Rub for the Holidays — Christmas and New Year's BBQ

Introduction

The holidays are the perfect time for an impressive BBQ dish. A dry rub gives your festive meat a professional bark, deep flavor, and a presentation that will amaze everyone. In this guide, we'll cover the best rubs and dishes for Christmas and New Year's Eve.

The holidays are approaching — choose your package:
→ Starter Pack — 3 rubs of your choice  |  → All-in Pack — all 6 flavors

Christmas BBQ: The Best Dishes with Rub

BBQ Turkey

A smoked turkey is the ultimate Christmas dish for BBQ lovers. The combination of an aromatic rub and slow smoke yields a result that the oven can never match.

Best rub: Memphis BBQ Rub — sweet and smoky, perfectly suited to the mild flavor of turkey. Or Shawarma for a Middle Eastern twist with cinnamon and cumin.

Technique:

• Apply the rub under the skin — this allows the flavor to penetrate the meat directly
• Let marinate overnight in the refrigerator
• Smoke at 160–170°C with apple or cherry wood, 3–4 hours for a whole turkey
• Core temperature: 74°C in the thickest part of the thigh

👉 More about smoking wood: Smoking Wood for BBQ and Smoker

BBQ Leg of Lamb

A leg of lamb is a classic Christmas dish in many European countries. On the BBQ, it gets a smoky bark that the oven cannot provide.

Best rub: Toscana Fire — rosemary and fennel are the classic combination with lamb. Or Shawarma for a Middle Eastern style.

Technique:

• Prick small holes in the meat and rub the rub in deep
• Let marinate for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight
• Cook on indirect heat at 160°C, 2–3 hours
• Core temperature: 57–60°C for medium rare

👉 More about lamb: Lamb on the BBQ — Pulled Lamb, Lamb Shoulder & more

Prime Rib / Côte de Boeuf

An impressive cut of beef is the ultimate Christmas dish for meat lovers. On the BBQ with a dry rub and reverse sear technique, it is unbeatable.

Best rub: Tex-Mex (Texas-style: salt, pepper, coriander) or Memphis BBQ Rub for a sweeter bark.

👉 More about reverse sear: Reverse Sear Method

New Year's Eve BBQ: Quick Festive Dishes

New Year's Eve calls for dishes that are quick to prepare and easy to share — perfect for a reception or party.

Spareribs

Spareribs are the perfect New Year's Eve dish — easy to eat, impressively flavorful, and always a hit.

Best rub: Jamaican Jerk for a festive, spicy twist. Or Memphis BBQ Rub for the classic.

👉 Recipe: Spareribs on the BBQ — 3-2-1 Method

Chicken Wings

Chicken wings are the perfect appetizer for New Year's Eve. Quick to prepare, easy to eat, and irresistible with a spicy rub.

Best rub: Jamaican Jerk or Korean Rub — both give a festive, flavorful crust.

👉 Recipe: Chicken Wings on the BBQ

Roasted Nuts with Rub

The perfect appetizer for New Year's Eve — ready in 15 minutes and always a hit.

👉 More: Rub on Nuts and Snacks — Roasted Nuts with BBQ Rub

Festive Rub Combinations by Season

Tips for BBQ during the Holidays

• Prepare the rub in advance — apply the rub 24 hours before grilling for maximum flavor depth
• Use a meat thermometer — for festive dishes, you don't want to guess
• Expect longer cooking times in winter — the cold extends cooking time by 20–30%
• Pre-cook sous-vide — cook large cuts sous-vide in advance and finish on the BBQ just before serving

👉 More about winter BBQ: BBQ in Winter — Which Rubs Work in Cold Weather?

👉 More about sous-vide: Rub with Sous-vide and BBQ

Summary

• Christmas: turkey (Memphis/Shawarma), leg of lamb (Toscana Fire), prime rib (Tex-Mex)
• New Year's Eve: spareribs (Jamaican Jerk), chicken wings (Korean), nuts
• Apply rub 24 hours in advance for maximum flavor
• Use a meat thermometer and expect longer cooking times in winter

Discover our rubs: Which Rub for Which Meat? | BBQ in Winter | Rub on Game — Deer, Wild Boar & Duck