Steps

• 1

  3 days until dinner, transfer brisket from freezer to fridge to thaw, leaving it in vacuum-sealed bag.

• 2

  2 days until dinner, put sides in fridge to thaw, leaving in original packaging.

• 3

  2 days before dinner, remove brisket from vacuum-sealed bag. Rinse the brisket and pat dry with paper towel. Once dry it's time to trim your brisket.

• 4

  2 days before dinner. Apply salt and pepper to both sides of the brisket, then apply Traeger Rub to both sides. For the half brisket, only use half of the rub and salt & pepper. Place brisket in the fridge, uncovered for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.

• 5

  Make sure your hopper is full of pellets (a brisket roughly takes one 20lb bag of pellets to cook). Set Traeger to 200 F and preheat, lid closed, for 15 minutes. For maximum wood-fired flavor, use Super Smoke (if available).

  200 ˚F / 93 ˚C

  Super Smoke

• 6

  Remove brisket from the fridge (you want it to be cold when you put it on the grill) and place brisket fat side down on grill grate. Insert meat probe into thickest part of the brisket (check that tip of probe is in meat, not fat). Close the lid and cook 6-8 hours until the internal temperature reaches 160 F. And remember no peeking! Every brisket is unique and cook time will vary. Trust your meat thermometer.

  200 ˚F / 93 ˚C

  160 ˚F / 71 ˚C

  Super Smoke

• 7

  Remove brisket form the Traeger and place on butcher paper sheet. Wrap paper around the brisket, folding and tucking the edges underneath until the brisket is tightly wrapped, then put back on the grill. Reinsert meat probe in thickest part of brisket, piercing through butcher paper. Turn off super smoke (if available) and increase grill temperature to 225 F. Continue cooking the brisket until internal temperature reaches 205 F (4-6 hours).

  225 ˚F / 107 ˚C

  205 ˚F / 96 ˚C

• 8

  When the brisket is done, remove form grill and place, still wrapped, in a clean insulated cooler or the insulated box your food came in to rest for a least 2 hours and up to 4 hours.

• 9

  It's time to get ready to cook up your sides. Set Traeger to 375 F and preheat with lid closed for 15 minutes.

  375 ˚F / 191 ˚C

• 10

  Cook your sides following the instructions on the Side Dish Recipe Card you received with your box.

  375 ˚F / 191 ˚C

  165 ˚F / 74 ˚C

• 11

  Unwrap brisket and discard butcher paper. Put on included disposable gloves. Slice against the grain at a 45-degree angle starting form the flat end (if slicing full brisket) into 1/8-inch slices (about the width of a pencil). Serve with BBQ sauce, hot sauce, and pickles on the side.