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    Home » Slow Cooker » Slow Cooker Beef Brisket

    Published on Apr 30, 2016. Modified on Jan 14, 2021 by bakingqueen74. This post may contain affiliate links. 16 Comments

    Slow Cooker Beef Brisket

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    Jump to Recipe

    At the weekend, it is great to be able to do just a little preparation in the morning then go out, in the knowledge that you can come home to a Sunday roast all ready for you. Read on for my recipe for slow cooker beef brisket, perfect for a Sunday dinner!

    One of the best things about using the slow cooker is that you can just leave it to work its magic while you go for a day out or get on with things at home.

    Brisket ready to eat, in pot.

    If you parboil your potatoes in the morning too, it won’t take long to make roast potatoes and vegetables to accompany the slow cooker brisket. Wouldn’t it be great to have a fun day out and come back to this?

    Beef brisket is known as one of the less tender cuts of meat, this is why it works so well with a long slow cook, which allows the meat to tenderise. It is best not to cook it on high but to use low for as long as possible for really tender meat.

    Jump to:
    • Step by step
    • Do I need to add water?
    • Can you dry cook?
    • Hot or cold water?
    • Slow cooker Sunday roasts
    • Brisket recipes
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    Brisket beef in serving dish, sliced and falling apart.

    Step by step

    Step 1. Brown the meat in a dry pan on a high heat.

    Brisket in a frying pan.

    Step 2. Place two sliced red onions in the base of the slow cooker. Put the beef on top of the onions.

    Beef brisket in slow cooker on bed of onions.

    Step 3. Make 400 m (2 cups) beef stock (broth) using boiling water and pour over the beef. Add Worcestershire sauce, season with salt and pepper, add 2 tsp dried sage and 1 tsp dried rosemary.

    Brisket ready to cook in slow cooker.

    Step 4. Cook on low for 8-9 hours. To make gravy from the juices, thicken them in the slow cooker with a paste made from cornflour/cornstarch and a little cold water. Or make a roux in a saucepan using plain flour and butter, then transfer the juices into the pan and heat and stir until thickened.

    Brisket cooked in the slow cooker.

    Do I need to add water?

    With brisket which is a tougher joint with more connective tissue which needs long slow cooking to tenderise, a small amount of water (e.g 400 ml as in this recipe) is useful and helps your beef become very tender.

    However with a roasting joint you can get away with using little or no water.

    Can you dry cook?

    Yes, it is possible to cook joints of meat (also cakes etc) in your slow cooker without adding water. Remember that meat tends to release juices as it cooks, and water does not evaporate from the slow cooker, so any moisture is retained.

    Hot or cold water?

    If your recipe calls for stock or water, as in the recipes, it is best to boil the kettle and use hot water when making up your stock cubes to use them in the slow cooker. In this way the water or stock is already hot and the joint will start to cook sooner.

    Slow cooker Sunday roasts

    This is my latest in a small series of posts with slow cooker recipes suitable for Sunday roasts. I love to make our roast dinner in the slow cooker as I put it on then just get on with my day.

    • If you prefer lamb, how about leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic, or shoulder of lamb with cumin, garlic and lime?
    • If you like a roast gammon joint, slow cooker maple-glazed gammon would be perfect for you.
    • If you prefer pork, slow cooker roast pork with sage and onion could fit the bill. For all of my slow cooker roast recipes make sure you take a look at my guide to slow cooker roasts.

    Brisket recipes

    More beef brisket recipe inspiration:

    • Harissa spiced pulled beef with peppers
    • Brisket chilli
    • Beef brisket goulash
    • Texas barbecue brisket 

    Recipe

    Brisket ready to eat, in pot.

    Slow Cooker Beef Brisket

    Delicious beef brisket cooked in your slow cooker
    4.39 from 13 votes
    Print Rate Save Saved!
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Slow Cooker
    Keyword: beef, brisket beef, roast beef
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 9 hours
    Total Time: 9 hours 10 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 282kcal
    Author: Lucy Allen | BakingQueen74

    Ingredients

    • 1 kg approx beef brisket
    • 2 red onions sliced
    • 1 rich beef stockpot or stock cube
    • 400 ml boiling water from the kettle
    • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
    • salt and pepper to season
    • 2 tsp dried sage
    • 1 tsp dried rosemary
    • cornflour to thicken, if needed
    UK Measurements - US Measurements

    Equipment

    large oval slow cooker

    Instructions 

    • Brown the meat in a dry pan on a high heat, then place two sliced red onions in the base of the slow cooker. Put the beef on top of the onions.
    • Make 400 ml (2 cups) rich beef stock (broth) using a stockpot (or stock cube), pour into slow cooker.
    • Add the Worcestershire sauce, season the beef with salt and pepper, add 2 tsp dried sage and 1 tsp dried rosemary.
    • Cook on low for 8-9 hours. To make gravy with the juices, thicken with a paste of cornflour and a little cold water, or make a roux in a saucepan using plain flour and butter, and add the juices to that, then heat and stir constantly until thickened,
    Did you try and love this recipe?Then please leave a review and rating in the comments at the bottom of the post. If you post your creation on Instagram, tag me @bakingqueen74 or use hashtag #bakingqueen74!
    « Macarons with Chocolate Rose Ganache
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lorraine says

      November 13, 2021 at 10:50 am

      That looks absolutely amazing, could you tell me how long would you have to cook a 1 kg piece of brisket in a slow cooker on low

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        November 13, 2021 at 4:43 pm

        I would follow the timings in this recipe – 8-9 hours – the recipe given is for a 1 kg piece of brisket, make sure you check the recipe card at the end of the post which states this.

        Reply
    2. Ellen Dreksler says

      May 10, 2019 at 4:12 pm

      Looks delicious. Any chance i can cook im the oven instead of crockpot? Would i need to make modifications if i cook in tbe oven? Thank you.

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        May 10, 2019 at 4:29 pm

        Yes you could certainly cook this in the oven in a Le Creuset type casserole dish instead. I think it would take 3 or 4 hours. I haven’t tried it though as usually use my slow cooker for the convenience!

        Reply
    3. Sam | Ahead of Thyme says

      May 02, 2016 at 7:49 pm

      Yum!!! This beef brisket looks delicious… wish I was having it right now for lunch!

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        May 02, 2016 at 7:55 pm

        Thank you 🙂

        Reply
    4. Ali @ Home & Plate says

      May 02, 2016 at 2:44 pm

      My family loves a beef brisket and I cook it very minimally because it is so flavorful. I love the addition of Worcestershire sauce and the added herbs…I will have to give your recipe a go. Thanks.

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        May 02, 2016 at 7:54 pm

        It is very rich isn’t it, such a useful meat to slow cook

        Reply
    5. reneeskitchenadventures says

      May 02, 2016 at 2:06 pm

      Beef brisket is hard to find around these parts, so when I saw one at the store a few weeks ago I snatched it up, without really a planned recipe for it. Now I have this one and I can’t wait to defrost my brisket and give it a go! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        May 02, 2016 at 7:54 pm

        Brilliant, glad to have inspired. It is often quite expensive here so I always get it when on promotion!

        Reply
    6. shashi at runninsrilankan says

      May 02, 2016 at 1:31 pm

      This is perfect for a Sunday dinner – but easy enough for anyday!

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        May 02, 2016 at 7:53 pm

        I hadn’t thought of that but you are right!

        Reply
    7. shockinglydelicious says

      May 02, 2016 at 12:57 pm

      The slow cooker is a miracle worker, isn’t it? It does a perfect job on meals like this, and you’re right, there’s nothing better than opening the front door and smelling dinner ready!

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        May 02, 2016 at 7:53 pm

        It so is! Thanks for visiting

        Reply
    8. Fuss Free Helen says

      April 30, 2016 at 5:29 pm

      That looks so good Lucy, especially on a cold spring day like today. I want it for lunch tomorrow.

      Reply
      • bakingqueen74 says

        April 30, 2016 at 6:48 pm

        Thanks Helen, I am actually planning on making it tomorrow, we haven’t had it for a while, and these cold sunny days are made for it!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Lucy! I'm a slow cooker addict, food blogger and also a busy working mum of two. I hope you'll enjoy the recipes I create and post which are perfect for busy families.

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