Smoky BBQ Brisket Sandwiches with Pickled Onions
Tender smoked brisket layered in soft sandwich buns with tangy pickled red onions and smoky barbecue sauce for a satisfying Texas-inspired meal. This American-inspired sandwich and wrap recipe, ready in about 255 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.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef brisket
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 medium, thinly sliced red onion
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 6 soft sandwich buns
- 1 tbsp olive oil
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 300°F. Mix 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Rub this spice mix evenly over 2 lbs beef brisket.
- Step 2: Place brisket in a roasting pan, cover with foil, and cook in the oven for 3-4 hours until fork-tender.
- Step 3: Meanwhile, prepare pickled onions by combining 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp granulated sugar, and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Heat until sugar dissolves, then pour over 1 medium thinly sliced red onion in a jar. Let sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour.
- Step 4: Once brisket is done, slice thinly. Warm 6 soft sandwich buns by brushing with 1 tbsp olive oil and toasting in a skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes per side until golden.
- Step 5: Assemble sandwiches by layering sliced brisket, 2 tbsp barbecue sauce, and a generous spoonful of pickled onions on each bun. Serve warm.








