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Poor Man’s Burnt Ends

5 from 7 votes
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By: the Evinks30 Comments
Posted: 03/09/19 Updated: 09/25/19

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Poor man's burnt ends pinterest collage. Top image of a pan full of burnt ends, bottom image of a single burnt end on a fork.
Poor Man's Burnt End on fork
Poor Man's Burnt Ends in a pan
Poor Man's Burnt Ends in a pan
Poor man's burnt ends collage. Top burnt end on a fork, bottom burnt ends in a foil pan
Poor Man's Burnt Ends in a pan
Poor man's burnt ends collage. Top burnt end on a fork, bottom burnt ends in a foil pan

When you think of Burnt ends you usually think of the traditional ones that come from the fat-marbled point of a whole packer brisket. They are slowly smoked until they are nearly fall apart tender and then basted in an amazing homemade BBQ sauce. If you ask me, they are the best thing to come off a smoker! These Poor Mans Burnt Ends are a great recipe when you don’t want to smoke an entire brisket. Instead, you use a roast and apply the same method. Fire up your Traeger and make these today!

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Burnt Ends in foil pan

Poor Mans Burnt Ends

What’s your favorite meal to make on the smoker – is it Smoked Meatloaf, Smoked Brisket or Smoked Ribs? That’s tempting, right? But you know what mine is? You’re looking at right here! Delicious fall apart tender poor mans burnt ends – YUM!

For those days when you don’t want to smoke a whole brisket, this is totally the meal for you!

I love how moist and tender they are, dripping in delicious homemade barbecue sauce, plus clean up is a breeze!

What meat is burnt ends?

Chuck roast or brisket make delicious burnt ends!

Why are they called burnt ends?

Burnt ends are a traditional part of Kansas City barbecue and one of my very favorite meals from the smoker! The high content of the fat in the cut of brisket or chuck roast requires a longer cooking time. This is why they are called burnt ends!

Burnt Ends recipe in foil pan on traeger

Burnt Ends

I know a person typically expects a brisket when you make burnt ends, but I have a confession.

I might actually enjoy these poor mans burnt ends made with a chuck roast even better.

Plus, I love that a chuck roast is easier to find than brisket and you don’t have to smoke an entire brisket then.

What do I need for Burnt Ends Recipe

  • chuck roast
  • 1 recipe beef rub
  • BBQ Sauce
  • brown sugar
  • honey
  • tin foil

Chuck Roast Burnt Ends on fork

Burnt Ends Recipe

I highly recommend these amazing racks to place your chuck roast on after it’s been cut up.

Plus, my husband LOVES them for smoking because he sets the meat right on them, hauls it out to the smoker and then place the rack on the smoker and doesn’t need to transfer the meat to the smoker rack.

Clean up of them is also a breeze because you can just wash them in your sink and your smoker grates keep cleaner!

How long does it take a 3-pound roast to smoke?

The first smoke on this roast will take 4-5 hours. After you cube the meat it will go back in the smoker for another hour and a half.

What is the cheapest meat to smoke?

Chuck roast is a great choice! It’s affordable and cooked low and slow then thinly sliced it becomes tender and delicious!

Poor mans burnt ends in foil pan

Chuck Roast Burnt Ends

Another thing I highly recommend for this recipe is to grab a few disposable foil pans to mix up every thing. They make it such a breeze to clean up!

I’m all about hitting the easy button!

How to make Poor Man’s Burnt Ends Recipe

  1. Preheat the smoker.
  2. Set aside 1/2 tablespoon of the beef rub. Apply the rub generously, coasting the roast. Place on the smoker, close lid.
  3. Smoke at 250 degrees F for 4-5 hours or remove from smoker and allow to rest for 10-15 minutes.
  4. While roast is cooling prepare BBQ sauce, set aside.
  5. Cut roast into cubes. Put in foil pan. Pour BBQ sauce and sprinkle with the remaining beef rub, stir to combine. Cover with aluminum foil.
  6. Place back on the smoker for 1 – 1 1/2 hours or until cubes are tender. Serve and enjoy!

What to serve with Poor Man’s Burnt Ends

  • Bacon Wrapped Grilled Brussels Sprouts
  • Instant Pot Potato Salad
  • Smoked Crumb Apple Pie

Yum, yum, yum don’t these pictures makes you drool?!! Don’t forget to comment below with a five-star rating – thank you will make my day!

Tag me! You can find me at @gimmesomegrilling or just #gimmesomegrilling. If you hashtag me, I’ll get to see it that way too!

More great beef recipes on the smoker!

  • Smoked Hamburgers
  • Smoked Prime Rib
  • BBQ Smoked Meatballs
  • Teriyaki Smoked Steak Bites

Love these burnt ends? Be sure and try Pork Belly Burnt Ends and Pork Butt Burnt Ends!!

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Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @gimmesomegrilling or #gimmesomegrilling so I can see your grilling masterpieces!

Burnt Ends in foil pan
5 from 7 votes

Poor Mans Burnt Ends Recipe

Tender, juicy, fall apart Burnt Ends recipe that is made with a chuck roast and smothered in a tasty BBQ Sauce!
Prep:25 mins
Cook:5 hrs
Resting Time:15 mins
Total:5 hrs 25 mins
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Ingredients

  • 3 lb chuck roast
  • 1 recipe Beef Rub

BBQ Sauce

  • 1 c. BBQ Sauce
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp Honey
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Instructions

  • Prepare smoker to 250 degrees F according to manufacturer's directions.
  • Reserve 1/2 Tbsp beef rub and set aside. Apply beef rub to chuck roast generously coating it. You may not use it all. Place on preheated smoker at 250 degrees F. Close lid.
  • Smoke at 250 degrees F for about 4-5 hours or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F. Remove from smoker and let cool 10-15 minutes.
  • While roast is cooling prepare BBQ sauce by combining the BBQ Sauce, brown sugar and honey into a small mixing bowl and stirring until it's combined. Set aside.
  • Cut roast into 1'' x 1'' cubes. Put in foil pan. Pour BBQ sauce and 1/2 Tbsp beef rub over the top of the roast. Stir to combine. Cover with aluminum foil.
  • Place back on smoker at 250 degrees F for 1 - 1 1/2 hours or until cubs are tender. Remove and serve immediately.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 252kcal (13%), Carbohydrates: 12g (4%), Protein: 22g (44%), Fat: 13g (20%), Saturated Fat: 6g (38%), Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 78mg (26%), Sodium: 295mg (13%), Potassium: 426mg (12%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 10g (11%), Vitamin A: 61IU (1%), Vitamin C: 1mg (1%), Calcium: 28mg (3%), Iron: 3mg (17%)
© Gimme Some Grilling ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.

Did you make this?

Be sure to upload a photo & tag me at @gimmesomegrilling. I love seeing what you made!

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Meet the Evinks

Hi! We are Jason & Julie! We focus on easy, simple recipes that everyone can tackle on their smoker and grills that the entire family will enjoy!

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Reader Interactions

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Recipe Rating




  1. Jounayet Rahman says

    Posted on 11/10/22 at 4:54 am

    delicious

    Reply
    • Courtney says

      Posted on 11/10/22 at 5:30 pm

      So glad to hear you love it! Thanks for trying!

      Reply
  2. SP says

    Posted on 7/31/22 at 7:54 am

    5 stars
    Big hit at our BBQ.

    Reply
    • the Evinks says

      Posted on 7/31/22 at 9:45 am

      Wonderful to hear!!

      Reply
  3. Scott says

    Posted on 6/27/22 at 5:23 pm

    Can you keep these warm in a slow cooker after done of would they fall apart?

    Reply
    • the Evinks says

      Posted on 7/1/22 at 1:39 pm

      Yes, we do that all the time when entertaining!

      Reply
  4. Max says

    Posted on 12/1/19 at 3:46 pm

    Can you use a sirloin roast for burnt ends?

    Reply
    • Megan Mitzel says

      Posted on 12/3/19 at 4:07 am

      I haven’t tested it, but I think you could. Let me know how it goes!

      Reply
      • Melissa Friberg says

        Posted on 6/29/22 at 4:41 pm

        5 stars
        Has anyone used venison roasts with this recipe? How did it turn out? Did you have to adjust anything?

  5. J Stom says

    Posted on 10/15/19 at 5:07 pm

    What kind of time do you think chuck steaks would require? Any thoughts? …of course, I’m already hungry! Lol

    Reply
    • Megan Mitzel says

      Posted on 10/15/19 at 9:20 pm

      All smokers are different of course but I go by the rule that every 1-2 lbs of meat should be able to smoke for an hour – so it depends on the size of the chuck steaks!

      Reply
  6. Jen says

    Posted on 7/22/19 at 2:02 am

    I have frozen chuck roast already cubed in the deep freeze I need to use up but just not feeling like beef stew! Could I alter this somehow with uncooked chuck roast cubes in my pellet grill??

    Reply
    • Julie Evink says

      Posted on 7/22/19 at 1:57 pm

      Hmmm maybe just toss them in the seasoning and smoke those pieces until they reach 165 degrees? Then go from there instead of smoking the whole roast?

      Reply
  7. CJ says

    Posted on 6/3/19 at 4:01 pm

    I’m not seeing the beef rub recipe?

    Reply
    • Julie Evink says

      Posted on 6/3/19 at 5:32 pm

      Sorry here you go! https://gimmesomegrilling.com/beef-rub/

      Reply
    • Bill says

      Posted on 9/19/22 at 6:14 am

      the receipe was very good n the burnt ends were excellent

      Reply
  8. Barbara Osborn says

    Posted on 5/8/19 at 3:51 pm

    What if you don’t have a smoker? Can they be done in the oven or a grill?

    Reply
    • Julie Evink says

      Posted on 5/9/19 at 6:12 pm

      Hi Barbara! We designed this for a smoker so I haven’t tested it in the oven and it wouldn’t have the same smoked flavor! Sorry!

      Reply
      • Joseph Jasniewicz says

        Posted on 5/26/19 at 6:52 pm

        Hi, I don’t have a smoker but use the grill to smoke meat. I use a weber kettle grill ,using the snake charcoal method . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLfstT2goRk

      • Julie Evink says

        Posted on 5/28/19 at 1:59 pm

        Great option!

  9. Malinda Linnebur says

    Posted on 3/18/19 at 8:27 pm

    5 stars
    YES!!! Thank you so much for this recipe!! I NEVER have brisket on hand and don’t want to pay the price for one either!!

    Reply
    • Julie Evink says

      Posted on 3/21/19 at 2:57 pm

      Dare I say I might like this one better anyways?!

      Reply
  10. Tara says

    Posted on 3/14/19 at 2:41 pm

    5 stars
    So juicy and delicious — a keeper!

    Reply
    • Julie Evink says

      Posted on 3/14/19 at 8:19 pm

      Sure is!

      Reply
  11. Gina Matsoukas says

    Posted on 3/14/19 at 2:09 pm

    5 stars
    Perfectly moist and tender for sure! Delicious!

    Reply
    • Julie Evink says

      Posted on 3/14/19 at 8:19 pm

      We love these!

      Reply
  12. Melissa Howell says

    Posted on 3/12/19 at 9:15 pm

    5 stars
    I always wondered what burnt ends were! These look SO yummy!

    Reply
    • Julie Evink says

      Posted on 3/14/19 at 8:21 pm

      Tiny pieces of heaven is what they are 😉

      Reply
  13. Danielle Green says

    Posted on 3/12/19 at 2:52 pm

    5 stars
    Oh my goodness, these look absolutely delicious and makes me want to try them immediately!

    Reply
    • Julie Evink says

      Posted on 3/14/19 at 8:22 pm

      You’d love them!

      Reply

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Hi! We are Jason & Julie! We focus on easy, simple recipes that everyone can tackle on their smoker and grills that the entire family will enjoy!

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