BBQ Beef on Bun with Coleslaw
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Recipe courtesy of Meiko Temple and Kenneth Temple

BBQ Beef on Bun with Collard Coleslaw

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  • Level: Easy
  • Total: 6 hr 30 min (includes cooling time)
  • Active: 30 min
  • Yield: 12 servings
I adore a classic smoked brisket, but who's got the time to play pitmaster all day? That’s why I adore this low-lift, oven-baked BBQ beef on bun. Inspired by the OG Gates BBQ — one of our fave stops when visiting family in Kansas City — it's a straight-up homage to the classic Kansas City dish. We’re talkin' thinly chopped, tender beef smothered in that iconic sweet and tangy sauce. It's 5 1/2 hours well spent, but mostly hands-off, giving you the freedom to binge-watch the latest reality show. Just season, toss it in the oven and do your thing. To make this even more irresistible, Kenneth added his own Southern flair with a game-changing collard coleslaw on top. Believe me, you'll want to make this a family tradition.

Ingredients

Oven BBQ Brisket:

Kansas City BBQ Sauce:

Collard Coleslaw:

Directions

  1. For the oven BBQ brisket: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
  2. Mix the salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, light brown sugar, granulated garlic, granulated onion, celery seeds and cayenne pepper in a medium bowl. Liberally season the brisket evenly on both sides with the mixture. Place in a baking pan.
  3. Add the apple cider vinegar and 1/4 cup water to the baking pan, cover the brisket loosely with foil and bake for 3 hours. Remove the foil and continue baking until the brisket internal temperature registers 180 to 190 degrees F, another 2 to 3 hours. If you don’t have an instant-read thermometer, a small knife or fork should be able to easily pierce the brisket. Cover the brisket loosely with foil and let cool for 30 minutes.
  4. For the Kansas City BBQ sauce: Meanwhile, add the ketchup, light brown sugar, blackstrap molasses, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, granulated garlic, granulated onion, cumin, chili powder, salt, celery seeds, liquid smoke and cayenne pepper to a medium pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to combine. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced by about half, about 25 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the butter and let cool until ready to use.
  5. For the collard coleslaw: Mix the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Stir in the collards, carrots and red onion. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
  6. Chop the brisket into bite-size pieces, then transfer to a large bowl and toss with half of the pan drippings and half of the BBQ sauce. 
  7. Assemble each sandwich: Add 1/4 cup of coleslaw to each bottom bun and a generous amount of brisket, then drizzle with 1 to 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce and add the top bun.