Crock Pot Beef Brisket Recipe with Homemade Dry Rub - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

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This Crock Pot Beef Brisket takes minutes to prep, and you will look like a superstar when you serve this brisket at your next gathering. The trick to this tasty slow cooker beef brisket is using a dry rub made of chili powder, paprika, garlic salt, dry mustard, garlic powder, black pepper, and sugar.

The secret to a good brisket is cooking it low and slow, and a crock pot is PERFECT for this cut of beef. Also, using a dry rub for your beef brisket is another trick of the trade, and that’s just what we did for our simple crock pot beef brisket recipe. If you’d rather cook your brisket in the oven, try this recipe.

Table of Contents

Beef Brisket Rub Ingredients

Slow cooker BBQ beef brisket is so yummy, and you won’t be disappointed!This is such an easy beef brisket slow cooker recipe that Barbara is secretly embarrassed that her husband makes such a fuss over the brisket.

You will also need a 3-5 pound brisket, beef broth, Worcestershire Sauce and bay leaves to complete this beef brisket recipe.

Crock Pot Beef Brisket Recipe with Homemade Dry Rub - These Old Cookbooks (3)

How to Make Easy Beef Brisket in the Slow Cooker

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Make a slow cooker brisket rub by mixing chili powder, paprika, garlic salt, dry mustard, garlic powder, black pepper, and sugar.
  2. Massage the brisket with the beef brisket dry rub.
  3. Refrigerate overnight to marinate.
  4. Add beef brisket fat side up, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth and bay leaves to crock pot insert. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
  5. Let rest for 10 minutes, and slice with a sharp knife. Serve as is, over mashed potatoes with its juices or as a brisket sandwich.

Full recipe and ingredient list for slow cooker beef brisket can be found below.

How to buy a beef brisket

Buy this cut of beef at the meat counter – usually anywhere from 3 to 5 pounds in size. If you shop at a wholesale club, you can find larger ones perfect for the smoker. If you don’t see a brisket out, don’t be afraid to ask the folks behind the counter! They are there to help…we promise.

While we do buy them at the grocery store, Barbara also gets one brisket from the quarter of beef that her family gets twice a year. She gets the beef from the 4-5 beef cattle that our family raises each year. These cattle graze for months behind Barbara’s house and we grain-finish them. Want to know more about grain-finished beef? Our friend Leah over at Beyer Beware explains the difference between grass-fed and grain-fed beef.

Whether she gets it from the grocery store or out of her freezer, Barbara usually saves brisket for special occasions. She makes it for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and her husband’s birthday, and she swears that her husband loves her just a bit more on those days she makes this Crock Pot Beef Brisket.

Crock Pot Beef Brisket Recipe

Beef brisket is a tough cut of meat which is why it is traditionally cooked low and slow. Cooking it this way makes the house smell delicious for hours on end, and this makes the anticipation of the meal even better. Barbara serves this beef brisket over mashed potatoes, and the juice from the meat serves as the gravy. You could switch it up and serve over Mashed Cauliflower as well to keep the carb count low.

​Brisket Cooking Time

The cook time for the brisket will depend on the size of the brisket, and if you cook it on high or low temperature setting in the crockpot. For a 3 to 4 pound brisket, I like to cook it on low for 8 to 10 hours to let the meat become fork tender; however, the best way to ensure your brisket is cooked is by the internal temperature of the brisket. Use a meat thermometer, and cook to 195 degrees F.

What internal temperature should I cook my beef brisket to?

The brisket internal temp should be around 195 degrees F. Keep in mind that the temperature tends to still rise up to an additional 10 degrees F as it comes out of the oven or crock pot. With that being said, it is ok to target a temperature around 185 to 190 degrees F instead.

How do I know if my brisket is done?

There’s several ways to tell the doneness of a beef brisket.The easiest, most stress-free way is to use a meat thermometer.There are digital versions available in which you set the desired temperature, insert the thermometer while cooking, and then it beeps when the brisket hits that temperature.

If a meat thermometer is not handy, use your nose first. Once your kitchen starts smelling of delightful beef, you know you are getting close.When the meat is easily shredded with two forks, it is done.

Crock Pot Beef Brisket Recipe with Homemade Dry Rub - These Old Cookbooks (8)

Recipe FAQs

  • Making a dry rub for a beef brisket does not have to be exact science. Therefore, if you don’t have all the spices in your pantry, then swap out others instead.This slow cooker beef brisket dry rub is a good starting point.
  • Cut down the cooking time for this easy crock pot beef brisket by cooking on high instead of low. It should take approximately 4 hours.Use your nose as your guide. The brisket is close to being down when it starts to smell delicious in your kitchen.
  • Many people ask if you should sear the brisket before cooking.That step is completely optional. Caramelizing the meat adds flavor.We find that the recipe is just as tasty without adding in a searing step.
  • Rather fix your brisket in the oven? Try this recipe.
  • Here is a BBQ beef brisket recipe for the crock pot.

Crock Pot Buffet Recipes

Looking for some other holiday meats from the crock pot? You can truly make almost any big cut of meat in your crock pot, including ham, turkey breast and pork roasts. Try our favorites found below.

Brown Sugar Crock Pot Ham

Slow Cooker Pork Roast and Gravy

3 Ingredient Spiral Ham in the Slow Cooker

20 Clove Crockpot Chicken

What goes with beef brisket?

Wondering what you should serve with beef brisket?

Hearty side dishes such as all pair perfectly with beef. Our favorites include

  • Crock Pot Cheesy Corn
  • French Onion Rice Casserole
  • Crock Pot Green Beans
  • Kentucky Southern Squash Casserole
  • Cheesy Cabbage Casserole
  • Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes

We also recommend starting out the meal with a lighter salad or a soup such as the following:

  • Classic Spinach Salad
  • Broccoli Cheese Soup
  • French Dinner Salad with Low Fat Cottage Cheese Dressing
  • Low Carb Tuscan Kale Soup
  • Tomato Cucumber Salad with Dill Dressing

Crock Pot Beef Brisket Recipe with Homemade Dry Rub - These Old Cookbooks (15)

Print Recipe

4.50 from 2 votes

Crock Pot Beef Brisket

This Crock Pot Beef Brisket, which takes minutes to prep, will make you look like a superstar this season when you serve it as part of your holiday menu.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time8 hours hrs

Refrigerator Time8 hours hrs

Total Time16 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Course: Entree, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: crock pot beef brisket, slow cooker beef brisket

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 283kcal

Author: Barbara

Ingredients

  • 3-4 lb. beef brisket
  • 1 Tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 Tablespoon paprika
  • 1 Tablespoon garlic salt
  • 1 teaspoon dry ground mustard
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 1/2 cups beef broth
  • 2 whole bay leaves

Instructions

  • Mix chili powder, paprika, garlic salt, ground mustard, garlic powder, black pepper and sugar together.

    Crock Pot Beef Brisket Recipe with Homemade Dry Rub - These Old Cookbooks (16)

  • Rub spice mixture onto all sides of brisket. Let sit in refrigerator overnight to marinate.

    Crock Pot Beef Brisket Recipe with Homemade Dry Rub - These Old Cookbooks (17)

  • Pour Worcestershire sauce and beef broth into Crock Pot insert; add beef and bay leaves. Be careful not to pour broth over top the beef as to not remove the delicious rub which forms a crust layer on top.

  • Cook on low heat for 8 to 10 hours. It is done when you can easily shred the meat with two forks.

    Crock Pot Beef Brisket Recipe with Homemade Dry Rub - These Old Cookbooks (18)

Notes

  • Want to cook it in the oven?
    Rub the spice mix on the brisket and place in roasting pan. (Do NOT add the liquid.)Cook uncovered at 350 degrees F for 1 hour.Lower oven temperature to 300 degrees F.Add the liquids to the roasting pan and cover pan tightly with foil.Cook for an additional 3 hours or until fork-tender.
  • Making a dry rub for a beef brisket does not have to be exact science. Therefore, if you don’t have all the spices in your pantry, then swap out others instead. This slow cooker beef brisket dry rub is a good starting point.
  • Cut down the cooking time for this easy crock pot beef brisket by cooking on high instead of low. It should take approximately 4 hours. Use your nose as your guide. The brisket is close to being down when it starts to smell delicious in your kitchen.
  • Many people ask if you should sear the brisket before cooking. That step is completely optional. Caramelizing the meat adds flavor. We find that the recipe is just as tasty without adding in a searing step.
  • Garlic salt is a pantry staple that goes great on meat.
  • Rather fix your brisket in the oven? Try this recipe.
  • The nutritional information below is auto-calculated and can vary depending on the products used.

Nutrition

Calories: 283kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 105mg | Sodium: 1212mg | Potassium: 647mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 727IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 4mg

Crock Pot Beef Brisket Recipe with Homemade Dry Rub - These Old Cookbooks (20)

This is a sponsored post written by us on behalf of The Glass Barn which is funded by the Indiana Soybean Alliance. All opinions are 100% our own.

Crock Pot Beef Brisket Recipe with Homemade Dry Rub - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to moist tender brisket? ›

After two or four hours of cooking, you can lightly spray your brisket with water, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, or apple juice. You can do this every 30 minutes or every hour, based on preference.

Why is my brisket still tough after 8 hours in the slow cooker? ›

The meat was overcooked: Slow cookers are known for their ability to tenderize meat, but if the meat is cooked for too long, it can become overcooked and tough. It's important to follow the recommended cooking time for your recipe to ensure that the meat is cooked to the correct doneness.

How long can you leave dry rub on brisket? ›

How Long Should a Dry Rub Sit on a Brisket. While you can technically cook a brisket right after you apply the rub, we recommend letting the rub sit on the meat for up to 24 hours so the flavors are really absorbed into the meat.

Should you brown brisket before slow cooker? ›

Step 1: Sear the beef: The first step to making a brisket in the Crockpot is to start outside the slow cooker. Though it takes a little more work, searing the beef until it's a deep golden brown adds a ton of flavor.

Is dry rub or wet rub better for brisket? ›

Dry rubs are great on their own but can be spectacular when finished with a sauce in the case of ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. Wet rubs are fantastic when you are cooking low and slow – again, brisket and pulled pork. This allows your food to develop a unique bark and allows the sugars to caramelize instead of burn.

What should I spray my brisket with to keep it moist? ›

Classic ingredients include beef broth, water, apple juice, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Avoid spices that could clog the spray nozzle. Start spraying the brisket 3-4 hours into cooking, every 30 minutes, until it's time to wrap the brisket.

What happens if you overcook brisket in slow cooker? ›

Yes, it is in fact possible to overcook brisket in a slow cooker. While it is a tough cut of meat and slow cooking it over a long period of time is what makes it tender, cooking it for too long will result in mushy and unappetizing brisket.

Why is my brisket not tender in slow cooker? ›

Brisket contains a lot of connective tissue, which can make it tough. The type of connective tissue in brisket is called collagen. Cook the meat quickly and you get tough, dry meat. Cook a brisket slowly, with some liquid, and the collagen turns into gelatin.

Why is my brisket not tender in the slow cooker? ›

It's because you haven't let the collagen break down. Extend the cook time, make sure there's enough liquid and keep an eye on the dish.

Should brisket be fat side up or down? ›

To set things straight, we're here to put an end to the confusion, so you can get back to the grill with confidence. For brisket cooked to flavorful perfection, fat-side-down is the way to go. This is the only way to achieve a brisket that is perfectly moist with a perfect bark on both sides.

Can I eat brisket left out overnight? ›

The Two-Hour Rule

This includes all cooked leftovers, [chopped] fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products." On hotter days, this time frame is even shorter. "If the temperature is 90 degrees or above, foods should be [refrigerated] after only one hour," says Beauchamp.

What not to do with brisket? ›

12 Brisket Mistakes Everyone Should Avoid
  1. Cooking at the Wrong Temperature. ...
  2. Using the Wrong Rub. ...
  3. Not Allowing (More Than) Enough Time to Smoke. ...
  4. Not Letting Brisket Rest Long Enough. ...
  5. Making Too Many Changes Between Cooks. ...
  6. Only Looking at Time and Temperature Before Wrapping. ...
  7. Spraying the Fat. ...
  8. Over or Under Smoking the Meat.

Can you stack brisket in slow cooker? ›

The idea is to season and place the four dry pieces stacked in the crock-pot so that the two top point-pieces do NOT get immersed in the cooking liquid so they can develop a yummy crust resembling the bark that's formed when the point portion is cooked in a pit.

What is the best temperature to slow cook a brisket? ›

Cook at about 225 degrees, maintaining the temperature with additional charcoal and wood chips, for 4 to 6 hours, or until the internal temperature of the meat's thickest part reaches 170 to 180 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. At this point, you can continue cooking it on the grill, or in a 225-degree oven.

How do I get my brisket to be more tender? ›

The secret to serving a tender and yet lean brisket is cooking it in two stages. First, cook it covered, with broth and seasonings, at a low temperature for a long time. Then cool the meat for several hours or overnight. Refrigerate the cooking liquid separately and remove the fat that rises to the top and hardens.

How do you tenderize brisket before cooking? ›

To enhance the tenderizing effect of smoking, marinate the brisket with lemon juice, lime juice, vinegar, or any other acid-based marinade. This will help break down the tough fibers in the meat and the acid will carry any flavor you add to the marinade deep into the meat.

Does wrapping a brisket make it more moist? ›

One of the tricks I use for making a brisket with great bark and tenderness is wrapping it in aluminum foil or butcher paper. The wrap helps to keep moisture in the meat, ultimately speeding up the cooking process. This technique is commonly called the "Texas crutch."

What is the best temperature for moist brisket? ›

When the brisket reaches an internal temperature of 195°F it should be properly smoked. Depending on the method of smoking, the time can vary. This can take 1 to 1 ½ hours per pound.

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