17 Best Christmas BBQ Ideas & Recipes (Grilling, Smoking & More) (2024)

Check out this huge list of some of the best Christmas BBQ ideas out there on the web. From classic Christmas recipes to ideas perfect for this year’s holiday BBQ party, we’ve got it all covered.

17 Best Christmas BBQ Ideas & Recipes (Grilling, Smoking & More) (1)

Table Of Contents

  1. Grilled Prime Rib Roast
  2. Double Smoked Spiral Ham
  3. Seitan Negimaki
  4. Rotisserie Turkey
  5. Apple Pecan Smoked Turkey Breast
  6. Smoked Lamb Chops
  7. Smoked Lobster Tails
  8. Pork Crown Roast on the Grill
  9. Grilled Pork Tenderloin
  10. Smoked Prime Rib Roast
  11. Smoked Whole Ham
  12. Smoked Pork Shoulder
  13. Grilled Marinated Lamb Chops
  14. Grilled Ham with Apple Cola Jalapeño Glaze
  15. Smoked Brisket

The Christmas meal is one of the biggest of the year, and while we all have instant classics we all fall back on, there’s also a lot of room for experimentation and new ideas.

The BBQ grill is one of the best places to start. You might think of it as just a tool for the summer, but it can work all year round and make grilled food recipes that are far superior to your indoor kitchen.

Ditch the oven and let’s get grilling with these 17 Christmas grilling ideas for you to try this year.

Want more holiday BBQ ideas? Check out our guide to the best Thanksgiving BBQ recipes and ideas.

Grilled Prime Rib Roast

17 Best Christmas BBQ Ideas & Recipes (Grilling, Smoking & More) (2)

Where better to start than with a beautiful cut of beef?

Prime rib and ribeye can both be tricky because you need to get just on the right side of tender and rare but, oh boy, is it worth the effort.

And with this garlic butter herb take on the meat, it’s easy to see why.

Alyssa’s recipe calls for oven roasting it for an hour, but if you want to smoke it then I recommend 3-4 hours at 225°F (107°C) for the best results.

Whichever way you decide to go, you’ll end up with a delicious and tender cut of prime beef.

Check it out

Double Smoked Spiral Ham

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No list of grilled or smoked Christmas recipes would be complete without a glazed ham on it.

Prepared with a sweet and spicy glaze, the natural flavors of the ham are elevated to a whole new level with this smoked spiral ham recipe.

Smoked at 250°F for 4 hours over apple wood, the ham is slowly brought to temperature while resting in its juices. Mouthwateringly delicious.

Seitan Negimaki

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Now for something completely different. This vegan finger food is the perfect appetizer for the season, even for people who don’t live the most meat-free lifestyles. Seitan wrapped around scallions makes this simple, easy, but oh so delicious. Topped with hoisin and sriracha, they’re packed full of flavor.

Check it out

Grilled Asparagus Plate & Cilantro Pepita Pesto

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If you’ve ever felt like vegetables around the holidays are dull then look no further than this grilled asparagus plate.

Grilled over medium heat for under 10 minutes, they’re rustled up in no time before then being topped with a beautiful cilantro pepita pesto.

Check it out

Grilled Corn & Cheddar Quinoa

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This is much more than just your obligatory grilled corn side dish. Served with quinoa and white cheese, this is a dish that offers crunch and cream all in good measure.

It’s made with just a handful of ingredients, but packs in so much more flavor than your standard corn fare.

Check it out

Rotisserie Turkey

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Rotisserie add-ons are a great way to open up low and slow cooking on gas grills, making it much easier to replicate the fun that charcoal or smoker users get to have.

This smoked turkey is stuffed with apple and garlic, marinated in herb butter, and then cooked on the rotisserie for three hours.

A herb-infused, slow-roasted grilled turkey that’s worthy of any Christmas table.

Check it out

Apple Pecan Smoked Turkey Breast

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Pecan and apple are two of the best woods for smoking turkey, so it should come as no surprise to see their flavors mixed together in this beautiful sauce.

This recipe uses beautiful maple syrup and brown sugar brine to prepare the turkey, before coating it in a paprika and mustard rub. It’s then smoked for 12 hours to slowly bring it to temperature.

It’s a lot of work, but I promise that it’s more than worth it.

Check it out

Smoked Lamb Chops

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There aren’t many BBQ cuts of meats that are as underrated as lamb. Whether it’s a grilled leg of lamb or these smoked lamb chops, it’s a unique type of meat.

This recipe uses a spice rub paste to give the meat a bit of a kick and combines ingredients like mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme. It’s a beautiful, rich, earthy blend of flavors. If you’ve never made a rack of lamb before then this amazing recipe is definitely the right place to start.

Smoked Lobster Tails

17 Best Christmas BBQ Ideas & Recipes (Grilling, Smoking & More) (10)

Smoked lobster tails might sound daunting, but they’re much easier than they might seem. Not only that, but they’re much cheaper to cook at home than they would be to have out at a restaurant.

These beautiful cuts of lobster tail are juicy, tender, and delicious. Served with a blend of garlic, lemon, and butter, you won’t have had anything like this before.

Pork Crown Roast on the Grill

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This pork crown is regal by name and regal by nature. Cut from the pork loin and served with the ribs, the whole thing is arranged into a crown to give you the perfect holiday grilling centerpiece.

Check it out

Grilled Pork Tenderloin

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It might not be everyone’s go-to cut of pork, but tenderloin is a tender cut of meat that deserves its place at any holiday dinner table.

Pork tenderloin can need between two and three hours to smoke, but the results are more than worth the wait.

This recipe uses a beer and mustard marinade to infuse the pork with the perfect flavor profile before being thrown onto the smoker and turned into juicy and tender pork.

Check it out

Smoked Prime Rib Roast

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This delicious barbecue smoked prime rib has a dark and smoky crust and intense flavors inside that sink deep into each bite. Prepared with a simple BBQ dry rub before cooked low and slow over hickory smoke, this tender barbecue beef is a magnificent centerpiece for weekends or parties.

Smoked Whole Ham

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This smoked section of pork leg or thigh is brined overnight before smoked over pecan wood chips for a deliciously sweet, smoky flavor.

If that wasn’t enough, it’s served with a honey and butter glaze to cut through the natural saltiness of the pork.

Ready to get going? Here’s how to smoke a raw ham.

Smoked Pork Shoulder

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This smoked pork shoulder is great for smoking low and slow over apple wood, before then serving up to be used for your favorite pulled pork dish.

Pro tip: One of the big differences between pork butt and pork shoulder is the low fat content in the latter, which makes it important that you brine your pork shoulder before smoking it.

Check it out

Grilled Marinated Lamb Chops

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If you’ve ever doubted the power of a good marinade, then this recipe is the perfect example of why you need to start using them today.

Marinated with garlic, rosemary and oregano overnight, this lamb is soaked with flavor before grilled over high heat to give it a beautiful seared finish.

Check it out

Grilled Ham with Apple Cola Jalapeño Glaze

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Nothing screams holiday grilling as much as a glazed smoked ham.

This recipe creates an apple cola jalapeño glaze (trust me, it’s as delicious as it looks!), and is slowly poured over a slow-cooked ham that’s practically dripping in flavor.

Check it out

Smoked Brisket

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There aren’t many types of smoked meat that are as iconic as smoked beef brisket.

It requires everything that’s great about barbecue smoking. Proper preparation in cutting and trimming brisket, brining it well, and using a good rub. This is then followed by choosing a good brisket wood, and cooking it low and slow for hours until perfectly smoked through.

There’s nothing quite like it. Learn how to smoke brisket in our guide.

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17 Best Christmas BBQ Ideas & Recipes (Grilling, Smoking & More) (2024)

FAQs

What to cook on the grill for Christmas? ›

Here are some fan favorites for you to try.
  1. Prime Rib Roasts. These recipes are all fan favorites: ...
  2. Beef Tenderloin. 6 flavor tips for beef tenderloin. ...
  3. Ham. Smoke your ham with pecan woods. ...
  4. Turkey. This brine and Gravy turkey is always a fan favorite. ...
  5. Duck. Try a rotisserie duck. ...
  6. Seafood. Give this scallop recipe a try. ...
  7. Brisket.

What is a family BBQ must have? ›

Editor's choice
  1. Dill and buttermilk chicken legs. 0 comments.
  2. Barbecued Greek lamb burger. 0 comments.
  3. Quick coriander flatbreads. ...
  4. Corn with Parmesan and basil butter. ...
  5. Steak quesadillas with charred tomato salsa. ...
  6. Blackened spiced spatchco*ck chicken. ...
  7. Beef and chorizo burritos with avocado salsa. ...
  8. Cherry s'more campfire cones.

How to do a bbq for lots of people? ›

The DO's
  1. DO choose dishes that have minimal prep time. ...
  2. DO barbecue large cuts of meat for big groups. ...
  3. DO figure out how much BBQ meat you need. ...
  4. DO as much preparation ahead of time as you can. ...
  5. DO set up a hot dog bar. ...
  6. DO enlist help.

What is a good meat to smoke for Christmas dinner? ›

But chicken is always amazing off the smoker, and when you add a little barbecue sauce, it becomes pure comfort food that is perfect for the holidays. Ooh, our mouths are watering already. Prime rib is a holiday classic, and when you've had it smoked, you just might never go back to roasting.

What is the most popular BBQ food? ›

Hamburgers and steaks are traditionally the most common food item thrown on the grill, although there are so many more options for what to serve at a barbeque.

What are two essential items for a barbecue? ›

Tools and Gear
  • Grill or smoker. Any kind will do! ...
  • Spatula and tongs. For flipping burgers, hot dogs, veggies, buns. ...
  • Fuel: charcoal, wood, pellets, kerosene.
  • Lighter or long matches.
  • Heat-resistant gloves. No need to burn yourself.
  • Apron. For that classic barbecue look!
  • Thermometer. Necessary for perfection!
  • Timer.

How many pieces of meat per person BBQ? ›

In general, each pound of BBQ feeds 3 to 4 people, especially if you're serving sides. You can expect most adult guests to eat ¼ to ⅓ pounds of meat each during your event. Adults will likely be drinking, grazing on snacks, and filling up on sides, too.

How many pounds of BBQ do I need for 20 people? ›

How much BBQ for 20 people: 8 pounds (128 oz) of meat total (2 meats recommended)

What to cook for 20 guests? ›

Feed-a-crowd recipes
  • Spiced salmon with traybaked sag aloo. ...
  • Chicken Provençal. ...
  • Chicken gyros. ...
  • Sharing bavette with blue cheese, beef dripping wedges & ranch salad. ...
  • Sticky tamarind tomato & spinach whirl. ...
  • Summer vegetable & flatbread platter with dill & mustard dip. ...
  • Spring sharing board. ...
  • Waste-nothing loaded potato wedges.

What should I cook for 20 people? ›

19 Ideas For Easy Meals For Large Groups
  • Taco Bar.
  • Meatballs.
  • Butter Chicken.
  • Lasagna.
  • Chili.
  • Homemade Pizza.
  • Baked Pasta.
  • Skewers.
Apr 4, 2023

What is a cheap thing to bring to a BBQ? ›

Beans, chips, macaroni salad, grilled veggies, slaw, potato salad and watermelon are just a few examples of BBQ side staples that are budget-friendly crowd favorites.

What to grill for the holidays? ›

Either way, if you use your grill to make it, no one will be disappointed with your meal.
  1. Rotisserie Turkey.
  2. Charcoal Turkey.
  3. Salt Platter Turkey.
  4. Prime Rib Roast.
  5. Beef Wellington.
  6. Roast Leg of Lamb.
  7. Porchetta.
  8. Smoked Brisket.

What are 3 food items that are popular for Christmas dinner? ›

They cover the savory side of Christmas dinner, from prime rib, baked ham, and roast turkey to scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce.

What foods are most suitable for grilling? ›

Grilling is a cooking method that involves placing food, typically meat or vegetables, on a grill or grate over an open flame or heat source. Common foods cooked by grilling include: 1. **Meat:** Steaks, burgers, sausages, chicken breasts, pork chops, and kebabs are popular choices for grilling.

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