The Great Aussie Backyard Spit Roast: Christmas Edition

If you are lucky enough to have a backyard and an Auspit, then Christmas lunch does not have to mean sweating over a hot stove or juggling oven trays inside a cramped kitchen. This year, take it outside. Fire up the coals, let the spit spin, and create a festive feast that is full of flavour and surprisingly easy to manage.

Backyard spit roasting is a classic Australian tradition, and at Christmas, it becomes something truly special. With the shade of a tree or the comfort of a pop-up gazebo, the scent of garlic and rosemary on the breeze, and the gentle rotation of your roast over glowing coals, you can set the tone for a relaxed and memorable celebration.

Make The Switch From Kitchen To Coals

Traditional Christmas meals are beautiful, but they often come with stress. Managing multiple dishes and juggling oven timers is the last thing you want on a hot summer day.

With the Auspit, you can keep your festive menu impressive while freeing yourself from the kitchen. The best part is, you do not have to give up on tradition. You can simply reimagine it with fire-cooked flavour and less effort.

Here are three standout main courses that suit a backyard Christmas perfectly.

Spit-Roasted Lamb With Mint And Garlic

Choose a boneless leg or shoulder and rub it generously with garlic, olive oil, mint, and lemon zest. Let it marinate overnight for maximum flavour, then cook it over moderate heat for around two and a half to three hours. The result is tender, juicy lamb with a subtle festive edge that requires no oven trays or kitchen stress.

Crackling Pork Shoulder

Score the skin, pat it dry, and rub it with salt and oil. Mount the pork securely on the spit and cook it slowly over a steady charcoal base. You will need about three and a half to four hours depending on the size of the roast. Keep the heat consistent and indirect to achieve golden, crispy crackling and soft, flavourful meat that rivals any glazed ham.

Whole Fish With Summer Herbs

For something lighter, or if you are celebrating by the coast, try a whole snapper or barramundi. Stuff the fish with lemon, dill, fennel, and parsley. Cook it gently for under thirty minutes and you will have a beautifully smoky centrepiece that feels festive and fresh.

How To Keep The Cook Stress-Free

Christmas should feel easy, not overwhelming. With a few simple steps, your spit roast can run like clockwork.

Start early in the day to avoid cooking in the peak heat and allow yourself plenty of time. Assign small roles to your guests, such as topping up drinks or checking the coals, so you are not left doing everything on your own. Use a charcoal tray or fire drum to keep the heat steady and manageable. If you have a drip tray, put it underneath the meat to catch fat and help prevent flare-ups.

Once your meat is spinning, you are free to enjoy the morning with your guests while the fire does its thing.

Keep Guests Happy While The Roast Cooks

While the spit does its job, give your guests a space to relax and enjoy themselves. Set up an esky or drinks tub close by with plenty of ice, and provide shade through umbrellas, trees, or a gazebo.

Offer some easy nibbles like crackers, olives, cold prawns, or a fresh fruit platter. Keep the mood light with music and maybe even a few backyard games to keep the kids busy.

Creating a laid-back environment means everyone, including the cook, gets to enjoy the day.

Sides That Make The Meal Shine

You do not need ten sides to impress. Choose fresh, simple dishes that complement your roast and suit the summer heat.

Some perfect options include:

• Herbed potato salad with chives and wholegrain mustard
• Grilled zucchini, capsicum, and eggplant with feta and lemon dressing
• Mango, cucumber, and rocket salad
• Charred corn on the cob with lime butter
• Homemade damper or crusty bread rolls for soaking up those juices

These sides can be made in advance and served at room temperature, making life easier on the day.

A Backyard Roast With A Christmas Feel

This Christmas, trade the hot kitchen for a shady backyard and fire-roasted flavour. With the Auspit running smoothly, you can serve up impressive, delicious food without the usual stress.

Whether it is lamb with mint, pork with crackling, or a fresh whole fish, your guests will remember the meal for all the right reasons.

Gather your family, fire up the coals, and let the simplicity of outdoor cooking create a Christmas you will want to repeat year after year.