Slow-Smoked Brisket with Hill Country Spice Rub

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

Tender, slow-smoked Texas-style brisket seasoned with a signature Hill Country spice rub and cooked to juicy perfection. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 735 minutes, pairs beef brisket, kosher salt, coarse black pepper 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

• 5 lbs beef brisket
• 2 tbsp kosher salt
• 2 tbsp coarse black pepper
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 cups wood chips (oak or hickory)
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup water

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your smoker to 225°F and soak 2 cups of oak or hickory wood chips in water for 30 minutes.
2. Step 2: Combine 2 tbsp kosher salt, 2 tbsp coarse black pepper, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, and 1 tbsp brown sugar in a bowl and rub evenly all over the 5 lbs beef brisket.
3. Step 3: Place the brisket fat side up on the smoker grate, add soaked wood chips to the smoker box, and smoke for about 6 hours, maintaining a steady 225°F temperature.
4. Step 4: Every hour, spritz the brisket with a mixture of 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and 1/4 cup water to keep it moist and enhance flavor.
5. Step 5: Continue smoking until the internal temperature of the brisket reaches 195°F and the meat is tender when probed, about 10-12 hours total.
6. Step 6: Remove the brisket from the smoker, wrap it tightly in foil, and let it rest for at least 1 hour before slicing against the grain to serve.