Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Smoked Brisket Burgers | Texas BBQ Meets Burger Night
Brisket is king when it comes to burgers—smoky, beefy, and packed with bark in every bite. We turn brisket trim into incredible burgers by grinding, smoking, and searing them Texas BBQ–style.
Recipe guidance:
• 910 g brisket (730 g lean, 180 g fat)
• 25 g coarse black pepper (16-mesh)
• 20 g kosher salt
• 15 g beef tallow or neutral oil
• Sliced cheddar (optional)
• 4 toasted buns
Steps:
1. Grind brisket trim through a 4.5 mm die (80:20 lean-to-fat ratio).
2. Form four 227 g patties, about ¾ inch thick.
3. Season generously with salt + coarse pepper.
4. Smoke over indirect heat at 240–260 °F until internal temp:
• 125 °F / 52 °C: Medium-rare
• 135 °F / 57 °C: Medium
• 145 °F / 63 °C: Medium-well
5. Finish by searing patties in hot tallow, add cheese if desired.
6. Toast buns, assemble, and serve.
Key tips:
- Use 16-mesh black pepper for that classic Texas bark.
- Keep burgers away from direct heat for even smoking.
- Searing in beef tallow locks in flavor and adds crust.
- Brisket trim makes the best grind—check our guide for trimming tips.
👉 Full recipe + trimming guide here: chefsteps.com/activities/smoked-brisket-burgers
Smoked Brisket Burgers | Texas BBQ Meets Burger Night
Brisket is king when it comes to burgers—smoky, beefy, and packed with bark in every bite. We turn brisket trim into incredible burgers by grinding, smoking, and searing them Texas BBQ–style.
Recipe guidance:
• 910 g brisket (730 g lean, 180 g fat)
• 25 g coarse black pepper (16-mesh)
• 20 g kosher salt
• 15 g beef tallow or neutral oil
• Sliced cheddar (optional)
• 4 toasted buns
Steps:
1. Grind brisket trim through a 4.5 mm die (80:20 lean-to-fat ratio).
2. Form four 227 g patties, about ¾ inch thick.
3. Season generously with salt + coarse pepper.
4. Smoke over indirect heat at 240–260 °F until internal temp:
• 125 °F / 52 °C: Medium-rare
• 135 °F / 57 °C: Medium
• 145 °F / 63 °C: Medium-well
5. Finish by searing patties in hot tallow, add cheese if desired.
6. Toast buns, assemble, and serve.
Key tips:
- Use 16-mesh black pepper for that classic Texas bark.
- Keep burgers away from direct heat for even smoking.
- Searing in beef tallow locks in flavor and adds crust.
- Brisket trim makes the best grind—check our guide for trimming tips.
👉 Full recipe + trimming guide here: chefsteps.com/activities/smoked-brisket-burgers








![How to Cook a Picanha Steak—Like a Duck Breast!
The top sirloin cap is a cut of beef that’s prized in other countries, but not so much here in the U.S. Called picanha in Latin America and, when sliced into steaks, coulotte in France, it’s delicious when it’s prepared and sliced correctly.
Master butcher Kevin Smith of Seattle’s Beast & Cleaver has an innovative method for cooking up a picanha, inspired by how the odd cut of meat with a huge fat cap looks: He cooks it like a duck breast.
Watch Kevin trim, score, and roast this amazing cut of beef so that each slice of steak contains a range of textures and flavors.
See the full recipe: https://www.chefsteps.com/activities/picanha-steak
Buy a butcher knife: https://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Cutlery-10-Inch-Granton-Butcher/dp/B0019WUMIS?tag=chefsteps02-20
[Time Codes]
0:00 – How to slow-roast a picanha steak
0:37 – How to trim and score a picanha steak
2:31 – How to season and render the fat cap on a picanha steak
6:22 – Add butter and baste
7:13 – Add picanha steak to the oven
7:38 – Remove picanha steak from the oven
9:33 – How to slice and serve a slow-roasted picanha steak
Ingredient list:
Buy a picanha steak from Snake River Farms: https://snakeriverfarms.pxf.io/m5ADmO
Equipment guide:
Buy a Breville Joule® Oven Air Fryer Pro: https://breville.oie8.net/21W1WG
Buy a Control Freak™ Home: https://breville.oie8.net/9goeDy
Buy a 10-inch carbon steel skillet: https://www.dartointernational.com/product/saute-pan-n-30-4mm-thick-/19?cs=true&cst=custom
Follow us:
https://www.instagram.com/chefsteps
https://www.facebook.com/Chefsteps
ChefSteps 101: Through science, entertainment, and industry experience, we strive to help every home cook reach their full potential. With more than 1,000 recipes developed in our kitchen, there’s something for everyone. To find out more, visit our website: https://www.chefsteps.com/ How to Cook a Picanha Steak—Like a Duck Breast!](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cs5cS52XEz0/mqdefault.jpg)

![How to Make the Ultimate Pâté en Croûte
Pâté en croûte is a pâté or terrine wrapped in a pastry crust. Sounds simple, right? And yet it’s the pinnacle of the charcutier’s craft. Few preparations have as many different components, and to make a decent pâté en croûte, you need to get every last detail right. For the most beautiful (and delicious) versions of the dish, every element has to be executed near perfectly. That’s why we recruited Kevin Smith of Seattle’s Beast & Cleaver to show us how to make his award-winning pâté en croûte—a labor-intensive process that takes at least 4 days. The mosaic-like pâté en croûte—beautifully seasoned and spiced pâté dotted with foie gras, boozy prunes, pistachios, and boudin noir, enveloped in a seamless buttery pastry crust—is a work of art. #beastandcleaver #pateencroute #charcuterie
Sign up for a ChefSteps Studio Pass subscription: https://www.chefsteps.com/studiopass
Recipe:
Pâté en Croûte: https://chfstps.co/48auyW2
[Time codes]
0:00 - What Is Pâté en Croûte?
1:12 - How to Make Pork Farce
4:23 - How to Make Boudin Noir
6:07 - How to Make Aspic
9:35 - How to Make the Pastry for Pâté en Croûte
16:07 - How to Make the Decorative Pastry Pieces
18:41 - How to Make and Apply the Tuile Paste
22:28 - How to Make Two Types of Egg Washes
23:33 - How to Assemble Pâté en Croûte
32:37 - How to Bake Pâté en Croûte
34:50 - How to Cool and Add Aspic to Pâté en Croûte
37:27 - How to Use a Blowtorch to Unmold Pâté en Croûte
39:05 - The Big Reveal: Cut and Serve
Equipment:
Buy a meat grinder: https://www.amazon.com/LEM-Products-17801-Stainless-Electric/dp/B074FBH56N?tag=chefsteps02-20
Buy a Breville Bakery Chef™ Stand Mixer: https://breville.oie8.net/n1g6B7
Buy a stencil: https://www.jbprince.com/pastry-tools-and-equipment/checkerboard-decor-grill.asp
Buy a pâté mold: https://www.amazon.com/Pate-Terrine-hinges-Tinned-Steel/dp/B001B7S5BM??tag=chefsteps02-20
Buy a blowtorch: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HVZR3DI?tag=chefsteps02-20
Follow us:
https://www.instagram.com/chefsteps
https://www.facebook.com/Chefsteps
ChefSteps 101: Through science, entertainment, and industry experience, we strive to help every home cook reach their full potential. With more than 1,000 recipes developed in our kitchen, there’s something for everyone. To find out more, visit our website: https://www.chefsteps.com/ How to Make the Ultimate Pâté en Croûte](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dMFbAQTp9Ps/mqdefault.jpg)