Grilled Kansas City-Style BBQ Beef Brisket

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-05 · Updated 2026-08-05

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Smoky, slow-grilled beef brisket seasoned with a classic Kansas City-style dry rub and finished with a tangy homemade barbecue sauce. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 440 minutes, pairs beef brisket, brown sugar, paprika for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 8, 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.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 420 min Serves 8 American cuisine 480 cal/serving

Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

4 lbs beef brisket
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp paprika
2 tbsp salt
1 tbsp black pepper
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp chili powder
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup ketchup
2 tbsp molasses
1 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tsp smoked paprika
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup water

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

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

Step 1: Combine 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp paprika, 2 tbsp salt, 1 tbsp black pepper, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, and 1 tbsp chili powder in a bowl to make the dry rub. Rub this thoroughly over the entire surface of the 4 lbs beef brisket.
Step 2: Preheat grill to 225°F for indirect cooking. Place the brisket fat side up on the grill grates away from direct heat. Close the lid and smoke or grill for approximately 6-7 hours until the internal temperature reaches 195°F, maintaining the temperature steadily.
Step 3: While the brisket cooks, whisk together 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 cup ketchup, 2 tbsp molasses, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, 1 tsp smoked paprika, and 2 tbsp olive oil in a saucepan. Add 1/2 cup water and simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
Step 4: Remove the brisket from the grill and let it rest covered with foil for 30 minutes before slicing thin against the grain.
Step 5: Serve the sliced brisket drizzled with the homemade barbecue sauce for a rich, smoky Kansas City regional flavor.