New Year, New Grilling Goals!

Chef John suggests we push the limits of backyard smoking in 2026, with three flavor-packed recipes sure to be unforgettable.

As we get deeper into January, I start to wonder what new recipes 2026 will bring our way. Everyone immediately thinks about smoked brisket, pork butts, ribs, and BBQ chicken, and those foundational dishes aren’t going anywhere. But don't you want to try more this year? I’m thinking, let's push the boundaries of what you thought you knew about backyard smoking. Let’s explore the range of what is possible to smoke on the recteq and see how this cooking method truly amplifies each dish.

Sweet & Savory Simplicity: Pork Belly Cinnamon Rolls

Everyone loves sweet and savory, right? For the ultimate sweet and savory dish, look no further than recteq’s Pork Belly Cinnamon Rolls! Make your day the recteq way with these sticky, luscious, silky, tender, juicy, sweet Pork Belly Cinnamon Rolls. Have I got you interested yet? This amazing main course is made possible by the combination of pork belly, brown sugar, cinnamon, and maple syrup, all wrapped up in smoke. Wood fired flavor truly ties all these ingredients together and sets the flavor in an incredible way. I promise, this life changing dish will be like no other you’ll try this year!

Lemon Blueberry Bliss: Smoked Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake

Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake might be one of the most unexpected things you’ll cook in your backyard, but with the temperature control of a recteq, the recipe is possible, and even perfectible. Burst of sweet blueberries with the subtle tang of lemon, and a hint of vanilla come together to get your taste buds dancing and singing! The smoke from the recteq adds an undefinable quality that make this coffee cake truly one-of-a-kind. It’s a must-have for that slow, chilly weekend brunch.

Check out Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake and snag our favorite essentials to use for this recipe!

Rich & Indulgent Dessert Nirvana: Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie

Being a Chef From the south and just getting thru the holidays, I admit that I still have pie on the brain. The ultimate pie that encompasses the south, new beginnings, and a flavor that can’t be beat is the Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie! Bourbon, maple syrup, brown sugar, butter, and bacon are staples here in the South and we’ve managed to gather them all together in one pie for the delight of all. Just trust me, clean smoke from the recteq is the subtle star of this pie. If you make it in the oven, it will never be as good as on the recteq. Try this recipe if you’re looking for a new best friend, perfect for holiday mingling.

Check out Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie and snag our favorite essentials to use for this recipe!

To kick off a new year, it’s a great time to rethink what belongs on your smoker. From indulgent sweet-and-savory mains to bakery-worthy desserts, the recteq proves that wood-fired flavor isn’t limited to basic BBQ and traditional burgers and steaks. Go ahead: fire it up, try something unexpected, and let 2026 be the year you smoke outside the box!