The Manual beef

How to BBQ Brisket

A simple salt-and-pepper rub plus a long apple-wood smoke makes brisket the star of any BBQ.

A Crowd Cow Field Guide

Brisket is the go-to cut for any pitmaster. A mustard binder, a simple salt-and-pepper rub, and a long smoke with apple wood make this brisket the star of any BBQ.

Trim

Trim the fat cap to 1/4 inch.

Season

Rub the brisket with mustard, then season generously with salt and pepper.

Smoke

Smoke with apple wood chunks at 225°F.

When the brisket hits 160–180°F (or stalls), wrap it in butcher paper or foil and continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches about 200°F. Plan on roughly 1.5 hours per pound — a 6.5 lb brisket will take about 12–13 hours.

Rest and serve

Let the brisket rest, then slice and enjoy.

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