How To Make BBQ Beef Brisket (In The Crock Pot)

Never made BBQ beef brisket before? This recipe will give you step-by-step instructions for crock pot beef brisket that’s moist and tender. Once you make it once using these easy to follow directions, you’ll end up making it all year long.

Crock Pot Beef Brisket Recipe

I love beef brisket. Let me take that back. I love a juicy, saucy beef brisket that falls apart and melts in your mouth. Not all beef brisket is made equally. Some beef brisket recipes you cut against the grain in slices, and others kind of fall apart during the baking process.

This beef brisket is slow cooked and makes it’s own barbecue sauce. The flavors of the sauce complement the beef perfectly. Plus, it’s easy to make. All you need to do is to whip up a quick, homemade barbecue sauce, pour it over the meat in the slow cooker, and cook for many hours.

I love this vintage recipe. It’s originally from the 1980s from the Junior League of Shreveport, Louisiana. Some recipes are timeless, including this one. It’s just as good today as it was back then.

Is brisket good for barbecue?

The beef brisket in you buy at the grocery store might actually be one of two cuts of brisket. The cut called a brisket flat is a very lean cut of meat, while the brisket point is a fattier cut of meat. The brisket point with that beautiful fat cap is a great cut of meat to use for a saucy barbecue dish. The fat in the beef brisket renders out during a low and slow cooking process to create a juicy BBQ dish.

Can you grill brisket like steak?

The answer is yes and no! Brisket can be cooked on the grill, either a charcoal grill or a gas grill, however, it cannot be cooked in the exact grilling method of that of a steak.

Brisket needs to be cooked low and slow so that the connective tissue breaks down and becomes tender. Steak, on the other hand, gets cooked on the grill for a short amount of time and is preferred more on the rare side of cooking.

To properly cook brisket on the grill, plan to cook it for many hours basted in a sauce. The ideal goal temperature is between 200 and 210 degrees F.

Ingredient List for BBQ Beef Brisket

• Ketchup
• Chili Powder
• Water
• Lemon Juice
• Brown Sugar, packed
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Dijon Mustard
• Dry Onion Soup Mix
• Beef Brisket (with a nice layer of fat)

Tools You May Need

• Crock Pot or Slow Cooker
• Small Bowl
• Whisk or Spoon, for stirring
• Large Spoon, to baste
• Meat Thermometer (optional)
• Two Forks, for shredding

How to Make BBQ Beef Brisket in the crockpot

Step By Step Instructions

1. In a small bowl, mix ketchup (catsup), chili powder, water, lemon juice, brown sugar, Worcestershire Sauce, Dijon mustard and dry onion soup mix.
2. Place brisket in slow cooker with the fat layer facing up.
3. Pour the BBQ sauce over the meat.
4. Cover and cook on low until fork tender, turning and basting a few times during the cooking process.
5. Serve on buns for a barbecue sandwich, or over mashed potatoes with the juices as gravy.

Storage Instructions

Let the leftovers cool completely. Store in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Recipe FAQs

• A beef brisket with a nice fat layer works best for a tender and juicy end result.
• No extra salt is needed since dry onion soup mix is quite salty.
• 1 cup chili sauce can be used in place of chili powder.
• Substitute yellow mustard for Dijon mustard, if needed.
• Fresh lemon juice or the bottles found in the refrigerated section work too.
• Vinegar is a good substitute for lemon juice, if needed.
• This sauce is also good on chicken, pulled pork or ribs. 

How to serve BBQ Brisket?

• Serve as brisket sandwiches.
• Top nachos with beef brisket.
• I love to eat BBQ brisket over baked potatoes or sweet potatoes.
• Make a rice bowl with beef brisket and your favorite vegetables.
• Brisket quesadillas are delicious and easy to make.
• Top your favorite mac and cheese recipe with leftover BBQ brisket.
• For a fancy brisket sandwich, serve the BBQ on a brioche bun, and top the meat with tangy coleslaw or pickles.
• Serve over mashed potatoes using the sauce as gravy.

How to Make Beef Brisket on a Charcoal Grill?

Combine BBQ sauce ingredients (ketchup, water, chili powder, lemon juice, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and dry onion soup mix) in a small saucepan, and simmer for 10 minutes. Trim beef, leaving a thin layer of fat. Put meat on the grill, turning and basting with sauce every 20 minutes. Cook approximately 4-5 hours or until meat is tender, approximately 200 to 210 degrees F.

What temp is fall apart brisket?

The best way to ensure you get a fork tender, fall apart beef brisket is to monitor the internal temperature, and the best way to monitor the temperature is with a meat thermometer. The magic temperature range to shoot for is between 200 and 210 degrees F. I prefer an instant-read meat thermometer in which you can set the desired temperature, and it will alert you once the temperature reaches that point. They are relatively inexpensive and handy to have at home.

Side Dishes for Barbeque Beef Brisket

• Potato Salad
• Macaroni Salad
• Coleslaw
• Caesar Salad
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Potato Chips
• Raw crudité platter
• Fried potatoes
• Cornbread

Recipe Variations

• Use 1 cup chili sauce instead of chili powder.
• For more depth of flavor, use beef broth instead of water.
• Substitute paprika or ground cumin for chili powder.
• Change up the type of mustard.
• For a smoky flavor, add couple drops of liquid smoke.
• Substitute lemon juice for white vinegar.
• Omit dry onion soup mix, and add garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt and black pepper instead.
• Make it in the oven in an Dutch oven at 350 degrees F.
• If you are looking for a crock pot beef brisket recipe using a dry rub, check out our recipe here.

Beef Recipes

Oven Beef Brisket

Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa

Hamburger Gravy

Classic Sloppy Joes