Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with BBQ Sauce
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
10 hrs
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Total Time
10 hrs 15 mins
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Servings
8 - 10 people
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Calories
476 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with BBQ Sauce
Description
The Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with BBQ Sauce marries a robust dry rub of spices with a rich vinegar-based BBQ sauce to infuse a beef brisket throughout long, gentle cooking. The brisket is first coated in a brown sugar and spice rub, then slow-cooked submerged in a sauce comprising ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and flavor-enhancers like garlic and cayenne pepper. This process yields tender, yet sliceable beef.
Once slow cooking is complete, the brisket is briefly roasted after drizzling with oil and repeatedly basted with the reduced cooking liquid to develop caramelized spots and a sticky, flavorful glaze on the surface. The technique balances moistness inside with a textured, richly-flavored exterior.
This brisket is served thinly sliced across the grain, perfect on soft rolls with coleslaw for slider sandwiches or as a main dish. The recipe includes variations for cooking times depending on brisket size, options for finishing on a BBQ for added char, and instructions for pressure cooker or oven.
Storage tips advise refrigerating cooked brisket with its cooking liquid and reheating covered before re-browning and basting. The recipe also calibrates portion sizes for planning meals and encourages not to worry about exact cook times as brisket becomes tender the longer it cooks.
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 minced, cloves
- 1/2 cup / 125 ml apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 cups / 375 ml ketchup
- 1/2 cup / 110g brown sugar , packed
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp 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.
Notes
- Best cuts: Brisket holds shape well for slicing; chuck roast can substitute if rolled and tied.
- Cook times vary by brisket size; thicker cuts need longer slow cooking for tender, sliceable results.
- Finishing on BBQ adds smoky char; otherwise, roasting with basting creates caramelized glaze.
- To reheat leftovers, warm covered with cooking liquid, then finish with baking uncovered while basting to restore glaze.
- Plan on about 250g raw meat per person, yielding approximately 200g cooked per serving.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8- 10 people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 476 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 269g | |
| Calories | 476cal | 24% |
| Carbohydrates | 24g | 8% |
| Protein | 66g | 132% |
| Fat | 14g | 22% |
| Saturated Fat | 5.6g | 28% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 7.1g | 42% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 0.7g | 35% |
| Cholesterol | 198mg | 66% |
| Sodium | 756mg | 32% |
| Potassium | 824mg | 18% |
| Fiber | 0.6g | 2% |
| Sugar | 20g | 40% |
| Vitamin A | 550IU | 11% |
| Vitamin C | 3.1mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 10mg | 1% |
| Iron | 6.5mg | 36% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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