Make Poor Man’s Burnt Ends for a budget friendly smoker recipe that is loaded with BBQ Sauce and flavor. Save time and money with this easy recipe.

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This burnt ends smoker recipe saves time and money by using a chuck roast instead of a brisket. You will still have all the classic BBQ flavors that you love but is much easier. For a budget friendly option, make Hot Dog Burnt Ends.
Barbecue sauce makes any cut of meat taste so delicious. You may like these – Grilled BBQ Chicken Breast, Grilled BBQ Pork Chops Recipe or BBQ Pork Chops on Blackstone Griddle.
Table of Contents
What are Poor Man’s Burnt Ends?
The reason this recipe is called Poor Man’s Burnt Ends as it is made with a chuck roast instead of a smoked brisket. This bite size meat is perfectly smoked with a ton of BBQ flavor but made with a cheaper option.
The chuck roast still smokes fork tender and has a similar taste as a beef brisket. It will save you time and no one will be able to tell the difference.
Ingredients

- Chuck Roast – We recommend looking for a good marble roast with a high fat content. This give the poor man’s burnt ends so much flavor.
For the full recipe and ingredients, scroll to the bottom for the recipe card.
Variations Ideas
- Seasoning – You can easily use this BBQ Seasoning Recipe.
- BBQ Sauce – Feel free to use your favorite BBQ Sauce or learn How to Make Homemade BBQ Sauce. It will make your chuck roast burnt ends even better.
Step by Step Instructions
- Step 1 – Preheat the smoker to 250°F and prepare the wood chips for smoking.

Step 2 – In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, paprika, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper to create the seasoning mix.

Step 3 – Rub the avocado oil all over the marbled chuck roast, then generously apply the seasoning mix to all sides of the roast, pressing it into the meat.

Step 4 – Place the seasoned chuck roast on the smoker grates, fat-side up, and close the smoker lid. Smoke the chuck roast for approximately 1 hour per pound, maintaining a consistent temperature of 250°F throughout the smoking process.

Step 5 – In a small saucepan, combine the BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, honey, and Worcestershire sauce. Heat the mixture over low heat, stirring occasionally, until well combined and warmed through.

Step 6 – When the internal temperature of the chuck roast reaches 165°F, remove the roast and cube it into bite size pieces.

Step 7 – Return the roast to a foil pan and pour the sauce on top. Toss to coat the beef in the sauce mixture.
- Step 8 – Place the pan back into the smoker and continue smoking until the beef reaches an internal temperature of 200-205°F for a tender, pull-apart texture and the sauce has caramelized. This may take an additional 1-2 hours.
- Step 9 – Remove the smoked chuck roast from the smoker and let it rest for 15-20 minutes.
- Step 10 – Serve the smoked chuck roast hot and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Burnt Ends Texture – Towards the end of cooking, keep an eye on the caramelization to get a crispy exterior without burning the beef.
- Cooking Roast – For the best flavor and tenderness, you want to cook the brisket based on the internal temp and not on cooking time. It is best to use a meat thermometer to check to see if you roast is done.
- Aluminum Pan – When you place your burnt ends back in the smoker, makes sure you are using a disposable pan that is safe for smoker.

Serving Suggestions
We love to serve these burnt ends as an easy appetizer for our family gatherings. But you can also serve as a main dish with some of your favorite smoker appetizer. Here are some of our suggestions.

Frequently Asked Questions
In this recipe, this is no need to wrap the roast. But if you prefer, you can wrap it in aluminum foil or butcher paper.
You can easily use different flavors of wood chips. We recommend hickory, oak or cherry. You can also combine two flavors which makes the roast taste amazing.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Depending how much you have left, I recommend reheating in the oven in a baking dish.
More Easy Smoker Recipes
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Boneless Smoked Ham
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Bacon Wrapped Smoked Pork Loin
If you make this poor man’s burnt ends recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review. We love to hear from you.

Poor Man’s Burnt Ends
Ingredients
- 3-4 lbs chuck roast
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
Seasoning Mix:
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For BBQ Glaze:
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the smoker to 250°F and prepare the wood chips for smoking.
- In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, paprika, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper to create the seasoning mix.
- powder, and cayenne pepper to create the seasoning mix.
- Rub the avocado oil all over the chuck roast, then generously apply the seasoning mix to all sides of the roast, pressing it into the meat.
- Place the seasoned chuck roast on the smoker grates, fat-side up, and close the smoker lid.
- Smoke the chuck roast for approximately 1 hour per pound, maintaining a consistent temperature of 250°F throughout the smoking process. For a 3-4 pound roast, this will take around 3-4 hours.
- In a small saucepan, combine the BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, honey, and Worcestershire sauce. Heat the mixture over low heat, stirring occasionally, until well combined and warmed through.
- When the internal temperature of the chuck roast reaches 165°F, remove the roast and cube it into bite size pieces.
- Return the roast to a foil pan and pour the sauce on top. Toss to coat the beef in the sauce mixture.
- Place the pan back into the smoker and continue smoking until the beef reaches an internal temperature of 200-205°F for a tender, pull-apart texture and the sauce has caramelized. This may take an additional 1-2 hours.
- Remove the smoked chuck roast from the smoker and let it rest for 15-20 minutes.
- Serve the smoked chuck roast hot and enjoy!