Spiced Smoked Brisket with Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-30 · Updated 2026-04-30

Tender smoked brisket seasoned with a bold dry rub, served with tangy Carolina mustard BBQ sauce for a classic Southern barbecue experience. This Southern-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 495 minutes, pairs beef brisket, brown sugar, paprika 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

• 4 lbs beef brisket
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp coarse kosher salt
• 1 tbsp black pepper, freshly ground
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup yellow mustard
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp smoked paprika (for sauce)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Combine 2 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp coarse kosher salt, 1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp onion powder, and 1 tsp cayenne pepper in a bowl to create the dry rub.
2. Step 2: Rub the 4 lb beef brisket evenly with the dry rub, pressing the spices into the meat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight for deeper flavor.
3. Step 3: Preheat your smoker to 225°F. Place the brisket fat side up in the smoker and smoke for approximately 6-8 hours until the internal temperature reaches 195°F and the meat is tender.
4. Step 4: While the brisket smokes, whisk together 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup yellow mustard, 2 tbsp honey, and 1 tsp smoked paprika in a small saucepan. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly, then remove from heat.
5. Step 5: Let the smoked brisket rest for 30 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain. Serve with the Carolina mustard BBQ sauce drizzled over or on the side for dipping.