Outdoor Cooking Resolutions for the New Year (Simple, Realistic, Fun)
- Lauren Twitchell
- Dec 31, 2025
- 4 min read
New Year’s resolutions have a reputation problem.
They tend to be ambitious, rigid, and quietly abandoned by February. Especially when it comes to cooking. We promise ourselves we’ll grill every weekend, master new techniques, or finally become “that person” who always has a plan—only to discover that real life rarely cooperates.
Outdoor cooking doesn’t need that kind of pressure.
In fact, the best outdoor cooking habits are the ones that feel easy to return to, even after a long day, a missed week, or a less-than-perfect cook.
So instead of resolutions built on hustle or perfection, let’s talk about outdoor cooking intentions—simple, realistic, and genuinely fun ways to bring fire, flavor, and presence into the new year.
These aren’t about doing more.
They’re about enjoying what you already do—just a little more intentionally.
Resolution #1: Cook Outside More Often—Even When It’s Not “Grilling Weather”
One of the biggest myths about outdoor cooking is that it’s seasonal.
In reality, some of the best outdoor meals happen when:
the air is cooler,
the yard is quieter,
and the pace naturally slows down.
Cooking outside in winter or shoulder seasons doesn’t require elaborate setups. It might look like:
a simple grilled protein,
a pot of soup warming gently on the grill,
or even hot cocoa or mulled drinks outdoors.
The resolution:
Cook outside when it feels good, not just when it’s convenient or traditional.
Even once or twice a month is enough to shift how you experience the season.
Resolution #2: Stop Overcomplicating the Menu
As outdoor cooks, we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking every cook has to be impressive.
But some of the most satisfying outdoor meals are also the simplest:
chicken thighs instead of whole birds,
burgers done really well,
vegetables grilled with nothing more than oil and salt.
Complexity doesn’t equal enjoyment.
The resolution:
Choose one simple thing and cook it well.
This frees up mental space—and makes outdoor cooking feel like a pleasure instead of a performance.
Resolution #3: Learn One New Technique—Not Ten
The internet is full of outdoor cooking advice, hacks, and “must-learn” techniques. It’s easy to feel like you’re behind if you’re not mastering everything at once.
But real skill comes from repetition, not novelty.
Instead of chasing variety, pick one thing to explore:
indirect heat on a kettle grill,
cooking with cast iron outdoors,
using wood chunks instead of chips,
or learning how to manage temperature more confidently.
The resolution:
Go deeper, not wider.
One technique practiced over a year will serve you far better than ten you barely touch.
Resolution #4: Use What You Already Own (Before Buying Anything New)
New Year energy often comes with the urge to upgrade.
But before you buy another accessory, ask yourself:
Do I fully understand the grill I already have?
Have I experimented with different setups?
Have I cooked more than the same three meals on it?
Outdoor cooking mastery isn’t about gear—it’s about familiarity.
The resolution:
Commit to learning your current setup inside and out.
You might be surprised how much capability is already there.
Resolution #5: Make Outdoor Cooking a Social Thing (Without Making It a Production)
Outdoor cooking doesn’t have to mean hosting.
It can be as simple as:
cooking alongside someone,
letting guests linger near the grill,
or sharing one good dish instead of a full spread.
Some of the best conversations happen around fire—not tables.
The resolution:
Invite connection without pressure.
Let outdoor cooking be part of gathering, not the center of stress.
Resolution #6: Embrace Imperfect Cooks
Every outdoor cook has had:
flare-ups,
uneven heat,
dry moments,
or meals that didn’t quite land.
Perfection isn’t the goal. Learning—and enjoying the process—is.
If every cook has to be “successful” to count, you’ll stop showing up.
The resolution:
Let imperfect cooks still be good experiences.
They teach more than flawless ones ever will.
Resolution #7: Cook for Yourself More Often
Outdoor cooking is often framed as something we do for others.
But there’s something quietly powerful about lighting a grill or smoker just for yourself—or your household—without an audience.
A single steak.
A few vegetables.
A quiet evening.
The resolution:
Let outdoor cooking be an act of care, not just service.
You don’t need a crowd to make it worth it.
Resolution #8: Build Ritual, Not Routine
Routine can feel rigid. Ritual feels grounding.
A ritual might be:
lighting the grill the same way each time,
taking a moment to check the weather and pause,
or cleaning your tools at the end as a way to close the experience.
These small acts turn cooking into something meaningful—not just functional.
The resolution:
Create small rituals that make outdoor cooking feel intentional.
They’ll keep you coming back long after motivation fades.
Resolution #9: Let Outdoor Cooking Support Rest—Not Compete With It
Outdoor cooking is often framed as another task to manage.
But it can also be a form of rest—if you let it.
Standing outside. Watching heat build. Waiting instead of rushing. Letting time do some of the work.
The resolution:
Use outdoor cooking as a way to slow down, not speed up.
Not every meal needs to be efficient. Some just need to feel good.
Resolution #10: Redefine What “Success” Looks Like
Success in outdoor cooking doesn’t mean:
perfect grill marks,
social media-worthy plates,
or mastering every method.
It means:
showing up,
enjoying the process,
and wanting to do it again.
If you end the year cooking outside a little more confidently—and with more joy—that’s a win.
The resolution:
Measure success by enjoyment, not output.
Why These Resolutions Actually Stick
What makes these resolutions different is that they:
respect real schedules,
allow flexibility,
and prioritize enjoyment over discipline.
They don’t ask you to become a different person.
They simply ask you to engage more intentionally with something you already enjoy.
And that’s how habits last.
A Final Thought
The new year doesn’t need more pressure.
It needs more moments that feel grounded, human, and satisfying.
Outdoor cooking—done simply and without performance—offers exactly that. A way to step outside, work with your hands, and mark time with fire and food instead of noise.
So if you carry anything into the new year, let it be this:
Cook outside when you can.
Keep it simple.
Let it be fun.
Everything else will follow.
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