Beef burnt ends, often called “Poor Man’s Burnt Ends,” are not actually burnt! The dark, caramelized crust gives them that appearance, but it’s all about flavor. While classic burnt ends use brisket, I prefer beef chuck roast. It’s just as flavorful, more affordable, and cooks faster. These crispy, saucy, sticky, and tender bites are worth every minute of effort. However, patience is key! This recipe takes around 6 to 8 hours, so it’s perfect for weekends or holidays when you have extra time to spare. Saucy and Sticky Beef Chuck Roast Burnt Ends are your ultimate barbecue treat! I couldn’t stop eating them as they were getting finished. If you love smoky, sticky barbecue, you’re in for a treat!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Beef Chuck Roast
- 1 tbsp of cold butter, diced
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup of your favorite barbeque sauce, I like Worcestershire sauce.
For Rub:
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp sea salt
- 2 tbsp pepper
- 1 tbsp ground sweet paprika
- 1 tsp ground cumin
Spritzing mixture:
- 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup of water in a spray bottle
Directions and tips
Creating Saucy and Sticky Beef Chuck Roast Burnt Ends is a rewarding process that combines slow cooking, seasoning, and glazing to perfection. Follow these step-by-step directions for the ultimate barbecue experience:
1. Prepare the Beef Chuck Roast
Allow the beef to reach room temperature before cooking. The beef will cook more evenly if it’s at room temperature. Trim any excess fat from the chuck roast and cut it into large cubes, about 1.5 to 2 inches each. This size ensures they cook evenly and absorb plenty of flavor.
2. Prepare Rub and Season the Meat
Combine the garlic powder, sea salt, pepper, sweet paprika and cumin in a small bowl and set aside until needed. Coat the beef with olive oil. Generously coat the beef cubes with your barbecue rub, ensuring each piece is well covered. Let them sit for 15-20 minutes to allow the seasoning to adhere and penetrate the meat.
3. Prepare the BBQ grill for indirect cooking
Prepare the BBQ for indirect cooking and heat to 400f (200c). Start by filling one charcoal chimney and add more if needed throughout the cook if the temperature starts to drop. If you want to add a smoky flavor to the beef, you can add wood chunks to the charcoal. Place a foil tray filled with 2 cups of beef stock opposite to the charcoal. Then sit the grillgrate on top.
3. Smoke the Beef
Place the seasoned beef cubes on the smoker grates (above the foil tray) , ensuring enough space for proper airflow. Cook it for 2 hours or until the internal temperature reaches about 165°F and the edges develop a nice bark. Make sure you spritz the beef every 30 minutes to help keep the texture of the beef moist.
4. Add the Butter and sauce
Remove the beef from the BBQ and coat the cubes with the your choice of barbeque sauce. I like to use Worcestershire sauce for these burnt ends. Mix well to coat all pieces. Prepare two layers of foil. Place the beef on the foil and add a few pats of butter on top. Then wrap the beef tightly with the foil. Check if you need to top up the charcoal. If so, light the additional charcoal before adding it to the BBQ. Cook until the beef becomes tender and the internal temperature reaches around 200°F. This will take around 3 hours.
6. Serve and Enjoy
Remove the tray from the BBQ, toss the beef in the sauce and serve immediately. There’s no need to rest burnt ends. Serve warm and watch them disappear!
People also ask:
Can you use chuck roast for burnt ends?
Absolutely! Chuck roast is a fantastic alternative to traditional brisket for making burnt ends. While brisket burnt ends are the gold standard in barbecue, chuck roast offers a more affordable and accessible option without compromising on flavor or texture. Chuck roast is much smaller in total weight so overall it is cheaper. This is a fantastic option to make “burnt ends” for under $30
What roast is best for burnt ends?
Beef Chuck Roast is best option for burnt ends. Because it’s packed full of flavor and doesn’t take as long as brisket takes.
Why is it called poor man’s burnt ends?
They are called poor man’s burnt ends because of the price of a chuck roast. Poor Man’s Burnt Ends are burnt ends made from chuck roast instead of brisket as they are with traditional burnt ends.
What is another name for chuck roast?
Chuck roast is a versatile and flavorful cut of beef, but it’s often sold under different names depending on the butcher or grocery store. Some common alternative names for chuck roast include, Chuck Eye Roast, Shoulder steak, boneless chuck roast, English Roast or chuck shoulder pot roast.