Home » Sugar-Free Cocoa-Rubbed Smoked Brisket

Sugar-Free Cocoa-Rubbed Smoked Brisket

This Sugar-Free Cocoa-Rubbed Smoked Brisket will blow your mind! If you follow a low-carb, keto diet, you can’t have sugar; meaning most rubs just don’t work; until now.

sugar free cocoa rubbed brisket

Ah, the brisket. One of the toughest pieces of meat. Also, one of the most difficult to smoke. I am happy to say that after three years of trial and error my husband perfected it.

Although, just because it’s perfect one time doesn’t mean it will always be perfect (Unless you are Franklin from Franklin’s BBQ in Texas and have been smoking brisket for ages).

Ever since I bought the barrel house cooker we have been experimenting with smoking the best brisket; the result would vary drastically. Either the brisket would come out undercooked, or it was overdone.

Even though it still tasted good, it was just not that jaw-dropping amazingly juicy and tender brisket we were always wanting to achieve.

Fast forward about three years, I wanted to try a chocolate rub on a brisket, so we pulled out the lil ole cooker. It also happened to be our last smoke before we upgraded to the Trager, so of course, it would make sense that the brisket FINALLY came out perfect.

Furthermore, this brisket was so juicy and so tender, and pulled apart perfectly (you can watch the video below and see for yourself) it melted in my mouth.

How to make Sugar-Free Cocoa Rubbed Smoked Brisket

1. Season generously with the rub (recipe below)

rub for brisket
rub for brisket
raw brisket

2. Rub both sides of the brisket, liberally.

brisket with sugar free cocoa rub

3. Cover tightly with plastic wrap

brisket covered in plastic wrap

4. Refrigerate overnight

5. Remove the brisket a couple of hours before smoking

brisket on grill top

6. Set the smoker temperature to 220; we used hickory wood

brisket on traeger grill

7. If it is a 5lb brisket, smoke it for 6 hours, or more, depending on the touch

brisket on traeger grill

8. Halfway through the smoke (around hour 3) cover the brisket in foil and place it back on the smoker.

9. If you don’t think it is done, it probably is not, and you have to cook it for a couple more hours.

keto brisket

10. Let it sit for 30-45 minutes before cutting.

sugar free cocoa brisket
low carb brisket

11. Enjoy the best brisket of your life.

sugar free brisket
  • If you don’t have a smoker but still want to make this brisket, you can use the oven. Same instructions apply.
slicing brisket
The Smoke Master. I rub, he smokes. 🥰
sugar free brisket

Sugar-Free Cocoa Rubbed Brisket

Yield: 10-16 servings
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours

Ingredients

For the Rub:

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, combined cocoa powder, ground ancho chili, black pepper, cumin, sweetener, and salt.
  2. Season the brisket generously with the rub. Store the remaining rub in an airtight container.
  3. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight
  4. Remove the brisket a couple of hours before smoking
  5. Set the smoker (or oven) temperature to 220
  6. If it is a 5lb brisket, smoke it for 6 hours, or more, depending on the touch
  7. Halfway through the smoke (around hour 3) cover the brisket in foil and place it back on the smoker.
  8. Let it sit for 30-45 minutes before cutting.
Nutrition Information
Serving Size 4oz
Amount Per Serving Calories 230Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 0mgCarbohydrates 8gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 30g

Did you make this recipe?

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keto low carb
keto bbq recipe
keto brisket recipe

Want some more BBQ? Check out all of my sugar-free, keto BBQ Recipes HERE

More Keto recipes to try:

  1. Keto Roasted Chicken with Lemon and Rosemary

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