By: Author Nicole Johnson
Posted on - Last updated:
Categories Beef, Recipes, Traeger Recipes
Traeger Smoked Brisketis bold and beefy and makes the most out of this tough cut of beef. Serve this up for holidays, Sunday barbecue, or even a week’s (or more) worth of lunches.
Traeger Smoked Brisket
Smoking your brisket on the Traeger helps to infuse the brisket with incredible flavor from the wood smoke and all of the spices and seasonings you layer on. You won’t need to make a pit stop at your local barbecue joint with a recipe like this!
Many people are intimidated by brisket, but there are all kinds of tricks you can use to make sure your brisket stays tender and juicy. I am always looking for ways to master the grill, but with a straightforward, no-fuss approach.
While slow-cooking or oven-cooking brisket is a tasty option, nothing compares to a brisket cooked over a live wood fire.
This post was updated in September 2020 with fresh instructions and photos.
More Easy Traeger Recipes here!
Smoked Brisket Shopping List
- Beef Brisket
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic
More Traeger Beef Recipes here!
How to make a Traeger Brisket
This is just the overview so you can see what you’re getting into here. When you are cooking, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.
1
Trim
Take your meat out of the fridge and trim off the excess fat. (If you are looking for a brisket trimming tutorial, check out this view on YouTube from Meat Church.) Let the meat come to room temperature.
2
Preheat
We’re aiming for around 225° for this stage of the game.
3
Rub & Smoke
Rub your brisket with your SPG and put it on the smoker. Smoke until it reaches 180-190° internal temperature.
4
Wrap
Wrap your meat with butcher paper (check out this tutorial from Chad Ward & Traeger on how to wrap a brisket) and place it back on the smoker. Cook until it is probe-tender, at about 204° IT.
5
REST
Take your wrapped brisket and wrap it in a few bath towels, and then place it into a cooler. Rest for at least 1 hour before slicing. 2-3 hours is better, but a 1-hour minimum is acceptable.
5
Slice and Eat
Slice against the grain and enjoy! Only slice what you’ll be eating at that sitting. Keep the rest together for the best results with any leftovers.
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Traeger Brisket FAQ
Is corned beef the same thing as brisket?
No.
While a corned beef starts out as a brisket, it is then brined and cured. If you were to make a corned beef to cook, you would get a totally different flavor as it is packed with spices.
Can you shred brisket?
Sure, but I’m not sure why you’d want to.
If you are going for a pulled beef, I’d recommend using a chuck roast instead, like in my shredded barbecue beef recipe or this smoked bbq beef sandwich recipe.
Brisket is best served sliced with all of the classic fixings. My favorite is to slap a thick slab of it into a hot dog bun, topped with my favorite barbecue sauce, and then a generous scoop of coleslaw.
What makes brisket tough?
Brisket is outstanding when cooked properly. Brisket is tougher and chewier meat compared to other cuts of beef.
When you cook it on the pellet grill, you need to cook it low and slow. If you pull the brisket off too soon, it’s gonna be a tough slab of meat.
When you go to slice brisket, and it’s tough, it means you need to cook it longer so it can break down the connective tissues and become tender and juicyas you want.Ideally, you want it to be “probe” tender, usually around 204-205°.
Can you freeze cooked brisket?
Yes!
You can freeze any of your brisket that you don’t plan to eat within a few days. Use a Foodsaver for vacuum sealing or a freezer bag.
Bonus because the best way to reheat this will be in a hot-water bath or sous vide machine.
More Easy Smoker Recipes
Best side dishes for smoked brisket
- Baked Beans
- Cucumber salad
- Cornbread
- Coleslaw(great topper for sandwiches)
- Corn Casserole
- Smoked Potato salad
- Traeger corn on the cob
- Macaroni salad
Brisket is versatile, so you could pick a handful of sides and make it work.
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24 Incredible Traeger Recipes
Recipes using leftover Brisket
Get creative and use up your leftover brisket in a handful of ways!
- Beef Barley Soup
- Brisket Tacos on the Blackstone
- The Ultimate Grilled Cheesewith brisket and cheese toasted on buttery bread.
- Quesadillasare another fantastic option.
- Try my Beef and Mushroom Pockets. You could use sharp cheddar in there, too!
- Create brisket enchiladasinstead of using basic roast or hamburger!
Or skip the variations, warm it up, and serve with your favorite sides. This brisket reheats like a champ. Same fantastic grilled flavors in every single bite.
I have a whole post dedicated to leftover roast beef recipes, and brisket is a perfect piece of leftover beef for this.
More recipes to enjoy!
- Grilled Teriyaki Salmon
- Hanger Steak
- Fried Wontons
- Bolognese Sauce
- Poor Man’s Burnt Ends
- Tonkotsu Ramen
- Country-Style Pork Ribs
- London Broil
- Recipes using Smoked Chicken
- Grape Jelly Meatballs
- Smoked Prime Rib
- Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Yield: 15 servings
My easy smoked brisket recipe is cooked on a Traeger Pellet Grill, and is one of the best meals I've ever had. Simple seasonings and attention to detail make for a piece of meat you won't soon forget.
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time12 hours
Total Time12 hours 25 minutes
Ingredients
- 15-18 pound beef brisket
- 1/2 cup Salt, Pepper, Garlic blend
Instructions
- Take your Brisket out of the refrigerator and let sit out at room temperature for 1 - 1 1/2 hours. Trim off the excess fat.
- Preheat your grill to 225°.
- Coat the brisket with rub on both sides.
- Place your brisket directly on the grill surface, shut the lid, and smoke it for until the internal temperature reaches 180-190°. Wrap with butcher paper, and put back on the grill.
- Cook wrapped until the internal temperature of the brisket is 204-205°.
- Remove, let rest for 1 hour wrapped in the butcher paper as well as a couple of bath towels, and place it into a clean cooler.
- Pull from the cooler, unwrap, and slice.
Notes
Our brisket took about 13 hours until it was done. Yours may take more or less time. With brisket, especially, you really have to just go with it.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 797Total Fat: 51gSaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 24gCholesterol: 291mgSodium: 149mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 79g
Nicole Johnson
Website
Nicole Johnson, a self-taught expert in grilling and outdoor cooking, launched Or Whatever You Do in 2010. Her blog, renowned for its comprehensive and creative outdoor cooking recipes, has garnered a vast audience of millions. Nicole's hands-on experience and passion for grilling shine through her work. Her husband, Jeremiah Johnson, also plays a pivotal role in recipe development, adding his culinary flair to the mix. Together, they form a dynamic duo, offering a rich and varied outdoor cooking experience to their followers.
