Slow Cooker Beef Brisket (Printer-friendly)
Tender beef brisket slow-cooked with smoky barbecue sauce, ideal for family dinners or entertaining.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Beef
01 - 3.3 lbs beef brisket, trimmed
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ Dry Rub
03 - 1 tbsp smoked paprika
04 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
05 - 2 tsp kosher salt
06 - 1 tsp black pepper
07 - 1 tsp garlic powder
08 - 1 tsp onion powder
09 - ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
10 - ½ tsp ground cumin
→ BBQ Sauce
11 - 1 ½ cups smoky barbecue sauce (gluten-free if required)
12 - ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
13 - ¼ cup beef broth
14 - 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
15 - 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
16 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
17 - 2 tbsp honey
→ To Serve (Optional)
18 - Chopped fresh parsley
19 - Soft rolls or mashed potatoes
20 - Coleslaw
# How to Make It:
01 - Pat the brisket dry with paper towels and rub olive oil evenly over its surface.
02 - Combine all dry rub ingredients in a small bowl and coat the brisket thoroughly, pressing the mixture gently onto the meat.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear the brisket on all sides until browned, approximately 4 minutes per side.
04 - Place the seared brisket into the slow cooker.
05 - In a medium bowl, whisk together all BBQ sauce ingredients. Pour the sauce evenly over the brisket, ensuring complete coverage.
06 - Cover and cook on LOW for 8–10 hours or on HIGH for 4–5 hours until the brisket is tender and easily pierced with a fork.
07 - Remove the brisket and let it rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes before slicing or shredding as preferred.
08 - Skim excess fat from the cooking liquid and spoon sauce over the brisket. Garnish with parsley and serve with soft rolls, mashed potatoes, or coleslaw as desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The brisket becomes so tender it practically falls apart at the touch of a fork, with minimal hands-on work from you.
- That smoky-sweet BBQ sauce develops a depth of flavor that tastes like it simmered for days, not hours.
- You can prep everything in the morning and come home to a house that smells absolutely incredible.
02 -
- Don't skip the searing step—that browned crust is where the complex flavors develop that make this dish unforgettable.
- The slow cooker's LOW setting is your friend; it cooks the brisket more gently and evenly than HIGH, even if it takes longer.
- Always slice or shred against the grain—cutting with the fibers makes it tough no matter how tender it actually is.
03 -
- For an even better crust, pat the brisket dry before rubbing, and consider letting the rubbed meat rest uncovered in the refrigerator for a few hours—the dry air helps the spices adhere and flavors intensify.
- If your slow cooker runs hot, place a kitchen towel under the lid to trap steam more gently and prevent the meat from drying out.