How to make poor mans burnt ends

If you’re gonna make burnt ends, poor man’s burnt ends are the way to go. These sweet, sticky, and tender beef chunks are a great alternative to classic burnt ends.

For those of you who don't know, burnt ends are the crispy, flavorful bits of meat that come from smoking a beef brisket. They're usually only found on the pricier cuts of meat, like prime rib or wagyu beef. However, there is a way to get that same flavor without spending a fortune - chuck roast burnt ends.

Chuck roast is a much cheaper cut of meat, but if it's cooked properly, it can be just as delicious as its more expensive counterparts.

Chuck roast burnt ends are a delicious, budget-friendly alternative to traditional brisket burnt ends. To make them, simply trim the chuck roast and cut it into 1-inch cubes. Season the cubes with your favorite BBQ rub, then cook in a smoker or oven until tender. Once they're cooked, toss the cubes in your favorite BBQ sauce and return them to the smoker or oven for a few minutes to caramelize. Serve immediately and enjoy!

The key is to cook it low and slow until it's nice and tender, then finish it off with a quick sear to get that crispy outer layer. Serve it with your favorite BBQ sauce and you've got yourself a cheap and delicious meal that rivals anything you'd find at a fancy steakhouse.

Brisket burnt ends are the standard, but not everybody wants to pay brisket prices. Enter smoked chuck roast which is much cheaper, but doesn’t skimp on taste and flavor.

People rave about smoked beef brisket, but in my opinion burnt ends, whether from brisket, chuck roast, or even pork belly are what it’s all about. 

What are burnt ends?

Burnt ends used to be the leftover pieces cooked during an extended period. Traditional burnt ends are a staple in Kansas City BBQ. In essence they are the fatty ends of the point end of a brisket that have been cut away, cubed, and then glazed and smoked additionally. The process results in tender, crunchy, and smoky fatty pieces of beef that some describe as meat candy.

How to make poor mans burnt ends
How to make poor mans burnt ends

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My goal with these burnt ends was to make these sweet and sticky almost candy-like. I wanted a candy flavor and a bit of candy color like watermelon now and laters.

Poor Man’s Burnt Ends Ingredients

  • Beef Chuck Roast 
  • Kosher Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Smoked Sweet Paprika
  • Garlic Powder
  • All Spice
  • Mustard Powder
  • Coriander
  • Cinnamon
  • Big Red Soda
  • BBQ Sauce
  • Maple Syrup

How To Make Burnt Ends with Chuck Roast

Mix the dry rub spice seasonings in a mixing bowl and set aside.

Season with beef rub generously and refrigerate overnight

Pre-Heat smoker to 225-250 degrees F and set it up for indirect heat cooking.

Add the beef and smoke until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. Cooking time will vary and depend on the size of the roast and average cooking temperature so using a meat thermometer or temperature probe is the best way to determine doneness.

Remove beef from smoker rack and wrap it in peach butcher paper. Add the wrapped roast back to the smoker and cook until temp reaches 190 degrees.

Remove the chuck roast from the smoker and let it rest at least 10 minutes

Using a sharp knife and a cutting board cut the roast into thick slices and then cut those slices into cubes. I reserve any overly fatty ones and use to flavor other recipes like cabbage or beans.

Place the cubes in a square aluminum foil pan and set aside.

Heat the Big Red soda in a saucepan and reduce it significantly (by at least half). Add the barbecue sauce and maple syrup mixing well.

Pour the sauce over the beef cubes then stir so all cubes are generously covered.

Return beef iin the aluminum pan back to the smoker and cook at 250 degrees F. Cook until sauce is reduced and the burnt ends are sticky. This should be about 2 hours of slow cooking.

How to make poor mans burnt ends
How to make poor mans burnt ends

Chuck Roast Burnt Ends Cooking Tips and Considerations

Feel free to keep the dry rub for the chuck roast simple. Salt and Pepper is sufficient, but definitely go with coarse grain for both.

There is a lot of variability with cook times so I recommend using a meat thermometer to determine doneness unless you’re a pro at the eye or touch tests.

Definitely use aluminum foil over butcher paper in this recipe. The latter works fine with brisket, but foil does better with chuck roast.

Start with good beef chuck roast. You want to choose a good marbled chuck roast

Make your own sweet homemade bbq sauce or choose a BBQ sauce that's not spicy. Sweet is good with these.

Make sure you have enough bbq sauce to coat the burnt ends fully. More is better with these bad boys.

If you're making these properly things are going to get messy, so make use of those disposable foil pans.

Serve these with slaw, potato salad, or stewed okra. Check out my full list of 27 of the best bbq sides for a more comprehensive list of options.

I treat these tasty morsels as a starter. My main dish is usually something like grilled cedar plank salmon or BBQ shrimp.

How to make poor mans burnt ends
How to make poor mans burnt ends

Frequently Asked Questions For Making Burnt Ends With Inexpensive Chuck Roast

Is pot roast the same as chuck roast?

The simple answer is no! Chuck roast is an actual cut of beef, but pot roast refers to a cooking method. Chuck comes from the shoulder part of a cow, whereas pot roast is a method of preparing a cut of meat via slow braising in liquid.

Can chuck roast burnt ends be made ahead of time?

Yes! Chuck roast burnt ends can be made up to three days in advance. Simply store them in an airtight container in the fridge until you're ready to serve.

How do I make sure my chuck roast is tender?

The key to making tender chuck roast burnt ends is to cook them slowly. You'll want to smoke your chuck roast for several hours until it's nice and tender. Then, you can either finish it on the grill or in the oven.

What type of wood is best to make burnt ends?

I prefer to use cherry wood chunks or wood chips. Apple is another preferred fruitwood and occasionally I'll use hickory or oak.

What type of grill or smoker do you use?

I used a Traeger pellet smoker for this recipe, but also use my Kamado Joe Smoker for these as well.

Similar Recipes

Pork Belly Burnt Ends

Smoked Brisket

Smoked Tri-Tip

Smoked Jerk Chicken

Beef Neck Bones Sandwich

Smoked Rib Tips

Smoked Butternut Squash

making this recipe

So, if you’re looking for an amazing recipe to try this weekend, we highly recommend these chuck roast burnt ends. They are absolutely delicious and will definitely impress your friends and family. Be sure to let us know how they turn out!

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How to make poor mans burnt ends
How to make poor mans burnt ends

Chuck Roast Burnt Ends

Sweet and sticky poor man's beef burnt ends made with smoked chuck roast for a great appetizer at your family bbq.

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Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: BBQ

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 562kcal

Author: Marwin Brown

Ingredients

  • 5 lbs beef chuck roast

For The Rub

  • ½ tablespoon Kosher Salt
  • ½ tablespoon Pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic
  • 1 teaspoon All Spice
  • ½ teaspoon Mustard Powder
  • ½ teaspoon Coriander
  • ½ teaspoon Cinnamon

For the Glaze

  • 12 oz Big Red Soda
  • cup BBQ sauce
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup

Instructions

For The Rub

  • Mix the dry spice seasonings in a mixing bowl and set aside.

Smoke the Beef

  • Season with beef rub generously and refrigerate overnight

  • Pre-Heat smoker to 225-250 degrees F and set it up for indirect heat cooking.

  • Add the beef and smoke until internal temp reaches 160 degrees. Cook time will vary and depend on size of the roast and average cooking temperature so using a meat thermometer is best bet.

  • Remove beef from smoker and wrap in butcher paper. Add back to the smoker and cook until temp reaches 190 degrees.

  • Remove and let rest at least 10 minutes.

  • Cut the brisket into thick slices and then cut those slices into cubes. I reserve any overly fatty ones and use to flavor other recipes like cabbage or beans.

  • Place the cubes in a square foil pan and set aside.

  • Heat the Big Red soda in a saucepan and reduce significantly (by at least half). Add the BBQ sauce and maple syrup mixing well.

  • Pour the sauce over the beef cubes then stir so all cubes are generously covered.

  • Return beef back to the smoker and cook at 250 degrees F. Cook until sauce is reduced and the burnt ends are sticky. This should be about 2 hours.

Video

How to make poor mans burnt ends

Nutrition

Calories: 562kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 55g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 196mg | Sodium: 797mg | Potassium: 1005mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 499IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 6mg

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What cut of meat is poor man's burnt ends?

Traditionally burnt ends come from the point of a brisket. That is the fatty, highly marbled end of the brisket. It is thinner than the rest of the brisket, so as it cooks the end gets darker and more “burnt” than the rest of the meat.

What cut of meat to make burnt ends?

What are burnt ends? Brisket burnt ends are made from the deckle (or point) cut of the brisket. They originated in Kansas City sometime in the 1970s, when barbecue restaurants made sliced brisket sandwiches. The brisket point was crispy, fatty, well-charred, and did not slice very well for a sandwich.

Why do they call it poor man burnt ends?

Traditionally, burnt ends are made from the point of a whole packer beef brisket. We are using a good marbled chuck roast for this recipe, which are lovingly referred to as “poor man's” burnt ends because the roasts that are used are typically less expensive than brisket.

What all can you make burnt ends out of?

You can make burnt ends from an entire brisket but be sure to separate the point from the flat, after smoking and cutting into cubes. Use a Kansas City Style BBQ sauce for a more authentic flavor, however you can modify with any sauce you like.