavor from the marinade (you probably have most of these ingredients already on hand), and then they're cooked until tender and caramelized under the broiler's direct heat. "Great mix of flavors and a very quick and easy recipe to make," writes cook Matt Hoobler.

Super Nachos

Your broiler turns out hot appetizers fast. Don't tell the sports bar.

"Made this exactly how it told me to except I added a few of my own toppings. Strongly suggest almost burning the meat to make it crispy," writes Allrecipes cook Kellie Thomas.

Broiled Teriyaki Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs are a great protein pick for broiling. Thighs tend to be smaller, which means they cook quickly. They also are often more tender than chicken breasts, so if you accidentally overcook them, odds are the meat is still juicy, not dry and chalky.

• Our 20 Best Chicken Thighs Recipes

Easy Broiled Chicken Breasts

When you need a simple, fast chicken dinner that isn't just another grilled breast, turn to your broiler for incredible flavor without the trouble of a grill. Just be sure to check the internal temperature regularly; smaller breasts will cook faster.

• 30 Best Side Dishes for Chicken, No Matter How You Cook It

Broiled Chicken Thighs with Mango Salsa

"With all the kitchen gadgets these days, it's easy to forget that your broiler can do a great job on boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Put the chicken thighs in the marinade early in the morning, and the broiler will have your dinner ready in about 10 minutes," writes recipe contributor Bibi.

Broiled Lemon-Pepper Tilapia

Tilapia is a thin, flaky cut of fish that's perfect for the broiler. With a bit of bread crumbs, lemon-pepper seasoning, and fresh parsley, you can create a wow-worthy dinner in just 20 minutes.

Broiled Salmon with Soy-Ginger Glaze

Broiling the salmon fillet first helps seal in moisture and crisp up the surface. You'll baste and bake the fish after broiling, but you can always turn the broiler back on for a few minutes to make sure it's ultra crispy before serving.

Broiled Grapefruit

When grapefruit season rolls around, take advantage of it and enjoy this delicious broiled recipe for breakfast or a light snack. "I'm used to eating my grapefruit plain (room temp/no sugar) so using this recipe was an exercise in faith. Result is I quite enjoyed it but would use less cinnamon next time and I LOVE cinnamon," writes Allrecipes community member Jan Mowbray.

Broiler S'mores

"I was craving a summer treat in January, so I made these. I made mine by putting the graham cracker on an unlined cookie sheet, topped with chocolate bar and mini marshmellows. In my broiler on low: 3 minutes for light brown, 4 minutes for dark brown. Yum!" writes cook Momi.