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.

  • Chili Powder
  • Paprika
  • Sugar
  • Black Pepper
  • Garlic Salt
  • Garlic Powder
  • Dry Ground Mustard

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

Find the pantry ingredients and kitchen tools you need here before getting starting.

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

Kitchen Accessories

For larger cuts of meat like brisket, having a large marinade container is key. I love this one because it collapses when you aren’t using it, making it easier to store.

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

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

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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 (17)

  • 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 (18)

  • 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 (19)

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 (21)

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 tough 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.

How do you keep a brisket moist in a crock pot? ›

Keep it fatty: The fat cap will protect the brisket from drying out during the long, slow cook and baste the brisket as the fat slowly melts. You can remove the excess fat after the brisket is completely cooked and cooled.

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.

How do you get a dry rub to stick to a brisket? ›

If you're finding the rub isn't sticking to the meat, you can drizzle a bit of olive oil over the brisket and then add the rub, using your hands to evenly coat the meat. You can also add oil to the dry rub to turn it into a wet rub.

How to make the juiciest brisket? ›

Once seared, place brisket in foil pan, fat side up, and smoke, uncovered for 2 hours. Flip brisket and smoke for 1 hour. At this point, the juices inside are under a fair amount of pressure. It is important not to pierce the meat from this point until it is done.

Should brisket be submerged in slow cooker? ›

Start checking on the meat according to the time recommendations in the recipe and you'll be golden. Should brisket be submerged in the slow cooker? The meat doesn't need to be swimming in broth, but yes, it should be at least partially submerged. Here, 2 1/2 cups is plenty for a 3-pound piece of meat.

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.

Do you need to seal brisket before slow cooking? ›

With rare exceptions, braised briskets are cooked tightly covered. A lid is ideal, but you can also cover a pot or casserole dish with heavy-duty foil, making sure to seal the edges.

Is brisket better in crock pot or oven? ›

An ideal temperature is around 275 (low enough that the liquid will get very hot, but not boil). This is most easily achieved in a slow cooker (Crock Pot). The same effect is achieved by braising the brisket in a sealed cooking vessel (either a Dutch Oven, a Pyrex, or a roasting pan) tightly covered with tin foil.

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.

How do you know when brisket is done in a crock pot? ›

Depending on your slow cooker and the size and weight of your beef brisket, it could take anywhere from 8-10 hours on low. The best way to tell if you're good to go is to use a meat thermometer which will register 195°F – 205°F when done. The meat should be fork tender and fall apart delicious!

What happens if you don't brown beef before slow cooker? ›

Browning Is Better

And if you dredge the meat in flour before you brown it, your sauce will thicken up to make a gravy. You should always brown ground beef or any ground meat in a skillet before adding it to your slow cooker to prevent the meat from clumping up or from adding excess grease to your cooked dish.

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 cooking method for brisket? ›

Brown brisket in a small amount of oil over medium-high heat. Or sear fat side up in a heated 500 ˚F oven for 20 minutes to develop flavor. Add a small amount of liquid (water, broth, or wine) to a Dutch oven, cover tightly, and simmer gently over low heat or in a 275 ˚F oven for 3 to 4 hours, or until tender.

What is the best way to tenderize a brisket? ›

Slow cook it. Tough cuts of meat with lots of connective tissue, like brisket, chuck roast, and bottom round, are some of the best choices for the slow cooker. Cooked low and slow for many hours, the collagen in these tough cuts eventually breaks, leaving you with shreds of tender, juicy 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? ›

Brisket can be done in a range of 200-210°F (93-99°C), but as a general rule, it's safe to bet on 203°F (95°C). Brisket should be tender but not so tender it's falling apart. You should be able to slice it into pieces that can just hold together, requiring a little pull to come apart.

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.

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