Old-Fashioned Crockpot Beef Brisket

By
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen is a journalist, quick-cooking and slow-cooking expert, and accomplished cookbook author with over 30 years of experience in testing and developing recipes.
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Updated on 02/10/23
Sliced beef brisket

 

Lara Hata / Getty Images

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 9 hrs
Total: 9 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 12 servings

This traditional, old-fashioned recipe for Crockpot Beef Brisket cooks slowly in your slow cooker for a satisfying and warming dinner. This is the perfect dish to make on a cold winter weekend; the aroma that drifts through the house as the meat is cooking is incredible.

Brisket is a tough cut of meat since the animal uses it a lot, so it must be cooked with liquid, and slowly for a long period of time. This recipe makes very tender meat with a fabulous flavor that is rich and deep.

You can change the vegetables you put into this recipe with ease. Add some sliced mushrooms, add more garlic, stir in some cubed Yukon Gold or russet potatoes, or add some cubed parsnips. Toward the end of cooking time, you could add more tender vegetables, including bell peppers, zucchini, or frozen peas.

Serve this warming and comforting dish with a simple green salad tossed with mushrooms, grape tomatoes, sliced avocados, and a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. For dessert, a chocolate cake or brownies would be perfect. Serve this menu often during the cold winter months.

Ingredients

  • 2 medium onions, coarsely chopped

  • 4 pounds beef brisket (not corned)

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 5 medium carrots, cut into chunks

  • 1/4 cup ketchup

  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon dried marjoram

  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 2 cups water, divided

  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Steps to Make It

  1. Place the onions in the bottom of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, then place the brisket, fat side up, on top of the onions.

  2. Sprinkle the garlic on top of the beef. Surround the meat with the chunked carrots, and any other root vegetable you'd like.

  3. Combine the ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, salt, marjoram, and pepper in a small bowl and then rub into the beef.

  4. Pour 1 cup water into the slow cooker over the vegetables; don't pour over the meat, or you'll wash off the seasoning mixture.

  5. Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or until the meat is very tender.

  6. To make the gravy, remove the brisket, onions, and carrots and any other vegetables from the slow cooker, place on a serving plate, and cover tightly with foil to keep warm.

  7. Pour the liquid from the crockpot into a large saucepan.

  8. Mix the flour with 1/2 cup water, add to the saucepan, and bring to a boil, stirring the gravy frequently with a wire whisk. Boil until the gravy is thickened; then add the Worcestershire sauce.

  9. Season the gravy with salt as needed until the flavor comes to life.

  10. Slice the meat and serve with gravy, onions, and carrots.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
474 Calories
28g Fat
9g Carbs
44g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories 474
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 28g 36%
Saturated Fat 11g 55%
Cholesterol 160mg 53%
Sodium 324mg 14%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 44g
Vitamin C 2mg 12%
Calcium 43mg 3%
Iron 4mg 23%
Potassium 467mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)