Fluffy Pancakes on Your Outdoor Griddle

Perfectly fluffy pancakes cooked on your outdoor griddle comes down to one special ingredient and the proper griddle temp.

The key to fluffy pancakes

There are two key factors to perfectly fully pancakes. One, you want that nice rise, and two, they should be beautifully golden brown.

With this super easy fluffy pancake recipe, you get the best of both worlds. Plus, you don’t have to worry about mixing a whole bunch of dry ingredients like flour and baking powder. This recipe uses simple box mix.

First, a secret that I’ve been using for years is lemon lime soda. I add that to my pancake batter and the bubbles help give the pancake a little lift as it cooks.

Second, you need to keep the griddle at a lower temperature than you would for dishes like bacon and eggs. I recommend setting it to 350F degrees.

Get Recipe Ingredients

• Clean Griddle: Make sure the surface of your griddle is clean. Apply a little avocado oil and wipe it with a paper towel. Repeat until the paper towel has minimal residue.

• Heat Griddle: Heat your griddle to 350F degrees.

• Make Batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together the pancake mix, soda and water.

• Cook Pancakes: Drizzle a light layer of oil on the griddle. Use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to scoop out batter and pour it onto the preheated griddle. Cook for 2-3 minutes.

• Flip: Once the pancakes starts to rise and form bubbles at the top, flip it over. Continue cooking for 1-2 more minutes or until the bottoms are golden brown.

• Serve: Remove from the griddle and serve with butter, maple syrup or your favorite pancake toppings.

Nutrition information doesn’t include toppings because those can vary greatly. 

Calories: 92kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 149mgPotassium: 58mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 72IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 63mgIron: 0.4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Be sure to rate it, leave a comment and save it so you can make it again. Show off your awesome results on social by tagging @girlscangrill

Ingredients

• Pancake Mix: Sure you can make your own pancake mix blend, but honestly this is so much easier. I usually buy Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake Mix.
• Lemon Lime Soda: The effervsant soda gives the pancakes the extra rise and a touch of sweetness. Sprite, 7-Up or Starry work great. I’ve used Squirt too, but it changes the flavor a bit.
• Water

Substitutions: You can mix other things into your pancake batter like chocolate chips, blueberries, bananas or diced apples. 

See the full recipe card above for servings and a full list of ingredients.

How to cook fluffy pancakes on a griddle

First and foremost, make sure your griddle is clean. Drizzle on a little oil and wipe it down with a paper towel. If the paper towel is black, you’ll need to repeat the process a few times until there is minimal residue.

If you don’t do this step, your pancakes will turn out black and the taste will be tainted.

Once it’s clean, heat your flat top griddle to 350F degrees. If you have a Ninja FlexFlame, remove the grill grates, add the griddle, set the grill function to roast/bake and set the temperature.

1. STEP ONE: In a medium bowl, combine the pancake mix, soda and water. Whisk until smooth and there are no more lumps.

2. STEP TWO: Add a drizzle of avocado oil to your flat top to prevent the pancakes from sticking. Then, use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to scoop up the batter and pour it onto the griddle.

PRO TIP: This recipe yields 6 pancakes. Double it if you want more. 

3. STEP THREE: Once you see the pancakes start to rise and bubbles start to form on top, use a spatula to flip them over. This will take 2-3 minutes. Cook them for 1-2 more minutes and remove from the griddle.

How to serve fluffy pancakes

Transfer the pancakes to individual plates or a platter. Spread each one with butter. I also like to add a pinch of salt. Serve with maple syrup or honey.

Some other fun toppings for pancakes include lemon curd, fresh fruit like strawberries, chocolate syrup or powdered sugar.

Storage

Store leftover pancakes in an airtight container or zip-top bag in the fridge for 2-3 days.

You can also freeze pancakes for a quick grab-and-go breakfast. To do that, let them cool and freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet.

Then, place in a zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat frozen pancakes in the microwave, toaster or air fryer.