Slow Cooker Brisket Recipe - 1

By Becky Hardin

Updated Feb 5, 2025

crockpot brisket pinterest - 2 crockpot brisket pinterest - 3 crockpot brisket pinterest - 4

Slow Cooker Brisket is my ultimate comfort food classic and I always look forward to making it. Tender fall-apart brisket, slow cooked with chicken broth and seasoning—it doesn’t get better than this! This crockpot brisket recipe is just a few ingredients but never fails to impress.

Overhead view of sliced brisket on a white platter with pickle slices. - 5

Crockpot brisket is such a great main dish to serve with your favorite sides. The juicy beef brisket is melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

You can just as easily use leftovers from this slow cooker brisket recipe to make tacos, burritos , and sandwiches. And try my Smoked Brisket if you like smoked meat.

Slow Cooker Beef Brisket Recipe

Brisket is a cut of beef that needs to be slow cooked in order to breakdown the connective tissues. It’s a tough cut of meat, which is why it requires a long slow cooking to get that fork-tender meat. It may look pink-ish If undercooked and will be tough to chew, so the longer the cooking time, the better.

You’ll know brisket is close to being ready when the internal temp reaches 165°F. At this point there is no pink color left on the cut and meat fibers becomes tender enough.

A 6-pound piece of brisket will take around 9 to 11 hours to cook in the crock pot. It is possible to over cook the brisket so be sure to check it several times during the last part of cooking. The beef should be fork tender, but not falling apart. We want to slice it, not shred it!

This crock pot brisket is a favorite for holidays, big family gatherings, and dinner parties! If you don’t own a slow cooker or crockpot than try my oven baked brisket recipe !

Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Brisket: It comes in two cuts, flat and point. For best results get flat cut or first cut. It’s leaner and slices well.
  • Chicken broth: I use low-sodium chicken broth in my recipe. But use whichever is available and adjust salt as per taste.
  • Soy sauce: It shares an UMAMI flavor with Worcestershire sauce. So don’t skip it. If low sodium soy sauce is not available, feel free to use that you have.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: It create a richness to the sauce while cooking in slow cooker. With soy sauce it complements the UMAMI flavor.
  • Liquid smoke : I highly recommend using liquid smoke to make that smoky brisket.

This is a great dump-and-go recipe and results in a perfectly juicy piece of beef that the whole family will love.

Variations

  • BBQ Brisket : Use homemade BBQ sauce along with chicken broth while cooking. This BBQ sauce is specially made for brisket.
  • Add veggies: I prefer to cook brisket with the seasoning rub, but feel free to add onions, potatoes, leeks, carrots, or any vegetable that you like. Add them at the beginning or after few hours, depending on the texture. An example is how I made it with cabbage in Crockpot Corned Beef and Cabbage .

Tips For Success

  • Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray before adding the ingredients.
  • Save the juices after the beef is cooked.
  • Ask for flat cut or first cut if you don’t see it at your butcher counter.

How to Store and Reheat

Refrigerator: To store leftovers, gently wrap the cooked brisket in aluminum foil. It prevents the meat from drying out. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Add some reserved broth along with the brisket in slow cooker or saucepan (low heat) to reheat.

Freeze: Once the meat is wrapped in foil, keep in freezer-friendly bags and store for up to 3-4 months. Make sure you are storing the broth as well.

Reheat: To reheat, use oven at a low temperature around 275°F to gently reheat the brisket. Add the reserved broth so that it does not get dry while cooking.

Sliced slow cooker brisket on a white serving plate. - 6

Serving Suggestions

This slow cooker beef recipe makes the perfect centerpiece for any holiday menu or celebration. It’s a great alternative to turkey for your Thanksgiving, and is great for Christmas or Easter . Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole or Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or Cheesy Baked Green Beans or Crockpot Potato Casserole or Honey Balsamic Roasted Carrots are some of my favorite side dishes that go awesome with this tender slow cooked brisket recipe.

Add some carbs like Spoon Bread , Beer Bread Muffins , Dutch Oven Jalapeno Bread , Sweet Potato Rolls or another aromatic Rosemary Bread to make it a complete meal.

I also like to add soft golden dinner rolls , Parker House Rolls or Naan Bread .

5-Star Review

“Brisket is the best! This is so tender and full of flavor. Love that you can do this in the crock pot.” -Erin

Ingredients1x2x3x

  • ▢ 1 6-pound flat-cut brisket
  • ▢ Garlic salt
  • ▢ Onion powder
  • ▢ Seasoned salt
  • ▢ Smoky paprika
  • ▢ Freshly ground black pepper
  • ▢ 2 tablespoons Liquid smoke
  • ▢ 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • ▢ 2 tablespoons Low-sodium soy sauce
  • ▢ 2 cups Low-sodium chicken broth

Video

Instructions

  • Pierce both sides of the brisket, about 3-4 inches apart, with a fork. 1 6-pound flat-cut brisket
  • Generously sprinkle the entire brisket with garlic salt, onion powder, seasoned salt, paprika and black pepper. Garlic salt, Onion powder, Seasoned salt, Smoky paprika, Freshly ground black pepper
  • Cut the brisket in-half, crosswise, so it fits in the slow-cooker.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and chicken stock. 2 tablespoons Liquid smoke, 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons Low-sodium soy sauce, 2 cups Low-sodium chicken broth
  • Spray a 6-quart (or larger) slow-cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Place half the brisket in the slow-cooker, fat-side up, and pour half the liquid mixture over the brisket half. Add the other half of the brisket to the slow-cooker, fat-side up and pour the remaining half of the liquid mixture over the top portion of brisket.
  • Cover and set the slow-cooker to LOW. Cook 6 hours and flip-flop the positions of the brisket pieces (put the bottom portion on top and the top portion on the bottom).
  • Cover and cook an additional 3-5 hours or until brisket is fork-tender. It should be tender enough to cut with a fork.
  • Transfer the brisket from the slow-cooker to a large pan and cover it with foil. Let it cool to touch and refrigerate overnight. Spoon the sauce/cooking juices into a separate dish, cover and refrigerate overnight.
  • The next day, take the solidified fat off the pan juices and discard. Save the remaining pan juices for spooning over the brisket, if desired.
  • Slice the brisket to desired thickness, place in a serving dish, cover with and heat. Serve warm.

Becky’s Tips

  • Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray before adding the ingredients.
  • Be sure to save the juices after the beef is cooked.
  • The best alternative for brisket that I can think of is chuck. Beef ribs or pork ribs are other meat that you can cook in slow cooker.
  • Feel free to add onions, potatoes, leeks, carrots any vegetable that you like. Add them at the beginning or after few hours, depending on the texture.
  • Be sure to ask for flat cut or also known as first cut if you don’t see it immediately at your butchers. This is the best cut to make this recipe.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

How to Cook Brisket in a Slow Cooker

Prepare Brisket: Place the 6-pound flat-cut brisket on the cutting board and pierce both sides with a fork, then sprinkle with seasonings.

brisket on a cutting board - 7

Rub with seasoning: Generously sprinkle the entire brisket with garlic salt, onion powder, seasoned salt, smoked paprika, and freshly ground black pepper.

seasoned brisket on a cutting board - 8

Cut the brisket in-half, crosswise, so it fits in the slow-cooker. This is an optional step if the slow cooker is small.

brisket, seasoned and cut - 9

Combine liquid ingredients: In a medium bowl add 2 tablespoons of liquid smoke, 3 tablespoons of Worcestershire Sauce, 2 tablespoons of low-sodium soy sauce, and 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth , combine everything evenly.

a bowl of sauce with a piece of orange in it. - 10

Prepare slow cooker and add brisket with sauce: Spray the 6-quart slow cooker with non-stick spray. Place half the brisket in the slow-cooker, fat-side up, and pour half the liquid mixture over the brisket half.

seasoned brisket placed in the crock pot - 11

Add the other half of the brisket to the slow-cooker, fat-side up and pour the remaining half of the liquid mixture over the top portion of brisket.

brisket in a crockpot - 12

Cover and set the slow-cooker to LOW. Cook 6 hours and flip-flop the positions of the brisket pieces (put the bottom portion on top and the top portion on the bottom).

brisket cooking in a slow cooker - 13

Cover and cook an additional 3-5 hours or until brisket is fork-tender. It should be tender enough to cut with a fork.

Before serving and serve: Transfer the brisket from the slow-cooker to a large pan and cover it with foil. Let it cool to touch and refrigerate overnight. Spoon the sauce/cooking juices into a separate dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

cooked brisket on a baking tray - 14

The next day, take the solidified fat off the pan juices and discard. Save the remaining pan juices for spooning over the brisket, if desired.

Slice the brisket to desired thickness, place in a serving dish, cover and heat. Serve warm.

slow cooker brisket on a serving platter - 15

This easy slow cooker beef brisket recipe is definitely a favorite for bigger family meals and holidays. It’s so easy to make with a crock pot!

More Easy Beef Recipes

Cooked Denver steaks searing in a cast iron skillet with garlic and thyme, showing a deep brown crust - 16 Cooked Denver steaks searing in a cast iron skillet with garlic and thyme, showing a deep brown crust - 17

Denver Steak

Bowl of crockpot stuffed pepper soup with ground beef, rice, bell peppers, and fresh parsley - 18 Bowl of crockpot stuffed pepper soup with ground beef, rice, bell peppers, and fresh parsley - 19

Crockpot Stuffed Pepper Soup

Beef Bourguignon is a delicious beef stew that's perfect for winter meals. Also known as beef burgundy or boeuf bourguignon, this dish is hearty and filling. This beef bourguignon recipe is made with beef, red wine, beef broth, and lots of vegetables. Serve this beef burgundy stew with mashed potatoes, egg noodles, rice, or all on its own. It's delicious no matter what! - 20 Beef Bourguignon is a delicious beef stew that's perfect for winter meals. Also known as beef burgundy or boeuf bourguignon, this dish is hearty and filling. This beef bourguignon recipe is made with beef, red wine, beef broth, and lots of vegetables. Serve this beef burgundy stew with mashed potatoes, egg noodles, rice, or all on its own. It's delicious no matter what! - 21

Beef Bourguignon (Beef Burgundy)

A bowl of hearty beef stew filled with tender beef chunks, carrots, potatoes, and celery in a rich broth, with a jar of homemade beef stew seasoning beside it. - 22 A bowl of hearty beef stew filled with tender beef chunks, carrots, potatoes, and celery in a rich broth, with a jar of homemade beef stew seasoning beside it. - 23

Beef Stew Seasoning

Instant Pot Pot Roast Recipe is the only recipe I need in life! Pot Roast is my absolute favorite! There's something about the tender meat, potatoes, carrots, and THAT SAUCE that is so comforting and delicious. This is the BEST POT ROAST RECIPE of all time. If you're in the mood for comfort food, you have to learn how to make this Pot Roast! - 24 Instant Pot Pot Roast Recipe is the only recipe I need in life! Pot Roast is my absolute favorite! There's something about the tender meat, potatoes, carrots, and THAT SAUCE that is so comforting and delicious. This is the BEST POT ROAST RECIPE of all time. If you're in the mood for comfort food, you have to learn how to make this Pot Roast! - 25

Instant Pot Pot Roast

Close-up of juicy air fryer steak bites on a white plate with a side of creamy dipping sauce and a gold fork lifting a piece. - 26 Close-up of juicy air fryer steak bites on a white plate with a side of creamy dipping sauce and a gold fork lifting a piece. - 27

Air Fryer Steak Bites

Overhead view of a bowl filled with hearty cowboy beans made with mixed beans, ground beef, and bacon, garnished with chopped green onions and served with a gold spoon. - 28 Overhead view of a bowl filled with hearty cowboy beans made with mixed beans, ground beef, and bacon, garnished with chopped green onions and served with a gold spoon. - 29

Cowboy Beans

Two bowls of hearty beef barley soup filled with tender beef, carrots, celery, and barley in a rich broth, served with crusty bread and fresh parsley. - 30 Two bowls of hearty beef barley soup filled with tender beef, carrots, celery, and barley in a rich broth, served with crusty bread and fresh parsley. - 31

Beef Barley Soup

crockpot brisket - 32

Slow Cooker Brisket Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 6-pound flat-cut brisket
  • Garlic salt
  • Onion powder
  • Seasoned salt
  • Smoky paprika
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons Liquid smoke
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 cups Low-sodium chicken broth

Instructions

  • Pierce both sides of the brisket, about 3-4 inches apart, with a fork. 1 6-pound flat-cut brisket
  • Generously sprinkle the entire brisket with garlic salt, onion powder, seasoned salt, paprika and black pepper. Garlic salt, Onion powder, Seasoned salt, Smoky paprika, Freshly ground black pepper
  • Cut the brisket in-half, crosswise, so it fits in the slow-cooker.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and chicken stock. 2 tablespoons Liquid smoke, 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons Low-sodium soy sauce, 2 cups Low-sodium chicken broth
  • Spray a 6-quart (or larger) slow-cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Place half the brisket in the slow-cooker, fat-side up, and pour half the liquid mixture over the brisket half. Add the other half of the brisket to the slow-cooker, fat-side up and pour the remaining half of the liquid mixture over the top portion of brisket.
  • Cover and set the slow-cooker to LOW. Cook 6 hours and flip-flop the positions of the brisket pieces (put the bottom portion on top and the top portion on the bottom).
  • Cover and cook an additional 3-5 hours or until brisket is fork-tender. It should be tender enough to cut with a fork.
  • Transfer the brisket from the slow-cooker to a large pan and cover it with foil. Let it cool to touch and refrigerate overnight. Spoon the sauce/cooking juices into a separate dish, cover and refrigerate overnight.
  • The next day, take the solidified fat off the pan juices and discard. Save the remaining pan juices for spooning over the brisket, if desired.
  • Slice the brisket to desired thickness, place in a serving dish, cover with and heat. Serve warm.

Video

Notes

  • Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray before adding the ingredients.
  • Be sure to save the juices after the beef is cooked.
  • The best alternative for brisket that I can think of is chuck. Beef ribs or pork ribs are other meat that you can cook in slow cooker.
  • Feel free to add onions, potatoes, leeks, carrots any vegetable that you like. Add them at the beginning or after few hours, depending on the texture.
  • Be sure to ask for flat cut or also known as first cut if you don’t see it immediately at your butchers. This is the best cut to make this recipe.

Nutrition

Slow Cooker Brisket Recipe - 33

By Becky Hardin

Published Jul 12, 2017

A screenshot of text - 34 basic grocery list - 35 grocery list iPad image - 36 grocery list free printable - 37 essential grocery list - 38

This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.

essential grocery list - 39

Essential Grocery List

It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!

It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.

However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.

In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.

I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.

grocery list iPad - 40

Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List

What to Buy at the Grocery Store

This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.

When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.

So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!

Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!

Fresh Produce

  • Apples
  • Bananas
  • Strawberries
  • Avocados
  • Bell Peppers
  • Carrots
  • Broccoli
  • Garlic
  • Lemons/Limes
  • Onion
  • Parsley
  • Cilantro
  • Basil
  • Potatoes
  • Spinach
  • Tomatoes

GRAINS

  • Breadcrumbs
  • Pasta
  • Quinoa
  • Rice
  • Sandwich Bread
  • Tortillas

MEAT/PROTEIN

  • Chicken
  • Eggs
  • Ground Beef
  • Sliced Turkey
  • Lunch Meat

DAIRY

  • Butter
  • Sliced Cheese
  • Shredded Cheese
  • Milk
  • Sour Cream
  • Greek Yogurt

BAKING GOODS

  • Baking powder
  • Baking Soda
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Brown Sugar
  • Flour
  • Honey
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Dry Yeast
  • Chocolate Chips
  • Cocoa Powder
  • Powdered Sugar

FREEZER

  • Fruit and Berries
  • Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
  • Juice Concentrate
  • Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
  • Pie Crust
  • Cookie Dough

CANNED/DRIED GOODS

  • Chicken stock/broth
  • Salsa
  • Diced Tomatoes
  • Jam/Jelly
  • Peanut Butter
  • Pasta Sauce
  • Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
  • Soups
  • Tuna
  • Green Chiles
  • Canned Veggies
  • Coffee or Tea

Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods

CONDIMENTS/SPICES

  • Black Pepper
  • Chili Powder
  • Cinnamon
  • Crushed Red Pepper
  • Cumin
  • Garlic Powder
  • Ketchup
  • Mustard
  • Mayo
  • Nutmeg
  • Paprika
  • Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
  • Soy Sauce
  • Steak Sauce
  • Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
  • Salad Dressings

OILS/VINEGARS

  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Coconut Oil
  • Olive Oil
  • Vegetable/Canola Oil
  • Red Wine Vinegar
  • White Vinegar
  • Cooking Wine
  • White Wine Vinegar

SNACKS

  • Crackers
  • Nuts
  • Quick Oats
  • Popcorn
  • Tortilla Chips
  • Cereal

Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!

Slow Cooker Brisket Recipe - 41

Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!

I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!

Stock Your Kitchen

Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!

pantry staple essentials - 42 pantry staple essentials - 43

Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On

Top frozen vegetables. - 44 Top frozen vegetables. - 45

Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)

cooking herbs guide - 46 cooking herbs guide - 47

Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen

cooking spices - 48 cooking spices - 49

Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen

Cooking guide cooking oils 101. - 50 Cooking guide cooking oils 101. - 51

Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use

Types of pasta and when to use them. - 52 Types of pasta and when to use them. - 53

26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them

what produce is in season guide - 54 what produce is in season guide - 55

What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?

meat temperature chart - 56 meat temperature chart - 57

Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)

meal prep for beginners - 58 meal prep for beginners - 59

How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)

basic cooking measurements and conversions - 60 basic cooking measurements and conversions - 61

Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart

how to cut recipes in half - 62 how to cut recipes in half - 63

How to Cut Recipes in Half