Serve Up a Big Plate of Comfort- BBQ Beef Brisket

Stews, soups and one pot meals are the epitome of comfort foods, along with mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. But sometimes, you just need a nice slice of meat on a plate and BBQ Beef Brisket is a simple and delicious, comforting food.

The best part about this recipe is that it’s so incredibly easy, and yet, it’s a crowd pleaser every time. You basically put it in the oven and two- three hours later (depending on the size) it emerges tender and incredibly flavorful.

You can make your own BBQ sauce or you can just pour a bottle of one that you happen to have in your fridge or pantry over the meat. On a weeknight, don’t bother fussing so much.  Any bottled flavor will do, but Hickory Smoked and Original Recipe BBQ Sauces are my favorites. When you have more time, you can make your own sauce.

 

BBQ Beef Brisket

Ingredients

1 3-4lb Beef Brisket

1 c. BBQ sauce (recipe follows)

¼ c. water

1 onion, sliced thin

Salt & Pepper

Method

Preheat Oven to 375 degrees F.

Season both sides of the brisket with salt and pepper being generous.

Add the onion to the bottom of a large roasting pan.

Place the brisket on top of the onions and pour the BBQ sauce and water over the meat.

Loosely cover with foil and place in the oven to bake for 2-3 or until fork tender. If you see that it is drying out too much, add more water and BBQ sauce. About half way through the cooking, flip the meat over so both sides absorb the liquid and the edges don’t become too charred.

Remove meat from oven and rest on a cutting board for five minutes before slicing very thin.

Enjoy with your favorite side. The meat also makes incredible sandwiches for days to come- with cole slaw and a pickle on the side!

Homemade BBQ Sauce

Ingredients

2 tbs chili powder
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt

2 c. ketchup
½ c. mustard
½ c. cider vinegar
1/3 c. Worcestershire Sauce
¼ c. lemon juice
¼ c. molasses
¼ c honey
1 c. brown sugar (preferably dark)

3 tbs vegetable oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
4 cloves of garlic, minced

Method

In a small bowl, mix the chili powder, black pepper, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix the ketchup, mustard, vinegar, Worcestershire, lemon juice, molasses, honey, and brown sugar. Blend until mixed thoroughly.

Over medium high heat, warm the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and continue cooking for another minute or so.

Add the chili powder mix and the wet ingredients. Simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes with the lid off to thicken it a bit.

Taste and adjust the seasonings. Add more of anything you prefer a little at a time. Some prefer a sweeter sauce, so add more honey and brown sugar. Some prefer more vinegary, so add a touch more. For more spice you can add hot sauce and more chili powder.

Not only is this a very good standard BBQ sauce for brisket, but it’s great on chicken too. You can keep a bottle in the fridge for a week or two.