This beef brisket is coated in a homemade spice rub and barbecue sauce, then slow cooked until tender. An easy dinner option that requires minimal prep work and is great for feeding a crowd.
When I want a main course that’s impressive without a lot of effort, I make a whole roasted chicken, beef tenderloin, or this this simple yet totally satisfying BBQ style beef brisket.
Whenever I go to my local BBQ restaurant, I order the sliced beef brisket. I love the combination of the smoky, rich flavors paired with the tender meat. This oven version of brisket will give you flavors similar to what you’d get at a restaurant, without having to buy a smoker.
WHAT CUT OF MEAT IS BRISKET?
Brisket is a cut of meat that comes from the lower part of the chest of a cow. This is a naturally tough cut of meat because it contains a lot of muscle and connective tissue. Brisket needs to cook for hours over low heat to tenderize. It is absolutely worth the effort, as this is a very flavorful and juicy meat when cooked properly!
How do you cook beef brisket?
This recipe starts with a brisket rub, which takes just minutes to put together. Coat your meat with the spice rub, then add BBQ sauce all over the top. Place the meat in a pan, along with a little beef broth. Cover the pan, then bake for 4 hours or until meat is tender. After the meat is done, you can slice and serve it, or broil it first to create a caramelized layer over the top. Broiling the meat is an optional step but I highly recommend it!
Tips for the perfect beef brisket
- I highly recommend making my homemade brisket rub. It takes just 5 minutes to put together and lasts for months. If you don’t want to make your own rub, you can use your favorite store bought spice blend instead.
- This dish can be prepared up to 2 days before you plan to serve it. Store the whole, cooked brisket covered in the fridge. Reheat the brisket in a covered pan until warmed through, then broil, slice and serve.
- Choose your favorite brand of BBQ sauce, or make my homemade version.
- Be sure to slice your brisket against the grain for the most tender meat.
- Cooked brisket can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat in a covered pan in the oven.
CAN YOU OVERCOOK BRISKET?
There is such a thing as overcooking a brisket. You want the meat to be tender, but not overly soft or mushy. The optimal amount of time to cook a brisket in the oven is about 3-4 hours, but this can vary depending on the size of your brisket, and which part of the brisket you’re using (point or flat cut).
Slow cooker beef brisket
This recipe can easily be made in the slow cooker. Simply coat your meat with the spice rub and BBQ sauce, then place in the slow cooker. Pour in 1/2 cup beef broth, then cook on low heat for 8 hours. Remove the brisket from the slow cooker, and broil the top in the oven if desired. Slice thinly against the grain, then serve and enjoy.
Instant pot beef brisket
Short on time? You can make this recipe in your pressure cooker without having to wait hours and hours for it to be finished. You may need to scale down to a smaller piece of meat to fit it into your Instant Pot. Coat the meat with the spice rub, the top with BBQ sauce. Add 3/4 cup beef broth to the bottom of the Instant Pot and place the meat on top. Cook on high pressure for one hour, then let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes. After the 15 minutes has passed, use the valve to release the rest of the pressure. Broil in the oven if desired to caramelize the top. Slice, then serve.
There are numerous ways to achieve a juicy, tender beef brisket, and they all start with my homemade rub, as well as some BBQ sauce. Choose your preferred cooking method, then enjoy your success and watch the rave reviews pour in.
More recipes you’ll enjoy
- Smoked Brisket
- Slow Cooker Brisket
- Slow Roasted Prime Rib
- Hamburger Steaks with Gravy
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Beef Brisket Video
Beef Brisket
Ingredients
- 4 pounds beef brisket
- 1/3 cup brisket rub homemade or store bought
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 2 cups barbecue sauce homemade or store bought, divided use
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Coat the meat with the brisket rub.
- Coat a baking dish large enough to hold the meat with cooking spray. Pour the beef broth into the bottom of the pan.
- Place the meat into the dish. Pour 1 cup of the barbecue sauce over the top.
- Cover the dish tightly with foil. Bake for 3 1/2 hours or until meat is tender.
- Remove the meat from the dish and place on a sheet pan coated with cooking spray. Brush 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce over the top of the brisket.
- Broil for 3-5 minutes or until caramelized. Watch carefully to make sure it does not burn.
- Let the meat rest for 10 minutes. Thinly slice against the grain, then serve with the remaining BBQ sauce.
What should be the temp of the brisket and how long to rest it. Do you wrap it?
The temp should be anywhere between 180-200 degrees F, and I do not wrap it.
I am making a 9 pound brisket. How long should I bake it?
You are going to want to cook it for at least 6 hours. Check it for tenderness at 6 hours and add more time if necessary. -Team Dinner At The Zoo
This recipe was our Christmas dinner today, along with your Roasted Green Beans! The directions were so easy to follow, and made making dinner so easy, and stress free. The rub is excellent! I made another batch to use on tomorrow’s chicken. Thank you for a great recipe!
How long should I cook a 6 pound brisket in the oven?
If I have a 2 pound brisket should I cook it for the same amount of time?
You can try 2 1/2-3 hours!
Thank you! Also do I have to use tin foil? Or can I use the lid of the baking dish? I have a really nice ceramic dish with a glass lid!
A 2# Brisket shouldn’t take more then 2.5 hours depending on the thickness. Keep checking the temperature after 2 hours. 190-205 degrees should be the final temp let it rest for 30 minutes before slicing!
Looks great I’m making it today! Do you put the meat in the baking dish with the fat side up or down?
I always do fat side up!
Beef brisket is a summer staple at our house! I can’t wait to try that homemade rub on it. It sounds amazing!
Gah! This brisket is melt in your mouth good. So much flavor. We ate it on it for days.
I’m making this just because you said that you were eating on it. My wife is from Texas and always says ”eating on it” and she knows good BBQ.
This was sooo delicious and a total hit with my family!! Thanks for sharing!
My mouth is watering!! My husband would love this!! Love the sauce & the rub adds a great flavor!
This looks absolutely perfect! Can’t wait to give your recipe a go soon. 🙂
The spice rub makes all the difference!
Oh my, this looks incredible!! I can’t wait to try this recipe!
I can’t wait to make that spice rub. It sounds so flavorful. Brisket is a family favorite!
This beef brisket looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
This recipe looks great! I am wanting to cook a 10 lb brisket. Would you recommend a longer cook time or should I cut it in half and cook two pans at once? My concern is the meat drying out. Any tips or suggestions would be great, thank you! I can’t wait to try it this weekend.
You would need to cook a 10 lb brisket for a lot longer, but it shouldn’t dry out because it’s covered and coated in sauce. You could also do two separate pans if you don’t want to wait as long for it to cook, either will work.
This looks amazing! Question-what is the reason that the brisket is removed from the baking dish, then placed on a sheet pan to broil? Is there a reason that you don’t broil it in the baking dish? Thx!
I prefer to broil it on a sheet pan because the baking dish has high sides, so the sides of the meat won’t get as caramelized!
Hi Renee,
I’m going to make this on Christmas for our dinner. I’d like to cook it in my crockpot as my oven will be busy with other dishes. Do I use the low setting on the crockpot for the 8 hours the recipe says to cook it?
Thanks so much and happy holidays!