In Texas, barbecue and brisket pretty much go hand in hand.

Sure, we love ribs, sausage, turkey and all the other BBQ favorites. But when somebody walks into a Texas barbecue joint for the first time, there’s a pretty good chance brisket is what they came for.

There’s a reason for that.

Brisket takes time, patience and plenty of smoke to get right. When it all comes together, you get that unmistakable combination of smoky bark, tender beef and big Texas BBQ flavor.

At Uncle Dan’s, we’ve been serving BBQ in Waco since 1978, and brisket has been part of the story from the beginning.

So, What Exactly Is Brisket?

Brisket is a cut of beef that comes from the lower chest of the cow. It’s a hard-working muscle, which means it starts out much tougher than something like a steak.

That might not sound like the beginning of something delicious, but that’s exactly what makes brisket so well suited for barbecue.

Give it enough time at a low temperature and something pretty great happens. The tough connective tissue begins to break down, the meat becomes tender and the smoke has plenty of time to work its way into the beef.

Low and Slow Makes the Difference

Brisket isn’t something you rush.

Cooking it low and slow gives the meat time to become tender without drying out. It also gives the brisket time to develop one of the best parts of Texas BBQ: the bark.

That dark, seasoned exterior is where smoke, seasoning and rendered fat all come together. Slice through it and you get bark on the outside with tender, smoky beef underneath.

That’s the kind of BBQ that doesn’t need much explaining once it hits the plate.

Lean or Moist Brisket?

Here’s where every BBQ fan seems to have an opinion.

Brisket is made up of two primary muscles, commonly referred to as the flat and the point. The flat is typically leaner, while the point contains more fat and marbling.

That gives you two slightly different brisket experiences.

Lean brisket has less fat and a firmer texture, while moist brisket has more marbling and tends to be richer and juicier.

Which one is better?

We’re staying out of that argument.

At Uncle Dan’s, you can order your brisket the way you like it and decide for yourself.

Sliced or Chopped?

Then there’s the next decision.

Sliced brisket is hard to beat when you want the classic Texas BBQ experience. Put a few slices on a plate, add your favorite sides, grab some bread, pickles and onions, and you’re in business.

Chopped brisket brings something a little different to the table. Those smoky pieces of brisket are perfect piled onto a sandwich or added to another Uncle Dan’s favorite.

Which brings us to the Texas Tater.

Brisket Makes a Pretty Good Tater Even Better

If you’ve spent much time around Uncle Dan’s, you probably already know about the Texas Tater.

Start with a big baked potato. Load it with butter, sour cream, cheese and all the good stuff. Then pile chopped brisket on top.

What Goes With Brisket?

Technically, you could stop at brisket.

But where’s the fun in that?

A proper Texas BBQ plate needs some company. Add your favorite sides, bread, pickles, onions and BBQ sauce and suddenly you’ve got the kind of meal that might require loosening your belt a notch when you’re finished.

Check out the Uncle Dan’s BBQ menu to see all the different ways you can put together your next meal.

Brisket Has Always Been About More Than the Meat

Part of what makes brisket special is everything that comes with it.

BBQ is food meant to be shared. It belongs at tables full of family and friends, Friday night dinners, Saturday football games and those lunches where everybody says they’re going to get back to work in 30 minutes.

That’s been a big part of Uncle Dan’s since we first started serving Waco in 1978.

A lot has changed around Central Texas since then.

Our appreciation for a good plate of brisket hasn’t.

Get Your Brisket Fix at Uncle Dan’s

Whether you like it lean or moist, sliced or chopped, on a plate, piled onto a sandwich or loaded onto a Texas Tater, there are plenty of ways to enjoy brisket at Uncle Dan’s.

And if you can’t decide between brisket and another BBQ favorite?

That sounds like a pretty good reason to order more than one meat.