Knowing how long it takes to BBQ a brisket cut on a pit boss can be frustrating, especially if you’re a first-timer.
Most people do it wrong and end up with a dried-out and boring piece of meat.
There are many factors to be considered —the type of pit boss used, the cooking temperature, and the meat quality.
But generally, the rule of thumb for getting a juicy smoked brisket with a crispy bark takes about 9-10hours from prepping to cooking.
And below, we’ll show you how long to smoke a brisket on a pit boss in detail!
What Is A Brisket?

A brisket is a chunk of meat extracted from a cow’s pectoral muscles. The tip and the flat are the two components that makeup brisket.
The point sometimes called the deckle, is the more significant portion. It has more incredible marbling, which, when cooked, makes the meat soft and tasty.
The largest and leanest of the muscle is a brisket flat, sometimes referred to as the “first cut.” It’s also the most challenging to cook since, if done improperly, it tends to become rough.
Check out this article, where I go into greater detail about what a brisket is and the various cuts.
How Long To Smoke A Brisket On A Pit Boss
The process will take between 9 and 20 hours, from seasoning to trimming to cooking. My first brisket took 11 hours to cook.
The brisket was smoked for about nine hours. It could be more since the size of the brisket, the temperature, and the grill could affect the cooking time.
Another thing you should put into perspective is prepping.
The preparation procedure is the same whether you’re cooking a point or a flat, whole brisket.
Trimming the excess fat is also imperative.
You should first reduce any extra fat. Trim the fat so that it is just about 1/4″ thick; you don’t want to eliminate all of it.
Anything thicker than that will prevent the spice from penetrating the meat.
Brisket trimming makes it easier for the smoke to permeate the meat and produce a black bark. The majority of the fat is located on the fat cap.
Lastly, is to coat it with salt.
After trimming the brisket, sprinkle it with kosher salt. It’s essential to tenderize the meat, which the salt helps do.
Remember to do this because the brisket is a beef cut with a lot of muscle.
Once the brisket has been salted, place it in a large bag and refrigerate it overnight to be ready to cook the following day.
Beef Brisket Recipe

Ingredients Needed
- 1 – 12-15 lbs Beef, Brisket
- Pit Boss Lonestar Beef Brisket Rub
Directions
Step 1
Set your grill to 225°F after switching your Pit Boss to the smoke setting and allowing the fire to catch.
Step 2
Trim the excess fat from your brisket while your grill is heating up (you should leave around 14 inches of fat, so the meat stays moist over the lengthy cooking phase), then season with Pit Boss Lonestar Beef Brisket or whatever takes your fancy.
Put the fat side of the brisket on the grill’s grates. Allow it to smoke for roughly 8 to 10 hours or until the interior reaches 190°F.
Step 3
Pit Boss Peach Butcher Paper should be used to wrap, followed by a towel. For the juices to sit, allow them to rest in the cooler for up to an hour.
Step 4
Slice against the grain and serve.
NB: Play around with the rub without fear. You may like your brisket a little hotter than we did.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Do You Need To Smoke A Beef Brisket On Pit Boss?
Before smoking anything on the pellet grill, you want everything handy.
And what you need is just:
- A Pellet Grill on Pink Butcher paper (you can use aluminum foil)
- Meat Thermometer
- Hardwood pellets (preferably Mesquite)
- Large cutting board
- Grilling gloves
What Temperature Do You Cook A Brisket On A Pit Boss?
Briskets should be cooked between 225 and 250 degrees Fahrenheit (I cooked mine at 250). Cooking the brisket at a constant temperature while keeping the grill from getting too hot is the key to making the ideal brisket.
What P-Setting To Use For Cooking Brisket?
I advise leaving the P-Setting at the factory defaults for the P4 unless you’re brisket cooking in the cold.
Best Pellets for Smoking a Beef Brisket?
Choose a strong pellet flavor, such as Hickory or Mesquite, for a brisket. The brisket will be tastier if you use stronger pellets when cooking it slowly and low.
Do You Flip A Beef Brisket?
The brisket is not flipped. Leave it alone as it cooks on the grill over indirect heat. You don’t need to flip, rotate, or do anything else to the steak; the pellet grill will cook it thoroughly.
What Spices Go Well With A Brisket?
Spices are a great way to add flavor and dimension to your food.
They can help create complex flavors in a dish and are a great way to add more vitamins and minerals to your diet.
Regarding brisket, spices play an important role in helping you make the perfect meal.
Here are some of our favorite spices that go well with brisket:
Cayenne pepper
Cayenne pepper is one of the most common spices used in barbecue sauce, but you can use it on any meat or vegetable.
It’s great for adding heat to your dishes and reducing fat in foods like eggs or chicken wings.
Cayenne peppers can be used whole or ground into powder form, so find what works best for you!
Dried red chili flakes
Dried chili flakes are another popular spice, especially when making typical BBQ sauces like tomato-based or mustard-based sauces such as Worcestershire sauce or steak sauces.
Cumin
Cumin is a spice that goes well with many types of meat, including steak and pork chops. It adds an earthy flavor to your dish and helps the meat become more tender.
Oregano
Oregano is an herb used for centuries in cooking and baking. It also goes well with many types of meat, including chicken breasts and pork chops.
If you want to add another layer of flavor to your dish, use oregano for your brisket recipe!
Garlic Powder
Garlic powder can be added to almost any dish because it has such an intense flavor that complements nearly any dish well.
You can use garlic powder on your brisket recipe as well!
In addition, there are a variety of brisket rubs that are available online. Keep things straightforward if you’re preparing a brisket for the first time.
You can also buy some store-bought ones and forego the experimentation procedure.
The BBQ Bros Rub Southern Style Seasoning Set pack includes the Memphis, New Orleans, and Carolina style rubs.
Conclusion
And one last thing:
When smoking on a pit boss, it’s essential to allow the distance between the thermometer and the brisket to be at most three inches.
That way, you get an accurate temperature reading on your meat without taking it off and slowing down your process.
And we hope that this guide has given you some new insight into how long to smoke a brisket on a pit boss.
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