The Best Smoked Beef Brisket Recipe in Electric Smoker

This smoked beef brisket is juicy and fall-apart tender, complete with a lovely bark, delicious smoky flavor, and a beautiful smoke ring. An electric smoker makes it incredibly easy to achieve the perfect smoked brisket that will melt in your mouth. This recipe has step-by-step instructions, and is simple and easy to follow, even for beginners. Your family and friends will be super impressed with the results. Ready? Let's get smoking!

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I don't know about you, but the first time I had beef brisket I loved it! It was so tender and flavorful; I never had anything like it!

When I first got my smoker, I couldn't wait to try a brisket on it. I find it so amazing that you can turn a large, tough piece of meat into a succulent mouth-watering dish. All you need is time. And smoke of course. 🙂

I know a lot of beginner pellet grill smokers are intimidated to try to cook a brisket, and I get it. What if it didn't turn out and was horrible? That would be a huge waste of money!

But, my friends, with this easy recipe, you don't have to be intimidated. This recipe will give you the best brisket every single time.

Brisket can be one of the most flavorful and tender cuts of beef, and smoking it low and slow is the best way to bring out its bold taste.

The key to good brisket is to start with a high-quality cut of meat, and this recipe calls for a brisket that has a layer of fat on top. This fat will help to keep the brisket moist during cooking, and it will also give the finished product a rich flavor.

The brisket is then rubbed with the best homemade brisket rub, then allow the dry rub to penetrate the meat for anywhere from 8 to 24 hours. I like to do this the day before I plan on smoking it.

Next, let the meat come up to room temperature, then smoke it for 8 hours or so at a low temperature.

Once it is cooked, slice it thin and serve it with your favorite side dishes.

Serve it with smoked corn on the cob, baked beans, coleslaw, creamy bacon ranch pasta salad and smoked baked potatoes for a dinner everyone will love!

Check out these roundup posts of the Best Smoker Recipes and 42 Of The Best Smoked Beef Recipes for more great recipes!

👩🏻‍🍳 More delicious smoker recipes

Jump to:

• 👩🏻‍🍳 More delicious smoker recipes
• 🐄 What is a brisket?
• 💨 How to select the right beef brisket for smoking
• 🪵 What is the best wood to smoke beef brisket with?
• ❤️ Why you will love this recipe
• 🥩 Ingredients
• 🔪 How to prepare the beef brisket
• 🧂 Make the best brisket rub
• ♨️ How to smoke a brisket
• 🔪 How to carve and serve the brisket
• ⏲️ How long to smoke a beef brisket?
• 📋 Substitutions
• 🧾 Variations
• 🍽 Equipment
• 🌡️ Storage
• 💭 Top tips
• ❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• 🥗 What to serve with Texas-style brisket?
• 🥪 Ideas for leftover smoked beef brisket
• 📋 Recipe
• The Best Smoked Beef Brisket Recipe in an Electric Smoker
• 📑 Food safety
• 💬 Comments

🐄 What is a brisket?

Brisket is a cut of meat from the breast or lower chest of a cow. It is a tough cut of meat, so it needs to be cooked slowly over low heat to tenderize the meat and bring out the flavor. It has a web of connective tissue that needs to be broken down by cooking it low and slow. Electric smokers are perfect for this as it is easy to keep a consistent temperature.

Brisket is made up of two cuts, the flat cut, and the point cut. The flat cut is the leaner part of the brisket, while the point cut (also known as the deckle) is richly marbled and has a thick layer of fat. The point sits on top of the flat. The flat cut is typically used for slicing, while the point cut is typically used for shredding.

Smoking the brisket in an electric smoker is the best way to ensure that the meat is cooked evenly and slowly, resulting in a juicy and flavorful finished product.

This recipe is for a Texas brisket, which is usually between 8-12 pounds and has both the point and flat sections still intact. This cut needs to cook low and slow so the fat renders.

💨 How to select the right beef brisket for smoking

The first step is to choose the right cut of meat. Here are a few tips to help you select the perfect brisket for smoking:

• Make sure to choose a brisket that is well-marbled. This means there should be a good amount of fat running through the meat. This will ensure that the meat is flavorful and juicy during the smoking process.
• In your grocery store, the smaller 2 to 6-pound 'briskets' are usually just the trimmed flat. This is great for making in your slow cooker, but not on the smoker. You need to have the fat when smoking so it doesn't turn into leather. The more marbling in the meat, the more juicy and flavorful it will be.
• Pick a whole brisket that is the right size for your smoker. A too-big one will take forever to cook, while a too-small one won't give you enough leftovers. Trust me; you want leftovers. 🙂

🪵 What is the best wood to smoke beef brisket with?

There are many wood pellets that can be used for smoking beef brisket, but some are better than others.

Hickory, oak, and mesquite wood are some of the best pellets for smoking a beef brisket. They all have a strong flavor that will infuse the meat with deliciousness.

Other great options are apple woods or cherry woods. These woods have a milder flavor that complements the beef nicely.

❤️ Why you will love this recipe

• This recipe produces delicious smoked brisket that is juicy, tender, and full of flavor.
• The meat is fork-tender and falls apart perfectly
• The electric smoker makes it easy to set it and forget it. Enjoy almost completely hands-off cooking, which means more time to spend with your guests.
• The electric smoker is easy to use, even for beginners. It keeps the perfect smoker temperature the entire time.
• This recipe has been tested multiple times to ensure deliciousness
• This a family-friendly recipe everyone will love, even kids!
• Perfect for every occasion, from weeknight dinners to holiday feasts
• You will love having so many leftovers!
• This smoked brisket recipe is easy to follow and only requires a few simple ingredients.
• You can customize the recipe to your own taste, by adding different spices or sauces.
• A delicious dinner that will impress your friends and family. This is a great dish for large backyard barbecues or family gatherings.

🥩 Ingredients

To make this recipe, you will need just a few ingredients:

• Beef brisket. Make sure you use a good-quality, well-marbled whole packer brisket.
• Olive oil.
• Brisket rub: I made a homemade brisket rub that contains kosher salt, black pepper, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, and dry mustard powder.

See the printable recipe card for quantities.

🔪 How to prepare the beef brisket

The secret to making the best smoked beef brisket is to cover it in dry rub and let it sit in the fridge anywhere from 8-24 hours. This will ensure the flavor of the rub penetrates the meat.

But before you do this, you must trim the meat by removing any excess fat. This is done by using a sharp knife.

First, flip the brisket over so the point is facing down, and trim any excess fat or silver skin off of it.

Next, flip it over so the fat cap is on top, and carefully trim the fat cap down to approximately ¼-inch thickness all the way around. You want to leave a little bit of fat on to help retain moisture and add flavor.

Also, trim the large piece of fat between the point and the flat. However, be careful you don't cut off all the fat between the point and the flat, otherwise, it may separate and come apart. The fat will help flavor and moisten the flat section.

After the fat cap has been trimmed, the meat can be rubbed with the brisket dry rub. This homemade brisket rub is delicious and creates a great bark that is full of flavor.

🧂 Make the best brisket rub

Add all the ingredients for the dry rub into a small bowl or jar. Stir or shake to combine.

Brush olive oil over the entire brisket.

Spread the rub evenly over the meat, making sure to evenly cover the top, bottom, and sides. Use your hands to rub it all over evenly.

Cover it with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for 8 to 24 hours. The longer it sits with the spice rub the more flavorful the meat will be.

♨️ How to smoke a brisket

First, remove the brisket from the fridge 1 to 2 hours before starting the smoker so the meat can come up to room temperature.

Preheat your electric smoker to 225 degrees F.

Place it directly on the grill, with the fat side facing up.

Set up a wireless digital thermometer, with the probes placed in the thickest part of the meat.

Smoke the beef at 225°F for 5 hours, or until the internal meat temperature reaches 165°F. It may hit a stall after it has been on the smoker for about 2 hours. You know the stall happens when the internal temperature of the meat hits about 150 degrees F and stops rising. Don't worry though, this is normal and it will eventually rise again.

Once it reaches 165 degrees F, wrap it in aluminum foil or pink or peach butcher paper. This helps to get over the stall. This is also known as the Texas crutch. Fold the foil or butcher paper tightly around the meat. Re-insert the instant-read thermometer.

Pink butcher paper is a great choice as it allows more smoke to get through to the meat, giving it more flavor. Butcher paper also allows the meat to develop a thicker outer bark. However, aluminum foil works well too, and that is what we had on hand so that is what we used.

After the meat is wrapped, return it to the smoker. Continue to smoke the wrapped meat until the internal temperature reaches 195-200°F in the thickest part of the meat. This will take approximately 2 hours.

Next, remove it from the smoker and place it in a cooler. I placed a towel on the bottom of the cooler to insulate it better and placed the brisket on top. Leave the temperature probes in.

Close the lid of the cooler, and let the meat rest until the temperature comes down to 170 degrees F. This will take approximately another 2 hours.

🔪 How to carve and serve the brisket

Once the interior meat temperature reaches 170 degrees F, remove the meat from the cooler. Place it on a large cutting board and remove the foil or butcher paper.

Slice the brisket against the grain with a sharp knife. You will want to do thin slices, about the width of a chopstick. You will have to keep turning the brisket so you keep slicing against the grain.

Serve immediately to your guests with a side of BBQ sauce and your favorite sides.

Enjoy!

⏲️ How long to smoke a beef brisket?

How long to smoke a beef brisket depends on the size of the meat and the temperature of the smoker. The whole process for our brisket took 10 hours, from start to finish, and it was about 10 pounds.

A good rule of thumb is to smoke the brisket for 1 hour per pound at 225 degrees F.

So if you have a 10-pound brisket, it may take about 10 hours, and a 14-pound brisket may take 14 hours.

A 6-pound brisket may only take 6 hours.

📋 Substitutions

• Olive oil - instead of olive oil, you can also use avocado oil or canola oil
• Dry rub - you can use your favorite dry rub, or add or omit seasonings. To make the dry rub spicier, add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the mixture.

🧾 Variations

Smoked brisket is a Texas classic, but it can be a little boring if you make it the same way every time. Here are some ideas for spicing up your smoked brisket:

• BBQ brisket - This is a classic combo that is always a hit. Slather your brisket with warmed BBQ sauce before wrapping it, or serve your favorite BBQ sauce on the side for dipping.
• Smoked brisket with ranch dressing - This is a great option for those who want something a little bit different. Serve with a side of ranch dressing for a delicious and unique dish!
• Texas-style brisket - A Texas-style brisket is a whole packer cut brisket covered with equal parts course salt and course black pepper, and sometimes garlic powder. Texans like to have the true flavor of the meat shine through and don't want to cover it up with too many spices.
• Memphis-style brisket - A Memphis-style brisket has a rub that is made up of kosher salt, black pepper, brown sugar, and paprika. You can also toss in other seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and celery seed.
• For a sweet and smoky flavor, make a sauce of apple juice and honey.
• Add some heat with a spicy BBQ sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
• It is also delicious when flavored with herbs like rosemary or thyme.

🍽 Equipment

To make this delicious beef dish, you will need a smoker. There are many different models and types of smokers, and they may cook differently.

I made this recipe in a Pit Boss pellet smoker. You can also use any other smoker such as a Traeger grill, Char-Broil, Master Chef, ZGrill, or Masterbuilt smoker.

I also used hickory wood pellets, which gave the meat an amazing flavor. But, of course, feel free to use your favorite wood pellets.

🌡️ Storage

If you have any leftover brisket, store it in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep for up to 3 days.

Alternatively, you can store leftovers in the freezer for up to 2 months. Simply wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe bag before freezing.

For quick lunches or dinners, wrap individual portions in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag. Then, simply take out a serving whenever you want to!

To reheat, thaw in the fridge if frozen, then heat in the air fryer, oven, or microwave until warm.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

🥗 What to serve with Texas-style brisket?

There are many sides that pair well with Texas-style brisket. Some popular options include mashed potatoes, smoked baked potatoes, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, or baked beans. You can also serve it with a variety of barbecue sauces or simply eat it plain.

🥪 Ideas for leftover smoked beef brisket

There are so many ways to enjoy leftover smoked brisket. Some great ideas you might like are:

• Leftover brisket chili: This hearty dish is perfect for the winter months. Use smoked brisket in your favorite chili!
• Leftover brisket sandwich: Make a sandwich with smoked brisket, BBQ sauce, and cheese.
• Leftover brisket tacos: Serve smoked brisket in a taco shell with barbecue sauce and shredded cheddar cheese.
• Leftover brisket quesadilla: Make a smoked brisket quesadilla with BBQ sauce, cheese, and peppers.
• Toss with BBQ sauce and serve over rice or pasta.
• Make a hash with potatoes, onions, and eggs.
• Slice and serve it over a bed of greens with roasted vegetables.

Smoked brisket is a delicious and surprisingly easy meal to make that will impress your friends and family. It is perfect for a summer barbecue or any other gathering. So, the next time you are looking for something tasty to smoke, give this recipe a try!

If you do, please let me know what you think. I would love to hear how it turns out for you!

If you try it out and like it, I would appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave a star rating and/or comment in the comments section below. 🙂

Don't forget to share it with your friends on social media!

📋 Recipe

📑 Food safety

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 200°F (93°C)
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended