Welcome to the ultimate guide to cooking a mouthwatering East Texas-style brisket. This iconic dish is known for its tender, juicy meat and smoky, flavorful crust. Whether you're a seasoned pitmaster or a culinary novice, this comprehensive article has everything you need to create a brisket that will impress your family and friends. We'll take you through selecting the perfect cut of meat, preparing it for the smoker, choosing the right wood and spices, and monitoring the cooking process to achieve that perfect balance of tenderness and flavor. So, fire up your smoker, grab your apron, and let's embark on this delicious journey of creating an East Texas-style brisket that will be the star of your next barbecue gathering.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
TEXAS-STYLE BEEF BRISKET
A friend had success with this recipe, so I tried it. When my husband told me how much he loved it, I knew I'd be making it often.—Vivian Warner, Elkhart, Kansas
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 6h55m
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- In a large bowl or shallow dish, combine the Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, bay leaves, garlic, celery salt, pepper and, if desired, liquid smoke. Cut brisket in half; add to bowl and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight., Transfer beef to a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker; add broth and bay leaves. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until tender., For sauce, in a small saucepan, saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the remaining ingredients; heat through., Remove brisket from the slow cooker; discard bay leaves. Place 1 cup cooking juices in a measuring cup; skim fat. Add to the barbecue sauce. Discard remaining juices., Return brisket to the slow cooker; top with sauce mixture. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Thinly slice beef across the grain; serve with sauce. Freeze option: Place individual portions of sliced brisket in freezer containers; top with barbecue sauce. Cool and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a covered saucepan, gently stirring and adding a little water if necessary.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 381 calories, Fat 12g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 96mg cholesterol, Sodium 548mg sodium, Carbohydrate 18g carbohydrate (14g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 47g protein.
TEXAS-STYLE BRISKET
This is the quintessential Texas-style brisket. Even my husband's six-generation Texas family is impressed by it! Grilling with wood chips takes a little extra effort, but I promise you'll be glad you did. Each bite tastes like heaven on a plate. -Renee Morgan, Taylor, Texas
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 6h35m
Yield 20 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Trim fat on brisket to 1/2-inch thickness. Rub brisket with pepper and salt; place in a large disposable foil pan, fat side up. Refrigerate, covered, several hours or overnight. Meanwhile, soak wood chips in water., To prepare grill for slow indirect cooking, adjust grill vents so top vent is half open and bottom vent is open only a quarter of the way. Make 2 arrangements of 45 unlit coals on opposite sides of the grill, leaving the center of the grill open. Light 20 additional coals until ash-covered; distribute over unlit coals. Sprinkle 2 cups soaked wood chips over lit coals., Replace grill rack. Close grill and allow temperature in grill to reach 275°, about 15 minutes., Place foil pan with brisket in center of grill rack; cover grill and cook 3 hours (do not open grill). Check temperature of grill periodically to maintain a temperature of 275° throughout cooking. Heat level may be adjusted by opening vents to raise temperature and closing vents partway to decrease temperature., Add another 10 unlit coals and 1 cup wood chips to each side of the grill. Cook brisket, covered, 3-4 hours longer or until fork-tender (a thermometer inserted in brisket should read about 190°); add coals and wood chips as needed to maintain a grill temperature of 275°., Remove brisket from grill. Cover tightly with foil; let stand 30-60 minutes. Cut brisket across the grain into slices.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 351 calories, Fat 12g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 116mg cholesterol, Sodium 1243mg sodium, Carbohydrate 2g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 56g protein.
SLOW-COOKED, TEXAS-STYLE BEEF BRISKET
This slow-cooker recipe comes directly from the heart of a wonderful Texas cook who makes the best brisket in the world! Yay, Papa Louis! He shared it with me years ago, via my sister (his daughter-in-law). I change it from time to time by adding ingredients to make it more Mexican (serve it with tortillas), or leave it as is and serve it with fresh rolls.
Provided by Ly
Categories Everyday Cooking
Time P1DT1h15m
Yield 20
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Place the beef brisket in a large slow cooker with the fat side up. Pour the coffee over the meat. Cook the brisket on LOW for 24 hours.
- Meanwhile, stir together the ketchup, cola beverage, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, liquid smoke, and brown sugar in a bowl until well blended. Refrigerate until needed.
- After 24 hours, remove and discard any fat from the brisket. Use a fork to pull apart and shred the meat. Pour the sauce over the meat, stirring to coat evenly, and cook 1 hour longer.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 353.4 calories, Carbohydrate 8.9 g, Cholesterol 74.6 mg, Fat 26.6 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 19.1 g, SaturatedFat 10 g, Sodium 322.5 mg, Sugar 8.1 g
TEXAS BARBECUE BRISKET
Take your barbecue beyond the burger with this brilliant beef brisket
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Buffet, Dinner, Main course, Supper
Time 6h30m
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- To make the barbecue sauce, heat the oil in a frying pan, then cook onion and garlic for a few mins until soft. Add the rest of the sauce ingredients to the pan with a good pinch of salt and simmer for 20 mins. Use a hand blender or food processor to whizz to a smooth purée.
- Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Make the rub by mixing all the ingredients together with a pinch of salt. Rub the mix all over the beef and set aside.
- In a large roasting tin, mix the beef stock and ½ the barbecue sauce. Add the brisket to the tin, cover tightly with foil, then cook for 4-5 hrs until the meat is really tender when you push a fork into it. The beef can be prepared the night before - just leave it to cool in the tin covered with foil, but don't refrigerate.
- To finish the beef, get a barbecue fired up and wait until the coals are completely ashen - you want a low, not fierce, heat. Lift the beef out of the roasting tin and place on the barbecue to char. If your barbecue has a lid, close it now. Cook for about 20 mins, turning it carefully with tongs, until lightly charred all over and heated through. Lift onto a board and serve sliced with the remaining barbecue sauce on the side.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 958 calories, Fat 59 grams fat, SaturatedFat 26 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 13 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 10 grams sugar, Protein 94 grams protein, Sodium 1.2 milligram of sodium
YEAH, I-LIVED-IN-TEXAS, SMOKED BRISKET
This is hands-down the best way I have found to cook a brisket.
Provided by all rec
Categories Main Dish Recipes Roast Recipes
Time P1DT13h45m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Soak wood chips in a bowl of water, 8 hours to overnight.
- Mix paprika, white sugar, cumin, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl. Rub the spice mixture over the entire brisket; refrigerate for 24 hours.
- Preheat smoker to between 220 degrees F (104 degrees C) and 230 degrees F (110 degrees C). Drain wood chips and place in the smoker.
- Smoke brisket in the preheated smoker until it has an internal temperature of 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 12 1/2 hours. Wrap brisket tightly in butcher paper or heavy-duty aluminum foil and return to smoker.
- Continue smoking brisket until an internal temperature of 185 degrees F (85 degrees C) is reached, about 1 hour more.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 227.7 calories, Carbohydrate 16.2 g, Cholesterol 57 mg, Fat 6.7 g, Fiber 2.6 g, Protein 26.6 g, SaturatedFat 2.4 g, Sodium 3009.8 mg, Sugar 8.9 g
TEXAS-STYLE BARBECUED BRISKET
Editor's note: The recipe and introductory text below are from The Barbecue! Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, by Steven Raichlen. To read more about Raichlen and BBQ, go to our feature The Best Barbecue in the U.S.A.
Provided by Steven Raichlen
Categories Graduation Backyard BBQ Kwanzaa Dinner Brisket Spring Summer Tailgating Grill Grill/Barbecue
Yield Makes 10 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- 1. Rinse the brisket under cold running water and blot it dry with paper towels.
- 2. Combine the salt, chili powder, sugar, pepper, and cumin in a bowl and toss with your fingers to mix. Rub the spice mixture on the brisket on all sides. If you have time, wrap the brisket in plastic and let it cure, in the refrigerator, for 4 to 8 hours (or even overnight), but don't worry if you don't have time for this-it will be plenty flavorful, even if you cook it right away.
- 3. Set up a charcoal grill for indirect grilling and preheat it to low. No drip pan is necessary for this recipe.
- 4. When ready to cook, toss 1 1/2 cups of the wood chips on the coals (3/4 cup per side). Place the brisket, fat side up, in an aluminum foil pan (or make a pan with a double sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil). Place the pan in the center of the hot grate, away from the heat. Cover the grill.
- 5. Smoke cook the brisket until tender enough to shred with your fingers; 6 hours will likely do it, but it may take as long as 8 (the cooking time will depend on the size of the brisket and heat of the grill). Baste the brisket from time to time with the fat and juices that accumulate in the pan. You'll need to add 10 to 12 fresh coals to each side every hour and toss more wood chips on the fresh coals; add about 3/4 cup chips per side every time you replenish the coals during the first 3 hours.
- 6. Remove the brisket pan from the grill and let rest for 15 minutes. Transfer the brisket to a cutting board and thinly slice it across the grain, using a sharp knife, electric knife, or cleaver. Transfer the sliced meat to a platter, pour the pan juices on top, and serve at once.
- Barbecue Sauce, the Texas Way
- The best Texas-style barbecue sauce combines the sweetness of Kansas City-style tomato sauces with the mouth-puckering tartness of a North Carolina vinegar sauce. I've come up with my own version-mix together equal parts of the Basic Barbecue Sauce and the North Carolina Vinegar Sauce . Serve this with barbecued brisket. For a really good sauce, add some meat drippings or a little chopped brisket.
TEXAS-STYLE BARBECUED BEEF BRISKET
From Southern Living January 2012. As a note, I am not a fan of cumin so I would reduce it to 1/2 tsp and/or omit it altogether!
Provided by Papa D 1946-2012
Categories Meat
Time 8h20m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Lightly grease a 6 quart slow cooker, add onion and garlic. Stir together chili powder and next 5 ingredients. Rub over brisket and place brisket over onion mixture in slow cooker.
- Whisk together beer and chili sauce. Slowly pour mixture around brisket, avoid removing spices from brisket.
- Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or high 4 to 5 hours. When done uncover and let sit in cooker 20 minutes.
- Remove brisket from slow cooker; cut brisket across the grain into thin slices put on serving plate and spoon pan juices over meat.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 388.9, Fat 17.2, SaturatedFat 6, Cholesterol 140.6, Sodium 556.3, Carbohydrate 7, Fiber 1.5, Sugar 2.3, Protein 48.1
AMERICAN KITCHEN CLASSIC TEXAS STYLE SMOKED BRISKET BBQ
Texas BBQ has four different styles of BBQ. In the East Texas style, the beef is smoked over hickory wood and then the brisket is chopped into fine pieces, like pulled pork style. In the Central Texas style, the meat is smoked over pecan or oak wood and then the brisket is served sliced. In the West Texas style, the meat is smoked over mesquite wood and is also served sliced. The South Texas style depends on how far from the Mexico border you are. Barbacoa, a style of Mexican BBQ is cooked with mesquite wood and is the most common form of BBQ in South Texas. South Texas 'American Style' BBQ is more along the lines of the rest of Texas. All of these types are served with the sauce on the side so that it can be applied as the diner wishes. This recipe is for those who have a smoker to use and if you have the room, feel free to smoke more than one brisket. Freeze the others (leave in foil, just off grill) for later.
Provided by Member 610488
Categories Roast Beef
Time P1DT15m
Yield 1 beef brisket
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Thoroughly combine all dry rub ingredients. Rub mixture into the meat, wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Store leftover mixture in an airtight jar or in freezer.
- Allow brisket to come to room temperature, and then arrange in a smoker. Put the brisket on the grill fat side up.
- You want a good steady low fire with a temperature between 200/225 degrees F at the meat level with cooking time at about 1 1/2 to 2 hours per pound. There is a ratio to the smoking - total cooking time = smoking time + last eight hours wrapped double in heavy-duty aluminum foil over a smokeless fire.
- Remove wrapped brisket from smoker and let stand for at least 15 minutes before opening and slicing. If necessary, you can throw this in an ice chest immediately after coming off the grill and it will stay "Hot" for several hours. Slice diagonally across the grain and trim off fat. Serve with American Kitchen Classic Texas Style BBQ Sauce - recipe #482550.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 5964.9, Fat 276.4, SaturatedFat 95.4, Cholesterol 2249.9, Sodium 10147.3, Carbohydrate 71, Fiber 21.8, Sugar 30.9, Protein 763.1
LAZY TEXAS BRISKET
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Rub garlic into both sides of brisket. Combine all remaining ingredients except barbecue sauce in small bowl and mix well. Rub into brisket. Set brisket fat side up on large piece of foil and wrap tightly. Transfer to shallow roasting pan. Bake until tender, about 3 hours. Serve hot or cold with sauce.
Tips:
- Choose the right brisket: Look for a brisket that is well-marbled with fat, as this will help keep the meat moist and flavorful during cooking.
- Trim the brisket: Remove any excess fat from the brisket, leaving a thin layer of fat on top.
- Season the brisket: Rub the brisket with a mixture of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. You can also add other spices, such as cumin, chili powder, or paprika.
- Smoke the brisket: Smoke the brisket over indirect heat at a temperature of 225 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-12 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 195 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Wrap the brisket: After 6-8 hours of smoking, wrap the brisket in aluminum foil to help it retain moisture and cook evenly.
- Rest the brisket: Once the brisket is cooked, let it rest for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
Conclusion:
East Texas-style brisket is a delicious and flavorful dish that is perfect for any occasion. By following these tips, you can make sure that your brisket turns out perfect every time. So fire up your smoker and get started on your next brisket feast!
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