Beef brisket is a cut of meat that transforms with slow cooking into an incredibly tender and flavorful dish. This guide will show you not only How To Serve Beef Brisket to truly make the most of it, but also provide a fantastic slow cooker recipe to get you started. Whether you’re aiming for a classic Southern-style meal or fun brisket sliders, we’ve got you covered.
Brisket is a beef cut that’s meant to be savored, not rushed. Its magic lies in the slow cooking process, which breaks down tough connective tissues, resulting in meat that’s incredibly juicy and pull-apart tender, yet still sliceable. Compared to other slow-cooking beef cuts, brisket boasts a richer, beefier flavor that’s hard to beat.
Understanding Beef Brisket: Key Facts
Before we dive into how to serve beef brisket, let’s cover some essential information about this cut of beef:
- What is Beef Brisket? Brisket is a cut from the chest of the cow. It’s known for its toughness due to the connective tissue, which is why slow cooking is crucial.
- Brisket Variations: While “brisket” refers to the raw cut, it’s often sold pre-prepared as corned beef, pastrami, or silverside, all of which are brined brisket.
- Brisket Substitutes: There isn’t a true substitute for brisket’s unique texture and flavor. However, for slow cooking, rolled chuck roast can be used as an alternative in recipes like pot roast. For similar flavor profiles, consider beef ribs or pork ribs.
- Cooking Time for Brisket: Depending on the method, brisket requires significant cooking time:
- Slow Cooker: 8-10 hours on low
- Pressure Cooker: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Oven: Approximately 5 hours at 320°F (160°C)
- Brisket Doneness: Cooked brisket should not be pink. Pink brisket is undercooked and will be tough. Note that cured briskets like pastrami and corned beef remain pink even when fully cooked due to curing salts.
Slow Cooker Beef Brisket Recipe: Step-by-Step
This recipe focuses on a slow cooker method for ultimate tenderness and flavor infusion. We’re making both a homemade spice rub and a BBQ sauce from scratch because the result is far superior to any store-bought sauce.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 – 2 kg / 3 – 4 lb beef brisket
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Spice Rub:
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp paprika powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp cumin powder
- ¾ tsp mustard powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
BBQ Sauce:
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup / 125 ml apple cider vinegar
- 1 ½ cups / 375 ml ketchup
- ½ cup / 110g packed brown sugar
- 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: Combine all Spice Rub ingredients. Generously rub the mixture all over the brisket. For enhanced flavor, let it sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 24 hours, though it’s not essential for slow cooking.
- Slow Cook the Brisket: In a slow cooker, mix together all BBQ Sauce ingredients. Place the brisket into the sauce, ensuring it’s mostly submerged.
- Cook Time: Slow cook on low for 8 hours (for 1.5 kg / 3 lb brisket) to 10 hours (for 2 kg / 4 lb brisket).
- Caramelize the Crust: Remove the brisket from the slow cooker and place it on a baking tray.
- Reduce the Sauce: Pour the liquid from the slow cooker into a saucepan. Simmer over medium-high heat until it reduces to a thick, syrupy BBQ sauce.
- Bake and Baste: Drizzle the brisket with olive oil and roast in a preheated oven at 390°F (200°C) for 15 minutes until browned. Baste generously with the reduced BBQ sauce, return to the oven for 5 minutes, then baste again. Continue baking for another 5-10 minutes until beautifully caramelized.
- Serve: Slice the brisket thinly against the grain and serve with the remaining BBQ sauce.
Serving Suggestions: How to Serve Beef Brisket
Now, let’s explore various ways how to serve beef brisket and elevate your meal:
1. Classic Sliced Brisket Platter
The most traditional way to serve beef brisket is sliced, accompanied by classic Southern side dishes. The slow cooking process ensures the brisket remains sliceable while achieving maximum tenderness.
Perfect Side Dishes:
- Coleslaw: Creamy coleslaw or a lighter, no-mayo version provides a refreshing contrast to the rich brisket.
- Macaroni Salad: A classic creamy macaroni salad complements the BBQ flavors beautifully.
- Potato Salad: Opt for a bacon potato salad for added smoky notes.
- Baked Beans: Southern-style baked beans add a sweet and savory element.
- Cornbread: Serve with skillet cornbread or cornbread muffins for a touch of sweetness.
- Creamy Corn Casserole: A comforting and creamy side that pairs wonderfully with brisket.
- Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes are always a crowd-pleaser.
- Steamed Corn: Simple steamed corn on the cob is a fresh and healthy side.
2. Beef Brisket Sliders
Brisket sliders are a fantastic, fun way to serve beef brisket, especially for gatherings or casual meals. Pile slices of brisket onto soft slider buns and let guests customize their sliders with various toppings.
Slider Inspiration:
- Coleslaw: Add a scoop of coleslaw on top of the brisket for a creamy crunch.
- Pickles: Dill pickles or pickled onions offer a tangy contrast.
- Cheese: Cheddar, provolone, or pepper jack cheese for extra flavor.
- Onion Rings: Crispy onion rings add texture and flavor.
- BBQ Sauce: Extra BBQ sauce for those who like it saucy.
3. Shredded Beef Brisket
While this recipe is designed for slicing, brisket can also be shredded. However, for optimal shredding, cuts like chuck roast or ribs, which have more internal fat, are often preferred as they yield juicier shredded meat. If you choose to shred brisket, it’s excellent in:
- Tacos: Beef brisket tacos with your favorite toppings.
- Chili: Add shredded brisket to beef chili for a richer flavor.
- Ragu: Use shredded brisket in a slow-cooked beef ragu for pasta.
- Loaded Fries or Nachos: Top fries or nachos with shredded brisket, cheese, and other toppings.
Tips for Perfect Beef Brisket
- Brisket Cut: For this recipe, a whole packer brisket or a brisket flat will work. Ask your butcher for a thick cut for best results.
- Cook Time Variations: The provided cook times ensure tender, sliceable brisket. Slight variations in cooking time won’t drastically affect the outcome, as brisket is forgiving. If undercooked, simply continue slow cooking until tender.
- Slow Cooker on High: For faster cooking, use the high setting on your slow cooker for approximately 4.5 hours for a 3lb brisket or 5 hours for a 4lb brisket.
- Pressure Cooker Option: For even quicker cooking, a pressure cooker reduces the time to about 1 hour 15 minutes for a 3lb brisket and 1 hour 30 minutes for a 4lb brisket. Add 1 cup of water to prevent burning in Instant Pots and consider a natural pressure release.
- Oven Baking: Brisket can also be oven-baked for about 5 hours at 320°F (160°C).
- Serving Size: Plan for approximately 8oz (250g) of raw brisket per person, which reduces to about 6.5oz (200g) cooked.
Watch How To Make It
Watch the video tutorial here for visual guidance.
Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with BBQ Sauce Recipe Card
Author: Nagi
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 hours
Total Time: 10 hours 15 minutes
Cuisine: American, Southern
Serves: 8-10 people
Print Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1.5 – 2 kg / 3 – 4 lb beef brisket
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Rub:
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp paprika powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp cumin powder
- ¾ tsp mustard powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
BBQ Sauce:
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup / 125 ml apple cider vinegar
- 1 ½ cups / 375 ml ketchup
- ½ cup / 110g packed brown sugar
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp mustard powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions:
- Mix Rub ingredients and rub all over brisket.
- Combine BBQ Sauce ingredients in a slow cooker, then add brisket.
- Slow cook for 8-10 hours on low.
- Remove brisket and reduce sauce in a saucepan until thickened.
- Roast brisket at 390°F (200°C) for 15 minutes, baste with sauce, and continue roasting until caramelized.
- Slice and serve beef brisket with remaining BBQ sauce.
Recipe Notes:
- Beef: Brisket is ideal for this recipe, but rolled chuck roast is a good substitute.
- Cook Time: Adjust cook time based on brisket size (see post for details).
- Serving Suggestions: See post for various ways how to serve beef brisket, including sliders and side dishes.
- BBQ Finish: For a smoky flavor, finish the brisket on a BBQ grill.
- Make-Ahead: Slow cook brisket ahead of time and reheat before browning and serving.
- Servings: Recipe serves 8-10 people generously.
- Nutrition: See nutritional information in the post.
Nutrition Information (per serving):
- Calories: 476
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Protein: 66g
- Fat: 14g
[Full nutrition information available in the original post.]
Keywords: beef brisket, Brisket, Slow Cooker Brisket, how to serve beef brisket
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