How to Get Grill Marks Without a Grill 3 Ways

Grill marks are the dark lines that form on food when it’s cooked over direct heat.

They’re not just for show they also add flavor and texture to your meal, as well as give you an indication of how well your food is cooked.

The problem is that many people don’t have access to grills, which means they can’t get those delicious grill marks in their own kitchens!

But don’t worry: there are plenty of ways you can still achieve this culinary feat without needing a fancy piece of equipment or even leaving home.

Table of Contents

Method 1: Using a Stovetop Griddle

A stovetop griddle is an essential tool for any serious cook. It’s a flat surface with raised edges that allow you to cook food over direct heat on your stovetop.

You can use it to make pancakes, eggs, burgers and more and now you can also use it to get grill marks!
Here’s how:

Heat your griddle over medium-high heat until hot enough that water beads up when dripped onto the surface (about 5 minutes).
Place burgers on top of the heated griddle pan and press down gently with another heavy pan or cast iron skillet (you might need two hands).
Cook until desired doneness has been reached, about 3 minutes per side for medium rare meat; 4 minutes per side for well done meat; 6 minutes per side for extra well done meat

Method 2: Using a Cast Iron Skillet

You may have heard of a cast iron skillet, but you might not know how to use one. Cast iron skillets are made from a single piece of metal that’s been molded into the shape of your pan.

They’re great because they can withstand high temperatures without warping or cracking, which makes them perfect for searing meat.

To get grill marks using this method:

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 Celsius). Place the cast iron skillet on top of an oven rack in order to heat up while you prepare your food this will help give it an authentic “charred” taste as well as prevent sticking while cooking later on! If you don’t have an oven rack, no worries; just place it directly on top instead and make sure not too many flames are coming out from underneath during preheating so that nothing catches fire!
Once heated throughly enough (about 15 minutes), add some olive oil onto both sides before placing down onto paper towels for about 5 minutes after removing from heat source due again as mentioned above in step 1). This will ensure even distribution throughout surface area so there aren’t any dry spots left behind after applying seasoning mix later down below…

Method 3: Using a Broiler Pan

A broiler pan is a metal tray with holes in it that you place under your oven’s broiler. It allows grease to drip away from your food while it cooks, so you don’t have to worry about cleaning up a mess when you’re done.

If you want to give this method a try, here are some tips:

Use high heat (450 degrees Fahrenheit) and watch the time closely you’ll need to keep an eye on things since there’s no grill rack or lid over the top of your steak.
Don’t move the meat around too much or flip it until its internal temperature has reached at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit for medium rare or 160 degrees Fahrenheit for medium well-done (this will take about 5 minutes).

Ways to Grill Without a Grill

There are many ways to grill without a grill. The most popular is a grill pan, which has ridges that mimic the teeth of an actual grill. You can also use a ridged pan, or a contact grill the latter cooks food directly on top of its heating element to create similar marks as those left by charring over coals.

You may also consider using an oven or culinary torch if you want more control over how much heat gets applied to your food without having to do any extra work after it’s cooked.

The Go-To Grill Pan

If you don’t have a grill, a grill pan is your best bet. A good one will give you those classic lines and marks that make a burger look like it was cooked on an open flame.

Non-stick: If you want to keep things simple and easy, go for this type of pan. It’ll work just as well as its cast iron counterpart without all the fuss of seasoning or cleaning afterward (although some people prefer cast iron). You can find them at most grocery stores or kitchen supply stores for around $20-$30.
Cast iron: This option has been around since before grills were even invented! If you’re willing to commit to using one consistently and properly caring for it, then this could be worth investing in just remember that they are heavy so plan accordingly if space isn’t an issue for storage purposes!

Ridged Pan Method

This is a great method for those who don’t have access to a grill and want the same look.

Heat pan on stovetop and spray with oil, then cook food as usual.
Flip your food over once it has browned on one side, repeating this process until fully cooked.

Liquid Smoke

Liquid smoke is a concentrated form of smoke that’s used to add flavor to foods. It’s made by condensing smoke from burning wood chips or sawdust, and it can be used to add a smoky flavor to foods without the mess of a real grill.

Liquid smoke comes in two forms: liquid and spray. The liquid variety will give you more control over how much smoke you want in each dish. The spray can give you more convenience, but it may not impart as much flavor into whatever food you’re cooking (and some people find it harder to control).

Oven Broiling

Broiling is a great way to get grill marks in your kitchen. You can do this on the stovetop or in an oven, but we’ll focus on the latter because it’s easier:

Preheat your broiler to high (500 degrees) and move it as close as possible to where you plan to cook your food, ideally within 8 inches of the heating element.

Place whatever you want grilled onto a rack set over foil or parchment paper placed on top of a baking sheet (this ensures no sticking). Make sure that nothing else is touching any part of this setup except for what needs to be cooked!
Broil for about 5 minutes per side until done–it should look almost like it does when cooked on an outdoor grill! Use tongs when turning so as not to burn yourself; if using tongs isn’t an option then use two spatulas instead since they have more surface area than one pair of chopsticks does.

Indoor Grill Recipes

Grilling food is a great way to get that delicious charbroiled taste without having to use an actual grill. In this section, we’ll tell you how to make some of our favorite grilled dishes indoors.

Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa
Grilled Chicken Fajitas
Grilled Tilapia Tacos

A Contact Grill

A contact grill is a great alternative to traditional grilling, as it allows you to get those delicious grill marks without having to fire up your outdoor grill.

A contact grill is essentially an electric oven that has been designed with small ridges on the bottom of its pan. This allows for more surface area and better heat distribution, which gives you those coveted sear marks in no time flat!

Contact grills come in all shapes and sizes, so make sure that you choose one that suits your needs (and budget).

If possible, opt for one with multiple racks so that you can cook multiple things at once. You can also purchase accessories such as drip trays or nonstick pans if necessary but these aren’t necessary unless they suit your needs specifically!

Ways to Grill Without Using an Actual Grill

If you want to cook like a pro and impress friends and family, a grill is the way to go. But what if you don’t have one? No problem! You can still achieve great results with these three methods of grilling without using an actual grill:

Cooking with a torch. This method involves using a propane or butane torch to cook food on both sides at once, which creates those iconic crosshatch marks that make your steak look extra delicious. The best part about it? It works for just about anything steak, chicken breast (yes), shrimp skewers you name it! Just be sure not to get too close when searing; otherwise your food will burn instead of getting those nice grill marks we all love so much.

How To Use A Torch For Grilling If You Don’t Have An Actual Grill.
Cooking in cast iron pans on top of electric stoves or grills that aren’t hot enough yet.
What You Can Cook With A Torch If You Don’t Have An Actual Grill.

Use a Culinary Torch

A culinary torch is another way to get grill marks without a grill. It’s similar to the broiler method, but you’ll need an extra step.

Once you’ve preheated your oven, place your vegetables on a baking sheet and place it under the broiler for 2 minutes. Then remove them from the oven, turn them over and put them back under until they’re done (they’ll be charred).

Conclusion

So, you’ve got a hankering for some grilled food but don’t want to go through the trouble of firing up your grill? No problem! There are plenty of ways to get those delicious grill marks without having an actual grill.

The first method is easy and requires no equipment at all: just place your food on a hot pan or griddle and cook it until it’s done. This works best with thin cuts of meat like chicken breasts or burgers; thicker cuts will need more time in order not to burn before they’re cooked through (and if they’re too thick at all, they’ll probably end up raw). You can also use this technique with vegetables such as zucchini slices just make sure not to overcrowd them so that everything gets cooked evenly!
Another option is using an outdoor gas burner instead of charcoal briquettes when grilling indoors during wintertime weather conditions where temperatures drop below freezing point regularly; this will help prevent ice buildup inside the chimney starter by keeping its inner chamber warm enough throughout its use cycle (which may otherwise result in poor ignition performance).