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.
Anyone for a puppy kiss? 😝
One of the best briskets I’ve ever made!! (I’ve made a lot of them.)
I used my own rub of mostly the same ingredients with a few added, but unmeasured amounts, and Swerve brown sugar substitute. I followed recipe for sauce, again using Swerve brown sugar substitute, but made about 6 1/2 lb brisket with the original amount of sauce.
I cooked in slow cooker for about 12 1/2 hours on low. I let it cool after basting/browning in the oven, and it sliced like butter! Beautiful, juicy slices that held their shape. Everyone loved it!! Thank you!
What do you think about using smoked paprika instead of regular paprika in the rub?
Definitely give smoked paprika a go for anything Southern style, unless the recipe echolocation says not to. It has so much more flavour complexity than regular or sweet paprika.
Hi Amy. I used smoked paprika as I didn’t have any paprika on hand. It smells amazing! Currently cooking away in slow cooker so will let you know how it tastes!
Lisa,
I LOVE smoked paprika. I substitute for regular paprika often. This was a good call!
This was my first time making brisket and it’s a great recipe, but way too sweet for my non-American taste buds – almost like candy! I’ll be at least halving the sugar next time.
I’ve made this before in the oven and it’s great. My only question is what is the 1 tsp vegetable oil for? I don’t see any where you say to use it.
I made this for NYE. It was delicious. The BBQ sauce was finger liking good. I’m not sure what I did wrong but my brisket was more of a pulled brisket. It shredded and I couldn’t slice it. I might have cooked it for too long. I cooked it at a high temperature for six hours.
Next time I will cook it at a low temperature.
The Tbsp of vegetable or olive oil, is for drizzling over the meat after you pull it out of the slow cooker, and before you put it in the oven. It probably helps in the browning process.
The video shows drizzling the oil over the brisket after lifting it from the slow cooker and b4 placing in the oven the first time
I made this last year exactly is and it was to die for!
Had an impromptu Christmas gathering and popped the brisket in the pressure cooker and finished it off on the bbq. We had it on rolls with coleslaw- it was absolutely delicious and so easy to make. Thanks Nagi.
This is just the best recipe. Made it last year for my niece and her family before attending the local Community Christmas Pageant and they loved it so much I’m making it again today! Served with coleslaw and potato salad with fresh bread rolls! Thanks for the recipe! It’s a winner!!
What kind of oil did you use. Thanks!
Have made this several times is really great, the sauce amazing I also add some extre chilli.
All my boys home for dinner ( rare and special) so made this in the oven. Didn’t have cayenne pepper so used a cayenne chilli. Amazing! Meat falling apart tender, those caramelised edge pieces and that sauce! I thought that there’d be loads of leftovers but just enough for one lucky luncher! Boys have asked for this to be a regular addition to menu. Served with coleslaw, steamed corn and roasted sweet potato. Thanks Nagi – another feed a crowd winner!
I’v noticed people have asked questions and am curious why you do not answer? seems a little rude.
You drizzle before putting in over/ broiler/bbq
its in the video
This has been a huge hit for entertaining guests. Made it so many times and everyone loves it.
Looks great. Trying to make this low carb and cut the sugar. Could i use passata instead of ketchup?
I have done this before when cooking for my daughter who follows keto diet. The sauce still turns out awesome. I also substitute monkfruit for the sugar.
If I use an Instant Pot, should it be on slow cook mode or pressure cook mode?
It was really tasty when I ate it after I cooked it. The BBQ turned out great.
But then the next day, it was tough and hard to eat when reheating in microwave. I did not slice it all and left it whole. Maybe that’s why?
You can use both. Pressure cook for 1 hour or slow cook on low for 8 hours.
Thank you for a delicious recipe! I’ve made this several times. It worked great to do the slow cooker piece a day before Thanksgiving and then finish it off day of! I have shared this recipe many times!
Easy!
Oh my! Another Nagi winner of a recipe. So easy. So tender and delicious.
Is this a whole brisket or flat cut recipe?
My go to recipe for feeding a crowd. I sub out the onion powder for onion in the sauce, and skip it from the rub (cause it’s usually a dry lump) but otherwise I follow this to the letter. ALWAYS awesome. Thanks :]
What if I don’t have any brown sugar?
Amaaazing recipe!! I’ve made this many times and we always end up with leftover sauce! It’s terrific bbq sauce – any ideas what I can do with it?
Pork spare ribs smothered in the sauce & wrapped in parchment then foil & cook in the oven for about 2 hours. Serve with mash potato & steamed greens.
So tasty! I used chili sauce vs ketchup for an extra zing. My sauce out of the slow cooker was very fatty and had to separate the fat out.I guess I’ll trim it next time.
I douse it over wings and bake it.