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My Slow Cooker Beef Brisket is melt-in-your-mouth tender, packed with flavor, and practically cooks itself. Perfect for easy family dinners or feeding a hungry crowd!

A beef brisket sliced on a platter.

Set It & Forget It Brisket

  • Deliciously Tender: The brisket slow cooks to perfection, making every bite incredibly juicy with no tough bites.
  • Rich, Savory Flavor: A deep, bold blend of spices and sauce infuses the meat as it cooks. You won’t believe how delicious and flavorful it is!
  • Perfect for Feeding a Crowd: Generous, hearty portions make it ideal for gatherings and holidays. Everyone will want your recipe!

Ingredients Needed

Overhead shot of labeled ingredients.
  • Best Cut of Beef: Brisket is ideal; it stays tender but is sliceable. If you can’t find it, you can use a chuck roast instead.
  • BBQ Sauce: You can use my amazing Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe, or you can use your favorite store bought BBQ sauce.

How to Make Slow Cooker Beef Brisket

This slow cooker beef brisket takes some time but it’s completely hands off! You just have to prepare it and let it cook on its own all day. It’s SO easy and totally worth the wait!

  1. Mix the Seasonings: Combine brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and ground black pepper in a small bowl. 
  2. Add the Spice Rub and Rest: Rub generously over brisket and set it aside to rest for 30 minutes, or cover it with foil and let it rest in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. 
  3. Transfer to the Crock Pot: Place the rubbed brisket in the bottom of a 6 or 7-quart slow cooker. Place onion into the slow cooker, then top it all off with homemade barbecue sauce.
  4. Cook: Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours, or on HIGH for 5-6 hours. Once the brisket is tender, you may crisp it by placing it on a baking sheet and broil it in the oven for about 5 minutes with the broiler on high. Allow it to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Top Tips for Slow Cooker Beef Brisket

Whether you’re a slow cooker pro or just starting out, this recipe is a great pick! It makes the meat super tender and juicy. Here are a few tips to make it even better.

  • Sear for Flavor: Sear the brisket after applying the rub for an extra layer of rich, caramelized flavor before slow cooking.
  • Leave the Fat On: Don’t trim the fat before cooking—it helps keep the meat juicy. Trim it off after cooking, right before slicing.
  • Let It Rest: Resting helps the meat soak up liquid, flavor, stay juicy, and get even more tender.
A zoomed in picture of a sliced slow cooker beef brisket.

How to Store Leftover Beef Brisket

Slow cooker beef brisket leftovers are so yummy! I have used it in tacos, quesadillas, and sliders!

  • In the Refrigerator: Let the brisket cool, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–4 days.
  • In the Freezer: Cooked brisket will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the frozen brisket fully before reheating.
  • To Reheat: Let leftovers sit at room temperature for 20 minutes. Pour some beef broth over the top, cover tightly with foil, and bake at 325ºF for 20 minutes. It will make it juicy and tender all over again.

Make It A Meal

I love this slow cooker beef brisket! It’s perfect for when you want an impressive meal with minimal effort. Pair it with a few easy sides, and you’ve got a dinner that’s ready to wow!

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Tender Slow Cooker Beef Brisket

5 from 4 votes
By: Alyssa Rivers
Whether you’re feeding the family or hosting friends, this easy slow cooker brisket is a go-to—simple prep, cozy comfort, and always a hit.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
resting time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 8 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Combine 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper in a small bowl.
  • Rub generously over a 3-4 pounds flat beef brisket and set it aside to rest for 30 minutes, or cover it with foil and let it rest in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
  • Place the rubbed brisket in the bottom of a 6 or 7-quart slow cooker. Place 1 small quartered onion into the slow cooker, then top it all off with 1 cup homemade BBQ sauce.
  • Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours, or on HIGH for 5-6 hours. Once the brisket is tender, you may crisp it by placing it on a baking sheet and roasting it in the oven for about 5 minutes with the broiler on high. Allow it to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Updated April 15, 2025

Nutrition

Calories: 451kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 48gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 141mgSodium: 1060mgPotassium: 905mgFiber: 1gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 436IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 5mg

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

Additional Info

Course: Dinner, entree, Main Course, main dish
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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31 Comments

  1. I would like to make this with potatoes, carrots and onions.
    Is this possible because my mom for the holiday usually makes her brisket in a pan put uses the added veggies. Would I put it all in the slow cooker.
    Please respond asap
    Please send through email for your suggestions.

    Steven

    1. Hi Steven, thank you for your question. To add vegetables, cut them in larger pieces and add them halfway through the cook time to avoid them getting too mushy. Let me know how it turns out!

  2. Looking forward to making this brisket recipe in slowcooker.
    Can I make it day before and slice it up next day and reheat in slowcooker about an hour?

  3. 5 stars
    I followed this exactly as written and my meat-eating friends loved it. I made it again for a church gathering and added a sliced green pepper. It was wonderful too. Thank you for this simple yet amazing recipe. The seasonings all work so well together, with none being dominant. I even broke my own rule and poured a little of the meat gravy over my potatoes. I am a vegetarian but it smelled SO GOOD that I couldn’t resist.