It’s beginning to look a lot like… brisket. Move over, Turkey, you’ve already had your time to shine over the Thanksgiving holiday. Instead, choose to give your family and friends a taste of what they really love – hearty, smoked beef.
If you’re from out of Texas, you may be thinking, “Why not a glazed ham or a prime rib”? Yeah, ok, they’re good. But, we’re Texan. So, give us a moment to brag about why we love it so much, and we’ll share some tips to help you enjoy brisket the authentic way!
Remember, you can order mesquite-smoked brisket and all the sides to your door with Goode Co. Barbeque this holiday season.
How Brisket Found Its Place at the Texan Table
While Texans enjoy a variety of meats during the holidays, brisket has long been a popular go-to for families to indulge in.
The origins of this normality are likely very different from what you expect. No, the first-known restaurant sale of brisket was not the BBQ staple you consume today.
Instead, it was found in Jewish delis in Greenville and El Paso back in the 1910s. Eastern European immigrants saw it as an affordable meat, offering large portions. Their ability to transform the inexpensive cut of beef into a rich, flavorful, and tender meal option rapidly grew in popularity.
As the decades passed and immigrants and local ranchers shared their ideas, beef brisket made its way onto the menus of traditional Texas barbeque joints.
It soon surged in popularity and became the norm for cookouts, family barbeques, and celebrations. So, naturally, as the holiday season arrived, Texans from Houston to Austin started to desire it alongside their turkeys. Who wouldn’t?
Today, it’s no surprise to see it served up. During the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, brisket is almost a guarantee to be on their dinner tables.
And during Christmas, it makes for a crowd-pleasing main that every Texan enjoys.
Why Texans Choose Beef Brisket for Christmas Over Turkey or Ham
OK, but what about Christmas? Why not go for the traditional Turkey or Ham?
Well, those are still popular options! We sell out in our store every year.
But here in Texas, it’s almost part of our identity to enjoy a Texan BBQ for the holidays. The warm weather and outdoor cooking spaces allow us to smoke our meats and enjoy brisket as we would at a barbeque at any other time of the year. Gathering friends and family around the grill is just fun, so we see no reason to stop at Christmas.
Plus, the flavor is unbeatable. Maybe the rest of the country hasn’t realised that yet, because they’re too worried about tradition. When smoked over mesquite wood (like we do at Goode Co. Barbeque), it has a depth of flavor, with a smoke ring and bark that welcome the palate before the melt-in-your-mouth juices and fats hit.
Turkey, however, can be served dry and is mild. That’s not for everyone.
The Texas Christmas Brisket Tradition Today
Traditions aren’t born overnight, so it’s worth mentioning that if you’re enjoying a holiday brisket, it’s probably been passed down through the generations. Texans find it fun, beyond the mere act of consumption.
For example: Who will wake up early to light the pit? Who will choose and apply the rub? Who will carve it? Should we use the leftovers for breakfast tacos the next morning?
Note that here in Houston, the heart of our traditional brisket is through mesquite wood. Burning hot and fast, it produces a slightly sweet smoke that is instantly recognizable. We believe it’s the best way to do it, but we won’t hate on any other Christmas traditions you may have!
Today, you can expect to see cousins hanging out by the grill, friends preparing sides, and aromas drifting through the yard.
How to Use Your Christmas Brisket for Leftovers
It’s always better to order too much brisket than not enough. At the worst, you’ve got some delicious leftovers for the next day. Arguably, the meat gets even better as the smoke settles a little deeper.
Here are some of our best leftover ideas for Texas BBQ dishes with brisket:
Brisket Breakfast Tacos
Chop up the remaining brisket, warm it up in a skillet, and then load a tortilla with eggs and cheese. Add a little BBQ sauce or salsa, and yay, the Christmas fun isn’t over just yet!
Brisket Grilled Cheese
If you’re a grilled cheese lover, craft your usual grilled cheese and add a few slices of brisket.
Brisket Chili
Adding mesquite-smoked brisket to your chili will give your traditional recipe a campfire, barbecue-like flavor.
Brisket-Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Serve stuffed potatoes the Goode way by splitting open a big potato, fluffing it with butter and cheese, and loading it with finely chopped brisket! Don’t forget the sour cream and chives. It won’t even feel like leftovers, but instead a full meal.
Jalapeno Cheese Bread Brisket Sandwiches
Get our tangy jalapeno cheese bread and slide as much brisket as you like, with pickles and onion, or just a healthy dose of barbeque sauce. Mm-mm!
What Goes With Brisket For Christmas Dinner?
Brisket is a great main dish, but you need sides. It’s an essential part of Texan BBQ etiquette. Because they complement the hearty meat, and also because it’s Christmas! Go wild, be greedy.
Here’s what we enjoy every year in Houston:
Mac and Cheese
Creamy, melty, and always the first dish to disappear, Mac and Cheese is a crowd pleaser for all ages!
The creamy tang complements the smoky flavors of the brisket, ensuring each bite hits extra hard. We recommend making it the night before with elbow pasta, whole milk, cornstarch, shredded cheese, and butter.
Coleslaw
The crunchy freshness of a true Texan coleslaw will cut through the beefy richness and keep your palate from getting overwhelmed or bored.
Most people love it, and it’s very easy to make using a combination of mayonnaise, sugar, milk, lemon juice, vinegar, salt, and pepper (before adding the cabbage, carrot, and green onions).
Jalapeño Cheese Bread
Our homemade Jalapeno cheese bread is a hit year-round, so we see no reason to stop it at Christmas time. Warm, soft, and perfect for sopping up brisket juices and barbeque sauces, it’s a must!
Potato Salad
Creamy and cool, you all know it. It acts as a counter to the peppery brisket bark, all while filling you up on delicious carbs.
Pinto Beans
When slow-simmered and smoky, pinto beans offer an authentic taste of Texas to go with your main; any leftovers can be used for tomorrow’s tacos!
Jambalaya Texana
If you’d like a taste of Houston’s blend of cultural influences, consider our signature Jambalaya Texana.
Combining spices, chillies, and tomatoes with ranch-style beans and tender cuts of meat, you’ll enjoy a delicious, smoky, spicy, and frankly mouth-watering holiday side!
Many people aren’t familiar with this dish, so it’s a nice way to “spice” up their Christmas.
Where to Order Christmas Briskets in Houston, TX?
How to Order Smoked Briskets for Christmas from Goode Co. Barbeque
You can make your Christmas celebration meal easy this year, with Goode Co. Barbeque. If you’re looking to order our famous food to your home, then we’ve made it easy!
Simply click “ORDER ONLINE” at the top of the page and enjoy mesquite-smoked meat that’s been slowly smoked for 12-15 hours, with a choice of classic Texan sides, drinks, sauces, and desserts (such as our signature Pecan Pie). Pick-up is also available.
Enjoy Brisket at Goode. Co Barbeque’s Restaurant
If you’d rather enjoy our famous Houston hospitality by eating in at our iconic original location, then come on down! You can give us a call to reserve in advance if you’d like to bring a big group.
You can check out our best BBQ dishes here. Our recipes and techniques are rooted in nearly 50 years of barbecue passion, dating back to Jim Goode’s opening of our doors in the 1970s.