Slow-Smoked Texas Brisket with Homestyle Potato Salad
Tender, smoky brisket paired with a creamy, tangy homestyle potato salad makes for a classic Texas BBQ meal. This bbq & smoked ready in about 480 minutes pairs 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 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 brisket
- 2 tbsp kosher salt
- 2 tbsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard
- 2 cups wood chips (oak or hickory)
- 3 lbs russet potatoes
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard (for salad)
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2, finely chopped celery stalks
- 1/2, finely chopped red onion
- 3, chopped hard-boiled eggs
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper (for salad)
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat your smoker to 225°F. Rub 5 lbs brisket evenly with 2 tbsp kosher salt, 2 tbsp black pepper, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, and 1 tbsp garlic powder. Coat the brisket with 2 tbsp yellow mustard to help the rub adhere.
- Step 2: Place the brisket fat side up in the smoker and add 2 cups oak or hickory wood chips for smoke. Smoke for about 1.5 hours per pound, approximately 7.5 hours, until internal temperature reaches 195°F and the meat is tender.
- Step 3: Meanwhile, peel and cut 3 lbs russet potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Place in a large pot of salted water and boil over high heat for 12-15 minutes until tender but not mushy. Drain and let cool.
- Step 4: In a large bowl, mix 1 cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp yellow mustard, and 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar until smooth. Add 2 finely chopped celery stalks, 1/2 finely chopped red onion, and 3 chopped hard-boiled eggs. Stir well.
- Step 5: Fold the cooled potatoes gently into the dressing mixture. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Refrigerate the potato salad for at least 2 hours to develop flavor.
- Step 6: Once the brisket is done, let it rest for 30 minutes covered in foil. Slice thinly against the grain and serve alongside the homestyle potato salad.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Smoked Texas Brisket with Homestyle Potato Salad take to make?
Total time is about 480 minutes (30 min prep + 450 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-Smoked Texas Brisket with Homestyle Potato Salad?
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 brisket from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Smoked Texas Brisket with Homestyle Potato Salad?
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-Smoked Texas Brisket with Homestyle Potato Salad for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 8 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 8). 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-Smoked Texas Brisket with Homestyle Potato Salad?
BBQ & Smoked bbq & smoked 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.
