A smoked brisket burger deserves a spot at the top of your must-try list if you’re looking to impress guests at your next barbecue or find a new way to enjoy a delicious burger. Brisket shines when combined with smoky flavors, and you can use whatever burger toppings you love to make the brisket burger your own.
Ready to get smoking? Learn how to make smoked brisket burgers with our recipe and tips.
What is a Brisket Burger?
You know the traditional hamburger that’s made with ground beef and formed into a patty. Well, a brisket burger follows similar lines but instead of ground beef, you use ground brisket meat to make it.
If you know anything about brisket, you’re aware that it can be super tender and loaded with flavor when cooked correctly. The same holds true for a brisket burger. In a ground patty form, brisket has tons of beefy flavor, especially when smoked. Smoking the patties also allows the brisket to tenderize, just like it would if you smoked a whole brisket. But because the patties are much smaller, they don’t need as much smoking time as an entire brisket would.
Once you’ve cooked the patties, you can add whatever toppings you’d like to a brisket burger, just like a regular burger.
Ground Brisket vs. Ground Beef
Ground beef and ground brisket might both be able to transform into burger patties, but they don’t offer the same result. Ground beef comes from various cuts of a cow, like sirloin or round. Basically, whatever trimmings are left over after butchering can be used for ground beef. But ground brisket is only from the brisket cut, which comes from the lower chest area. It’s relatively fatty compared to other cuts, but that high fat content helps brisket tenderize when cooked for a few hours. This is unlike ground beef, which you can cook in a pan in just a few minutes and still have pretty tender meat.
Perhaps the most notable difference between the two cuts is their flavors. Ground beef tends to be milder than ground brisket because of the cuts used to create it. But ground brisket only uses brisket meat, and brisket is known to be intensely flavorful. So, a ground brisket burger may wow your palate more than a ground beef burger.
Tips and Tricks for the Best Smoked Brisket Burgers
Ground brisket has a different structure than ground beef because it typically has more fat content. The most important tip to remember when making smoked brisket burgers is not to overhandle the meat when mixing in seasonings and other ingredients. Doing this can cause fat smearing, which is when the fat particles spread throughout the meat. It results in mushy burger patties that could crumble apart when cooking. Instead, mix the meat just until all the ingredients are well combined. Then, refrigerate the brisket patties for 30 minutes or so before cooking to help the fat resolidify.
Another tip: Make your own ground brisket from brisket trimmings. This is much more affordable than buying ground brisket from the store. If you recently smoked a brisket and have trimmings from that cut, simply ground them yourself to make them into brisket burgers. You can store your trimmings in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days until you’re ready to ground them into patties.
Smoked Brisket Burger Recipe
This smoked brisket burger keeps things simple with juicy, smoky brisket patties for a rich, beefy flavor. Add your favorite burger toppings, like cheese, jalapenos, caramelized onions, or garlic aioli, and enjoy a next-level burger experience. This recipe makes four burgers.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground brisket trimmings
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 4 burger buns
Instructions
- Fill the smoker’s wood pan with hickory or oak wood, and set the temperature to 225°F.
- In a bowl, gently mix the ground brisket with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Form into four patties, about ¾-inch thick.
- Place the patties in the smoker and cook for 1 hour or until they reach an internal temperature of 135-140°F for medium doneness.
- For a crispier exterior, sear the patties on a hot grill or skillet for 1-2 minutes per side.
- Place patties on toasted buns and add your favorite toppings and condiments.
Smoked Brisket Burger Recipe Variations
Take your brisket burger to the next level with these game-changing twists:
- Cheese-Stuffed Burgers: Pack cold cubes of smoked gouda or blue cheese into the center of each patty before smoking.
- Burnt Ends: Fold in 1/2 cup of chopped brisket burnt ends to create pockets of intense smoky goodness throughout.
- Southwest Heat: Mix in diced poblanos and a tablespoon of chipotle powder, then top with avocado slices and lime crema.
- Breakfast-Inspired: Top the burgers with hash browns and a sunny-side egg, then drizzle with hot honey.
- Bourbon BBQ: Brush patties with bourbon-infused barbecue sauce during the final smoking stage, then hit them with another coat before serving.
- Smoke & Fire: Add whole jalapeños and onion quarters in the smoker alongside your burgers, then chop and mix with mayo for a tasty spread.
Conclusion: Smoked Brisket Burger
Whether you stick with our classic recipe or venture into one of these flavor-packed variations, a smoked brisket burger delivers what ordinary burgers can’t touch. That rich beef taste, smoky depth, and juicy first bite keep folks coming back. For more cooking guides and recipes for beef enthusiasts, check out Steak University.
Smoked Brisket Burger
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground brisket trimmings
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 4 burger buns
Instructions
- Fill the smoker’s wood pan with hickory or oak wood, and set the temperature to 225°F.
- In a bowl, gently mix the ground brisket with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Form into four patties, about ¾-inch thick.
- Place the patties in the smoker and cook for 1 hour or until they reach an internal temperature of 135-140°F for medium doneness.
- For a crispier exterior, sear the patties on a hot grill or skillet for 1-2 minutes per side.
- Place patties on toasted buns and add your favorite toppings and condiments.
