This beef brisket is the perfect combination of sweet and smoky flavors, thanks to the seasoning in the brisket rub as well as the braising liquid. It’s cooked low and slow in the oven for the most flavorful, tender slices that everyone will love!
I love smoked brisket and I’ve enjoyed it on travels throughout Texas, Kansas City, and Oklahoma. But if you, like me, don’t have a smoker, you’ll love this equally delicious oven-braised brisket recipe. It serves up a similar sweet and smoky flavor, but it’s perfect for indoor cooking.
Unlike other cuts of beef such as prime rib, beef tenderloin or filet mignon which cook more quickly, brisket requires a special labor of love — time. Brisket comes from the part of the cow that’s full of connective tissue, but a “low and slow” cooking method turns this tough cut of meat into something truly flavorful and tender.
Here’s what makes my version so delicious:
- The spice rub: Although you can always default to a simple blend of garlic, salt, and black pepper, my brisket rub is layered with the best blend of sweet and smoky flavors, including paprika and maple sugar.
- The braising liquid: The unique combination of ingredients helps to tenderize the meat and it mimics that smoky flavor you’d get from outdoor cooking, as if you were pulling this brisket straight out of the smoker!
Brisket may take a while to cook but the good news is that gives you plenty of time to decide on a few delicious side dishes to pair with it. If you’d like to hear some of my favorites, keep scrolling below!
Ingredients in this Sweet and Smoky Beef Brisket recipe
- Beef Brisket: Brisket is available in two cuts, the flat and the point. If you ask your butcher for beef brisket, you’ll most likely receive the flat cut. The flat cut (which I’m using) is more rectangular, and an overall leaner piece of meat that’s perfect for slicing. The point is more triangular in shape, fattier, and it’s often shredded.
- Brisket Dry Rub: The dry rub is a combination of granulated sugar and smoky spices such as paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, cumin and cayenne pepper.
- Brisket Braising Liquid: The blend of coffee, liquid smoke, molasses, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce all work together to tenderize the meat and add more smoky flavor. When this liquid is wrapped tightly with the brisket and cooked low and slow, you’re rewarded several hours later with flavorful, tender, fall apart beef brisket. And side note, coffee is great for brisket because it’s acidic and the natural enzymes in coffee help to break down the muscle fibers in beef. So brew a cup of coffee in the morning, then save a little for this recipe!
Equipment You’ll Need
All you need are three basic items for the perfect beef brisket — an oven-safe roasting pan, a thermometer, and a sharp knife.
- Roasting Pan: Since we’re cooking a fairly large brisket with the braising liquid, using a roasting pan is best. I’ve had this roasting pan for ages, but you could also use a disposable roasting pan.
- Thermometer: To ensure your brisket doesn’t undercook or overcook, using a thermometer crucial. I love using a probe thermometer (that you’ll leave in the meat) so I can check the temperature without having to open the oven. But, you can also use an instant-read thermometer.
- Knife: Sharpen your chef’s knife or carving knife before slicing! This will make slicing so much easier with beautiful, clean slices.
How To Cook Beef Brisket
Remember that brisket takes several hours to cook, plus some extra time for letting the meat rest once it’s removed from the oven. So plan ahead!
Apply the dry drub. Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C) and trim off any silver skin or hard fat (if there’s any). Liberally apply the dry rub on both sides of the brisket with your hands.
Note: If the brisket is refrigerated, let it sit for 30 minutes, to let it come to room temperature.
Mix braising liquid. Whisk all of the liquid ingredients together and then pour into the roasting pan. Add the brisket to the roasting pan and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Alternatively, you can use a roasting pan or casserole dish with a lid. But note that if it’s not covered tightly, it won’t cook properly!
Cook the brisket. Cook for about 5 to 6 hours or until an instant-read thermometer reaches 195°F to 200°F. Depending on the size of your brisket, you’ll want to cook it for approximately one hour and fifteen minutes per pound of brisket.
Slice the brisket. Remove the brisket from the oven and let it rest for 30 minutes before slicing. Then, slice against the grain for the most tender pieces of brisket!
Common Questions
Why is my brisket not tender?
What to Serve With Brisket
- For a classic Texas BBQ spread: You can drizzle BBQ sauce or horseradish sauce on top of the meat and serve it with an easy cucumber salad, creamed corn, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, or potato salad.
- For a Holiday Feast: Serve up the brisket with a side of garlic herb roasted potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, sauteed cabbage, or this simple kale salad for a delicious Christmas, Hanukkah, or St. Patrick’s Day meal.
To Store
- In the fridge: Just slice up any remaining brisket and store it in the fridge in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
- In the freezer: Store leftovers slices in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just transfer them to the fridge to thaw overnight before you’d like to enjoy them.
- To reheat: Warm a few slices of brisket in the microwave for a minute or two, until warmed through.
![Sweet and Smoky Beef Brisket](https://kit-food.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sweet-and-Smoky-Beef-Brisket-240x240.webp)
Sweet and Smoky Beef Brisket Recipe
Ingredients
1x
Brisket Rub
- ▢ ¼ cup paprika
- ▢ 3 tablespoons maple sugar
- ▢ 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- ▢ 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- ▢ 1 tablespoon black pepper
- ▢ 1 tablespoon onion powder
- ▢ 1 teaspoon cumin
- ▢ 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Brisket
- ▢ 5 to 6 pounds beef brisket
Braising Liquid
- ▢ ¼ cup black coffee
- ▢ ¼ cup liquid smoke
- ▢ 2 tablespoons blackstrap molasses
- ▢ 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ▢ 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2x
Brisket Rub
- ▢ 0.5 cup paprika
- ▢ 6 tablespoons maple sugar
- ▢ 4 tablespoons kosher salt
- ▢ 4 tablespoons garlic powder
- ▢ 2 tablespoon black pepper
- ▢ 2 tablespoon onion powder
- ▢ 2 teaspoon cumin
- ▢ 2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Brisket
- ▢ 10 to 12 pounds beef brisket
Braising Liquid
- ▢ 0.5 cup black coffee
- ▢ 0.5 cup liquid smoke
- ▢ 4 tablespoons blackstrap molasses
- ▢ 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ▢ 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3x
Brisket Rub
- ▢ 0.75 cup paprika
- ▢ 9 tablespoons maple sugar
- ▢ 6 tablespoons kosher salt
- ▢ 6 tablespoons garlic powder
- ▢ 3 tablespoon black pepper
- ▢ 3 tablespoon onion powder
- ▢ 3 teaspoon cumin
- ▢ 3 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Brisket
- ▢ 15 to 18 pounds beef brisket
Braising Liquid
- ▢ 0.75 cup black coffee
- ▢ 0.75 cup liquid smoke
- ▢ 6 tablespoons blackstrap molasses
- ▢ 6 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ▢ 6 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Apply the dry drub. Preheat your oven to 250°F. Liberally apply the dry rub on both sides of the brisket. If the brisket is refrigerated, let it sit for 30 minutes or until it comes to room temperature.
- Mix roasting liquid. Whisk all of the liquid ingredients together and pour into a roasting pan. Add the brisket to the roasting pan and cover tightly with aluminum foil.
- Cook the brisket. Cook for about 6 hours or until an instant-read thermometer reaches 195°F to 200°F.
- Slice the brisket. Remove the brisket from the oven and let it rest for 30 minutes before slicing. Then, slice against the grain for the most tender pieces of brisket.
Notes
Tips:
- As mentioned above, I’m using a flat cut in these photos and videos, which is a leaner cut. If you like a fattier (and thus more juicy) brisket, make sure to choose a point cut.
- When it comes to the Worcestershire sauce, if you’re gluten-free like me, please do read labels. Many brands of Worcestershire sauce are not gluten-free as they contain soy sauce or malt vinegar. For a gluten-free version I recommend this one.
- When it comes to liquid smoke, this all natural hickory smoke is my favorite.