Tender Slow Cooker Brisket with Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe
This Tender Brisket in Slow Cooker with Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe offers a flavorful and fall-apart tender beef brisket, slowly cooked to perfection with a savory dry rub and tangy, sweet homemade barbecue sauce. Finished with a quick roast to caramelize the sauce, this dish is perfect for casual dinners or sliders, delivering rich, smoky flavors without the need for smoking or grilling.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes (plus optional marinating time up to 24 hours)
- Cook Time: 8–10 hours (slow cooker cooking) + 25–30 minutes (oven roasting)
- Total Time: Approximately 9 to 10.5 hours
- Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Brisket
- 1.5–2 kg (3–4 lb) beef brisket flat or point cut
- 1 tbsp olive oil or neutral oil like canola/vegetable oil
Dry Rub
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp paprika powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 3/4 tsp mustard powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
BBQ Sauce
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 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 each: black pepper, onion powder, mustard powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the Rub: Combine all dry rub ingredients—brown sugar, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, mustard powder, salt, and black pepper—in a bowl. Thoroughly apply this mixture over the entire surface of the beef brisket to ensure an even coating. For deeper flavor, optionally refrigerate the rubbed brisket for 30 minutes up to 24 hours.
- Mix BBQ Sauce and Add Brisket: In the slow cooker pot, mix together minced garlic, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, black pepper, onion powder, mustard powder, cayenne pepper (if using), and Worcestershire sauce until well combined. Place the brisket into the slow cooker and submerge it as much as possible in the sauce.
- Slow Cook: Cover and cook the brisket on low for 8 hours if it weighs about 1.5 kg (3 lb) or for 10 hours if closer to 2 kg (4 lb), until the meat is tender and easily pulls apart.
- Remove Brisket: Carefully lift the brisket out of the slow cooker and place it on a tray to rest while preparing the sauce reduction.
- Reduce Sauce: Pour the cooking liquid from the slow cooker into a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Let it reduce until thickened to a syrupy consistency, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Roast to Caramelize: Drizzle the brisket with olive or neutral oil. Preheat the oven to 200°C (390°F), then roast the brisket for 15 minutes until browned. Remove, baste generously with the reduced BBQ sauce, return it to the oven for 5 minutes, baste again, and roast for another 5–10 minutes until the sauce is caramelized and sticky.
- Serve: Slice the brisket thinly against the grain for maximum tenderness. Serve immediately with the remaining reduced BBQ sauce on the side. This brisket is delicious on its own or piled high on rolls with coleslaw as sliders.
Notes
- Cooking times vary depending on brisket size—adjust accordingly if your cut is larger or smaller.
- Alternative cooking methods include using a pressure cooker, conventional oven, or BBQ smoker for similar results.
- Serve the brisket thinly sliced with extra BBQ sauce to enhance flavor.
- This recipe pairs well with classic sides like coleslaw, baked beans, or roasted vegetables.
- Leftover brisket makes excellent sandwiches or tacos the next day.
Keywords: slow cooker brisket, BBQ brisket, beef brisket recipe, homemade BBQ sauce, slow cooked beef, tender brisket, oven caramelized brisket
