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–+ servings
Delicious Poor Man’s Burnt Ends piled high on a warm toasted bun, topped with tangy pickled onions and crisp bread-and-butter pickles, served on a plate for the perfect BBQ bite.

POOR MAN’S BURNT ENDS

Learn how to make Poor Man's Burnt Ends, a budget-friendly BBQ recipe using chuck roast that’s perfect for summer grilling. Quick, flavorful, and easy to prepare—this recipe will satisfy your BBQ cravings without breaking the bank!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Oven Cooking Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Total Time 5 hours 30 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American, BBQ
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 3-4 pound chuck roast
  • Easy Dry Rub (recipe below)
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • ½ + cup BBQ sauce plus 2 tablespoons

Easy Dry Rub: multiply per each pound of meat (see notes below)

  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt per pound of meat
  • ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Prep the Roast: Start by seasoning your chuck roast on all sides with the easy dry rub.
  • Smokin' Time: Preheat your smoker or grill to a range of 200°F to 225°F. Place the roast on indirect heat and smoke it until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (about 2 hours).
  • Oven Finish: Preheat your oven to 250°F. Once the roast hits 165°F on the smoker, transfer it to a disposable aluminum pan, cover with foil, and bake in the oven for about 2 hours, until the roast reaches an internal temperature of 195°F to 203°F.
  • Let it rest for about 20 minutes. Don’t get too excited, you’re not done yet!
  • Slice and Sauce: Once he roast has rested, raise the oven temperature to 300°F. Cut the roast into 1-inch chunks, making sure to keep some of that bark on each piece to maintain its texture. Put the chunks back in the baking pan, sprinkle with brown sugar, and drizzle ½ cup of BBQ sauce over the top. Toss gently to coat, then cover with foil. Bake for 1 hour, until the meat is quite literally falling-apart tender and the sauce is caramelized. But wait! There’s more!
  • Final Touches: Remove the foil, toss the meat with the remaining BBQ sauce, and return it to the oven uncovered for 20 minutes. This will allow the sauce to thicken and get that perfect sticky texture.
  • To Serve: Serve your Poor Man’s Burnt Ends on toasted buns or sliced white bread with bread-and-butter pickles and pickled onions for a true old school BBQ experience. Pair with grilled corn on the cob and homemade coleslaw for a delicious summer meal that everyone will love.

Notes

Easy Dry Rub For a 4-pound roast, you'll need to multiply each ingredient by 4:
  • Kosher salt: 2 teaspoons
  • Granulated garlic powder: 1 teaspoon
  • Onion powder: ½ teaspoon
  • Black pepper: ½ teaspoon
What wood to use in your smoker? You’ll find that hickory, oak, or mesquite wood works wonderfully.
 
 
Keyword Beef, Father's Day, Festive, Game Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Summer
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!