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Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with BBQ Sauce Recipe

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4.2 from 4 reviews

This Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with BBQ Sauce is a tender, flavorful dish perfect for a comforting meal. The brisket is slow-cooked to perfection in a rich homemade BBQ sauce, then finished under the oven to develop a caramelized crust. Ideal for serving sliced with sides or as sliders, this recipe offers ease of preparation with deep, smoky flavors and a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Ingredients

Brisket 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

  1. Prepare the rub: In a bowl, mix the brown sugar, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, mustard powder, salt, black pepper, and minced garlic. Rub this mixture all over the beef brisket to coat evenly. If possible, refrigerate for 30 minutes to 24 hours for deeper flavor, though this step is optional.
  2. Make the BBQ sauce and start slow cooking: Combine the apple cider vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, black pepper, onion powder, mustard powder, cayenne pepper, and Worcestershire sauce in the slow cooker. Mix well. Add the rubbed brisket into the sauce, pressing down to submerge as much as possible.
  3. Slow cook the brisket: Cook in the slow cooker on low for 8 hours if using a 1.5 kg brisket or up to 10 hours for a 2 kg brisket, until the meat is tender and easily shredded.
  4. Remove brisket: Carefully take the brisket out of the slow cooker and place it on a tray to rest.
  5. Reduce the sauce: Pour the cooking liquid from the slow cooker into a saucepan. Bring it to a simmer over medium-high heat and reduce until thickened into a syrupy consistency. The sauce will thicken further as it cools.
  6. Caramelize the brisket: Drizzle the brisket with olive oil and roast it in a preheated oven at 200°C (390°F) for 15 minutes. This will develop brown spots. Remove the brisket, baste it generously with the reduced BBQ sauce, then return to the oven for 5 minutes. Repeat basting and roasting for another 5 to 10 minutes until the surface caramelizes and looks glossy.
  7. Serve: Slice the brisket thinly across the grain and serve with the remaining BBQ sauce. This brisket is delicious as a standalone meal with sides or served on rolls with coleslaw as sliders.

Notes

  • For quicker cooking, pressure cooker and oven alternatives are available but slow cooking yields the best tenderness.
  • If you prefer, you can skip refrigerating the rub overnight, but marinating enhances flavor.
  • Serving ideas include pairing with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or using in sandwiches with coleslaw for delicious sliders.
  • The caramelization step in the oven adds texture and flavor but can be substituted by grilling for a smoky finish if preferred.

Find it online: https://dishcooks.com/slow-cooker-beef-brisket-with-bbq-sauce-recipe/