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Overnight brisket on a pellet grill

There’s nothing quite like a perfectly smoked Texas-style brisket with a jet-black bark and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. But many home cooks struggle with keeping their brisket moist while achieving that signature flavor. This recipe takes the guesswork out by using a pellet grill and leveraging a few simple but powerful tricks—like overnight cooking and thermal sinking—to create a brisket that’s as good as (or better than) what you’d get at a top-tier BBQ joint.
Keyword Overnight brisket on a pellet grill
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 17 hours
Total Time 23 hours 28 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 whole packer brisket
  • 2 tbsp coarse salt
  • 2 tbsp coarse black pepper
  • 1/2 cup beef tallow
  • 1/2 cup clarified butter (optional)
  • 1/2 cup water (for wrapping)

Instructions

  • Trim brisket, leaving 1/4 inch fat cap. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Place brisket on upper rack of pellet grill at 7:00 p.m.
  • Set grill to 190°F and place a water pan underneath.
  • Smoke overnight for 12 hours.
  • At 7:00 a.m., add ice to the water pan and increase temperature to 300°F.
  • Smoke for 5 hours or until internal temperature reaches 175-185°F (remove at 190°F max).
  • Wrap in tallow-soaked butcher paper and double-wrap in foil with 1/2 cup water.
  • Hold in an oven at 150°F for 5-6 hours.
  • Slice against the grain and serve.