There is a known difference between grilling meat at home on your BBQ and doing it over a campfire in the woods. Not only is the experience very different, but the flavor profile is as well.
Grilling a delicious steak or some beautiful chicken breasts over hardwood coals that you processed yourself not only imbues the food with great flavor, but a sense of pride as well. Usually if you’re out with others you want to impress them with a good meal, camping just isn’t the same if the food isn’t tasty.
The spices you add to your food is important because food generally tends to taste better when you’re camping. Making sure you have the right spice rub or seasoning for the dish is a key factor to successful grilling. If the spice mix also caramelizes the meat naively over the fire, all the better.
Grill Your Ass Off is a company that pumps out some killer spice combinations to make sure that whatever your cooking is full of flavor. They know how to cook meat and the inspiration is evident in their recipes.
There is something in this list for everyone and since they don’t take up a lot of space, should be thrown into every portable kitchen. There’s even a bonus flavor at the end that’ll sauce up any meat you have on the grill. If you like sauces, you had better read to the end.
Flavor Profile: Smoky BBQ
Best Suited For: Beef, veggies
If you’re looking to amp up your beef through grilling or smoking then you’ll probably want to take this with you. The secret is in the activated charcoal which helps form a crust on whatever it is you’re cooking. Adding it to roasted veggies will give them that campfire flavor.
Flavor Profile: Smooth and bold
Best Suited For: All purpose seasoning
If you’re looking for a seasoning with a complex flavor profile that works with just about anything then look no further. This is a good seasoning to bring with you if you’re cooking up anything you catch out in the bush. If you’re packing in eggs, grits or just about anything that is easy to cook on the trail, having this all-round seasoning is the way to go.
Flavor Profile: Sweet and Spicy
Best Suited For: Chicken, pork, corn
This is one of those rubs that need to go on a huge rack of ribs right before you toss them on the grill. The sweetness from the brown sugar will caramelize on the grill and give you a sweet crunch when you bite into it. Alternatively you could rub it all over a chicken destined to be roasted and have the spice cut through the roasted meat. The choice is yours.
Flavor Profile: Bold And Granular
Best Suited For: Steak
This is the seasoning you want on a big ole slab of beef slowly roasting over a fire. The large granules in the seasoning will char and create the perfect crust. It’s designed to impart flavor into the meat while keeping it moist and tender inside. If the flavor isn’t bold enough you could always use this seasoning as buckshot.
Flavor Profile: Peppery and full of garlic
Best Suited For: Chicken, meat sauces
Willie Pete’s chicken seasoning is a strong blend of garlic and pepper. This spicy combination works really well with chicken in a variety of dishes. If you like making spaghetti sauce, the combination of seasonings will definitely take it to the next level.
Flavor Profile: Tropical and spicy
Best Suited For: Fish, popcorn, chicken
If you need to really add some spice to your meal then this habanero seasoning might scratch that itch. There is something about sweet and heat that brings out the flavor in chicken and fish. Crispy chicken skin that crackles with tropically spicy flavor is something that’ll make any trip out into the bush.
Flavor Profile: Tex Mex
Best Suited For: Tacos, fajitas, quesadillas
You could use store bought taco seasoning but it’ll lack the freshness and spice that this one brings to the table. If you’re in the mood for some tender beef then putting this on will help break down the meat fibers with citric acid. Using it on ground beef or chicken will create such a masterfully textured protein ready for wraps.
Flavor Profile: Spicy creole mixture
Best Suited For: Crawfish, shrimp, lobster, fish, chicken
You know it’s cajun when there’s paprika, garlic, and red pepper involved. Mix it up with a little butter and slather it on your grilled seafood. Let the flavor of the seafood take over while this seasoning brings out the heat. This is an excellent addition to things like curries and jambalaya! If you’re a fan of tin foil meals on the fire adding this to a fish and potato combination will be a huge hit.
Flavor Profile: Tangy and sweet
Best Suited For: Ribs, chicken fingers, burgers
Grill Your Ass Off also makes their own BBQ sauce and is the perfect complement to go along with alot of these seasoning mixtures. It also makes a perfect dipping sauce for all kinds of meats and veggies. The tomato and honey combination cuts through the savory fat of the meat and provides a great balance of flavors.
While grilling meat out in the wilderness is a great experience on its own, the addition of incredible seasoning for your food is what’s needed to elevate that experience.
It just goes to show that you don’t need to BBQ meat at your house only. As long as you can build a nice coal bed, invest in good quality meat products, and bring the seasoning with you then it’s sure to be a memorable meal.
