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Pit-Pro Recipe

Classic Texas-Style Smoked Brisket

12 to 14 hours

AI-generated texas style brisket recipe tuned for a 250F pit, using Post Oak.

Submitted By Randy Via GTRDUNN BBQ Pit Lab

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This recipe is built around GTRDUNN's Osage orange hardwood pellets for long, clean-burning heat.

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Classic Texas-Style Smoked Brisket

Ingredients

  • 1 whole packer brisket (12-15 lbs)
  • 1/2 cup coarse kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup 16-mesh coarse black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder

Pitmaster Notes

  • Do not rush the resting phase; a 2 to 4 hour rest is the secret to a tender, juicy brisket.
  • Using 16-mesh coarse black pepper is vital for creating that signature, textured Texas bark.
  • Maintain a clean-burning fire throughout the cook; thick white smoke will bitter the flavor of the meat.

Cook Steps

  1. 1 Trim the brisket while cold, leaving a uniform 1/4-inch fat cap and rounding off any sharp corners to ensure aerodynamic airflow.
  2. 2 Combine the kosher salt, coarse black pepper, and garlic powder in a shaker to create the traditional rub.
  3. 3 Apply the rub generously to all sides of the brisket, pressing it gently to adhere to the meat.
  4. 4 Preheat your smoker to a stable 250F, ensuring a clean-burning fire with thin blue smoke.
  5. 5 Place the brisket in the smoker, fat side up (or facing the heat source), and insert a temperature probe into the thickest part of the flat.
  6. 6 Smoke undisturbed for 6 to 8 hours until a dark, mahogany bark has formed and the internal temperature reaches roughly 165F to 170F.
  7. 7 Wrap the brisket tightly in peach butcher paper, maintaining a snug fit to keep the bark intact.
  8. 8 Return the wrapped brisket to the smoker and cook until the internal temperature reaches approximately 203F and the probe slides in with no resistance.
  9. 9 Remove the brisket from the smoker and let it rest, still wrapped, in an insulated cooler for a minimum of 2 hours before slicing against the grain.