Slow Cooker Beef Brisket
Try this mouthwatering slow cooker beef brisket recipe with a homemade beer barbecue sauce. It’s perfect for sandwiches, beans, or a hearty dinner with your favorite sides.
If you’re craving a rich and hearty meal that practically cooks itself, this slow cooker beef brisket is just the thing. With just a few minutes of prep, the brisket simmers low and slow in a flavorful beer barbecue sauce until it’s fork-tender and loaded with smoky, tangy goodness.
The homemade sauce comes together with pantry staples and a splash of beer for depth—perfect for spooning over slices or shredding for sandwiches. Serve it with mashed potatoes, baked beans, or pile it onto toasted buns with slaw for a satisfying crowd-pleaser.
What You’ll Like About This Dish
Deep, smoky flavor. The beer, Worcestershire, and liquid smoke create a bold barbecue-style sauce.
Great for leftovers. Use extra brisket in sandwiches, soups, salads, or even pizza.
Low-effort cooking. Minimal prep and no need to monitor—your slow cooker handles it all.
Ingredient Notes
- Beef brisket: Trimmed brisket cooks down beautifully until tender—cut into a few pieces to fit in the slow cooker.
- Onion: Sliced and layered under the meat to add sweetness and flavor to the sauce.
- Beer: Adds rich, malty depth—use a mild lager or ale that you enjoy drinking.
- Ketchup: Forms the base of the barbecue-style sauce.
- Liquid smoke: A small amount gives that smoky, just-grilled flavor.
- Brown sugar: Balances the acidity and adds a hint of sweetness.
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds umami and tang.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic infuses the sauce with savory flavor.
- Flour + water: Thickens the sauce after cooking for a luscious finish.
Steps to Make Slow Cooker Beef Brisket
- Layer sliced onions in the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
- Cut the brisket into 2 to 3 pieces and place on top of the onions.
- Sprinkle the meat with black pepper.
- Mix the beer, ketchup, liquid smoke, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic, then pour over the brisket.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 to 6 hours, or on LOW for 8 to 10 hours.
- Transfer the cooked brisket to a serving platter.
- Stir the flour-water mixture into the sauce in the slow cooker and cook uncovered on HIGH until thickened, about 5 to 8 minutes.
- Slice the brisket and serve with the thickened sauce.
Tips for Brisket Success
- Cutting the brisket into smaller pieces helps it cook more evenly and fit better in the slow cooker.
- If the sauce is too thin, increase the flour slightly or simmer longer uncovered to reduce.
- Use a mild beer that complements the dish—avoid overly bitter or dark varieties unless you prefer a stronger flavor.
- Let the brisket rest for a few minutes before slicing to keep it juicy.
Recipe Variations
- Spicy version. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of chili powder or a pinch of cayenne to the sauce.
- Tomato twist. Replace part of the ketchup with tomato paste for a more savory depth.
- Sweet and smoky. Stir in a spoonful of molasses or maple syrup to enhance sweetness.
- Shredded brisket. Cook until extra tender and shred with two forks—perfect for sandwiches or tacos.
- Make it a meal. Add potatoes or carrots to the slow cooker for a one-pot dish.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables.
- Pile onto toasted buns with coleslaw and pickles.
- Add to mac and cheese or baked beans for a hearty twist.
- Pair with cornbread or potato salad at your next cookout.
- Use leftovers in nachos, tacos, or grain bowls.
How to Store and Reheat
Refrigerate: Store leftover brisket in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freeze: Cool brisket completely, then freeze in labeled containers or freezer bags for up to 3 months.
Reheat: Warm brisket in a skillet with a splash of broth or in the oven at 325°F, covered, until heated through. For shredded brisket, reheat gently in a saucepan with the sauce.
Slow Cooker Beef Brisket
Ingredients
- 1 large onion, quartered and sliced
- 1 beef brisket, about 4 pounds, trimmed
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3/4 cup beer
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons liquid smoke
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar, light, packed
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons flour whisked into 2 to 3 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Put onions into the crockery insert of a slow cooker. Cut the brisket into 2 or 3 pieces and place it on the onions. Sprinkle with the pepper.
- Combine the beer, ketchup, liquid smoke, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic; pour over the meat. Cover and cook on high for 4 to 6 hours, or cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
- Remove the beef to a serving platter.
- Add the flour-water mixture to the juices in the slow cooker. Cook, uncovered, on high for about 5 to 8 minutes or until thickened.
- Serve the brisket sliced with the thickened sauce.
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
