Smoked Brisket Texas Chili

The North End Barbecue & Moonshine restaurant in Indianapolis was definitely one of my favorite restaurants. They had a fantastic menu, but for me, the best dish by far was the Texas red chili. It’s simple, spicy, and oh so packed with flavor. Smoked brisket, homemade bacon and a red sauce that I could just slurp up with a (big) straw. I can’t make it to North End BBQ (because they closed! Grrrrr!), so I decided to make my own (slightly different) version of their Texas chili. I was absolutely pleased with it. Nice and spicy, with a bit of smokiness.

Smoked Brisket Texas Chili

Brisket For The Win

Now, you could make this smoked brisket Texas chili with just cubed chuck that has been lightly browned in the Dutch oven first. Nothing wrong with that, not one bit, but if you have smoked brisket, it really gives the chili a completely different flavor than just regular ole chili.

I roasted a few jalapenos on the grill and chopped them to use as garnish. They added even more bite and flavor to what was already a great bowl of chili.

My green chile mac and cheese chili stew is also out-of-this-world crazy good. Give it a try too! Or if you’re craving more Texas-style chili, my classic version is a real winner also.

Smoked Brisket Texas Chili
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5 from 1 vote

Smoked Brisket Texas Chili

This chili is simple, spicy, and oh so packed with flavor. Smoked brisket, homemade bacon and a red sauce that I could just slurp up with a (big) straw.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword beef, chili, smoked
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 220kcal

Ingredients

  • 8 dried chiles I used guajillo, but just about any chile will work
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • cup onion finely chopped
  • 3 large cloves garlic minced
  • 2 cups beef broth plus more if needed
  • 2 cups water plus more as needed
  • 2 tablespoons masa harina if you don’t have any masa, take a handful of plain tortilla chips and grind them in a food processor or by hand using a mortar and pestle
  • 2 pounds smoked brisket cubed
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 ½ tablespoons white vinegar
  • garnishes sour cream, roasted jalapenos, grilled lime edges, etc

Instructions

  • Toast the chiles in a hot skillet over medium-high heat 2-3 minutes per side.
  • Remove to a large bowl and cover in hot water. Let sit for 30 minutes, turning once.
  • Remove chiles (do not discard the water). Cut off the stems and remove the seeds.
  • Chop lightly and transfer to a food processor.
  • Add the cumin, pepper and a few pinches of salt, along with 1/4 cup of the soaking liquid. Process until smooth. If needed add a bit more of the water.
  • Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat.
  • Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
  • Add the broth and water. Bring to a simmer.
  • Whisk in the masa harina and add the processed chile paste.
  • Add the brisket and stir. Cover.
  • Let simmer for 2 hours or until the beef is tender, adding more broth if necessary.
  • Stir in the brown sugar and vinegar and add more salt to taste. Simmer another 10 minutes.
  • Serve with the desired garnishes.

Nutrition

Calories: 220kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 319mg | Potassium: 457mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.