Charcoal-Grilled Beef Brisket with Bourbon BBQ Glaze

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-09 · Updated 2026-06-09

Slow-grilled beef brisket finished with a rich bourbon-infused barbecue glaze inspired by Louisville’s whiskey heritage. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 435 minutes, pairs beef brisket, kosher salt, ground black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 10, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 5 lbs beef brisket
• 2 tbsp kosher salt
• 1 tbsp ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 cup bourbon
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp hot sauce
• 2 tbsp olive oil

The instant-read thermometer we’d check this beef with → Best Instant-Read Thermometers for 2026: Fast, Accurate Picks Under $100

Instructions

1. Step 1: Mix 2 tbsp kosher salt, 1 tbsp ground black pepper, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, and 1 tbsp smoked paprika in a bowl. Rub evenly over all sides of the 5 lbs beef brisket. Let rest at room temperature for 1 hour.
2. Step 2: Preheat charcoal grill to maintain a steady temperature of 250°F using indirect heat. Place brisket fat side up on cooler side of the grill, cover, and cook for about 5-6 hours until internal temperature reaches 195°F, adding charcoal as needed.
3. Step 3: While brisket cooks, combine 1/2 cup bourbon, 1 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 3 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp hot sauce, and 2 tbsp olive oil in a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes until thickened and glossy.
4. Step 4: During the last hour of grilling, baste the brisket every 20 minutes with the bourbon BBQ glaze to build a sticky, flavorful crust.
5. Step 5: Remove brisket from grill and tent with foil. Rest for 30 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain and serving with remaining bourbon glaze.