The primary time I tasted a Buc-ee’s brisket sandwich, I used to be on a cross-country street journey via Texas. My gasoline tank was working low, and so was my endurance after hours of driving. Then, like a mirage within the freeway desert, the enormous beaver signal appeared. I pulled in anticipating to refuel, however left with what is likely to be the very best gasoline station sandwich ever created. That smoky, tender brisket sandwich haunted my goals for weeks afterward.

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Residing many miles from the closest Buc-ee’s meant I had to determine the way to recreate this legendary sandwich at house. After quite a few smoking periods and spice experiments, I’ve lastly cracked the code. This copycat Buc-ee’s Brisket Sandwich recipe delivers all of the smoky, tender goodness of the unique—no street journey required!
What makes Buc-ee’s Brisket so good?
Whereas Beaver Nuggets would possibly get all of the social media consideration, true Buc-ee’s connoisseurs know the brisket sandwich is the crown jewel of their meals choices. What units it aside is the proper steadiness of flavors and textures:
- The meat maintains simply sufficient moisture to be succulent with out turning into soggy
- The brisket is smoked low and gradual for hours, creating that signature pull-apart tenderness
- A singular spice mix creates a posh taste profile with out overwhelming the meat
- The spices are finely floor, making a softer bark that’s excellent for sandwiches
What makes their brisket distinctive?
It’s not a giant secret why this Buc-ee’s Brisket Sandwich recipe is so darn scrumptious—it’s an all-day prepare dinner. The low and gradual cooking technique ensures the meat’s pull-apart tenderness. On the similar time, the Buc-ee’s spice rub mix offers the meat a posh taste that completely enhances the smokiness.
By blitzing the spices, you wind up with a softer bark that doesn’t get charred and avoids that bitter, acidic taste that turns off some folks. Though followers of burnt ends could also be dissatisfied, what you wind up with is the proper brisket for sandwiches.
Buc-ee’s Brisket components
For the Buc-ee’s Spice Rub:
- Kosher salt – Enhances the pure beef taste and helps type the bark
- Black peppercorns – Present traditional Texas brisket taste and slight warmth
- Onion salt – Provides savory depth with out overpowering the meat
- Chili powder – Contributes delicate warmth and wealthy coloration to the bark
- Turmeric – Offers the signature Buc-ee’s golden hue and refined earthy notes
- Mild brown sugar – Creates caramelization and balances the savory components
For the Brisket:
- Flat beef brisket (8-10 kilos) – The perfect minimize for even smoking and slicing
- BBQ sauce – Provides moisture and enhances the smoky flavors
For Meeting:
- Tender hamburger buns – Present the proper car for the tender meat
- Extra BBQ sauce – For serving
You should use your favourite BBQ sauce right here, however for essentially the most genuine taste, attempt the unique model from Buc-ee’s. In the event you can’t discover Buc-ee’s Barbecue Sauce close to you, Stubb’s Unique may even work.

Tips on how to make Buc-ee’s Brisket
To arrange the well-known Buc-ees spice mix:
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk collectively the kosher salt, black peppercorns, onion salt, chili powder, tumeric, and lightweight brown sugar.
- Switch the spice mix to a grinder or meals processor and pulse till very high quality.
To prep and smoke the brisket:
- Preheat the smoker to 225°F.
- If the fats cap is thicker than 1 / 4 inch, minimize off the surplus.
- Flippantly coat the brisket with about half of the ready Buc ees spice mix. Don’t go overboard and use all of it. You possibly can retailer the remaining spice mix in an hermetic container and use it in different recipes.
- Place the brisket within the smoke with the fats cap down to guard the meat from the warmth and assist produce a greater smoke ring.
- Slide a meat probe into the meat and set an alarm for an inner temperature of 200°F
- Shut the lid to the smoker and go away it till it reaches 200°F.
- Take away it from the smoker and place it on a reducing board. Cowl it with aluminum foil and let it relaxation for an hour earlier than reducing.

Buc-ee’s Brisket
Recreate the well-known gasoline station’s legendary smoked brisket sandwich at house with this genuine copycat recipe that includes a particular spice mix and slow-smoking method.
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Servings: 10
Energy: 746kcal
Substances
Brisket
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 3 teaspoons onion salt
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons turmeric
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 brisket flat fats cap eliminated
Sandwich Meeting
- 1 bottle BBQ sauce Buc-ee’s or Stubb’s Unique
- hamburger buns
Directions
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Preheat the smoker to 225°F.
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Place all of the spices in a spice grinder and pulse till very finely floor.
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Sprinkle a skinny layer of spice combine all around the brisket. Don’t closely coat the brisket with spices. Save the leftover spice combine for future use.
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Place the brisket fat-side down within the smoker. (This promotes a extra distinct smoke ring and protects the lean meat from the warmth.) Place a probe thermometer into the brisket and smoke till it reaches 200°F.
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Take away the brisket from the smoker, cowl with foil, and let relaxation for about an hour earlier than serving.
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Slice or chop the brisket and costume it calmly with BBQ sauce. Function a sandwich, with about 8 ounces of brisket per bun.
Diet
Energy: 746kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 79g | Fats: 29g | Saturated Fats: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 13g | Ldl cholesterol: 225mg | Sodium: 3023mg | Potassium: 1378mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 226IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 9mg
3 ways you possibly can serve Buc-ee’s Brisket
Something you do with this brisket will tasty wonderful, however why not attempt a few of Buc-ee’s creations?
Chopped Brisket Sandwich. If you wish to attempt the traditional brisket sandwich recipe that helped put Buc-ee’s on the map, then go together with this one. The chopped meat makes for a way more tender and saucier sandwich that scores excessive on the mess issue. Merely tough chop about half a pound of smoked brisket into small chunks earlier than tossing in BBQ sauce and piling the meat excessive on a delicate bun.
Sliced Brisket Sandwich. For many who need a drier sandwich that permits the flavour of the brisket to be the star. Thinly slice the brisket towards the grain. Barely overlap the slices on the underside of a fluffy bun, add a drizzle of BBQ sauce over the meat, and high with the bun.
Brisket & Egg Taco. There’s not a lot to this breakfast taco. Chopped brisket and scrambled eggs on a delicate wheat taco could not appear spectacular at first, however the mixture is one thing particular. Buc-ee’s doesn’t serve theirs with any toppings, however you possibly can. Why not attempt including chopped tomatoes or some cojita cheese?

Tips on how to retailer the leftovers
In the event you assume you’ll end the brisket in lower than three days, wrap the room-temperature brisket in plastic wrap and preserve it within the fridge. For longer than three days, freeze it after wrapping the brisket in plastic after which a layer of aluminum foil.
Tips on how to reheat the brisket with out drying out?
Reheating brisket will be tough, however this can be a good technique:
- Let the meat come as much as room temperature whereas preheating the oven to 350°F.
- Place the room-temperature brisket on a rack set in a rimmed baking dish.
- Pour a couple of half-cup of liquid, like beef inventory or apple cider, into the baking dish and add a probe.
- Set the probe to 150°F and wrap the highest of the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
- Cook dinner till the meat reaches the goal temperature.

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