To-die-for Beef Brisket that really makes the most out of this cut of beef! This Slow Cooker brisket is cooked in a simple homemade BBQ sauce until it’s deliciously tender and infused with incredible flavour. Serve with a side of Coleslaw or Macaroni Salad and steamed corn. Or pile high onto rolls and make sliders!
This is a reader-favourite recipe included by popular demand in my debut cookbook “Dinner”!
Beef Brisket recipe!
I really am not a girls’ girl when it comes to food. I don’t gaze in wonder at stunningly decorated multi-tier cakes. I don’t ooh and aah over pretty little chocolates. I have no interest in learning how to make candy.
But I do go gah-gah over sights like this – a giant hunk of flavour loaded brisket.
I’m all class. All class. 😂
Cooking brisket – in brief
What is brisket? A cut of beef that needs to be cooked slowly to break down the connective tissues. The unique thing about this cut of beef is that it can be slow cooked so it’s fork tender, yet is still sliceable. It also has a better beefy flavour compared to other slow cooking beef cuts like chuck.
Is there another name for brisket? There’s no other name for raw brisket, that is the name of the cut. But you will see it sold in stores already prepared in the form of corned beef, pastrami and silverside which is brisket that’s been brined.
What cut of meat is similar to brisket? There is no cut of beef with the same cooking qualities. For this recipe, the best substitute for beef brisket is rolled chuck, like you use for Pot Roast. Otherwise, try the Beef Ribs or Pork Ribs version of this recipe – both terrific!
How long does it take to cook? 8 to 10 hours in the slow cooker on low, 1 hr 15 minutes in a pressure cooker, or 5 hours in the oven at 320F/160C.
Is brisket supposed to be pink? No. Cooked plain brisket should not be pink, if it is, it is massively undercooked and will be tough. You cannot eat brisket rare. HOWEVER, pastrami and corned beef are pink even after cooking due to the special curing salt they use (like bacon).
How to make slow cooker Beef Brisket
It’s a straight forward beef brisket recipe though there is a fairly long list of spices because we’re making a homemade rub and homemade BBQ Sauce here. Totally worth it – there’s no bottled sauce that compares to this!
Spice Mix – We start off with a spice rub. No need to marinate because we’re slow cooking it – the long cook time essentially has the same effect as marinating. If we were roasting it, I’d recommend marinating it.
Slow Cook – place the ingredients for the homemade BBQ Sauce in the slow cooker (vinegar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic and spices), add the beef and leave to slow cook for 8 to 10 hours.
Caramelise crust – After this, all that’s required is a few minutes in a hot oven (or even under the grill/broiler) to caramelise the crust;
Reduce sauce – Meanwhile, simmer the liquid in the slow cooker to reduce it down to a syrupy sauce consistency <– This right here is our homemade BBQ Sauce!
What is beef brisket?
Brisket is a cut of beef made for slow cooking, not fast cooking. It’s unique characteristic compared to other slow cooking cuts of beef is that it holds its shape even after hours and hours of slow cooking and can be sliced.
When you slow cook other cuts of slow cooking cuts of beef like chuck (like in Beef Stew), gravy beef (an Australian beef cut) and short ribs, they “fall apart easily because there is more connective tissues running throughout the meat which breakdown with slow cooking.
However, as you can see in the photos in this post, brisket holds together and can be sliced. But the slices are ultra tender and could be shredded easily, see? 🙂
Is brisket suitable for shredding?
Brisket does shred well, but I prefer using chuck beef or ribs for shredding for recipes like slow cooked Shredded Beef Ragu, Shredded Beef Chili and Shredded Mexican Beef.
Those cuts have more fat running through the meat and so the shredded pieces are nice and juicy. Though brisket has a layer of fat on the surface, there actually is not that much fat or connective tissues running through it, so if you shred it then it’s pretty lean.
What to serve with beef brisket
For this particular recipe, I’m keeping this Slow Cooker Beef Brisket whole and slicing it. Serve up a hearty Southern style supper with sides of Homemade Southern Style Baked Beans, Corn Bread (or try my favourite Corn Bread Muffins!), Creamy Corn Casserole, classic creamy Coleslaw or this No Mayo Coleslaw (it’s excellent!), Macaroni Salad, Potato Salad or mashed potato.
Or pile it onto sliders – this is the way I usually serve it because brisket is a perfect recipe for feeding a crowd! – Nagi xx
MORE GREAT THINGS TO PILE ONTO SLIDERS
• Slow Cooker Honey Buffalo Shredded Chicken
• Easy Homemade Pastrami
• Chili – and Slow Cooked Shredded Beef Chili
• Cubanos (Cuban Subs with Mojo Marinated Pork, from the “Chef” movie)
• Slow Cooker Pulled BBQ Pork Sliders
PS If you love beef, don’t miss this Beef Pot Roast and Prime Rib / Standing Rib Roast recipes!
Watch How To Make It
This recipe features in my debut cookbook Dinner. The book is mostly new recipes, but this is a reader favourite included by popular demand!
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Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1.5 – 2 kg / 3 – 4 lb beef brisket (Note 1)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (or a neutral oil like vegetable, canola)
Rub:
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp paprika powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin powder
- 3/4 tsp mustard powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
BBQ Sauce:
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1/2 cup / 125 ml apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 cups / 375 ml ketchup
- 1/2 cup / 110g brown sugar , packed
- 2 tsp EACH black pepper, onion powder, mustard powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste re: spiciness)
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Mix Rub ingredients. Rub all over brisket. If time permits, leave for 30 minutes – 24 hours in the fridge, but I rarely do this.
- Combine BBQ Sauce ingredients in a slow cooker. Mix then add the brisket – squish it in if needed, like I did (see video).
- Slow cook in slow cooker for 8 hours (1.5 kg / 3 lb) to 10 hours (2 kg / 4 lb). (Note 2 for pressure cooker and click here for oven)
- Remove brisket onto a tray.
- Pour liquid in slow cooker into a saucepan. Bring to simmer over medium high heat and reduce until it thickens to a syrup consistency (it thickens more as it cools).
- Meanwhile, drizzle brisket with oil then roast in a 200C/390F oven for 15 minutes until brown spots appear. Remove then baste generously with Sauce, then return to oven for 5 minutes. Remove and baste again, then return to oven for 5 – 10 minutes until it caramelises and looks like the photos. (See note for BBQ option)
- TO SERVE: Slice brisket thinly across the grain and serve with remaining BBQ Sauce. This is terrific served as a meal with sides or piled high onto rolls with Coleslaw as sliders. See Note 3 for more ideas.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Brisket recipe originally published July 2017. Updated to improve writing, and created separate recipe card for oven baked brisket directions. No change to recipe – much loved by readers as is, I wouldn’t dare!
Life Of Dozer
So. Much. Sand.
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What should the internal temp be when it is cooked? I have a 2 lb brisket and don’t want to overcook it by just going based on the 8-10 hr time frame.
This was so good, my company raved about it! I had a second day of my special thighs and few had asked if I had any brisket left.
I have made this recipe many many times now. My husband works for the Beef industry in New Zealand, so we have brisket often. This recipe is fail proof, I love it!! I have only ever made brisket using this recipe, and I wouldn’t try anything else now. Thank you 🙂
Hi. Can you used diced chuck or brisket for this recipe or would it dry it out too much?
I would love to try this. Do I use the flat end of the brisket or the point end? You mention in here not to use anything too thin but a whole brisket will not fit in a slow cooker and besides it’s too big. Thank-you in advance.
This brisket recipe was unbelievable. Highly recommend. I did alter with additional rub and a mustard binder.
Only have one question, do I use the point end of the brisket of the flat end? A whole brisket will not fit in a slow cooker. Thanks in advance.
Cooked brisket for the first time ever in my life, and if there’s someone’s hand you want to hold onto, it’s definitely Nagi’s. Our brisket was 2.2 pounds, and the sauce amounts as written in this version on the site was more than enough. I did however double the amount of rub, and it was perfect. Served it on buns with coleslaw, plus corn bread on the side. This one is going in the rotation!
I’m using chuck instead of brisket and doubling the meat quantity. How does this effect the cooking time? I’m using a slow cooker. p.s. I just love all your recipes.
I’m using chuck instead of brisket and doubling the meat quantity. How does this effect the cooking time? I’m using a slow cooker. p.s. I just love all your recipes. to die for 🙂
I have only found brisket under a kilo in the shops. Currently making .800kg. I would love the slow cooker time I should be using since my piece of meat is always going to be half of what is featured here.
Do you think 6 hours?
Hi, would you cook on the low or high cooking setting in a slow cooker?
Looks easy, thank you! Do you trim almost all of the fat off before slow cooking then? In the comments #7 “nutrition” you mention some fat still on, but I assume you are not leaving on the whole fat pad like you would in smoking or BBQ?
Hello
What are the make ahead instruction for the oven? Looking to make the day before my guests arrive
This was the easiest and most delicious meal! I’m excited to invite family over and cook it again for them.
We noticed that in Nagi’s book “Dinner” this recipe has double the amount of BBQ sauce ingredients, with the same meat and rub quantities (1.5-2kg meat). Just wondering which one is “correct” as that is a lot of extra sauce!
Hi Kelly, I made the version in ‘Dinner’ before realizing that the BBQ sauce ingredients were doubled. There was way too much sauce. I stick with the website version as this is the perfect amount.
Excellent recipe…5 stars all the way! I did the slow cooker version while we were camping so I had to change the last step by roasting it over hot coals instead of finishing in the oven. All 7 people that ate it absolutely loves it.
Last weekend I made this, my first ever brisket, hubby ‘loved’ it & wants it weekly now. This recipe is spot on. I’m making it again this weekend, made 2 meals plus sandwiches during the week for lunch, the sauce, along with a good cheese in the sandwiches was a winner. Thank you for sharing 🙂
I have to tell you that this is the most delicious brisket I’ve ever tasted!! I used an instant pot, and then finished in the oven, following your steps.. wow! My family was in heaven! Thank you!!
Hi there! I’ve made this a couple of times and love the flavors! Do you trim the fat in yours? I haven’t found the sweet spot for that yet.