Epic Holiday Appetizers from the Grill

When it comes to making the holidays delicious, there’s no better place to start than right in your own backyard as you fill up your hopper and turn on your recteq! Chances are, you’ve already mastered the main courses and sides that are going to go viral in your home this holiday season. Maybe you’re planning an expertly smoked spatchcocked turkey with stuffing and all the fixings, an unbelievably tender brisket with bacon wrapped asparagus on the side, or a show-stopping holiday porterhouse steak served alongside flavorful roasted carrots. No matter how you plan your menu, a recteq wood fired grill is the easiest way to upgrade your holiday table and that goes for every bite you’ll be serving this season – including appetizers that will truly impress any guest. Here are a few of our team’s favorite appetizer options as you host simple and delicious events this season!

Smoked Sausage Apple Balls
These bite-sized bombs are the sweet-and-savory star of the snack table: smoky sausage, savory cheese, and little pops of apple all rolled together with a pop of with Ron’s Screamin’ Pig Rub. A quick cruise on the recteq turns them golden and juicy, and that maple syrup finish takes them straight into “make-a-double-batch” territory.

Smoked Cheezy Poppers
If your crew loves cheese (and let’s be real—who doesn’t?), these poppers are a guaranteed win, stuffed to the brim and wrapped in bacon for that smoky-crispy payoff. Low-and-slow on the recteq renders the bacon just right while the filling melts perfectly.

Spiced Nuts
These are the kind of snack that disappears before the party even gets started—mixed nuts tossed in bold Durty Gurl Bloody Mary Rub (or Screamin’ Pig) and smoked until they’re toasty and fragrant. They’re ridiculously easy, full of protein, and that subtle recteq smoke makes them feel indulgent, despite the simplicity!

Baked Brie with Prosciutto, Cranberries & Pralines
This one’s pure party magic: a wheel of brie stuffed and topped with sweet-tart cranberries, crunchy pecans/pralines, and salty prosciutto for the perfect festive taste. The recteq bakes it up warm and melty with a smoky edge, so every scoop feels like a true treat.

Spicy Smoked Cream Cheese
Simple, smoky, and a little fiery—this is the dip that will have folks gathering by the recteq asking, “Is it ready yet?” A slow, low smoke softens this into a creamy, spreadable crowd-pleaser that’s killer with crackers, chips, or added to a charcuterie board.

Roasted Mushroom & Brie Crescent Wreath
It’s the centerpiece you’ve been wishing for! A showstopper that’s also comfort food, this wreath layers savory roasted mushrooms and rich brie inside buttery crescent dough for an eye-catching, mouth-watering dish you can pull apart and devour. Baked on the recteq, it comes out golden and gorgeous—perfect for holiday hangs or game-day grazing.

recteq Butter Board
This is snack-board energy leveled up: smoked, softened butter swiped across a board and fancied up with your favorite recteq toppings for a choose-your-own-bite situation. Serve it with toasted baguette (or whatever bread you’ve got), and watch it turn into the quickest crowd favorite of the night. What could be “butter” than that?

We’d love to hear about how it goes when you serve your holiday appetizers this year! From smoky, melty, crispy bites to sweet-and-savory crowd-pleasers, every one of these recipes is built for easy prep, big flavor, and that unmistakable wood-fired finish. So load up the hopper, ready the rubs, and get hungry for the best kind of holiday tradition—the one where everyone gathers around the recteq and keeps coming back for more.