Texas-Style Smoked Brisket with Spiced Jalapeño BBQ Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-26 · Updated 2026-06-26

Slow-smoked beef brisket infused with a smoky dry rub and paired with a tangy, spiced jalapeño barbecue sauce. This American-inspired barbecue recipe, ready in about 460 minutes, pairs beef brisket, kosher salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 700 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 black pepper
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3, seeded and chopped jalapeño peppers
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp smoked chili powder
• 1/4 cup water

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Combine 2 tbsp kosher salt, 2 tbsp black pepper, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder, and 1 tbsp onion powder in a bowl. Rub this spice mixture evenly over a 5 lb beef brisket, coating all sides. Let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
2. Step 2: Preheat your smoker to 225°F. Place the brisket fat side up on the smoker grate and smoke for about 6-7 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 195°F and the meat is tender.
3. Step 3: While the brisket smokes, make the jalapeño BBQ sauce: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add 3 chopped, seeded jalapeño peppers and sauté for 3 minutes until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Stir in 1 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp smoked chili powder, and 1/4 cup water. Simmer the sauce over low heat for 15 minutes until thickened and well combined.
5. Step 5: Remove the brisket from the smoker and let rest for 20 minutes before slicing against the grain. Serve the sliced brisket with the spiced jalapeño BBQ sauce spooned generously over the top.