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Smoky Slow Cooker Beef Brisket

This sweet-smoky beef brisket cooks with a rich sauce slowly to fork tender. It’s great on sandwiches (add a little cheddar!), nachos and wraps.

If I had to choose just two things to make in the slow cooker ever, it would be brisket and pulled pork. I’m a huge fan of these BBQ favorites and though I don’t have a smoker at home to make authentic versions, slow cooker variations are pretty good themselves. Especially now that I have fallen in love with liquid smoke.

Let me tell you, getting me to use liquid smoke has taken years of psyching myself up. Chalk it up to a bad experience as a child (Note: you should never use a whole bottle at once. Just don’t.) But I am totally in love with it now and not afraid to use it. Liquid smoke adds a lovely smokiness to dishes without the smoker.

Now, about this brisket. It’s got a nice sweet-smokiness to it, courtesy of the whisk-and-go sauce on it. It’s just six ingredients (plus water) whisked together. But since it’s homemade, you can totally control the flavor — if you want it sweeter or more molasses-y, go ahead! Just taste and add until you have the sauce you want. Super simple.

As for the brisket, you just season it with salt all over and then it’s ready for the slow cooker. Put it in, pour on the sauce and cook.

This sweet-smoky beef brisket is great on sandwiches (add a little cheddar!), nachos and wraps. But it’s also fab with BBQ classics like sweet potato fries and macaroni and cheese. Don’t forget the cornbread too.

Smoky Slow Cooker Beef Brisket

Smoky Slow Cooker Beef Brisket

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes

This sweet-smoky beef brisket cooks with a rich sauce slowly to fork tender. It's great on sandwiches (add a little cheddar!), nachos and wraps.

Ingredients

  • 3 lb beef brisket
  • kosher salt
  • 6 oz can tomato paste, plus 1 can water
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 2 tbsp liquid smoke
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Rinse and pat dry the brisket. Salt well all over with kosher salt. Place into the slow cooker.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the tomato paste, water, molasses, liquid smoke, honey, salt and pepper. Pour over the brisket.
  3. Set the slow cooker to high and cook for 4-5 hours until fall-apart tender. Or cook on low for 8-10 hours until fall-apart tender.
  4. Pull the brisket out and break apart with two forks into shreds. Return to the slow cooker and stir with the sauce. Serve. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days.

16 Weeks of Slow Cooker Dinner Recipes - Snappy Gourmet

Friday 20th of February 2015

[…] Smoky Beef Brisket – Sarah’s Cucina Bella […]

Kevin

Sunday 24th of March 2013

This sounds very easy & simple and easy, which is good for me.....what can I do to make it a little more BBQ-like? Hoping to make it this coming weekend ...

Thanks

Sarah W. Caron

Tuesday 26th of March 2013

Thanks for the comment, Kevin. I am not sure what you mean by "more BBQ-like." The sauce is a smoky, quick homemade barbecue. Does that help?

Meal Plan: Slow-Cooker Dinner Recipes

Monday 27th of August 2012

[...] Recipe: Smoky Slow Cooker Beef Brisket from  Sarah’s Cucina [...]

Mimi

Wednesday 20th of June 2012

This is VERY good and super easy. I tried it and my picky-eater husband LOVED it! No leftover! I will make this recipe a staple to our dinner menu. Thanks so much Sarah for sharing. You did me a great favor!

Recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Brisket | Food and Life

Tuesday 10th of January 2012

[...] you’ve given this brisket from Sarah a try, continue the slow cooker trend and make these teriyaki sandwiches, the [...]

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