We Made The Pioneer Woman's Brisket and Her Recipe Did Not Disappoint (2024)

Updated: Aug. 21, 2023

If you're looking for a crowd-pleasing recipe, look no further than this Pioneer Woman brisket recipe.

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While brisket recipes smoked on a wood pellet grill or traditional smoker may be getting a lot of fanfare these days, old-fashioned oven-baked brisket should not be forgotten.

This Pioneer Woman brisket recipe is no exception. Ultra-tender, loaded with flavor and slowly braised for hours in a simple overnight marinade, Ree Drummond’s brisket recipe is a streamlined take on this classic homestyle favorite.

Let’s see how it stacks up to other Pioneer Woman recipes (like her fabulous million dollar dip).

How to Make The Pioneer Woman’s Brisket

We Made The Pioneer Woman's Brisket and Her Recipe Did Not Disappoint (1)Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home, GETTY IMAGES

First time buying brisket? Look for a good grade of meat and a cut that has an even thickness and width from end to end. This ensures even cooking and will prevent one end from drying out while in the oven. A great brisket should also have a generous 1/4-inch (or even 1/2-inch) thick fat cap on one side and visible fat marbling on the other. More fat equals more flavor!

Ingredients

Directions

Step 1: Marinade the brisket

In a large roasting pan, combine the beef consomme, soy sauce, lemon juice, liquid smoke and garlic. With the fat side up, lay the brisket in the marinade. Cover the pan tightly with foil and let the brisket marinate for 24 to 48 hours in the refrigerator.

Step 2: Cook

Preheat the oven to 300°F. Transfer the foil-covered roasting pan to the oven and braise the brisket for 6 to 7 hours (about 40 minutes per pound). You’ll know the brisket is done when the meat is tender and easily shreds with a fork.

Editor’s Tip: While “fall-apart tender” is often used to describe brisket, you don’t actually want the brisket to fall apart once cooked. That’s a sign that the brisket was overcooked. A perfectly cooked brisket should still require some gentle pull when carving.

Step 3: Slice and serve

Transfer the brisket to a cutting board. Then, slice against the grain (it’s a top trick to make tough meat tender) and return the slices back to the juices in the pan. Serve warm, spooning reserved juices over the slices. If you’re into barbecue, Ree also recommends slathering with good barbecue sauce. Enjoy!

Here’s What I Thought

We Made The Pioneer Woman's Brisket and Her Recipe Did Not Disappoint (2)Lauren Habermehl for Taste of Home

This was hands-down the easiest brisket recipe I have ever made. I loved that it required very minimal prep work, and the oven did all the heavy lifting for me. All I really had to do was slice, serve and enjoy!

While this brisket recipe does come out super flavorful and tender, it is a bit on the salty side due to the amount of beef consomme and soy sauce used in the marinade. If you’re sensitive to salty foods, serve the brisket with a side of honey barbecue to balance the flavors.

Next time, I would add about 1/4 cup of honey, brown sugar or maple syrup to the marinade to give the brisket just a little sweetness that’s similar to the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel brisket recipe that I love.

Tips for Making The Pioneer Woman Brisket

Why is slow-cooking brisket necessary?

Brisket is a tough, muscular cut of beef that comes from a hard-working area of the steer. This means that, while flavorful, brisket tends to be tough unless cooked low and slow (like our favorite slow-cooked oven ribs). Whether smoked or braised, a low and slow cooking method helps the brisket retain moisture, render fat and relax the connective tissue to make a juicy, flavorful and tender dish.

What should you pair with The Pioneer Woman brisket?

Pair this braised brisket with an array of side dishes. Choose southern favorites like baked beans and skillet cornbread or other comfort foods like The Pioneer Woman’s mashed potatoes or baked mac and cheese. You really can’t go wrong!

What should you do with leftover brisket?

Keep leftover brisket refrigerated in an airtight storage container for 3-5 days. Enjoy chilled, at room temperature or reheated. Leftover brisket is especially good shredded and mixed into chili, stuffed into a baked potato or rolled up in tortillas and baked with homemade enchilada sauce.

We Made The Pioneer Woman's Brisket and Her Recipe Did Not Disappoint (2024)

FAQs

What to do with a failed brisket? ›

Reheat it in a moist environment: One of the easiest ways to soften a dry brisket is to reheat it in a moist environment. You can do this by placing the brisket in a covered dish with a small amount of beef broth, water, or tomato sauce. Cover the dish with foil and bake it in the oven until it is heated through.

How do I make my brisket more flavorful? ›

Rubs and Marinades

Common go-to rubs include seasonings like garlic, herbs, and spices. Just be sure to take it easy on the rub so that your brisket doesn't come out too salty. If you plan to mop or baste your brisket while smoking, be sure to coordinate the flavors properly with your rub.

What is the best way to cook a brisket? ›

Brown brisket in a small amount of oil over medium-high heat. Or sear fat side up in a heated 500 ˚F oven for 20 minutes to develop flavor. Add a small amount of liquid (water, broth, or wine) to a Dutch oven, cover tightly, and simmer gently over low heat or in a 275 ˚F oven for 3 to 4 hours, or until tender.

How long does it take to cook a brisket per pound? ›

Our general rule of thumb is to plan on between 30 and 60 minutes per pound when learning how to cook a brisket. For example, a 16-pound brisket cooked at 275 degrees Fahrenheit will take between 10 and 12 hours. The entire process from trimming, injection, seasoning, and cooking will take between 18 and 20 hours.

What is the secret to a tender brisket? ›

Cook it at 275 degrees farenheit, once the internal temp is 135 wrap it in butcher paper until internal temp is 205. Let it rest for an hour at least. Guaranteed tender brisket.

Why is my brisket tough after slow cooking? ›

The meat was overcooked: Slow cookers are known for their ability to tenderize meat, but if the meat is cooked for too long, it can become overcooked and tough. It's important to follow the recommended cooking time for your recipe to ensure that the meat is cooked to the correct doneness.

Is it better to rub or marinade a brisket? ›

Marinating helps tenderize tough cuts by breaking up the muscle fibers. But low, slow cooking does that, too, so no need to marinate when you're smoking brisket. Brown and Ayala start with high-grade brisket from a ranch in Iowa, and season it with nothing more than a dry rub of equal parts salt and pepper.

What should I season my brisket with? ›

This flavor-packed Texas-style dry rub recipe is an easy way to spice up beef brisket. It gets plenty of complex flavor from a combination of dried herbs and spices, including paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, oregano, and coriander. Meanwhile, optional brown sugar gives it a bit of sweetness.

Does brisket get more tender the longer you smoke it? ›

A 3-pound brisket will typically require 5-6 hours of smoking at the base temperature of 250° F to reach full doneness. If you have more time, you can lower the temperature for a more tender, fall-apart texture.

How to make the juiciest brisket? ›

Once seared, place brisket in foil pan, fat side up, and smoke, uncovered for 2 hours. Flip brisket and smoke for 1 hour. At this point, the juices inside are under a fair amount of pressure. It is important not to pierce the meat from this point until it is done.

Do I cook my brisket fat side up or down? ›

To set things straight, we're here to put an end to the confusion, so you can get back to the grill with confidence. For brisket cooked to flavorful perfection, fat-side-down is the way to go. This is the only way to achieve a brisket that is perfectly moist with a perfect bark on both sides.

How many people does 1 pound of brisket feed? ›

If you plan on one pound of raw brisket per person, you can expect to get 12 to 15 servings out of it. The serving size for the beef brisket varies depending on the occasion, appetite, and other factors. Generally, a 1/4 pound of cooked brisket is a good starting point, but some people may require more or less.

How do I know when my brisket is done? ›

Either wait out the stall, or wrap the brisket tightly in two sheets of heavy aluminum foil with ½ a cup of apple juice added (aka The Texas Crutch) and bring the grill temperature or the grill back up to 225°F. When the brisket reaches an internal temperature of 195°F it should be properly smoked.

How long should a 5lb brisket take? ›

A: You can usually figure about 1.5 hours per pound at 225 degrees for brisket, pork shoulder and other larger pieces of meat. Several things can affect this time such as actual meat thickness, wind, temperature and how often you open the door of the smoker.

Can you tenderize brisket after it has been cooked? ›

When the meat has cooled, cut off the fatty top layer. Slice the brisket into 1/4-inch-thick slices and put the slices into a roasting pan. Cover the sliced meat with the defatted cooking liquid and reheat slowly. All the fat is gone and the meat is tender and juicy.

Can you cook a brisket twice? ›

Purchase a whole fresh beef brisket (not corned) or 2 center-cut pieces. Oven-braise the brisket up to 2 days ahead; chill meat and pan juices separately. To serve, slice meat and reheat in sauce.

Can I smoke a brisket twice? ›

Yes. There is, in fact, a science behind the Double Smoked Brisket Points. Things we have discussed like caramelization, rendering, and the secret behind why grilled food tastes good.

Can you put brisket back on smoker? ›

Smoke it Again

Place the pan of brisket back into the smoker at 175 – 200°F with smoke for about 30 minutes. The idea is to add smoke.. no further cooking is needed or required so lower is better and this helps to prevent the chopped meat from drying out.

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