Description
This Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with BBQ Sauce is a tender, flavorful dish where the brisket is slow cooked to perfection and then finished in the oven to achieve a beautiful caramelized crust. The homemade BBQ sauce, rich with spices and a balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors, complements the meat perfectly. Ideal for a hearty Southern-style meal or for serving as sliders with coleslaw.
Ingredients
Scale
Brisket 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)
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the Rub: Mix all the rub ingredients including brown sugar, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, mustard powder, salt, black pepper, and minced garlic in a bowl. Rub this mixture all over the beef brisket. If possible, refrigerate the rubbed brisket for 30 minutes to 24 hours to deepen flavors, though this step can be skipped.
- Combine Sauce and Add Brisket: In the slow cooker, mix together the BBQ sauce ingredients: apple cider vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, black pepper, onion powder, mustard powder, cayenne pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Place the brisket into the slow cooker and press it down if necessary to fit fully in the sauce.
- Slow Cook the Brisket: Cook the brisket 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 tender.
- Remove and Prepare for Roasting: Remove the brisket from the slow cooker and place it on a tray. Pour the cooking liquid into a saucepan.
- Reduce the Sauce: Bring the liquid in the saucepan to a simmer over medium-high heat and reduce it until it thickens to a syrup consistency. Keep in mind the sauce will thicken further as it cools.
- Roast the Brisket: Drizzle the brisket with olive oil and roast it in a preheated oven at 200°C (390°F) for 15 minutes until brown spots start to appear. Remove the brisket, baste 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 caramelized and glossy.
- Serve: Slice the brisket thinly against the grain and serve with the remaining BBQ sauce. This dish pairs wonderfully with sides or can be served as sliders with coleslaw.
Notes
- Video available above demonstrates the step-by-step process.
- The beef brisket slow cooks until tender, then is finished in the oven for a caramelized crust.
- The homemade BBQ sauce in which the brisket cooks adds rich flavor.
- Best served sliced with sides or as sliders with coleslaw for a Southern-style meal.
- If you prefer, a pressure cooker or oven method can be used, see Note 2 in the original source for alternatives.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 269 g
- Calories: 476 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 756 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8.1 g
- Trans Fat: 0.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 0.6 g
- Protein: 66 g
- Cholesterol: 198 mg
