How To Cook a Beef Brisket in the Oven

Name: How To Cook a Beef Brisket in the Oven
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 300 min
Total time: 465 min
Ingredients: 3 pound brisket flat, trimmed (1/4 inch fat cap)*; 1/4 cup dijon mustard; 2 Tablespoons worcestershire sauce; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 2 Tablespoons smoked paprika; 1 Tablespoon Morton kosher salt*; 1 Tablespoon EACH granulated garlic & onion powder; 1-2 teaspoons fresh cracked black pepper; 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced; barbecue sauce, for serving

Learning How to Cook a Brisket in the Oven means you can create a delicious BBQ meal even during wintertime! This guide will help you create a flavorful brisket with minimal tools and appliances. With a delicious dry rub and a tangy marinade, you’ll want to make extra for future meals!

Overhead image of oven baked brisket with sauce.

This guide to how to cook a brisket in the oven will teach you the method for creating juicy, tender brisket every time. By cooking brisket low and slow in the oven, you can mimic the effect of a smoker, so you won’t need any expensive equipment. Serve this juicy brisket with your favorite barbecue sauce, and enjoy!

If you’re still craving BBQ after making this brisket, try some of my other BBQ mains: Boneless Pork Ribs in the Oven, Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken, or Easy Dutch Oven BBQ Chicken.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Brisket Flat vs Point
How Much Brisket Per Person
Ingredients & Substitutions
How to Make Beef Brisket in the Oven
Slicing Brisket Against the Grain
Recipe Serving Suggestions
Expert Tips
Additions & Variations
Recipe FAQs
More Beef Recipes
How To Cook a Beef Brisket in the Oven Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Made in the oven – This recipe for slow-cooked brisket in the oven takes about 4 hours to cook, so it’s fairly hands-off once it’s cooking.
Juicy – Since you’re cooking this beef brisket recipe at a low temperature for a few hours, each slice will be moist and delicious.
No smoker needed – The best part about learning how to cook a brisket in the oven, is knowing you don’t need an expensive smoker to create a really good brisket.
Great for gatherings – This recipe is easy to double or triple, making it the perfect entrée for get-togethers, family reunions, and special occasions.
Freezes well – With proper storage, leftover brisket will stay good in the freezer for 6-12 months.

Brisket Flat vs Point

When learning how to cook a brisket in the oven, knowing which section is best for baking is important. Whole brisket is divided into two sections – the flat and the point. The flat is leaner and mainly made of connective tissues and meat, while the point is primarily made of fat and marbled meat. Usually, you’ll see each type of brisket sold separately at the grocery store. Though, occasionally, the whole brisket will be sold together. It is typically recommended to use the flat for sliced brisket pieces (like in this recipe) and the point for options like pulled pork or smoked brisket.

How Much Brisket Per Person

The amount of brisket per person depends on whether you serve adults or children. Most children will consume about 1/4 pound of brisket at mealtime, while an adult will consume about ½ pound. You can use this information to estimate how much brisket you’ll need for the meal.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Overhead image of ingredients needed to make oven baked brisket.

Flat Brisket: I recommend buying an already trimmed flat brisket from the grocery store, as it will save you prep time. If your brisket is larger (around 5-6 pounds), you can double the recipe to create a tasty brisket. The general cook time is 1.5 hours per pound, but be sure to use a meat thermometer. The brisket is done when its internal temperature is 195°F (90°C).
Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!

Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.

How to Make Beef Brisket in the Oven

Quick Overview

Add dry rub.
Wrap in foil.
Marinate.
Bake.

Step by Step Instructions

A 6 photo collage showing the steps for oven baked beef brisket.

The longer you marinate the brisket, the more flavorful it will be.

Allow the brisket to rest before slicing it to create a juicier result.

Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together the mustard and worcestershire. Set aside.

Step 2: In another small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Set aside.

Step 3: Line a baking sheet with foil. Place the trimmed brisket on the foil, noting the direction of the grain for slicing later. Rub the mustard mixture all over the brisket. Pat the dry rub into the mustard mixture on all sides of the brisket so it is completely coated. Turn the brisket fat cap side up.

Step 4: Wrap the brisket tightly with foil. Transfer it to the refrigerator to marinate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight. When ready to cook, remove the brisket from the refrigerator and place it, still wrapped in foil, on a wire rack in a roasting pan. Preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C) and let the brisket rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Insert a meat probe into the thickest part of the brisket. Fill the roasting pan with about 1 inch of hot water (the water should not touch the brisket). Carefully transfer the pan to the oven and bake for approximately 4 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches about 185°F (85°C). In general this will take about 1 hour and 15 minutes per pound. Place the pats of butter across the top of the brisket.

Step 5: Continue baking for another 30 minutes to 1 hour, or until the internal temperature reaches 195°F (90°C).

Step 6: Let the brisket rest on a cutting board, loosely tented with foil, for about 30 minutes. After resting, slice the brisket against the grain using a serrated knife. Serve with barbecue sauce.

Slicing Brisket Against the Grain

After learning how to cook a brisket in the oven, it’s essential to know the proper way to slice the brisket. For the best results, cut against the grain of the meat. The grain, aka muscle fibers, typically run in one direction. If you leave them intact, you can expect chewier meat. Cutting against the grain helps break up the fibers, creating more tender brisket slices. Below, you’ll find directions for slicing against the grain.

Locate the grain so you know which direction to cut (this should have been noted before marinating the brisket).
Place your brisket on a large cutting board so there’s enough space to cut.
Use a serrated knife to cut ¼” slices at a 90-degree angle.
Be sure to cut the meat against the grain.

Recipe Serving Suggestions

Garnish the brisket with extra BBQ sauce, fresh chopped parsley, or chopped chives. I love serving this recipe for how to cook a brisket in the oven with typical BBQ sides. Here are a few ideas:

Expert Tips

Use smoked paprika. Since this recipe does not use a smoker, I recommend including smoked paprika to create that yummy, smokey flavor.
Marinate. There are a few reasons why it’s important to marinate the meat when following this recipe for how to cook a brisket in the oven. For one, it adds a ton of flavor to the meat. A marinade also helps tenderize the brisket and add moisture, so it’s even more delicious once cooked.
Add water to the roasting pan to create moisture. This method creates juicier brisket. As the water in the pan heats up, it turns into steam keeping the brisket flat moist.
Bake low and slow. The best brisket is cooked low and slow, as this method helps the brisket become uber-tender. This method helps break down the tough connective tissue that makes a brisket flat chewy/tough to eat. If you cook the brisket for too short of a time or at too high a temperature, you won’t get the same fall-apart tenderness.
Cook based on internal temperature, not time. You’ll want to check for doneness based on the brisket’s internal temperature, as the time frame is only an estimate and will vary based on each brisket you purchase. Be sure the internal temperature is 195°F (90°C) before removing it from the oven.
Slice against the grain. Slicing against the grain helps create even more tender pieces of brisket. If you slice with the grain, you’ll end up with chewier slices.

Additions & Variations

Add liquid smoke to the water for a more prominent smokey flavor. Once you know how to make a fall-apart brisket in the oven, you can experiment with the flavors, like using liquid smoke in the water. This ingredient will help mimic the taste of smoked brisket even more.
Use homemade BBQ sauce. Instead of storebought, you can create a homemade BBQ sauce. That way, you can adjust the flavors to your liking. You can add more brown sugar for sweetness, opt for a different vinegar to change the flavor, etc. As a note, making your own barbecue sauce will add about 10-30 minutes to the dish, depending on the recipe you use.

Recipe FAQs

How many hours does a brisket take in the oven?

Ultimately, this will vary quite a bit, as multiple factors are at play. For example, a smaller brisket will likely take less time to cook than a larger brisket. Ovens also vary, so it can cook faster or slower in your oven than in your neighbors’ or friends’ oven. That’s why I recommend checking the internal temperature instead of relying on a specific time frame. However, you can use 1.5 hours per pound of raw meat as an estimate.

Should I wrap my brisket in foil in the oven?

Yes, keep the brisket wrapped in aluminum foil in the oven. This will help the brisket cook more quickly in the oven, as it keeps the heat trapped around the meat.

How do you keep brisket moist in the oven?

You can keep the brisket moist by putting a pan of water in the oven at the same time. This will create steam that helps moisten the meat.

How long to cook brisket in oven?

As mentioned, the exact time for an oven-baked brisket recipe will vary from oven to oven. When I cook brisket, it usually takes about four hours for a three-pound brisket. Be sure to use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.

What temperature to cook brisket in oven?

Brisket should be cooked low and slow in the oven, so I recommend 250°F (120°C) for an oven temperature.

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