Back in 1977, Goode Co. Barbeque’s founder, Jim Goode, set out on a mission to create a truly Texan eatery. Settling for nothing but authenticity, our pits haven’t stopped smoking BBQ since.
With a commitment to mesquite-smoked BBQ and traditional Texan methods, we consider our tried-and-true family classics to be unlike anywhere else, because the story is in our taste.
So yeah, we know a thing or two about mind-blowing Texas smoked meats. In this guide, we’ll explore our favorites and explain to you how to barbeque the authentic Southern way.
BBQ Meat Cuts Guide: What Are Texas’s Signature Smoked Meats?
Beef Brisket: The Crown Jewel of Texas Barbeque
Many argue that a Texan BBQ isn’t authentic without a smoked brisket. We agree.
To Texans, brisket is more than just a cut of meat. It’s a rite of passage for pitmasters to smoke it to perfection and serve it up to their guests. It speaks to the history of our state, too, with many brisket-smoking techniques brought over by German and Czech immigrants in the 1800s.
When done right, brisket is a rich, juicy, and frankly primal experience. The smoked exterior gives a chewy, smoky flavor before you get to that tender beef core. As brisket is a heavily worked muscle taken from the cow’s breast, it requires long, slow cooking, which is where smoking comes in.
Back in the day, Jim Goode and his uncle Joe Dixie used to sleep at Goode Co. Barbeque’s restaurant and wake up every hour to check on it while it smoked overnight. Today, we use only the best cuts of USDA meat and serve it with our original rubs and the option for our original BBQ sauce.
A sealed pack of smoked brisket should be approximately 8-10 lbs to serve 8-10 people at your barbecue.
Turkey Breast and Honey-Smoked Ham
Turkey breast smoked over mesquite wood delivers a strong-smoking flavor and lean, delicate meat. It’s a Texan holiday favorite and is a lighter alternative to brisket, while still offering that southern barbeque punch.
As it’s boneless, you can sink your teeth into the tender masterpiece, leaving the skin on for an added taste with each serving. Because Turkey breast burns hot and fast, we use shorter smokes than on brisket to create that perfect balance.
To enjoy it Texas-style, you can cook it with a simple poultry or mesquite dry rub. At Goode Co. Barbeque, we like to cover turkey breast with our special house glaze, too. Approximately 3.5 – 4 pounds can serve 5-7 portions.
If you want to create a plate with contrasting tastes, serve the turkey with some delicious honey-smoked ham. The bold sweetness combines well with the turkey’s drier qualities and is perfect inside a sandwich or paired with a barbeque side.
Slow-Smoked Barbeque Pork Ribs
We don’t need to tell you how popular slow-smoked pork ribs are. But here’s how to make them succulent, smoky, and so tender that the meat pulls clean off the bone.
First, get our slow-smoked barbeque ribs pack (so we’ve taken care of the hard work). Then, after thawing for 8-12 hours in a refrigerator, remove the racks and place them on foil about 36” in length. Fold up the sides and seal the pork rib racks, leaving room between the foil and the meat.
After 1 hour of heating, you can cut between the bones to make individual ribs that can be eaten with ease, just like they should be. And don’t forget that all-important barbeque or jalapeno barbeque sauce before serving!
- Read related: Best Texas BBQ Dishes To Try in Houston
Which Wood Is Best to Smoke Meat With, Texas Style?
If you want that authentic Texan-smoked meat flavor, you should opt for mesquite wood as your fuel. As a Texan classic, it delivers a bold, earthy flavor that is impossible to ignore.
There are 40 different species of mesquite, and it has long been used as a fuel for cooking, as far back as the indigenous Americans (the name mesquite comes from the ‘Nahuatl mizquitl’). Texans also naturally opted for the trees, as they’re native to the State and found in vast quantities.
Best of all, mesquite is incredibly smoky (due to its high lignin content). So, it gives a strong kick that you’ll even see on the meat via coloration.
Texas’s Traditional Smoke Grilling Techniques
Low and slow BBQ
At Goode Co. Barbeque, we do barbeque the classic Texan way – mesquite, low and slow. Meats are smoked over indirect heat for hours to create the deep flavors and succulence you won’t find anywhere else. If that means smoking the meat for up to 18 hours, we’ll do it.
These techniques allow the collagen and fats in each cut to break down gradually, creating a juicy, tender texture that you can’t achieve without serious patience.
And, our long smoking times create a crispy, dark outer crust that’s packed with flavor from our house-made rubs and that good ol’ mesquite wood.
Temperature control
Temperature control is what sets the best apart from the rest. Consistent heat is critical, which is why Goode Co. Barbeque’s pits are carefully monitored to maintain the ideal temperature. This helps us avoid temperature changes that can dry out the meat.
But doing that without sacrificing smoke is an art that our pitmasters have learnt after many years on the job. We know the difference between internal and external temperatures, which can make a huge difference in how juicy the final meat is.
Pro Tips
- To avoid a bitter taste from too much smoke, pitmasters constantly monitor the meat and swap out wood to ensure there’s an active flame at all times.
- We never use an electric grill, opting for whole mesquite logs. But if you’re smoking the meat at home, go for mesquite wood pellets rather than wood chips to maintain a consistent temperature.
- You can try blending mesquite wood with medium-flavor woods, such as hickory, oak, cherry, or apple wood, for a customized sweet flavor.
Why Choose Goode Co. Barbeque for Your Texan BBQ
Family-run, Goode Co. Barbeque operates its smoking pits with long-standing Texan values, forged over the decades.
Since we opened in 1977, we’ve developed an expert craft in smoking brisket, poultry, and ribs so our customers can get the authentic taste of home. It’s a legacy built on hard work, respect for the craft, and a deep love of Texas.
And that includes our hospitality. So, whether you’re throwing a party in our restaurant or backyard barbeque, you’ll experience it the Texan way – by people who live and breathe it.
Book Goode Co. Barbeque, Texan Barbeque Today
Goode Co. Barbeque welcomes you to visit the little BBQ barn that started our journey, right off Kirby Drive in Houston. With a classic cozy Texan decor and indoor and outdoor seating, you’ll see your meat get served fresh off the grill. You’ll enjoy the greatest Texas smoked meat in the country.
Feel free to view our menus here, call 713.522.2530 to reserve a table today, or contact us online for private events.
