BBQ Grilled Brie

Classy French cheese meets American BBQ! Brie takes on a savory new flavor when drizzled with barbecue sauce and grilled with a bit of cherry wood smoke. This easy recipe couldn’t be easier.

Need a simple appetizer that will impress some folks at your next BBQ?

BBQ grilled brie is the answer!

We season the brie with our all-purpose pork rub, then put it in a cast iron skillet on the grill, where it warms slowly over indirect heat with a delicate kiss of cherry wood smoke. 

This barbecued gooey brie is delicious!

What is Brie Cheese?

Brie is a French cheese with a very creamy and buttery texture named for the region of France in which it originates. The soft creamy interior is encompassed by an edible white rind (it’s actually mold). Traditionally, brie is made from cow’s milk, but you can also find it made with goat’s milk. 

Ingredients Needed To Make BBQ Grilled Brie

Brie: You will need at least an 8-ounce wheel of brie. Choose a young brie vs. an aged brie because it will have a firmer texture. Do not substitute for camembert – it will not stand up to the heat and become a puddle in the pan (we know because we tried it).  We usually use PRÉSIDENT, but use whatever brand you like.

Dry Rub: We tested this recipe using our All-Purpose Pork Dry Rub, made of brown sugar, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. However, you can use one of your favorite dry rubs, preferably a low-sodium rub.

BBQ Sauce: Our Classic Barbecue sauce complements the dry rub beautifully. Together they transform the brie into an unforgettable appetizer. You can use whatever barbecue sauce you like.

Bacon: This is a total afterthought, but next time we bbq brie cheese, we are adding bits of crumbly bacon on top!

How To Grill Brie

To make this recipe, you will need a small cast-iron skillet a little larger than the wheel of brie and a couple of small cherry wood chunks.

Here’s a basic overview of how to make bbq grilled brie cheese. The recipe card at the end of this post provides detailed instructions with times and temperatures.

Grill Setup: 

Target Temperature is 350-400 degrees F.

Set up the grill for Indirect heat with a couple of pieces of small cherry wood chunks thrown onto the coals. Indirect heat allows the cheese to cook a little longer and gives the cherry wood a little time to kiss the cheese without being overwhelming. 

Prepare the Brie:

• Cut a crosshatch pattern into the top of the brie, allowing the knife to go about ¼-inch deep but not cut down into the outer edges of the rind. Leaving the outer edge intact will help the cheese keep its composure.
• Rub the brie with dry rub. Gently massage the cuts open so that the rub falls into the cracks.

Grill the Brie:

• Grill the brie over indirect heat for about 15-20 minutes. At this point, the brie should start to open up slightly, allowing the rub to penetrate the cheese.
• Meanwhile, warm the barbecue sauce.
• Drizzle the brie with barbecue sauce. Move the brie over direct heat and cook for 3-5 minutes, then drizzle with barbecue sauce.

How to Serve BBQ Grilled Brie:

Allow the brie to cool slightly and serve warm in the cast-iron pan with crusty grilled bread, flatbread, or crackers. For extra yummy dipping, grill sliced bread over direct heat for 2-3 minutes while the cheese cools.

Best Bread For Grilling and Dipping: ciabatta bread, sourdough bread, and baguette slices are the best grilling slices of bread. They hold their structure when dipping into the cheese very well.

Recipe Tips

• Do not mistake Brie for camembert, which looks similar and is usually packaged the same. Although these two kinds of cheese have the same texture when cold or at room temperature, they can be different animals when exposed to heat. The camembert is more receptive to heat and melts quickly, causing it to lose shape and become runny.
• Use high-heat gloves or oven mitts to remove the pan from the grill. 
• The time is only a reference. Use your best judgment and check the brie after the first 10 minutes and every 2-3 minutes to ensure it doesn’t overcook.
• Make sure the barbecue sauce is warm or at room temperature. Cold sauce with drop the temperature of the brie and make it firm back up.
• Using a larger wheel of brie will take a little longer. Figure about double the amount of time.

Oven-Baked Brie

If something happens and you don’t get outside to grill the brie, bake the brie in the oven by using the same technique but baking the BBQ Brie for 5-7 minutes inside a preheated 350-degree F oven. You just won’t have the delicious grill and cherry wood flavor.

Recipe FAQs

Making this recipe? We’d love to hear your feedback. Leave us a comment and a star rating below. We really appreciate it!

See ya on the mountain!