Smoked Beef Brisket

Smoked Beef Brisket has a long history in the United States dating back to the indigenous people of southern Texas and this is how to make the best brisket with several cooking methods below to teach you how.

Brisket is the meat of choice for a slow-smoking barbecue in Texas and is often considered the “National Dish of Texas.

When cooked correctly, it's a tender juicy delicious meat with a great dark outer coating that is irresistible in flavors, texture, and the best meat for any outdoor picnic and get-together!

We love grilling, or smoking and this can also be made in the oven, instant pot, or slow cooker, just remember one thing, slow and low.

The meat is very tough if you don't cook it slowly, just read all the tips before starting and you will have the best barbecue ever!

This meat tastes great with my coffee rub below or you can make your own rub of whatever you prefer there are plenty of store-bought rubs on the market for smoking beef briskets and other meats.

Other barbecue recipes we love that go great with this meal is corn on the cob, 15 Beans Cowboy Style, and my Southwest style potato salad.

To get started just scroll to the recipe card and print this off, don't forget and read the tips.

this is a 12 pound beef brisket with coffee rub and beer and sliced thin for sandwiches on a cutting board

What Is Beef Brisket?

Brisket is a tough cut of meat, but this toughness turns into a yummy cut of meat when it's cooked correctly and slow cooking which gives the meat a chance to break down the connective tissue into a slice of tender meat.

Beef brisket is the cut we know and love for pastrami, corned beef, smoked barbecue brisket so the cut of meat comes in two style flat cut and point cut.

Unless you’re barbecuing the whole brisket, nine times out of 10 you’re just going to need a cut.

The whole brisket is less expensive per pound however if you do that ask the butcher cut it into a flat and point cut for you.

The flat cut is larger and more evenly shaped, usually a rectangle, and has a layer of fat on one side.

Flat cuts of brisket are ideal for classic oven-baked brisket, slow cooker brisket.

The pointcut is more marbled through and it also has more connective tissue and an irregular shape.

Pointcut brisket works well for slow-braised beef that will be shredded for sandwiches and barbecues.

this is a 12 pound beef brisket with coffee rub and beer the juice is running off the meat as it is sitting for 1 hour after cooking sliced on a cutting board

Tips for Smoked Brisket

Select your brisket this one is 12 to 13 pounds
Plan on purchasing a whole packer brisket with both the point and flat muscle included.
The grade of your meat matters, prime beef will have more fat marbling which has an abundant more amount flavor than choice meats.
Buy about 1/2 pound (or more) of brisket per person you are serving.
Trim the brisket.
Use a good seasoning
Either side up is fine
Cover with foil
See many options below for cooking from slow cookers to smokers
Always rest the brisket before slicing

this is a 12 pound beef brisket with coffee rub and beer

Other Meats To Try Using my Coffee Rub

cooking times will vary

Pork Roast Tenderloin
Prime Rib
Venison Wrapped in Bacon
Chicken Breasts
Mahi Mahi

Cooking Methods

Slow Cooking brown meat first, season outside generously, a few drops of liquid smoke then slow cook 8 to 12 hour in 1 cup beer
Instant Pot Pressure Cooking Method same method as above for slow cooker except for cook time will be for 1 hour and 15 minutes check for tenderness
Oven RoastingOven Roasting Use a Reynolds Cooking Bag (poke holes in the bag around 6), season meat, add liquid smoke, and cook to package instructions
Electric Smoker Method season, cover with foil add wood chips, water to the tray in the smoker, set to 225 degrees cook for a 12-13 pound briskets to reach 202 degrees inside use an instant thermometer to read a temp in the thickest parts
Gas Grill smokers use the same method as electric but keep checking the internal temperature of meat it should reach 202 degrees with a thermometer

Ingredients and Things You Will Need for the Brisket and

beef brisket
beer
apple juice or water for the tray in an electric smoker
foil aluminum pan big enough for brisket
an internal instant meat thermometer
wood chips of choice we like pecan the best, then oak or apple chips
for the homemade coffee rub recipe see below

this is a slow cooker rump roast fork tender in a crock pot with a marsala sauce mushroom gravy that it makes while slow cooking till fork tender . this beef is sliced thick so not to fall apart its so easy to make and melts in your mouth fork tender

The Ingredients for Coffee Brisket Rub

see the printable recipe card for exact amounts

coarse salt
instant coffee
garlic powder
smoked paprika
pepper
crushed coriander
onion powder
chili powder
cayenne

this is a homemade coffee rub for a beef brisket in a white glass dish

Other Recipes to Try

Pork Belly Burnt Ends

Oven Smoked Pork

Pin for later

Don't Miss Trying This Easy Smoked Brisket Recipe

I know it can seem intimidating to make at home, however, this is so simple to make, just
pick a cooking method.

The meat will be tender and juicy, just remember our motto, cook it slow and low!

Happy Cooking!