Looking for ideas to cook outside this holiday season? This guide is a range of holiday recipes from appetizers to main dishes large and small. Great for Hanukkah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa. Grab a glass of wine and peruse some of our favorites. If you are looking for some thanksgiving recipes, then check out our perfect Thanksgiving on the grill and smoker round up.
If you have spent any time on our website you’ll know that we’re all about cooking outside all year round. And anything you can cook inside can be replicated on the grill and smoker. Not only is the flavor more intense, the ease of having a second kitchen outside makes for that much more space.
And whether you are looking for a large gathering idea or something smaller and more intimate, these holiday recipe ideas can be scaled up or down very easily. Just imagine a beautifully plated line up of some of these treats… now let’s get grilling.
There is nothing more satisfying during a holiday meal than a great cocktail that is easy to make and can yield a good amount of servings. Just make these in advance and have them ready to mix versus making one at a time.
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Bourbon Spiked Hot Apple Cider Recipe
A soothing and comforting spiked apple cider made with Bourbon. Can be served warm or cold over ice.
Mulled Wine is a comforting festive drink made from a blend of red wine, spices, and citrus, served warm. This holiday classic recipe is easy to make and is a great cocktail for winter parties.
Ginger Pomegranate Spritz is a loose take on a classic cocktail. This refreshing drink is made with ginger beer, pomegranate flavored Italian soda, fresh lime, vodka, and some fresh herbs. It's the perfect refreshing holiday cocktail this season.
When we gather for the holidays, some of it is all about the experience, like having a fire pit going outside and roasting chestnuts over the coals. Or plating items that are easy to make in scale and then cut into smaller bites.
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Roasted Chestnuts over Open Fire
An easy recipe for roasting chestnuts over an open fire of charcoal or embers.
Grilled Bacon Wrapped Dates with Honey and Goat Cheese
Stuffed with goat cheese, these dates are then wrapped with bacon and then grilled over direct heat. These dates are finished with a smoked honey glaze and create the very best finger food at any party.
Smoked Cranberry Meatballs in a Cranberry Red Wine Sauce
A simple, delicious, and elegant appetizer idea for the holidays. Smoked meatballs made with pork and beef, cooked on the smoker, and then braised in a sweet and savory cranberry wine sauce.
A delicious appetizer recipe for smoked salmon dip made with salmon cooked on a smoker, then mixed into a creamy indulgent dip. This is a great smoked salmon appetizer for any occasion. Includes wine pairings.
Roasting almonds using a low and slow method to get an amazing smoky flavor and crunch. We add a touch of extra virgin olive oil and kosher salt to finish.
It’s no secret that Prime Rib is such a hit through the holiday season. And this is one of our favorite recipes every year. The tender and delicious meaty flavor combined with a herb crust or a compound butter will make the flavor really stand out.
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Smoked Prime Rib Recipe
How to cook a prime rib on a smoker. Including recipe and video tutorial on smoking the perfect prime rib for any kind of smoker, including pellet smokers. Comes with wine pairing recommendations.
Smoked Prime Rib Recipe with Horseradish Compound Butter
Slowly smoked and then seared with a high heat, this Prime Rib is tender, and juicy. Finish with a horseradish compound butter as an extra flavor element.
Truly the Best Smoked Turkey recipe, packed with flavor, from a bourbon citrus brine, to an herbed butter, to a great turkey seasoning. Rated as the best turkey brines for smoking, this is the juiciest and most flavorful turkey ever.
Smoked Ham is the perfect meal for any holiday, like Christmas or Easter dinner. This brown sugar glaze is absolutely incredible over the top of your smoked ham!
If the crowds are a little smaller this year, these elegant dishes still come with amazing flavor. These are all worthy of standing up to their larger cousins for an impressive holiday dinner.
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Smoked Lamb Chops Recipe
Smoked Lamb Chops cooked low on the smoker for flavor and then finished grilled hot and fast. Cut into an individual lollipop for an elegant appetizer or serve two for an entrée.
Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Fried Sage Butter Sauce
Grilled pork tenderloin is as easy as cooking the meat hot and fast and then adding a drizzle of sage butter for a tender and perfect Grilled Pork Tenderloin. A quick and easy weeknight meal or elegant family dinner.
Grilled Filet Mignon with Mushroom Brown Butter Sauce Recipe
Filet Mignon with Mushroom Brown Butter Sauce is a fantastic steak recipe for a special occasion or holiday meal. Filet Mignon is incredibly tender with a buttery flavor and topped with a decadent brown butter mushroom sauce, your mouth will water for days.
We'll email this to you AND teach you how to smoke the perfect turkey.
Holiday Side Dishes
Side dishes will elevate any main dish. But keep it simple. Consider 2 – 3 sides to accompany your main dish. Just scale up if more people come over.
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Easy Skillet Dinner Rolls Recipe (on the Grill)
These amazing and simple homemade dinner rolls are ready and baked in under 90 minutes, and grilled indirect. Prepared in a cast iron skillet and cooked on the grill for the best flavor for your holiday meals.
Slowly roasted potatoes tossed in delicious duck fat and finished with freshly shaved parmesan and fresh thyme. Soft on the inside and crispy exterior as the perfect side for a roast of brunch.
A simple and delicious grilled romaine Caesar salad elevated with some smoky crispy pancetta (or bacon), grilled lemon, and grilled baguette slices to sub for croutons, and instructions on how to grill romaine lettuce.
Grilled Brussels Sprouts Recipe With Bacon and Balsamic
Grilled Brussels Sprouts are the ultimate vegetable side dish! When you add bacon and balsamic to your Brussels this grilled side dish is over-the-top.
Grilled Carrots with a Honey Brown Sugar Glaze are a fantastic side dish to any holiday or casual meal. Perfect side dish for Easter or Christmas dinner or summer grilling season.
Grilled Broccolini Recipe with Grilled Lemon and Parmesan
Grilled Broccolini is tender and delicious and grills fast and easy. Broccolini is so much better than broccoli on the grill and may just become your new go-to side dish for summer cookouts or holiday dinners!
If you still have room, how about these make ahead desserts. Just make them the day before and you’re ready to focus on hanging out with friends and family.
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Grilled Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie Recipe
An easy grilled pecan pie recipe where we substitute maple syrup for the corn syrup and add a dash of bourbon for flare.
How to make a chocolate pot de crème with a smoky undertone. Smoke milk and cream to create a rich smokiness, then combine with the remaining ingredients for an easy, silky, and indulgent no-bake Chocolate Pot de Crème
How to make a traditional apple crisp on the grill. Grilled Apple Crisp is going to become your new favorite fall dessert! It's also the perfect dessert for Thanksgiving dinner!
If you’re serving wine with your holiday roasts, here is your full guide to Pairing Wine with Holiday Roasts as well as a few other resources for the holidays.
If you like these recipes we’d truly appreciate it if you would give this recipe a star review! And if you share any of your pics on Instagram use the hashtag #vindulge. We LOVE to see it when you cook our recipes.
I'm Mary, a wine/food/travel writer, Certified Sommelier, mom of twins, former vegetarian turned BBQ fanatic, runner, founder of Vindulge, and author of Fire + Wine cookbook. Thanks for stopping by!
