This Sluggish Cooker Beef Brisket recipe transforms a troublesome lower of beef right into a mouthwatering, smoky, BBQ sauce-slathered principal dish for the household barbecue. The crockpot does a lot of the be just right for you!

Whereas I wouldn’t name myself a carnivore, I would cease site visitors to get to this Sluggish Cooker Beef Brisket. Rubbed in smoky spices and smothered in a wealthy BBQ sauce, the mouthwatering shredded beef is just too good to overlook.
Brisket is a giant ‘ol hunk of beef that’s naturally robust, which is why we’re letting the crockpot do a lot of the heavy lifting right here. It cooks the meat low and gradual to ultimately break down these chewy connective tissues and the fats. After a number of hours and a fast journey beneath the broiler, this spectacular lower of beef is tremendous tender, fantastically caramelized, and stuffed with wealthy, savory flavors.
And the important thing to these nice flavors? A easy spice rub and selfmade BBQ brisket sauce! Severely, you may whisk each of those taste boosters collectively straight away utilizing a number of pantry staple spices and components.
Pile this melt-in-your-mouth gradual cooker beef brisket onto your plate subsequent to my gradual cooker pulled pork and mac and cheese, and there you could have it: an award-winning BBQ dinner.
Recipe options
- Cooking brisket low and gradual within the crockpot turns this budget-friendly lower of beef right into a melt-in-your-mouth, restaurant-worthy meal.
- A largely hands-off meal you may prep hours prematurely.
- A crowd-pleasing principal course to pair with all your favourite BBQ sides (coleslaw and baked beans, anybody?), serve in sandwiches and sliders, and a lot extra.
Substances
Beef brisket – Bear in mind to select up a brisket that may match comfortably in your crockpot. A 3 to three.5-pound brisket labored finest for me however something larger might should be trimmed or sliced into two items to assist it match. Simply bear in mind to depart a skinny layer of fats on the meat to maintain it juicy!
Spice rub – Generously rubbing a mix of garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, and salt over the brisket infuses it with layers of smoky and barely spicy flavors.
BBQ brisket sauce – A sauce made out of beef broth, BBQ sauce, coconut aminos or soy sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and garlic is whisked collectively and poured over the brisket within the gradual cooker to maintain it moist and flavorful. Make the sauce with coconut aminos or tamari as an alternative of soy sauce to maintain it gluten-free.
Cornstarch slurry – A combination of cornstarch and water thickens the sauce earlier than it’s served with the shredded beef.
Directions
Step 1: Season the meat. Mix the seasonings in a small bowl, then rub the spice mix all around the brisket. Place the brisket in your gradual cooker.

Step 2: Put together the sauce. Whisk all the sauce components collectively (besides the cornstarch and water) in a bowl and pour the sauce over the brisket.

Step 3: Sluggish cook dinner. Cowl and cook dinner on low till the brisket is fall-apart tender.
Step 4: Broil. Fastidiously switch the brisket to a small baking sheet. Spoon a few of the sauce over the meat and place it beneath the broiler till the skin is barely caramelized. Repeat this step a pair extra occasions for a fair richer caramelized crust.

Step 5: Thicken the sauce. Switch the remaining sauce to a saucepan and warmth it to a mild simmer. In a separate small bowl, whisk the cornstarch and water collectively, then whisk this combination into the simmering sauce till it thickens.
Step 6: Slice and serve. Slice the brisket towards the grain and serve it with the sauce on the aspect or drizzled over prime. Get pleasure from!

Suggestions and FAQs
- Be beneficiant with these spices! Rub and therapeutic massage the spice mix all around the meat to permit these scrumptious flavors to soak into each inch.
- And for even richer flavors, set the seasoned brisket apart for 15 to twenty minutes earlier than masking it with the sauce. This offers the spices time to soak into the meat.
- Almethods slice your brisket towards the grain (perpendicular to the muscle fibers). It’s the important thing to shortening the muscle fibers and making the meat ultra-tender and simpler to chew.
Tip
After cooking, let the brisket relaxation for not less than 10 minutes. This offers its meaty juices time to settle and soak again into the meat, yielding moist and tender brisket.
Taste variations
Bear in mind that you could play with the components within the spice rub and sauce to get these flavors simply how you want ‘em. Listed below are some artistic (and scrumptious) concepts to assist encourage you:
- Further warmth – In the event you love a bit warmth, add a pinch of chipotle chili powder, cayenne pepper, or purple pepper flakes to the spice rub. It’s also possible to add a splash of scorching sauce to the sauce for extra warmth.
- Cajun-spiced – Substitute the spice rub with a Cajun seasoning mix for a extra zesty, peppery taste profile.
- Espresso-rubbed – Add 1 teaspoon of finely floor espresso or espresso powder to the spice rub to boost the meat’s richness.
- Carolina-style – Swap the BBQ sauce for a vinegar-based mustard sauce to offer the brisket a extra Carolina BBQ-inspired really feel.
Serving options
This melt-in-your-mouth beef brisket is ideal for easy or extravagant barbecues. It’s at all times a success, particularly when it’s served with a number of equally scrumptious sides. Preserve it basic with a aspect of potato salad, mac and cheese, baked beans, and coleslaw, or go together with one thing lighter, like braised greens or blackened corn.
One other enjoyable option to serve brisket is in sandwiches. Stuff the shredded meat right into a smooth bun or a slider roll and prime it with pickles and further sauce for a tasty hand-held lunch or dinner. As for the leftovers, they’re excellent as a filling for tacos and a topping for nachos and grain bowls!
How lengthy does it take to cook dinner beef brisket in a gradual cooker?
It takes brisket about 6 to eight hours to go from robust to fall-apart tender within the gradual cooker. You technically can cook dinner it even quicker on excessive warmth (for about 3 to 4 hours), however this might yield more durable beef. When unsure, go together with low and gradual!
How do I do know if my brisket is finished gradual cooking?
You’ll know the brisket is finished when it may be simply shredded with a fork. In the event you nonetheless aren’t certain, test for doneness with a meat thermometer. An inside temperature of 195ºF to 205°F is the candy spot for juicy, melt-in-your-mouth meat. If the brisket continues to be robust, cook dinner it a bit longer.
Ought to I trim the fats off the brisket earlier than cooking?
If there are any giant, thick chunks of fats, go forward and trim these off to forestall the sauce from changing into too greasy. You do, nevertheless, at all times wish to depart a skinny layer of fats intact to maintain the brisket moist.
Storage
Fridge: This gradual cooker beef brisket recipe tastes even higher the subsequent day! As soon as it’s cooled, pack the leftover meat and sauce into an hermetic container and refrigerate for as much as 4 days.
Freezer: Place the sliced brisket and a few sauce in an hermetic container and freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw within the fridge in a single day earlier than reheating.
Reheating: Place the brisket again within the gradual cooker or in a pot on the stovetop and reheat on low warmth with additional sauce or a splash of broth to forestall it from drying out.

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Sluggish Cooker Beef Brisket
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Substances
For the brisket:
- 3.5 lbs. beef brisket *
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the sauce:
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 cup bbq sauce
- 3 tablespoon coconut aminos or soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 5 tablespoon water
Directions
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In a small bowl, stir the garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, and salt collectively, then rub the spice combination all around the brisket. Switch the brisket to your gradual cooker.
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Subsequent, whisk all the sauce components EXCEPT the cornstarch and water collectively in a bowl or glass measuring cup, then pour over the brisket.
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Prepare dinner on LOW warmth for 6-8 hours.
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As soon as the time is up, fastidiously switch the brisket to a small baking sheet, then spoon a number of spoonfuls of the sauce overtop. Place the brisket within the oven and broil for 3 minutes. Take away from the oven, then repeat this course of 1 or 2 extra occasions.
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Pour the remaining sauce right into a saucepan, then warmth over medium till it involves a simmer.
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Subsequent, whisk the cornstarch and water collectively, then pour the slurry in with the sauce and whisk to mix. Proceed simmering the sauce till it thickens, about 5 minutes.
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Serve brisket with the sauce on the aspect, or pour a few of the sauce overtop. Slice and revel in!
Notes
*Can use a 4 lb. brisket, however it’s a bit tight becoming into the gradual cooker. I discovered a 3 or 3.5 lb. brisket match higher.