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tender slow cooker beef brisket sliced against the grain with barbecue sauce

beef brisket recipe slow cooker

Imagine a melt-in-your-mouth beef brisket that becomes incredibly tender after hours of slow cooking. This easy slow cooker brisket recipe delivers rich barbecue-style flavor using simple pantry ingredients like onion, garlic, beef broth, and barbecue sauce. With minimal preparation and hands-off cooking, the brisket turns juicy, flavorful, and perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Brisket Base
  • 3-4 lb beef brisket with good marbling
  • 1 tbsp olive oil for searing
  • 1 large onion sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 carrots chopped, optional
  • 2 stalks celery chopped, optional
Cooking Sauce
  • 1 cup low sodium beef broth
  • 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
Seasoning
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
Brisket Dry Rub
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar for dry rub
  • 1 tbsp smoked paprika for dry rub
  • 1 tsp salt for dry rub
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper for dry rub

Method
 

  1. Pat the brisket dry with paper towels. Season all sides with salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Rub the spices evenly over the meat.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the brisket for about 3–4 minutes per side until a deep brown crust forms. Remove from the pan.
  3. Place sliced onion, minced garlic, carrots, and celery in the bottom of the slow cooker to form a flavorful base.
  4. Set the browned brisket on top of the vegetables inside the slow cooker.
  5. In a mixing bowl, combine beef broth, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Stir until well blended.
  6. Pour the sauce mixture over the brisket so the liquid surrounds the meat.
  7. Cover and cook on low for 8–10 hours or on high for 4–5 hours until the brisket becomes tender.
  8. Remove the brisket and allow it to rest for about 10 minutes before slicing.
  9. Slice the brisket against the grain and serve with the cooking sauce spooned over the top.

Notes

For extra flavor, place the cooked brisket under the oven broiler for about 5 minutes to create a slightly crisp crust. You can also thicken the cooking liquid by simmering it with a cornstarch slurry to create a rich gravy for serving.