Chipotle's smoked brisket is back November 5 - here's how the chain makes it

Chipotle's smoked brisket is coming back. Starting November 5, the chain's slow-smoked beef returns to restaurants across the U.S. and Canada for a limited time - and this time it comes with free delivery on app and website orders through November 18.

The timing is deliberate. "Bringing it back in the heart of football season gives fans one more reason to make Chipotle part of their game-day lineup," Stephanie Perdue, Chipotle's senior vice president of brand marketing, said in a statement.

This is the third greatest-hits protein return of the year for Chipotle. Chicken al Pastor came back in January, Chipotle Honey Chicken followed in April, and now brisket gets its reunion. Unlike those chicken runs, though, the brisket is a bigger lift on the sourcing side.

What actually makes it "smoked"

Chipotle estimates only about 5 percent of the country's beef supply meets its standards. The cattle must be raised on a vegetarian diet with no added growth hormones or routine antibiotics, and the chain has to be able to trace the beef back to the ranch it came from. That's a narrow pool to pull a limited-time menu item from.

The smoke isn't marketing either. According to Chipotle, the meat is seasoned with a pepper-heavy spice blend - serrano and chipotle - then spends hours over mesquite wood. In the store, employees sear it on the plancha, add more seasoning and a chili-pepper sauce, and chop it into smaller portions throughout the day.

Nevielle Panthaky, Chipotle's senior vice president of culinary, says that combined process gives the brisket its rich, smoky flavor while the sauce adds tang and heat. He has a ready-made order suggestion for anyone assembling their first bowl: white rice, pinto beans, smoked brisket, fresh tomato salsa, a little tomatillo-red chili salsa, cheese, and Queso Blanco. The whole thing lands at 45 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber.

Chipotle hasn't announced an end date for the brisket, so if you missed the last run, it might be worth acting before this one slips away the same way.