Grilled Romaine

Grilled romaine has quickly become one of my go-to sides, especially when I need to elevate a meal with minimal effort. There's something about the crispy char on the outside, paired with the fresh crunch of the romaine inside, that just makes it feel so special.

Plus, it's ready in less than 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights or even casual summer BBQs. I love to top it with a sprinkle of Parmesan and a squeeze of lemon, but the real magic is in the smoky flavor that comes from grilling. Whether you're serving it with grilled chicken, pasta, or just as a salad, grilled romaine is a side dish that never disappoints.

Once you've tried grilled lettuce, you may find it difficult to have lettuce in any other way. You should definitely try other grilled vegetables like Grilled Cauliflower, Grilled Bell Peppers, and Grilled Cabbage.

The Unexpected Upgrade to Your Salads, Burgers, and More

If you turn your nose up at lettuce, it's time to reconsider! The grilled romaine will knock your socks off, and here's why:

• Simple: Grilled romaine is incredibly easy to make, and you can have it ready in just 15 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute BBQs.
• Flavor-packed: Balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, and a squeeze of fresh lemon add a pop of flavor, turning simple lettuce into something exciting.
• Customizable: Add your favorite toppings, like crumbled feta, olives, or even a drizzle of creamy dressing. It's versatile enough to be adjusted to any meal!
• Healthy side: This is a great way to get more greens in your diet while enjoying the smoky, charred flavor that grilling brings. It's low-carb, keto-friendly, and a lighter alternative to traditional side dishes.
• Pairing ideas: This grilled romaine pairs perfectly with grilled meats, pasta dishes, or as a standout side to a summer salad. Try it with grilled chicken or steak for a balanced meal!

Ingredients and Easy Swaps

Here is everything you need to make grilled romaine lettuce:

• Romaine lettuce hearts: These are much sweeter and crisper than the outer leaves, making them perfect for grilling. Remove any remaining brown or soggy leaves. Swap with other types of lettuce, like butter lettuce, leaf lettuce, and iceberg lettuce.
• Balsamic vinaigrette: I combined olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and Italian seasoning in a small bowl to brush the surface of the lettuce before grilling. Feel free to use any other type of oil, like vegetable oil or avocado oil.
• Lemon juice: A squeeze of lemon juice gives the grilled romaine hearts a bit of acidity that brings out the other flavors more.
• Parmesan cheese: Sprinkle as much as you want over the lettuce! Feel free to use other types of cheese like blue cheese, feta, or cheddar.

How to Grill Romaine Lettuce

Before you throw your lettuce on the grill, it's a good idea to give it a quick rinse to get rid of any dirt.

The easiest way to do this is to fill a large bowl with room-temperature water, deep enough to submerge most of the lettuce. Gently swish it around to let the water reach all the crevices.

If your bowl isn't big enough to cover the whole head, just turn the lettuce and repeat until it's all cleaned up!

1. Cut the romaine

Slice the head of lettuce vertically to make sure the leaves stay firmly together. Then, prep the romaine by removing any brown or limp leaves on the edges.

2. Make the seasoning

Mix together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and Italian seasoning. Brush this on the cut side of the lettuce. Season with salt and pepper, and add any other seasoning you may like!

Pro tip: Be generous when brushing the lettuce with the balsamic vinaigrette to infuse more flavor and avoid sticking it to the grill grates.

3. Grill the romaine

Place the cut side of the lettuce down on the grill. Flip and grill until just charred with some grill marks. This is to make sure the smoky grilled flavor penetrates both sides of your romaine!

Serve: Squeeze lemon juice over top and sprinkle with fresh Parmesan cheese. Season as needed and top with fresh herbs, toasted breadcrumbs, lemon zest, or red pepper flakes if desired.

Grilled Romaine Seasoning Ideas

While my recipe calls for seasoning your lettuce with simple ingredients like balsamic vinegar and Italian seasoning, there are actually a lot of different ways you can season your romaine lettuce to get a different flavor.

• Tosazu: Add savory Asian flavors to your lettuce with this light Japanese dressing made with vinegar, soy sauce, mirin, and bonito dashi stock.
• Curry powder: Dissolve curry powder in your choice of oil properly and use this to brush the lettuce for a spicy and deep flavor.
• Cajun seasoning: This will give the lettuce a bold and smoky flavor. You can sprinkle even more cajun seasoning after grilling.
• Taco seasoning: Rub some taco seasoning on the surface of the lettuce before grilling to pack it with flavor. You can also use fajita seasoning.
• Blackening seasoning: Brush some oil on the lettuce and rub some blackening seasoning to achieve a sweet and spicy flavor. Form a bit of a crust on the lettuce by using high heat in grilling.

How to Serve Grilled Romaine

While grilled romaine is delicious as is, there's also a whole lot more you make out of it. Here are just some of my favorite things to do with it:

• Romaine Caesar salad: After the lettuce has been grilled, cut it up into thin strips and toss it with tomatoes, salty bacon, croutons, Parmesan cheese, red onions, and Caesar dressing. A really simple salad recipe! Feel free to use any salad dressing of your choice.
• Grilled sides: Grilled romaine makes a great base for grilled fish, grilled chicken breast, grilled flank steak, or grilled tofu!
• Wedge salad: Swap the iceberg lettuce in a wedge salad with grilled romaine for a depth of smoky flavor that's perfect with the bleu cheese dressing and bacon!
• Tahini grilled salad: Corn, tomatoes, peppers, and a creamy dressing like tahini mixed into some sliced-up grilled romaine make a quick, healthy, and delicious salad you are sure to devour.
• Tacos: Adding sliced-up grilled romaine is an easy way to give these chicken tacos a fantastic smoky flavor and a wonderful solid crunch.
• Burgers: Grilled lettuce is a great addition to a homemade cheeseburger, and it takes the entire dish to another level.
• Pasta: Chop up the grilled romaine and toss it into this grilled vegetable pasta salad for a smoky twist!

Storage and Reheating

Grilled romaine lettuce is the perfect side dish for almost any meal. But if you happen to have leftovers, here's what to do with them:

To store: Place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To reheat: Put grilled lettuce in a pan and reheat on your stovetop. Make sure to use low to medium-low heat to prevent burning.

Leftover idea: Chop leftover lettuce and use it as a base for your favorite salads!