BBQ Brisket Sandwich

This slow-cooked BBQ brisket sandwich recipe will elevate your sandwich game to new heights! Tender, juicy beef brisket is smothered in flavorful BBQ sauce, then packed between soft, pillowy buns. It's the ideal meal for weekend barbecues, family gatherings, or potlucks.

Why you’ll love this bbq Brisket Sandwich Recipe

• Easy: The recipe is quite simple to prepare. All that you have to do is to season the meat, cook it in a slow cooker, and then let the meat rest before shredding it with 2 forks. Our slow cooker brisket sandwich doesn't require marinating the brisket or to searing it before cooking in the crock pot!
• Tender and juicy brisket
• Versatile: You can use your own meat rub and serve the bbq beef brisket in sandwiches, to make brisket sliders, tacos, or eat it on top, pasta, or mashed potatoes.
• This is a high-protein dish and can be also low-carb if you use low-carb bread.
• Portable: You can easily transport our brisket sandwiches to potlucks, picnics, bbq parties, work, and more.
• Comforting, making one of those delicious easy dinners!

Brisket sandwich recipe

Classic BBQ brisket sandwiches have roots in the southern United States, particularly in Texas, where beef brisket is a staple at barbecues. Beef brisket is well-known for its strong beef flavor and tougher texture, making it the perfect candidate for slow cooking.

In this BBQ brisket sandwich recipe, the dry rub, packed with an array of spices and seasonings, infuses the meat to create a full-bodied flavor. Plus, the BBQ sauce adds a sweet, smoky, and tangy finish. The resulting meat is succulent and pull-apart tender with a rich, savory flavor profile.

Once it’s nice and juicy and crispy around the edges, slice or pull your brisket and pop it between fresh burger buns with a dollop of coleslaw, melted cheese, and a side of fries for the ultimate comfort food experience.

Ingredients and Substitutions

To make this brisket sandwich, you’ll need:

FOR THE DRY RUB:

• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder

• 1 tbsp chili powder

• 1 tbsp paprika

• 1 tbsp salt

• 1 tbsp light brown sugar

• 1 tsp ground cumin

• 6 lbs beef brisket trimmed and pat dry

• 2 tbsp olive oil

FOR THE BARBECUE SAUCE:

• 3 cup barbecue sauce
• ¾ cup apple cider or red wine vinegar
• 1 ½ tsp hot sauce
• 1 tsp salt

To assemble the brisket sandwiches:

• 12 burger buns (or Brioche buns, Kaiser rolls, French bread rolls, or baguettes)
• 12 (1-ounce) slices of cheddar cheese, or Pepper Jack cheese
• 1 cup coleslaw, optional (or avocado slices, or pickled red onions)

How to Make Brisket Sandwich

1. Spray the bowl of slow cooker with no-stick cooking spray. SEASON: Combine dry rub ingredients together in a small bowl. Place brisket on a large cookie sheet and season both sides of the brisket with the dry rub and then drizzle with oil. Be sure to apply the rub well to both sides with your hands.

2. Place brisket, fat side up, in the slow cooker bowl.

3. PREPARE THE BBQ SAUCE: Stir sauce ingredients together and cover the brisket with half of the sauce. Refrigerate the remaining bbq sauce for later.

4. COOK: Cover brisket with a lid and cook on low setting for 8-10 hours, or on high for 4-5 hours.

5. When brisket is tender, place onto a cookie sheet, lined with aluminum foil. Check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the beef. It must be at least 175 to 185 F to be tender without breaking apart. Between 190 F to 205 F, it will fall apart tender (this is what we want for pulling the brisket meat easily). Baste brisket with meat juices from the slow cooker and then with the remaining bbq sauce. Transfer it to a cutting board and let the meat rest for 15 minutes and pull the brisket using 2 forks.

6. Place the pulled brisket back into the pot and let it sit for extra 10-15 minutes to absorb the flavors of the sauce.

7. To assemble the bbq brisket sandwiches, place pulled brisket between burger buns with melted cheese.

8. Then, top it with purple cabbage coleslaw. Serve them with the remaining bbq sauce and some sides such as grilled corn on the cob in foil, baked yuca fries, potato salad with mayonnaise, crispy zucchini sticks, or crispy potato wedges.

 

How to pull brisket for making sandwiches

“Pulling brisket” is the term used to separate cooked meat into thin shreds. Although this process is simple, you have to know how to do it right for the best beef brisket sandwich recipe! Here are the two best methods:

Chef's knife

1. Let your brisket rest: Ensure your cooked brisket has had a chance to rest for about 15-20 minutes before pulling it.
2. Gently remove the fat cap: Hold a chef's knife flat and carefully nudge the fat cap off the brisket, always working away from your body to ensure safety. It's important to not cut into the meat itself during this step.
3. Trim the top edge: After pushing off the fat cap, there will be an area around the top edge that needs a bit of a trim. Go ahead and do that, then set the trimmings aside.
4. Separate the flat and the point: Make a straight cut right through the middle of the brisket, forming a ‘flat’ and a ‘point.’ You might notice some excess fat on both the flat and the point – use the same method as before to remove it.
5. Slice it: Next, cut the flat and the point into 1" slices, going against the grain of the meat. For a better grip, you might find it helpful to roll the point up while slicing it.
6. Chop and mix: Now, chop the fat cap into small pieces and mix it back in with the sliced meat, working it with your hands until the meat falls apart. This will give every bite a rich flavor and succulent texture.

Two forks

1. Pull apart: Hold the brisket with one fork and use the second to pull at the meat, shredding it into pieces. Make sure the forks are facing each other with the prongs hooked into the meat.
2. Keep shredding: Keep working your way through the meat. Follow the grain of the meat since this will give you the most tender pieces.

Variations

You can make this BBQ brisket sandwich taste different by cooking or cutting the brisket in different ways, or by using other sauces. Try some of the following options.

Ways to cut the brisket

• Pulled BBQ brisket sandwich: Pull the brisket apart into long, stringy pieces. This texture can hold a lot of sauce and is excellent for soaking into a soft bun.
• Chopped BBQ brisket sandwich: Chop the brisket into small, bite-sized pieces after it's fully cooked. This creates a sandwich with more body and bite.
• Sliced BBQ brisket sandwich: Slicing the brisket provides a leaner, firmer texture for a less messy sandwich. It's crucial to slice against the grain for maximum tenderness.
• Shredded BBQ brisket sandwich: Shredded brisket is similar to pulled brisket but typically involves smaller pieces. This makes for a denser sandwich, where every bite is packed with meat.

Cooking method

• Smoked brisket sandwich: A brisket that’s smoked over wood chips has a deep, smoky flavor. This method takes longer but can be worth it for the taste.
• Cured brisket sandwich: A brisket made with cured beef has a distinctive pink color and tangy flavor. Try this for a unique twist on traditional brisket sandwiches.

You can also experiment with other types of sauces besides BBQ. Try some spicy Sriracha, a tangy mustard-based sauce, or a rich, savory gravy. Each one gives the leftover brisket sandwich recipe a different flavor profile, so try a few to see what you like best!

Tips on how to make BBQ beef brisket sandwiches

Choose a lean brisket with good marbling and even thickness, at least 1 inch thick. This will allow the beef brisket to cook evenly!

• Trim the brisket: Remove any excess fat or silver skin; otherwise, your shredded or chopped brisket sandwich will become too greasy.
• Season the brisket all over with a dry rub using a blend of spices!
• If you have time, marinate the meat for at least 2 hours or up to overnight. It will make it more flavorful and also will help tenderize the meat.
• Use a crockpot to cook the brisket with bbq sauce on low heat for 8-10 hours, or until it becomes so tender that will fall apart easily.
• Let the cooked beef brisket rest for 15 minutes before shredding or chopping, allowing its juices to redistribute.
• Cut the brisket for sandwiches as desired: You can slice the meat against the grain, pull or shred the beef brisket using two forks, or chop it into bite sizes using a knife.
• Choose a type of bread that can hold the meat and doesn’t get soggy easily. I prefer the ones with a hard crust such as French bread rolls or baguettes, but you can also use hamburger buns that are soft. In this case, try to assemble your bbq brisket sandwich right before serving!
• Preferably assemble the sandwich right before serving. The bbq sauce may soften the bread, making your bbq brisket sandwich soggy.
• You may toast or grill the sandwich bread to make it crispy!
• Serve it with whatever garnishes or sides you enjoy such as coleslaw, avocado slices, any melting cheese, onion rings, fresh green leaves, etc

What to serve with barbecue brisket sandwich

Turn your barbecue brisket sandwich recipe into a complete meal with side dishes and toppings like these:

• Broccoli coleslaw
• Sweet potato or cassava fries
• Baked beans
• Grilled corn on the cob
• Potato salad with mayo
• Pickled red onions
• Air fryer zucchini
• Air fryer potato wedges
• Smashed garlic potatoes

FAQ’s

What kind of bread do you use for brisket sandwiches?

Brioche buns are an ideal choice for pulled brisket sandwiches due to their slightly sweet flavor and tender texture. The sweetness of the bun complements the smoky flavors of the brisket. Plus it’s sturdy enough to hold up under the weight and moisture of the meat. You can also use other types of bread like potato rolls, Kaiser buns, French bread rolls, or baguettes.

What is the rule for brisket?

The rule for brisket is to cook it low and slow for the most tenderness. This method breaks down the tough connective tissue over several hours so the meat comes out tender and flavorful. A slow cooker, smoker, or oven at low temperatures will all achieve similar results. 

How much meat do you need for a beef brisket sandwich recipe?

For a generous serving size, you need about ⅓ to ½-pound of cooked brisket per sandwich. This ensures there’s a good amount of meat in each bite. Just keep in mind, brisket shrinks to about half the size and weight once cooked, so the raw amount must be heavier.

What is the 3 2 1 rule for brisket?

The 3 2 1 rule for brisket refers to a popular method of smoking brisket and is typically used for pork ribs. When used in the context of brisket, it involves smoking it unwrapped for 3 hours, smoking it for 2 hours wrapped in foil, and cooking it for an additional hour unwrapped again. This helps infuse the smoky flavor without drying out the meat.

What is the brisket finger test?

The finger test (also called the hang test) is a technique to check the tenderness of smoked meats like brisket. Cut a thin slice and droop it over your index finger. Properly cooked brisket should form a "U" or "V" shape. If it droops over your finger without falling apart, you are good to go!

What is the difference between brisket and Texas brisket?

The term "Texas brisket" refers to a traditional smoking technique, where the brisket is cooked over indirect heat. This method often includes a mix of salt, pepper, and other spices. It makes for a brisket with a flavorful crust, also known as "bark," on its exterior, with a tender and juicy interior perfect for Texas brisket sandwich recipes. The general term “brisket” can refer to a broad variety of styles of cooking brisket, like Jewish-style, corned beef, or oven-roasted.

HOW TO STORE PULLED BRISKET SANDWICHES

• In the fridge: Store leftover sliced, chopped, or pulled brisket in a sealed container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Just make sure to not refrigerate the brisket sandwiches themselves, or they will soften and become soggy.
• In the freezer: You can also freeze the cooked and cool brisket in a plastic freezer bag or freezer-safe container for 2-4 months.
• To reheat: You can reheat the brisket covered in the microwave, along with its juices and bbq sauce, for 2 minutes or more depending on the portion of your leftovers. Make sure to use fresh or toasted bread for your bbq brisket sandwiches.

Other brisket recipes to enjoy

• Texas-Style Smoked Beef Brisket
• Bbq beef brisket recipe
• Pulled brisket recipe
• Irish corned beef
• Brisket breakfast tacos

other sandwich recipes to try

• Chicken salad sandwich
• Tuna salad sandwich recipe
• Turkey chili sandwich
• Baked Monte Cristo sandwich

PIN & ENJOY!