Slow-Cooked Beef Brisket with Amarillo-Style BBQ Sauce

By , Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

Tender slow-cooked beef brisket infused with a smoky, tangy BBQ sauce inspired by Amarillo Texas flavors. This beef recipe, ready in about 320 minutes, pairs beef brisket, smoked paprika, brown sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 6, 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: 300 min Serves 6 480 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

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

Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 275°F. In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp smoked paprika, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tbsp kosher salt, 2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1 tsp onion powder. Rub this spice mix evenly over the entire 3 lb beef brisket.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the brisket for about 4 minutes per side until a deep brown crust forms. Remove from heat.
  3. Step 3: In a bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp yellow mustard, and 1/2 cup water until well blended. Pour this BBQ sauce over the brisket.
  4. Step 4: Cover the skillet tightly with foil and place in the oven. Cook for 4 to 5 hours, or until the brisket is fork-tender and the sauce has thickened and coats the meat.
  5. Step 5: Remove from oven and let the brisket rest for 20 minutes before slicing against the grain. Serve with the thickened BBQ sauce spooned over the top.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Slow-Cooked Beef Brisket with Amarillo-Style BBQ Sauce take to make?

Total time is about 320 minutes (20 min prep + 300 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Slow-Cooked Beef Brisket with Amarillo-Style BBQ Sauce?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep beef brisket from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Cooked Beef Brisket with Amarillo-Style BBQ Sauce?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Slow-Cooked Beef Brisket with Amarillo-Style BBQ Sauce for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Slow-Cooked Beef Brisket with Amarillo-Style BBQ Sauce?

BBQ & Smoked beef like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

Related recipes