Hickory-Smoked Beef Brisket with Homemade BBQ Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-21 · Updated 2026-06-21

Slow-smoked beef brisket infused with hickory wood smoke and served with a rich homemade BBQ sauce that balances sweet, tangy, and smoky flavors. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 620 minutes, pairs beef brisket, kosher salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 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 black pepper
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 cups soaked hickory wood chips
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1 tsp hot sauce
• 2 tbsp honey
• 3 minced garlic cloves

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp kosher salt, 1 tbsp black pepper, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, and 2 tsp smoked paprika. Rub this spice mix evenly over the entire 5 lbs beef brisket, pressing it into the meat.
2. Step 2: Prepare your smoker by preheating to 225°F and adding 2 cups soaked hickory wood chips for smoke. Place brisket fat-side up on the smoker grate.
3. Step 3: Smoke the brisket for 8-10 hours, maintaining 225°F, until the internal temperature reaches 195°F and the meat is tender when pierced.
4. Step 4: While brisket smokes, combine 1 cup ketchup, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, 1 tsp hot sauce, 2 tbsp honey, and 3 minced garlic cloves in a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and aromatic.
5. Step 5: Remove brisket from smoker and let rest for 30 minutes. Slice against the grain and serve with warm homemade BBQ sauce drizzled over the top.