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? 😝
Have you ever added liquid smoke to give it more of a BBQ flavour?
Yes absolutely! Rub a bit on the brisket before the rub, and/or the sauce 🙂 N x
Help! Will this work with porterhouse roast? This was all I could find
If I do a 4kg piece in the oven, will I need to bake longer than 4 hours?
Hi Larissa, yes most definitely, closer to 7 hours I’d say. You just want to make sure the meat is tender but not shredable. Check at 7 hours and if it’s still quite firm, leave it in another hour until tender. N x
Hi I live in England what mustard powder do you mean?
Has anyone cooked this in the slow cooker on high and if so how did it turn out? Just as good as it would have been on low?
Great recipe!
thanks for sharing. I made this last night and was hit! this is keeper!
Loved this! My husband and I ate this tonight and it was wonderful! Easy instructions! Will make this a regular meal! Thank you!
Thank you so much!!!!! I made this yesterday, and my husband told me that it was one of his favorite meals I’ve ever cooked! (And he is not one to compliment easily haha!)
After the slow cook is finished, do we need to let it rest for an hour or does the oven/bbQ allow for that rest?
I did use any rest time, and mine has turned out great every time.
So sorry. I did NOT use any rest time. I love this recipe though, so delicious
Is it ok to use a brisket with the fat already trimmed, or does a fatty brisket work better?
Hi David, I like to use one that has a little fat as that keeps the meat tender. As long as there is some fat through it you should be ok 🙂 N x
Thank you for the rapid reply! I bought a 4-pounder, already trimmed, but with some visible marbling. I will update you in a couple of days!
We’ve just eaten this with a pile of vegetables and a dollop of mash, delicious. I’ll use less cayenne next time though as the sauce has a bit of a zing! I’m looking forward to leftovers tomorrow. Another tasty recipe from you Nagi, thank you so much.
Sounds perfect Jan!! N x
My Brisket is frozen, can I still put in slow cooker and for how much longer?
Hi Kelly, always thaw meat before cooking. N x
Tried this recipe today and it turned out great, it was a bit spicy but the bbq sauce was delicious, would definitely make it again!
Hi Mona, if you’re a bit sensitive to chilli you can just leave out the cayenne pepper 🙂 N x
I made this the other night. It was super incredible. Topped the pulled brisket on nachos. Thanks for the recipe.
Sounds perfect Elia!!! N x
Incredible recipe. Best homemade bbq sauce. I sliced some, pulled apart the rest, and leftovers are going on a pizza tonight.
Thank you for another great meal.
Also, I cooked the brisket in a Dutch oven, lid on entire time. Sauce reduced perfectly and a tender brisket
Super yummy! I used a 3 lb beef brisket and cooked it for 8 hours in my Crock-Pot. It was very tender, but it could have been more so. I might consider the 10 hour setting next time. I also added a little bit of liquid smoke during the initial rub of the meat and during the basting process. Overall, this recipe is fantastic and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to make a delicious brisket at home!
Do u cook brisket fat side up or down on slow cooker thanx
De-lish!! Very easy, we followed the recipe, no modifications. Everyone loved it, will make again.
Can you please tell me the brand name and type of slow cooker used for the
Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with BBQ Sauce.
Cheers Char
For anyone attempting to use the slow cook mode on an instant pot, just learned the hard way that the “low” setting does not equal “low” in a proper slow cooker… have actually just been warming my brisket all day 🤦🏻♀️ “Normal” = “low”. Gonna try cooking overnight and have tomorrow instead!