Category: Wild Game

Pan Fried Walleye: A True Taste of the Midwest

10/5/2025

Few things say “Midwest tradition” like a plate of fresh walleye, sizzling on the griddle. Whether you reeled it in yourself from a quiet northern lake or picked it up from the local fish market, walleye is the kind of catch that brings people together. This recipe takes that classic shore lunch flavor and gives it the Midwest Grill’n treatment—crispy, smoky, and cooked outdoors where it belongs.

🎣 Why Walleye?
Ask anyone in Wisconsin what the state’s best-tasting fish is, and nine times out of ten you’ll hear “walleye.” It’s mild, flaky, and perfect for the grill. Fishing for walleye is also part of Wisconsin’s DNA—whole towns celebrate opening day, and family traditions are built around early mornings on the lake with a thermos of coffee, a tackle box, and the hope of bringing home dinner.

Walleye isn’t just food—it’s a story. It’s grandpa teaching you how to bait a hook, it’s kids wearing life jackets two sizes too big, and it’s the friendly debate over which lake has the best bite.

And when that walleye finally makes it to the grill? That’s the victory lap.

🔥 Why the Griddle?
Cooking on a Pit Boss Grill with a griddle attachment takes walleye from “good fish fry” to “this belongs in a culinary hall of fame.” The hot, even surface crisps up the crust perfectly while sealing in the tender, flaky fish. Add in bacon grease, and suddenly you’ve got a golden sear with a smoky depth of flavor that makes every bite taste like it came straight from a lakeside supper club.

🔪 The Prep Work
The dredge is simple but effective—crushed white corn mixed with garlic pepper, thyme, ancho pepper, and tarragon. It’s a crunchy, seasoned coating that clings to the fish and gives it that perfect pan-fried texture.
And here’s a pro tip: slicing lemon wedges or finely crushing herbs is way easier when you’re working with a razor-sharp knife from Rebex Cutlery. Because nothing ruins the mood faster than mangling your garnish while everyone’s waiting for dinner.

🥘 The Recipe
Ingredients:

2 lbs walleye
2 cups white corn, crushed
1 teaspoon garlic pepper
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon ancho pepper
1 teaspoon tarragon
⅓ cup bacon grease

Directions:

Mix crushed white corn with garlic pepper, thyme, ancho pepper, and tarragon.
Dredge walleye fillets in the mixture until fully coated.
Heat bacon grease on your Pit Boss griddle.
Place walleye fillets onto the hot surface. Flip so both sides get kissed by that smoky bacon goodness.
Cover the grill and cook 5–6 minutes per side, until golden brown and flaky.
Serve hot with lemon wedges, coleslaw, or right off the spatula while telling your best fishing stories.

🌲 Why We Love It
Pan Fried Walleye isn’t just dinner—it’s tradition. It’s lakeside memories, tackle box stories, and the satisfaction of watching golden crust form while the air fills with the smell of sizzling bacon grease.
And here’s the best part: recipes like this highlight how Wisconsin’s lakes are part of our agricultural tourism heritage. The Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association (WATA) celebrates all the ways people connect with our state’s resources, from picking apples in fall to wandering pumpkin patches in October to reeling in a fresh catch in summer. Cooking up walleye on the grill is just another Agventure waiting to happen.

😅 A Little Fisherman’s Humor
Since this is all about walleye, here’s a good one for the dock:
Q: Why don’t fish play basketball?
A: Because they’re afraid of the net!
…don’t worry, the walleye will forgive you for laughing as long as you cook them up crispy.

⚓ Midwest Grill’n Tip: Whether you caught it yourself or picked it up fresh, walleye deserves the royal treatment—crispy golden crust, a smoky sizzle on the Pit Boss, and shared with the people who make the memories matter. That’s the true taste of the Midwest.

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Bison Blue Burgers

1/1/2024

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Ingredients

2 # Bison Hamburger
1 # Blue Cheese

Tea Rub

3 Tbsp Ginger Lime Tea
2 Tbsp Gramma Hazels
1/4 C Brown Sugar

Directions

Place Ginger Lime Tea and Gramma Hazels in a coffee grinder until smooth.
Mix in brown sugar.
Add 3 Tbsp Tea Rub and 1/2 C crumbled blue cheese to Bison Hamburger.
Form Patties and grill.
Serve on buns with additional blue cheese and caramelized onions.

Bison Blue Burgers is a Mad Dog & Merrill® Original Recipe from Episode Seven of the 2021 Season of the Midwest Grill'n Show. Watch "Thornberry" for this great recipe from America's Favorite Grill'n Show and More! Episode recipes include Three Sister's Casserole, Caramelized Onions, Bison Blue Burgers, Porterhouse Steak, Steak Sauce and Apple Tea Wedges. Download the E-Book by visiting the Mad Dog & Merrill Online Store and become a Lifetime Member of the Mad Dog & Merrill® Grill'n Club to gain FREE access to all episode E-Books.

Mad Dog & Merrill® only endorse the highest quality of products and services.
What kind of grills do Mad Dog & Merrill® use? Our favorite grills include Pit Boss Pellet Grills and Louisiana Grills.
Where can the products used on the Midwest Grill'n show be found? Cherry De-Lite from Country Ovens, Sun Drop Soda, Awesome Shrimp, and Wisconsin Potatoes.
Help us thank our sponsors by patronizing their local business, such as Shooting Star Casino.
Produced by Lashbro Visual Communications.

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Bacon Wrapped Bison

5/7/2023

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Ingredients

Large Bison Steak
1 pound Bacon
1 pound Asparagus
¼ C Cooking Oil
2 Tbsp Grill'n Magic Premium Seasoning
Cedar Plank (soaked)

Directions

Cut Bison steak into strips.
Put Bison strip between two pieces of asparagus.
Wrap asparagus and Bison in bacon.
Hold in place with toothpicks.
Drizzle with cooking oil and seasoning.
Grill until bacon is crisp and bison is desired doneness.

Bacon Wrapped Bison is a Mad Dog & Merrill® Original Recipe from Episode Twenty Eight of the 2020 Season of the Midwest Grill'n Show. Watch "Holiday Special Part 1" for this great recipe from America's Favorite Grill'n Show and More! Episode recipes include Stuffed Mushrooms, Bacon Wrapped Bison, Candied Yams, Harvest Salad and Johnnycake (Cornbread). Download the E-Book by visiting the Mad Dog & Merrill Online Store or become a Lifetime Member of the Mad Dog & Merrill® Grill'n Club to gain FREE access to all episode E-Books.

America's Favorite Grill'n Show!

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Lamb Steak

3/12/2023

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Ingredients

Lamb Steak
1 C Ground Walnuts
1 C Parmesan Cheese
1 C Bread Crumbs
1/4 C Pure Italian Premium Seasoning/Rub
1 tsp Crushed Red Pepper

Directions

Mix all breading ingredients together: walnuts, parmesan, bread crumbs, Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper.
Coat Lamb on both sides with breading mixture.
Place on Grill and cook until lamb reaches desired doneness and coating is browned.

Lamb Steak is a Mad Dog & Merrill® Original Recipe from Episode Twenty Six of the 2020 Season of the Midwest Grill'n Show. Watch "Halloween Special" for this great recipe from America's Favorite Grill'n Show and More! Episode recipes include Beans and Rice, Black Angus Flank Steak, Lamb Steak and Side Car. Download the E-Book by visiting the Mad Dog & Merrill Online Store or become a Lifetime Member of the Mad Dog & Merrill® Grill'n Club to gain FREE access to all episode E-Books.

AMERICA’S GRILL’N SHOW!

Mad Dog & Merrill® only endorse the highest quality of products and services.
What kind of grills do Mad Dog & Merrill® use? Our favorite grills include Pit Boss Pellet Grills and Louisiana Grills.
Where can the products used on the Midwest Grill'n show be found? Cherry De-Lite from Country Ovens, Sun Drop Soda, Awesome Shrimp, Wisconsin Potatoes and America's Pork Producers.
Help us thank our sponsors by patronizing their local business, such as Shooting Star Casino.
Produced by Lashbro Visual Communications.

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Buffalo Ribeye Steak

1/5/2023

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Ingredients

Buffalo Ribeye Steak
Ribeye Rub

Directions

Take your steak and cover the top bottom and sides with the Rub.
Cook buffalo steak to 130-135 degrees.

Ribeye Rub

Ingredients

2 Tbs Tangerine Ginger Tea
1 Tsp Fine Ground Himalayan Salt
1 Teaspoon Citrus Twist Premium Seasoning/Rub
1 Teaspoon Garlic Pepper Premium Seasoning/Rub

Directions

Blend together Tangerine Ginger tea, Fine Grind Himalayan Salt, MDM Citrus Twist, and Garlic Pepper seasoning.

Buffalo Ribeye Steak is a Mad Dog & Merrill® Original Recipe from Episode Twenty Three of the 2020 Season of the Midwest Grill'n Show. Watch "Oneida" for this great recipe from America's Favorite Grill'n Show and More! Episode recipes include Grilled Gratin, Buffalo Ribeye Steak, Ribeye Rub, Polenta and Apple Dessert. Download the E-Book by visiting the Mad Dog & Merrill Online Store or become a Lifetime Member of the Mad Dog & Merrill® Grill'n Club to gain FREE access to all episode E-Books.

AMERICA’S GRILL’N SHOW!

Mad Dog & Merrill® only endorse the highest quality of products and services.
What kind of grills do Mad Dog & Merrill® use? Our favorite grills include Pit Boss Pellet Grills and Louisiana Grills.
Where can the products used on the Midwest Grill'n show be found? Cherry De-Lite from Country Ovens, Sun Drop Soda, Awesome Shrimp, Wisconsin Potatoes and America's Pork Producers.
Help us thank our sponsors by patronizing their local business, such as Shooting Star Casino.
Produced by Lashbro Visual Communications.