Texas Smoked Brisket
The quintessential Texas BBQ experience: a whole beef brisket seasoned generously with a simple salt and pepper rub, then smoked low and slow over wood until a deep, dark bark forms and the meat becomes incredibly tender and juicy.
🧂 Ingredients
- 6 kg Whole packer brisket
- 4 tbsp Coarse black pepper
- 4 tbsp Kosher salt
- sufficient for smoking Oak or mesquite wood chunks/logs
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Brisket: Trim any hard, thick pieces of fat from the sides and bottom of the brisket. Leave a uniform layer of fat about 1/4-inch thick across the entire top surface (the 'fat cap'). This fat will render and baste the meat during the long cook. For a cleaner presentation, you can trim the hard deckle fat between the point and flat, but be careful not to remove too much.
⏱️ 30 minutes - 2
Apply the Rub: Generously and evenly coat the entire brisket with the coarse black pepper and Kosher salt. Ensure all surfaces, including the sides and ends, are covered. Some pitmasters like to let the rub sit for 15-30 minutes to allow the salt to begin drawing out moisture, creating a paste that adheres better.
⏱️ 15 minutes - 3
Preheat Smoker: Prepare your smoker for indirect heat. Aim for a stable temperature of 110°C (230°F). Add your chosen wood chunks or logs to generate a clean, thin blue smoke. Avoid thick white smoke, which can impart a bitter flavor.
- 4
Initial Smoke (The Bark Phase): Place the brisket in the smoker, fat-side up (this is traditional in Texas, allowing the rendering fat to baste the meat). Smoke for approximately 6-8 hours, or until a deep mahogany-colored, firm bark has formed. The bark should feel slightly tacky and resist easily being rubbed off. Monitor the smoker temperature closely and maintain it between 107°C and 121°C (225°F - 250°F).
⏱️ 6-8 hours - 5
Wrap the Brisket (The Stall Phase): Once the bark is set, it's time to wrap the brisket. This helps push through the 'stall' (a period where the internal temperature plateaus due to evaporative cooling) and keeps the brisket moist. Lay out a large piece of unwaxed butcher paper. Place the brisket in the center, fat-side up, and wrap it tightly, creating a secure package. You can add a little beef broth or tallow inside the wrap for extra moisture if desired.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 6
Continue Smoking: Return the wrapped brisket to the smoker, still fat-side up. Continue cooking at the same temperature (110°C / 230°F) until the internal temperature reaches 96°C (205°F) and the brisket probes tender. "Probe tender" means a thermometer probe or skewer slides into the thickest part of the flat with very little resistance, like pushing into room-temperature butter. This can take another 6-8 hours, sometimes longer.
⏱️ 6-8+ hours - 7
Rest the Brisket: This is a critical step! Once probe tender, carefully remove the brisket from the smoker. Keep it wrapped in the butcher paper. Place the wrapped brisket into a clean cooler (without ice) or an oven set to its lowest temperature (around 60-70°C / 140-160°F). Let it rest for a minimum of 1-2 hours, but ideally 3-4 hours. Resting allows the muscle fibers to relax and reabsorb moisture, resulting in a much juicier and tender brisket.
⏱️ 1-4 hours - 8
Slice and Serve: Unwrap the brisket. Separate the point and the flat if desired. Slice the flat against the grain into pencil-thick slices. The point can be sliced against the grain or cubed for 'burnt ends'. Serve immediately.
⏱️ 15 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Fat side up is a traditional Texas method, believed to help baste the meat as it renders.
- ✓The 'stall' is a natural part of the smoking process where moisture evaporating from the surface cools the meat. Wrapping helps overcome this.
- ✓Patience is key. Don't rush the cook or the rest. The resting period is as crucial as the cooking time for achieving optimal tenderness and juiciness.
- ✓Use a reliable leave-in meat thermometer to monitor internal temperature accurately. Probe tenderness is the ultimate indicator of doneness.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- The classic Texas style uses only salt and pepper for the rub, allowing the beef and smoke flavors to shine.
- For a slightly different flavor profile, consider adding a small amount of garlic powder or onion powder to the salt and pepper rub.
- Some pitmasters experiment with different wood types like hickory or pecan, though oak and mesquite are most traditional for Texas brisket.