Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with Barbecue Sauce (Video!)

This Slow Cooker Beef Brisket Recipe is wonderfully juicy, flavor exploding, melt-in-your-mouth and “better than any restaurant” according to my food critic husband! 

Beef Brisket can be prepared many ways – there’s smoked beef brisket, oven beef brisket but I’m telling you this Slow Cooker Beef Brisket recipe is my favorite method for juicy, flavor exploding beef brisket!  And it’s SO EASY!  It’s the ultimate stress free company dinner because it can be made days in advance then reheated in the slow cooker for stress free entertaining (which is actually my preferred method)! 

Slow Cooker Brisket Video

Brisket Recipe

I have been giddily waiting to share this Beef Brisket Slow Cooker Recipe with you because it is Christmas worthy!!  I truly love this Beef Brisket Recipe more than my crazy popular Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches, Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs, Slow Cooker Carnitas, etc.  I know that is a bold statement, but this brisket is boldly delicious.

As Patrick and I stood around devouring this meat the second after I finished photographing, effusive oohs and ahhs was all that could be uttered until we couldn’t stuff our faces any more. So if you have never made beef brisket or never made slow cooker beef brisket, prepare for your mind to be blown with this easy method for crazy tender, juicy beef brisket every single time.

What is Brisket?

Beef brisket boasts the richest natural flavor of any cut of meat and is my choice meat whenever I dine at any barbecue restaurant.  The flavor comes in part from the extra long cooking time required to break down the fibers of the meat as brisket comes from the front breastbone of the cow so there is a lot of connective tissue and muscle that supports much of the weight of the cow.

This means brisket holds its shape so you can either slice it OR shred it, unlike chuck roast and short ribs that shred easily when cooked for a long period of time.  Why this is important is that you don’t have to worry too much about overcooking your beef brisket because it will hold together to the point of being shreddable.  When I cooked this beef brisket, it was sooooo tender but I was still able to slice it AND I was still able to easily shred it as well.

This also means beef brisket is ideal for slow cooking and ideal for stress free entertaining.

How To Cook Beef Brisket

I love using my slow cooker during the holidays because not only does it free up the oven, but the results are wonderfully tender and every bit as delicious as oven results.  Making and serving beef brisket on the same day can be difficult, however, unless you plan ahead because the brisket requires a good 8-10 hours of cooking time.  That is why I like to prepare my brisket the day before.

To do this, we first make our brisket by rubbing it in our custom spice mix that elevates this Slow Cooker Beef Brisket to restaurant quality.  The Spice Rub is an intoxicating blend of paprika, brown sugar, chili powder, chipotle powder, onion powder, garlic powder, dried thyme, salt and pepper.  The rub is not too spicy, not too sweet, but just plain flavorful.

Next, we oven sear the beef brisket by simply baking it at 425 for 30 minutes.  This  seals in the spices/juices, renders some of the fat and adds a depth and complexity of flavor that can’t be achieved any other way.  Meanwhile, we whisk up our tantalizing homemade barbecue sauce that I first used in my Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs and my Crockpot  BBQ Chicken.  This Barbecue Sauce is a reader favorite and the “only barbecue sauce I will ever use,” according to many.  So while you can use your own bottled barbecue sauce, I highly recommend this version.  It is sweet and tangy and just right.

We add ½ cup of this barbecue sauce to our slow cooker along with 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire, 1 tablespoon reduced sodium soy sauce and 1 tablespoon beef bouillon.  Squish in our oven seared beef brisket and let it cruise on low for 8-10 hours until brisket is very tender, flipping over half way through cooking. If your brisket feels tough, it just need more time cooking – so cook on…

After your beef brisket is cooked, this is when I remove the slow cooker ceramic insert and refrigerate it with the brisket and all the juices for 1-3 days. Not only does the flavor improve, it becomes even more tender and makes prep the next day a snap.  When ready to serve, simply skim off the hardened fat then cook on low for 1-2 hours until warmed through.

At this point, you can serve as is, or I like to remove the brisket to a foil lined baking sheet and smother all over with our homemade barbecue sauce and broil for 5-10 minutes, until slightly caramelized which enhances the savory meaty, complex “nutty” flavor.

Your now fork tender, flavorful, juicy, rich Slow Cooker Beef Brisket is ready to be sliced across the grain or shredded and slathered in tangy barbecue sauce.   The brisket can be served as is or piled high on a bun for the Best Beef Brisket Sandwich of. your. life.  Any way you serve it, this comforting, convenient, luxurious beef brisket will have you and all your guests “oohing” and “ahhhing” for more!

If you are looking for more meaty sandwiches to love, I highly suggest my Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches, Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches, Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches and my Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches. They are EPIC.

What Should I serve with Beef Brisket? 

• Million Dollar Macaroni and Cheese
• Best Baked Beans
• Corn Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing
• Award Winning Sweet Moist Cornbread
• Kicked Up Classy Creamy Potato Salad
• Company Mashed Potatoes
• Baked Parmesan Fingerling Potato Fries
• Cheesy Pull Apart Pesto Bread
• Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
• Perfect Fruit Salad with Honey Citrus Dressing
• Creamy Bacon Pea Pasta Salad with Lemon Parmesan Dressing
• Greek Pasta Salad with Sun-Dried Tomato Feta Pesto
• Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Ranch

Want to try this Beef Brisket Slow Cooker Recipe?

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©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com

Print Recipe

Slow Cooker Beef Brisket

Wonderfully juicy, flavor exploding, melt-in-your-mouth Slow Cooker Beef Brisket is "better than any restaurant” according to my food critic husband! It's the ultimate easy company dinner because it can be made days in advance then reheated in the slow cooker for stress free entertaining (which is actually my preferred method)! 

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Rating: 0

Rate this recipe!

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

8 hours

Servings

-10 people

Ingredients

Slow cooker

• 4-5 pounds beef brisket trimmed of excess fat
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon beef bouillon
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon reduced sodium soy sauce
• 1/2 cup homemade barbecue sauce (directions to follow)

Spice Rub

• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 tsp EACH garlic powder, salt
• 1 tsp EACH onion powder, chipotle powder, pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional for more heat

Barbecue Sauce

• 1 1/2 cups ketchup
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup seedless blackberry preserves
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon reserved Spice Rub from above
• 1 tablespoon mesquite liquid smoke optional but recommended*

Prep Time 15 minutes Cook Time 8 hours Servings -10 people Ingredients Slow cooker 4-5 pounds beef brisket trimmed of excess fat 1 cup water 1 tablespoon beef bouillon 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon reduced sodium soy sauce 1/2 cup homemade barbecue sauce (directions to follow) Spice Rub 2 tablespoons paprika 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar 1 tablespoon chili powder 2 tsp EACH garlic powder, salt 1 tsp EACH onion powder, chipotle powder, pepper 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional for more heat Barbecue Sauce 1 1/2 cups ketchup 1/3 cup molasses 1/3 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup seedless blackberry preserves 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon reserved Spice Rub from above 1 tablespoon mesquite liquid smoke optional but recommended*

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with sides/jelly roll pan with parchment paper or foil for easy clean up. Set aside.
2. Spray 6 quart (or larger) slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
3. Trim brisket of excess fat and rinse and pat dry. If your brisket is extra long then slice it in half so it will fit in your slow cooker.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together Spice Rub ingredients. Remove 1 tablespoon Spice Rub and add to a medium bowl to use in your barbecue sauce. Rub all remaining Spice Rub evenly all over the meat then place brisket on prepared baking sheet. (You can let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or refrigerate up to 24 hours if desired). Bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 425 degrees F to sear meat.
5. Meanwhile, add all of the Barbecue Sauce ingredients to the 1 tablespoon reserved Spice Rub and whisk to combine. Remove 1/2 cup barbecue sauce and add to slow cooker along with 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire, 1 tablespoon reduced sodium soy sauce and 1 tablespoon beef bouillon. Whisk to combine (the bouillon will not be completely dissolved but will dissolve during cooking).
6. Using tongs (so you don’t burn yourself) carefully transfer brisket to slow cooker. It will be large so you will have to squish it in. Not all of it will be under the liquid.
7. Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours until brisket is very tender, flipping over half way through cooking. If your brisket is tough, it just needs to cook longer.
8. Remove brisket to a foil lined baking sheet. Brush with barbecue sauce and broil 5-10 minutes, until slightly caramelized. Meanwhile, microwave or simmer remaining barbecue sauce until warmed through.
9. Brush brisket again with barbecue sauce and slice across the grain or chop if desired. Serve with remaining barbecue sauce plain or they make delicious sandwiches. (See side dish suggestions below recipe.)
10. MAKE AHEAD: I often will cook my brisket until tender then remove the removable ceramic insert and refrigerate the brisket in the juices. The next day, I skip off all the hardened fat then cook on LOW in the slow cooker for 1-2 hours until warmed through and proceed with recipe.

Recipe Notes

*Liquid smoke can be found next to the barbecue sauce in most grocery stores. It adds a wonderfully smoky flavor.

©Carlsbad Cravings Original

This post first appeared on The Slow Roasted Italian website where I am  a contributor.

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