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Close-up of tender, saucy brisket in slow cooker, pulled apart on parchment paper.

Tender Brisket in Slow Cooker with Homemade BBQ Sauce

This recipe features succulent beef brisket cooked low and slow until incredibly tender, then coated in a rich, homemade BBQ sauce for a perfect balance of savory and sweet flavors.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 9 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 9 hours 45 minutes
Course Slow Cooker
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 476 kcal

Equipment

  • Slow cooker
  • Saucepan
  • Tray
  • Oven

Ingredients
  

Rub Ingredients

  • 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

BBQ Sauce Ingredients

  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup / 125 ml apple cider vinegar
  • 1 1/2 cups / 375 ml ketchup
  • 1/2 cup / 110g brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp mustard powder
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste re: spiciness)
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Combine all rub ingredients and apply the mixture thoroughly over the beef brisket. Optionally, refrigerate the rubbed brisket for 30 minutes to 24 hours.
  • In a slow cooker, mix together all the BBQ sauce ingredients. Add the brisket to the sauce, ensuring it is submerged as much as possible.

Cooking

  • Slow cook the brisket for 8 hours if it is 1.5 kg (3 lb), or for 10 hours if it is 2 kg (4 lb).
  • Once cooked, carefully remove the tender brisket from the slow cooker and place it onto a tray.
  • Transfer the liquid from the slow cooker into a saucepan. Bring it to a simmer over medium-high heat and reduce until it thickens to a syrupy consistency.
  • While the sauce reduces, drizzle the brisket with oil and roast it in a 200°C/390°F oven for 15 minutes until browned. Baste generously with the reduced sauce, return to the oven for 5 minutes, then baste again and roast for another 5-10 minutes until caramelized.

Serving

  • Slice the brisket thinly across the grain and serve it immediately with the remaining homemade BBQ sauce. This dish is excellent on its own or piled high on rolls with coleslaw as sliders.

Notes

Cooking times in the slow cooker depend on brisket weight; alternative cooking methods like pressure cooker, oven, or BBQ are also possible. Serve brisket thinly sliced with remaining BBQ sauce; it's great as a meal with sides or piled on rolls with coleslaw as sliders. Refer to additional notes for more serving ideas.