Description
This Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with BBQ Sauce is a tender, flavorful dish perfect for a comforting meal. The beef is slow-cooked to perfection in a rich homemade BBQ sauce, then finished in the oven to caramelize the sauce and enhance the taste and texture. Ideal for family dinners or slider-style sandwiches, this recipe offers a delicious balance of smoky, sweet, and spicy flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Rub
- 1.5 – 2 kg / 3 – 4 lb beef brisket
- 1 tbsp olive oil (or a neutral oil like vegetable, canola)
- 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
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
BBQ Sauce
- 1/2 cup / 125 ml apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 cups / 375 ml ketchup
- 1/2 cup / 110 g brown sugar, packed
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp mustard powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste for spiciness)
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the Rub: In a bowl, mix together all the rub ingredients: brown sugar, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, mustard powder, salt, black pepper, and minced garlic. Rub this mixture all over the brisket thoroughly. If possible, let the brisket marinate in the fridge for 30 minutes to 24 hours to enhance flavor, but this step can be skipped if short on time.
- Combine BBQ Sauce and Add Brisket: In the slow cooker, combine apple cider vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, black pepper, onion powder, mustard powder, cayenne pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir until well mixed. Place the rubbed brisket into the slow cooker, pressing it down if necessary to fit.
- Slow Cook the Brisket: Cook the brisket on low heat for 8 hours if using a 1.5 kg (3 lb) piece or 10 hours for a 2 kg (4 lb) piece. This slow cooking process makes the meat incredibly tender and infuses it with the BBQ flavors.
- Remove Brisket: Carefully take the cooked brisket out of the slow cooker and place it onto a tray, leaving the slow cooker liquid behind.
- Reduce the Sauce: Pour the liquid from the slow cooker into a saucepan. Bring it to a simmer over medium-high heat and reduce it until it thickens to a syrup-like consistency. It will thicken more as it cools.
- Roast and Caramelize: Drizzle the brisket with olive oil and place it in a preheated oven at 200°C (390°F) for 15 minutes until brown spots appear. Remove the brisket, baste it generously with the reduced BBQ sauce, and return it to the oven for 5 minutes. Repeat the basting and roasting for another 5 to 10 minutes until the sauce caramelizes and the brisket develops a beautiful glazed finish.
- Serve: Slice the brisket thinly across the grain. Serve with the remaining BBQ sauce. This dish works wonderfully as a main meal with sides or served on rolls with coleslaw as delicious sliders.
Notes
- Note 1: Choose a good quality beef brisket for best results, ideally with some marbling for juiciness.
- Note 2: For pressure cooker or oven alternatives, cooking times and settings need adjustment; slow cooking ensures maximum tenderness.
- Note 3: Use leftover brisket for sandwiches, tacos, or as a filling for sliders with fresh coleslaw.
- BBQ Option: Instead of roasting in the oven, the brisket can be finished on a BBQ grill for smoky charred flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 to 10 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: slow cooker beef brisket, BBQ brisket recipe, slow cooked beef, BBQ sauce brisket, tender beef brisket, slow cooker recipes
