Slow Cooker Beef Brisket BBQ (Printable)
Tender beef brisket slow-cooked in homemade BBQ sauce. Fork-tender, flavorful, and perfect for gatherings or weeknight dinners.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef
01 - 3-4 lb beef brisket, trimmed
→ Dry Rub
02 - 2 teaspoons kosher salt
03 - 1 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
05 - 2 teaspoons garlic powder
06 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
07 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
08 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
→ BBQ Sauce
09 - 1 cup ketchup
10 - 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
11 - 1/4 cup brown sugar
12 - 1/4 cup honey
13 - 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
14 - 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
15 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
16 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
17 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
18 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
→ Garnish
19 - Fresh parsley, chopped
# Directions:
01 - In a small bowl, combine kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, and cayenne pepper. Pat the brisket dry and rub the spice mixture evenly over all surfaces.
02 - Place the chopped onion and minced garlic in the bottom of the slow cooker.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, honey, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, minced garlic, chopped onion, and smoked paprika until smooth.
04 - Place the seasoned brisket on top of the onion and garlic mixture in the slow cooker. Pour the BBQ sauce over the brisket, ensuring complete coverage.
05 - Cover the slow cooker and cook on low setting for 8 hours until the brisket is fork-tender.
06 - Transfer the brisket to a cutting board and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Slice or shred the meat according to preference.
07 - Skim excess fat from the sauce in the slow cooker. Return the sliced or shredded brisket to the sauce and gently coat.
08 - Transfer to serving dish and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve hot on sandwich buns or with preferred sides.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The slow cooking method means you can throw this together before work and come home to a meal that tastes like youve been lovingly tending it all day.
- Every bite combines that perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and smoky flavors that somehow makes everything on your plate taste better.
02 -
- Cutting against the grain is essential the difference between chewy meat and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness hinges on this simple technique.
- Letting the brisket cool slightly before shredding makes the process infinitely easier and helps the meat hold its moisture.
03 -
- For an extra layer of flavor, sear the brisket on all sides in a hot pan before adding it to the slow cooker that caramelized crust makes all the difference.
- If you dont have eight hours, you can cook on high for about 5 hours, but the texture wont be quite as fall-apart tender.