Smoked Chuck Roast Burnt Ends with BBQ Sauce
Tender smoked chuck roast cubes finished low and slow in butter and tangy BBQ sauce. This riff on traditional burnt ends uses affordable chuck instead of brisket, smoked at 250°F then braised at 325°F until the meat reaches 203-205°F internal temperature. Caramelized edges and juicy interior make this a backyard barbecue favorite.
Ingredients
- Lane's Brisket Rubhomemade dry rub with paprika, garlic, salt, pepperequalrub
store-bought yields consistent results
- Smoked Sweetness Rub by Rainier Foodsbrown sugar-based dry rubequalrub
adds sweetness without this brand
- Chicago Blue BBQ Sauce by Old Southern BBQfavorite BBQ sauceequalsauce
flavor profile changes
- 6 lb chuck roast, cut into 3-inch cubes
- 1 stick butter
- wood or charcoal
Instructions
- 1
Preheat smoker or grill to 250°F with wood or charcoal.
- 2
Cut chuck roast into 3-inch cubes.
- 3
Arrange cubes on a baking rack about 1/2 inch apart.
- 4
Season both sides with Lane's Brisket Rub and Smoked Sweetness Rub.
- 5
Smoke the cubes.
- 6
Transfer smoked cubes to a grill-safe baking dish or foil pan.
- 7
Increase grill temperature to 325°F.
- 8
Add butter and BBQ sauce to the pan.
- 9
Cover with foil and continue smoking until internal temperature reaches 203-205°F.
- 10
Remove from heat and cool before serving.
Tips
Cut cubes to consistent size for even cooking.
Space cubes on the rack to allow smoke penetration.
Use a meat thermometer to confirm doneness at 203-205°F internal temperature.
Good to Know
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days. Reheat gently to avoid drying out.
Prepare rub mixture the night before. Cut and season chuck roast up to 2 hours ahead; smoke when ready to cook.
Serve hot with extra BBQ sauce on the side. Pairs with coleslaw, cornbread, or baked beans.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip the cooling step to avoid handling unsafe temperatures.
Do not crowd cubes on the rack to avoid uneven smoke exposure.
Do not exceed 205°F internal temperature to avoid dried-out meat.
Substitutions
store-bought yields consistent results
adds sweetness without this brand
flavor profile changes