Lo has always loved BBQ food, but when we lived in Texas, he became obsessed.
Not only did he learn how to smoke meat, but he also realized that his favorite kind of meat is brisket. It’s tender, it’s flavorful, and it’s one of our favorite dishes to make for family dinners, holidays, and special occasions.
It may seem difficult or a little more fancy, but we promise you this crock pot brisket recipe will become a new favorite!
Why we love it:
- Set it and forget it. Simply put all the ingredients in your slow cooker and cook it for 8-10 hours. This is an especially perfect Sunday dinner idea!
- Fork tender. Low and slow in the crock pot makes shredding this tender cut super easy making it a favorite beef dinner idea.
- Pair with your favorite BBQ side dishes. Serve your crock pot brisket on the side of Macaroni Salad, Cornbread Recipe, or your favorite Oven Roasted Vegetables.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- 1 (3 pound) beef brisket – Brisket is typically sold in two different cuts: flat and point. Choose the flat cut, if possible, as the thick fat cap will aid in giving more flavor to your brisket.
- 1 (2-ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder – or 3-4 cloves of minced fresh garlic. You can also season with salt and black pepper
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar – light or dark brown sugar
- 2 (12-ounce) bottles Heinz chili sauce
How to Make Brisket in a Crock Pot
- SEASON. Place 1 (3 pound) brisket in the crock pot. Sprinkle 1 (2-ounce) envelope onion soup mix, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, and 1 tablespoon brown sugar over the top of the brisket, and massage gently into the meat.
- Pour 2 (12-ounce) bottles chili sauce over the top, covering the meat completely.
- COOK. Cook on low heat for 8-10 hours. Remove the brisket from the slow cooker and slice against the grain. Pour the sauce over the brisket slices to serve with some Best Mashed Potatoes or a side dish of your choice.
- Allow the crock pot brisket to rest for 10-20 minutes before cutting.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Place the brisket in the Instant Pot, fat side up. Sprinkle with onion soup mix, garlic powder, and brown sugar. Massage into the meat then add the chili sauce over the top.
- Cook on high pressure for 80-90 minutes, then let naturally release for 15 minutes before manually releasing the rest of the pressure.
Complete The Meal
Side Dishes
Desserts
More Crockpot Dinner Ideas
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Crock Pot Brisket Recipe
Try this effortless crock pot brisket recipe for delectably juicy and tender meat that will melt in your mouth.
Ingredients
- 1 (3 pound) beef brisket
- 1 (2-ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 (12-ounce) bottles Heinz chili sauce
Instructions
- Place 1 (3 pound) brisket in the crock pot. Sprinkle 1 (2-ounce) envelope onion soup mix, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, and 1 tablespoon brown sugar over the top of the brisket, and massage gently into the meat. Pour 2 (12-ounce) bottles chili sauce over the top, covering the meat completely.
- Cook on low heat for 8-10 hours. Remove the brisket from the slow cooker and slice against the grain. Pour the sauce over the brisket slices to serve.
Video
Notes
STORE. Place cooked brisket AND the juices into an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze it for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
Calories: 361kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 38g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 105mg, Sodium: 1283mg, Potassium: 885mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 578IU, Vitamin C: 14mg, Calcium: 26mg, Iron: 4mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Do I brown the Crock Pot brisket first?
- Browning in a large skillet before putting it in the slow cooker is not necessary, but can add extra flavor. Or broil the brisket on a baking sheet in the oven to get crispy bits.
How much brisket to make per person?
- I recommend ½ pound per person then add 2 pounds to that total to account for those who wish to take a little more. Leftover slow cooker beef brisket makes a delicious sandwich! Just add a homemade BBQ Sauce.
How to store crock pot brisket?
- Place cooled leftovers and liquid into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze this beef brisket recipe for up to 2 months.
This was SUPER easy and exquisitely delicious. Thank you for another outstanding recipe!!
Making a much bigger brisket.. probably 2 pieces about 6lbs each. How do I adjust the cooking time and other ingredients?
What else can I use beside the chilli sauce???
Not a fan of spicy or the chilli flavor.
I don’t find the chili sauce spicy. I’m not a fan of spicy, either, and it makes my husband’s head sweat. Use the chili sauce!! It is perfect
Can this be done if it’s frozen
I would recommend thawing the brisket before putting it in the crockpot.
What do think about swapping out onion soup for dry ranch? I forgot to get soup mix
You could give it a try. I haven’t made it with that so I’m not totally sure how it would turn out. But if you do, you’ll have to let us know how it tastes!
Another way I’ve done is wrap in foil than put in crock pot on low ,very tender. Easy one for Camping because you put on low and cook while you were on beach all day.
That’s a great idea!!
Does the chili sauce make it spicy? Looking to try but we don’t like spicy. If not, I will make exactly as is. Or please let me know if I should substitute the chili sauce for something else if it is spicy.
You can use your favorite Bar-B-Q sauce instead.
Does the brisket taste spicy because of the chill sauce?
You can use your favorite Bar-B-Q sauce.