Grilled Texas-Style BBQ Brisket with Smoky Dry Rub

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-29 · Updated 2026-05-29

Slow-smoked brisket coated with a robust smoky dry rub, capturing the essence of Texas BBQ for a tender and flavorful meal. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 500 minutes, pairs beef brisket, paprika, brown sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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.

Ingredients

• 4 lbs beef brisket
• 2 tbsp paprika
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp coarse black pepper
• 1 tbsp kosher salt
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups applewood chips

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp paprika, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp coarse black pepper, 1 tbsp kosher salt, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tsp cayenne pepper, and 1 tbsp smoked paprika to create the dry rub.
2. Step 2: Rub 2 tbsp olive oil evenly over 4 lbs beef brisket, then generously coat the brisket with the prepared dry rub, pressing it into the meat to adhere.
3. Step 3: Preheat your grill or smoker to a steady 225°F and soak 2 cups applewood chips in water for 30 minutes.
4. Step 4: Place the soaked applewood chips on the heat source and set the brisket fat-side up on the grill grates. Smoke the brisket for about 6-8 hours, maintaining 225°F, until the internal temperature reaches 195°F and the meat is tender.
5. Step 5: Remove the brisket from the grill and wrap it in foil; let it rest for 1 hour to retain juices before slicing against the grain and serving.