It's the time of year for home cooks everywhere to break out their best brisket recipes. Cooking brisket is as much a technique as it is a combination of ingredients, so before you get started, there are a few things you need to know to make the perfect beef brisket recipes. First of all, it's good to understand the cut of meat. Next, you need to know the right amount of cooking time for a brisket. And then it's great to have your grandma's beef brisket recipe (or have spent some time at Camp Brisket).
Brisket can be cooked in a smoker or on a grill, on the stovetop or in the oven, and you can definitely cook a brisket in your slow cooker or Instant Pot. While the general rule is that it takes an hour of cook time per each pound brisket, but the total time will depend on your cooking method. The meat should be fork-tender when done.
1. The Best Easy Smoked Brisket Recipe
Smoking a brisket isn't hard. But since this is your first time cooking brisket, go with something easy and that requires less prep time. We like this recipe from Sweet C's because it's designed for beginners.
Get the recipe here.
2. Slow Cooker Texas Smoked Beef Brisket
This Texas-style brisket is a fix it and forget it wonder. Start off with a quick rub of black pepper, smoked paprika, kosher salt, brown sugar, chili powder, and cumin. Then place the brisket in a slow cooker with some barbecue sauce and onions and cook on low for six to seven hours. Your whole house will smell amazing and the end result is a flavorful, tender brisket.
Get the recipe here.
3. Southwestern Braised Brisket
Just like you'd use a Coke to glaze a ham, you can use Dr. Pepper to braise a brisket. This brisket goes in a roasting pan with veggies and a sauce made of Dr. Pepper, ketchup, chili sauce, and tomatoes, then cooks for about four hours.
Get the recipe here.
4. Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with BBQ Sauce
Your Crock-Pot does most of the work on this brisket, but it's finished off in the oven, where the brisket is basted in a barbecue sauce until the exterior caramelizes into a lovely crispy crust.
Get the recipe here.
5. Onion Braised Beef Brisket
If you like French onion soup, you'll adore this tender brisket. Sear the brisket, then let the onions cook for a bit, then put the whole thing in the oven to bake. It takes about four hours total time, but it's so worth it. The beef braises in the onion juices and you'll want to slurp up every last bit.
Get the recipe here.
6. Beer-Braised Beef Brisket Recipe
Beer makes for a wonderful braising liquid; this recipe uses a dark lager and Asian flavors to create a brisket that's definitely not your usual everyday brisket. You can make this brisket on the stovetop, but it's also perfect for your slow cooker. Serve the brisket over rice for a warm, comforting rainy day meal.
Get the recipe here.
7. Melt in Your Mouth Oven Cooked Brisket
This brisket is not only delicious, it's also a one-pan, make-ahead brisket meant to feed a crowd. Use a disposable aluminum roasting pan to cook the brisket. Once it's cooked, refrigerate it, scoop off the cooled fat, slice the brisket on a cutting board, then put it all back in the pan. Wrap the pan well with aluminum foil and pop it in the freezer. When you're ready to serve, all you have to do is reheat the brisket and you're good to go.
Get the recipe here.
8. Oven-Barbecued Beef Brisket
What's better than juicy brisket? A juicy beef brisket recipe with a bacon barbecue sauce. This recipe uses bacon for basting the beef with smoky flavor and extra fat, and then adds that bacon to a barbecue sauce that will knock your socks off. This brisket is excellent for leftovers; use it for nachos or sandwiches the next day.
Get the recipe here.
9. Beef Brisket Pot Roast
You can use the brisket cut of beef to make a delicious pot roast. Simply brown the meat, add some veggies and beef stock, then let it cook low and slow in the oven. You can turn the drippings into gravy to serve with mashed potatoes, too.
Get the recipe here.
10. Instant Pot Braised Brisket
It is possible to do a fast brisket if you use the pressure cooker function on your Instant Pot to cook brisket. This beef brisket recipe uses a combination of red wine and beef broth to make a flavorful, juicy brisket that is perfect for weeknight dinner.
Get the recipe here.
11. Holiday Brisket
This beef brisket recipe hits all the right flavor notes: sweet, savory and tangy. Roasted with carrots, celery, onions, and tomatoes, the end result is almost stew-like.
Get the recipe here.
12. Crispy Slow Cooker Corned Beef
Corned beef is a brisket that has been brined. This corned beef recipe results in a brisket that is tender and crispy, and it's so easy to make in your Crock-Pot. You don't need to save it for St. Patrick's Day either; corned beef is great year-round!
Get the recipe here.
