Smoked Brisket Sandwich with Homemade Pickled Red Onions

This smoked brisket sandwich is SO GOOD! It’s a hearty sandwich using leftover brisket with homemade pickled red onions and other brisket sandwich toppings. This smoked meat sandwich is special enough for an impressive dinner. It pairs with all kinds of side dishes. So if you’re looking for the best BBQ brisket sandwich, read on to find out how to make this amazing treat!

Brisket sandwiches are the ultimate comfort food, featuring smoky brisket piled high on a soft bun and topped with tangy, homemade pickled red onions. Whether you’re looking for a hearty lunch or a satisfying dinner, this delicious sandwich is sure to hit the spot.

Why You’ll Love These

• Great way to use up leftovers: You can use leftover brisket to make this sandwich or else cook some with this smoked brisket sandwich recipe in mind. Then all you have to do is choose your favourite smoked brisket sandwich toppings.
• Delicious: Brisket sandwiches with homemade pickled onions are incredibly tasty. In fact, I bet just the mention of them makes your mouth water.
• Ideal for lunch: If you want a warm meal but you don’t want to spend a long time cooking, pairing leftover brisket with buns and toppings is sure to fill you up.

Ingredients for Smoked Brisket Sandwiches

The main ingredients are the brisket, buns and homemade pickled onions, and then you will need BBQ sauce, jalapenos, and any other toppings you have in mind.

I adore brisket. It’s perfect for a sandwich or to add to other dishes. If you have leftover brisket, and you might because it comes in large cuts, there are other recipes. It’s great for tacos, nachos, meaty mac ‘n cheese, or adding to pasta or rice-based dishes. I have a great recipe for Mesquite Smoked Dry Rub Brisket that I used for this recipe.

What is Brisket Exactly?

The beef brisket comes from the lower chest or breast of a cow. Because cattle don’t have collarbones, this meat is highly muscled, meaning it needs to be tenderized correctly. Perfectly cooked brisket should be falling apart tender.

How do you Cook Brisket?

Brisket is good for roasting, smoking or grilling. Flavouring it before cooking with a spice rub is very popular, as is smoking or grilling it to infuse it with wonderful smoky flavour.

Smoking brisket is my favourite cooking method for this cut of meat, but it does take a while! Somewhere between 30 to 60 minutes per pound of brisket is a good rule of thumb. This means a 16-pound brisket will take around 11 hours at 275 degrees F, so start it early in the morning! My smoked brisket recipe is a good one!

You need to cook the meat until it’s at least 195 degrees F in the center. If you accidentally overcook your brisket, it can still go in a stew, shepherd’s pie or chilli recipe. ‘Burnt ends’ are popular in Texas. In fact some people like those best. Burnt ends are the crispy brisket ends with plenty of BBQ sauce. So don’t throw them out or feed them to your dog.

I like to make this smoked brisket sandwich with French bread rolls because they’re crusty and sturdy enough to hold together. You can use another kind if you prefer, such as hoagie rolls or brioche buns.

Add a couple of jalapenos or feel free to use less or more, depending how much you like spice. Homemade pickled red onions go beautifully with the brisket. Pickles and crispy French-fried onions make great brisket sandwich toppings. This is one of the best brisket sandwiches with those toppings.

Beef Brisket Sandwich Toppings

There are plenty of delicious toppings that can be added to a beef brisket sandwich to enhance its flavour and texture. Here are some popular options:

1. Barbecue sauce: It adds a sweet and tangy flavor that complements the smokiness of the meat.
2. Coleslaw: Add a refreshing contrast to the rich and fatty brisket, while also adding some crunch.
3. Pickles: Whether dill or sweet, cut through the richness of the meat and add a tangy flavour.
4. Red onions: Onions add a crisp and slightly sweet flavor that pairs well with the meat.
5. Cheese: Cheddar or pepper jack cheese adds richness and creaminess to the sandwich.
6. Jalapenos: Sliced jalapenos, cowboy candy or pickled jalapenos can be added for some heat.
7. Horseradish sauce: Add a sharp and pungent flavour that complements the beef brisket.

Side Dishes for a Smoked Brisket Sandwich

BBQ sauce and coleslaw pair beautifully with this smoked meat sandwich. I imagine that French fries, onion rings, a simple green salad, corn on the cob, potato salad or 3-bean salad would pair nicely too. Want some more ideas? Then how about mac ‘n cheese, roasted Brussels sprouts, smoked asparagus, green beans, or steamed veggies?

My fave is this chicken pasta salad but I just omit the chicken for a side version of the salad.

How to Make Homemade Pickled Red Onions

All the brisket sandwich toppings in this recipe are just suggestions. So you can omit any you don’t want including the pickled onions. However, I think they go perfectly in this smoked meat sandwich and they’re easy to make.

Along with red onion, you will need peppercorns, garlic, and white vinegar. Thin slices of onion and garlic go into a jar with the peppercorns and vinegar. A mason jar is probably the handiest for making this. Refrigerate them for half an hour then serve. If you have leftovers, these pickled onions will keep for up to 3 weeks, although they taste freshest during the first few days of making them.

How to Assemble the Best BBQ Brisket Sandwich

If you have all the ingredients to hand, you can get started on making these. Cut the rolls in half because you’re going to toast the cut sides (this helps stop the juices from leaking through). At this point you can either butter the cut sides or spread some BBQ sauce over them. Else just omit both. This is the perfect way to use leftover smoked brisket.

Next add the sliced meat and then you can cook this sandwich using leftover brisket in the oven. Well you don’t need to ‘cook’ it so much as warming it through. Add whichever brisket sandwich toppings you want to use, such as pickles, red onions and jalapenos. Serve while they’re still warm, along with any sides.

Brisket Sandwich FAQs

Smoked Brisket Sandwich Recipe

Tender and juicy brisket, smoky and savoury, is piled high on a fresh bun. Every bite is a perfect combination of meaty and zesty, making this leftover brisket sandwich a must-try for any barbecue lover. Whether you’re enjoying it at a backyard cookout or a cozy night in, this is the best brisket sandwich and sure to satisfy your cravings.

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