Name: Smoked Brisket Recipe
Prep time: 720 min
Cook time: 480 min
Total time: 1245 min
Yield: 10 people
Ingredients: 1/2 cup brown sugar; 4 tablespoons salt; 4 tablespoons instant coffee granules; 3 tablespoons Morton's Tender Quick; 2 tablespoons celery salt; 2 tablespoons onion salt; 2 tablespoons garlic salt; 2 tablespoons paprika; 2 teaspoons chili powder; 1 teaspoon nutmeg; 12-14 pound brisket

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, read my disclosure policy here.

JUMP TO RECIPE PRINT RECIPE

This Smoked Brisket recipe is my brother’s signature recipe. He makes this recipe over and over all summer long and every one is devoured.

If there is one thing I learned, it’s that men love smoked brisket. It’s easy to see why – the meat is rubbed down with my brother’s incredible homemade smoked brisket rub and then smoked low and slow, allowing the smoke flavor to permeate the meat and become unbelievably tender.

Why This Smoked Brisket Recipe Works

In our family, my brother is the resident smoker. He has tweaked and honed his rub and process to come up with a recipe that turns out perfect each and every time.

The first part of the process is the Smoked Brisket rub. It’s a combination of salt and seasonings that gets rubbed all over the brisket. The you let it hangout for 12-24 hours so the salt can work it’s way into the meat and help tenderize it.

Then it’s all about the smoking. The secret to the smoking process is the temperature. It’s imperative that you keep it between 180 and 200 Fahrenheit the entire time. This can be the most challenging part – especially if you have rainy or cold weather.

Last, it’s about letting it rest. You have to give all of the juices time to work their way back into the meat before you start slicing it.

How to Cook Brisket in a Smoker – Step by Step

Prepare the smoked brisket rub: Mix all of the rub ingredients together in a bowl.
Rub the seasoning into the brisket: Pour a generous amount of the smoked brisket rub all over the brisket and rub it in, making sure to coat all sides of the brisket.
Refrigerate: Place the brisket in a large pan or rimmed baking sheet, cover it with foil and allow to sit in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours.
Prepare the smoking chips: Soak your smoking chips for 30 minutes.
Prepare the smoker: Heat your smoker to 180 degrees and add the soaked chips to the smoker.
Add the brisket to the smoker: Place the brisket, fat side up, on the smoker and secure the lid.
Smoke the brisket: After one hour of smoking, remove the brisket and wrap it in foil. Place it back on the smoker and smoke for 6-8 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 190 degrees.
Rest: Allow the brisket to rest for 45 minutes before slicing.

Can you make beef brisket recipe oven?

The best way to make smoked brisket is to use a smoker. However, if you don’t have one, you can still get a great tasting and tender brisket by making it in the oven. Here is a great beef brisket recipe oven recipe.

Expert Tips for Making the Best Smoked Brisket

Choose a quality brisket: Ask the butcher to trim off excess fat, but make sure to leave a thin layer on one side.
Allow the rub to work into the meat: After you add the rub to the meat, allow it to sit in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours.
Keep your smoker temperature consistent: You want the temperature to be between 180-200 degrees the entire time.
Allow the brisket to rest: Do not slice the brisket until it has rested for about 45 minutes.

Shop This Recipe

More Recipes You Might Like

Looking for more? Check out all of the grilling recipes on It Is a Keeper.

Recipes You May Have Missed

⭐ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below! ⭐

smoked brisket recipe on a wooden cutting board

PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE

4.6 from 5 votes