Chopped Brisket Sandwiches (Recipe)

The best barbecue I've ever had was in an unkempt gas station off a lonely exit in East Texas. 

There were only two things on the menu - 5 pounds of brisket or a Chop Sandwich.

In my sweet innocence, I asked what turned out to be an unforgiveable question - "What's a Chop Sandwich?"

Which earned me the drawled condemnation, "You're not from around here, are you."

True, oh so very true.

In fact, we'd just flown in from a sleeting, frigid Seattle into a humid 90+ degree Texas day, and were therefore standing there wilting in waaayy too much wool to be taken seriously...

After several minutes of cold (well-deserved, I'm sure) stare down, the disbelieving woman finally deigned to explain.

“We take some brisket, chop it up, and put it on a sandwich.”

Chop. Sandwich. Got it.

“OK! Yes, ma’am. We’ll take two of those, please.” After putting her to the extreme trouble of explaining the obvious to a couple of idiots, no way were we walking out of there without giving her some money.

💫 And thank goodness we did.

Who knew that the best barbecue I’ve tasted to this day was made in a weedy, seedy by-way gas station. 💥💛

If I could remember where it was, I’d go back and gladly brave the eye rolls again.

So, in today’s recipe, I’m going to teach you how to “take some brisket, chop it up, and put it on a sandwich.”

Side of disbelieving scorn not included.

Out of fear for my life, I will NOT call it Texas style. But it IS pretty darn good, and you can easily make it in your kitchen, right here in the good old Pacific Northwest.

I've included my recipe for our family's favorite homemade Sweet & Spicy Barbecue Sauce. It has amazing flavor with super simple, clean ingredients.

👉The brisket is roasted with an easy 5-ingredient rub that really brings out the delicious flavor of One Straw Ranch grass-finished beef. You'll find it's excellent on its own, straight out of the oven, if you want to skip the sandwich and BBQ bit all together. 

“You’re not from around here, are you.” Just thinking about it makes me smile… 

With much love for my family who lives in Texas, our several customers formerly of Texas, and friends who have left us for Texas. 

God bless Texas and darn good barbecue 😊

Chopped Brisket Sandwiches

Ingredients

3-4 lb One Straw Ranch Brisket

Brisket rub (below) OR 1 tsp salt

1 C water

Homemade Sweet & Spicy Barbecue Sauce (or your favorite BBQ sauce)

Buns – Hamburger, Brioche or Pub Buns

Chopped dill pickle

Chopped onions

Brisket Rub Ingredients:

1 tsp salt

1 tsp ground black pepper

½ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp smoked paprika

½ tsp coriander

Directions

Make The Brisket

Preheat oven to 325 F.

Mix rub ingredients together in a small bowl.

Dry thawed brisket with a paper towel, then sprinkle all sides of the brisket with the rub mixture and rub it in. Use all the rub.

(Alternatively, skip the rub and sprinkle all sides of the brisket with 1 tsp salt.)

Place seasoned brisket in a baking dish and pour 1 C water in the bottom of the pan.

Cover tightly with a lid or aluminum foil.

Bake until pierces easily with a fork - about 5 hours.  While the brisket is roasting, make the BBQ sauce (below).

Remove from the oven and let rest, covered, for 20 minutes.

Slice the brisket into ½” slices, then chop the slices into bite sized pieces.

Sweet & Spicy Barbecue Sauce

Amazing flavor. Simple ingredients. A touch of sweet. A bit of heat.

1 ¼ C crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce (or ketchup)

½ C brown sugar

¼ C molasses

2 T honey

5 T apple cider vinegar

1 T Worcestershire sauce

2 ½ tsp ground mustard

2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp smoked paprika

1 ½ tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper

Optional: 1/8 tsp cayenne for additional heat

While the brisket is roasting, make the barbecue sauce.

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring often. Allow to simmer for a few minutes. Store extra sauce in a glass jar in the fridge – keeps well.

Assemble the Chopped Sandwiches

Toast the buns, if desired.

Spread some BBQ sauce on the bottom bun.

Pile it high with chopped brisket.

Drizzle generously with BBQ sauce.

Sprinkle with chopped pickles and onions, optional.

Add the top bun, grab a pile of napkins, and enjoy!

Excellent paired with coleslaw.

Click here to order grass-fed beef brisket.