by Cat 57 Comments
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This easy Slow Cooker Beef Brisket is melt in your mouth delicious! Only a couple of ingredients and then you literally set it and forget it until you can smell the AMAZING aromas filling your house! Keto, Whole30 and Paleo approved, this easy dinner recipe idea is surely going to become your go-to brisket recipe!
Mr. Grumbles and I have smoked several briskets in the past with varying degrees of success. We have ended up with either a brisket slightly too dry or slightly undercooked. This is really disappointing when, after over 10 hours of smoking a piece of meat, you do not end up with the result you were hoping for. NOT ANYMORE! This slow cooker beef brisket recipe is an absolute game-changer. Tender, moist and ridiculously easy, this slow cooker beef brisket is the only way I will ever make brisket again!
Funny story... I wanted to start this post off with "Holy Macanoly" but I couldn't figure out how to spell "Macanoly". Since we all know that I love to learn, I started googling all types of different spellings for this term...mackanoly, mcanoly, maganoly...anyway, you get the point.
After 30 minutes of not finding my answer, I decided to see if Mr. Grumbles knew the answer. When I asked him to spell the word "macanoly" for the expression, "Holy Macanoly", he looked at me as if I was speaking a different language.
His reply..."Do you mean Holy Mackerel"?
"W-H-A-T? Is that really the expression?", I replied.
With a roll of his eyes, I could not believe that I had, for over 40 years, believed the expression to contain the fictitious word "macanoli"!
And that is just like my preconceived notion about brisket.
For over 40 years, I have not been a fan of brisket. Typically, I find the meat dry and greasy and not overly appealing.
But, as I stated earlier, I love to learn and I am not afraid to open my eyes to the possibility of producing a tender, juicy brisket.
Enter the slow cooker!
Smoking brisket is all fine and dandy if you have all day and plan on sticking around to check on it periodically. However, since Mr. Grumbles and I both work full-time jobs, this is not always an option. With brisket on sale for $2.99 lb, I knew I had to figure out an effortless yet delicious way to cook a brisket.
Table of Contents
How to Make a Slow Cooker Beef Brisket
- First, trim any excess fat from the brisket. I saved the fat cap and placed it in the freezer as I plan on trying to make beef tallow as well as beef cracklings in the near future.
- Since our brisket was 10 lbs, I decided to cut it in half and placed the remaining half in the freezer (this would be my backup in case this recipe did not work!)
- Next, I sliced 2 LARGE onions and placed them in the bottom of the slow cooker along with one cup of beef broth.
- In a large bowl, I placed my brisket and rubbed half a cup of myOnion Soup Mix all over the brisket.
- I then placed the brisket on top of the onion layer.
- Finally, I generously spread four tablespoons of Dijon mustard on the top portion of the brisket.
- I set the slow cooker on low for 9 hours and walked away.
- When the brisket was done, I knew I had to somehow figure out a way to get a "charred" outer crust.
- In order to get the blackened crust that brisket is famous for, I simply placed it on a baking tray on the top rack of my oven (I stole that idea from my Crispy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe).
- I turned my oven to Broil "High" and watched as the brisket started to crackle and develop the charred crust.
Doesn't that look amazing!
This slow cooker beef brisket can be served two ways. If you cut against the grain of the meat, you end up with slabs of meat like this:
However, if you prefer to get more of a "pulled" look, simply rotate the brisket and slice along the grains of the brisket.
Since Mr. Grumbles and I are more into "pulled" brisket, I decided to go with the grain.
How do I make an "au jus" for my Slow Cooker Beef Brisket?
- Wait until the drippings from the brisket had cooled and removed the top layer of fat and throw it away.
- Next, combine the onions and the remaining liquids in a high-speed blender and pureed the mixture on high for 1-2 minutes.
You can serve this brisket with the following sides:
- The BEST Air Fryer Homemade French Fries (Whole30)
- Curry Sweet Potatoes
- Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts and Onion Skewers (Whole30, Low Carb)
- Beautiful Potato Bacon Roses (Whole30)
- Whole30 Bacon Ranch Spaghetti Squash (Keto, Low Carb, Gluten-Free)
Slow Cooker Beef Brisket (Whole30, Keto)
5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star
4.9 from 20 reviews
OMG! I can not tell you how proud I am of this beef brisket recipe. Although we have made brisket before in our smoker, this was my first attempt at making it in a slow cooker and boy am I ever glad I did. This is a simple recipe that you could put together the morning of and by the time you get home, dinner is ready. Onions, beef broth and Dijon mustard help to make this brisket one of a kind!
- Total Time: 9 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings 1x
Ingredients
UnitsScale
- 4-5 lbs brisket, trimmed of fat
- 2 large onions
- 1 cup beef broth
- ½ cup Onion Soup Mix
- 4 tbsp dijon mustard (or any mustard of choice)
- 1 tbsp brown sugar (optional - added at the end to help with browning under broiler)
Instructions
- Slice the onions and place in the bottom of the slow cooker. Pour the broth over the onions.
- Place the brisket in a large bowl and cover the top and bottom with ⅔rds of the onion mixture. Place brisket, fat side up, in the slow cooker.
- Spread the dijon mustard over the top of the brisket and sprinkle the remaining ⅓rd of onion mixture over the top.
- Set slow cooker on low for 9 hours.
- When brisket is cooked, carefully remove it from the slow cooker and place it in a large roasting pan. If using, sprinkle brown sugar over brisket. Set the brisket on the top ⅓rd of the oven and turn the broiler on high for about 5 minutes. Keep a close eye on the brisket as it can easily burn.
- Remove from the oven and set aside for at least 30 minutes before cutting.
To Make "Au Jus"
- Allow the drippings to cool completely. Skim the fat off the top of the drippings and discard.
- Pour onions and remaining broth in a high-speed blender and blend on high for 1-2 minutes. Taste and add any additional salt or pepper if needed.
- To serve, pour over brisket or place in a small side bowl for dipping.
Notes
- I used Lakanto Golden instead of brown sugar
- Here is the recipe for theOnion Soup Mix
- Author: Cat
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 hours
- Category: Main Meals
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Whole30, Keto
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 oz
- Calories: 244
- Sugar: 1
- Fat: 12 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 32 g
More Easy Keto Dinner Recipe Ideas
- Delicious Keto Cranberry Jalapeno Meatballs in a Cranberry BBQ Sauce - Gluten-free
- Keto Asian Chicken Dip
- Delicious Bay Scallop Hot Seafood Dip - Keto and Gluten-Free
- Easy 30-Minute Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole - Keto and Gluten-free
Reader Interactions
Comments
Cat
You can use the soup mix but I do not suggest cooking the brisket on high as it will not end up as tender
Teresa
Two questions -
Can I use Lipton onion soup mix instead of your onion mix and can I cook on high for half the time?
Thanks!!Cat
You just made my day!!! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Chantae
This turned out amazing! I’ve tried smoking, baking, and dutch ovens and it never turns out the same and is always a guessing game for me of whether or not it will turn out. This was perfect and it came out of the crockpot with the crust like top. Making it again tonight!
Heather Hall
So I didn’t do the onion soup mix, I added an au jus packet and extra broth, plus some Adobo seasoning. I had a smaller brisket so I could have cut back on the time. The brown sugar under the broiler, was amazing!
Cat
I am so happy your family enjoyed it and thanks for taking the time to post such a sweet comment!
Hannah
Made this today and it was a hit with the whole family! My kids asked for seconds!
Cat
Thanks!
Terry
Phenomenal recipe. I skipped the 5 minute broul portion. Turned out great and definitely will do it again!!
Lisa
This recipe is super easy, my challenge with it is that it needed to cook in the broth - be submerged in the liquid, half of the brisket was amazing, the other half dry and chewy. Will definitely try again but in liquid not on top of it.
Ryna
Made this over labor day and everyone loved it.
Tom
Thanks for the recipe!
Cat
So glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Jude
I’ve made this twice and it’s been a winner every time. So easy yet so darn good
Cat
I have never made this recipe with a bone-in brisket so unfortunately, I can not give you advice. However, if you do make this brisket with a bone in it, PLEASE let me know how it turns out and if you had to make any modifications and I will update my post with the information.
Juanita
Hi!! I have a bone in my brisket. Any issues with that?
Cat
I think that the brisket will turn out tough if you cook it on high. If you try it, let me know how it turns out!
Melissa Brooks
Can this be cooed on High in the slow cooker to reduce time?
Cat
Thank you for taking the time to comment! I greatly appreciate it and you made my day!!!
Peachy
I can't count the number of times I've made this brisket - it always turns out well and my family loves it. Thank you for sharing an extremely easy and amazing recipe! 🧡
Cat
I am so happy you liked it! Thank you so much for commenting - I greatly appreciate it!
Cat
Lmcree
It turned out wonderful, juicy and tender. I was not in a hurry so I got all the way to putting it in the oven and instead took it out of slow cooker, let it cool then placed it in the refrigerator over night. The next day I sliced the brisket while it was cold then followed the recipe as written. It was delicious.
Cat
Since this is made in a slow cooker, I would just check the temperature. Good Luck!
Katie
I only have 2 lbs of brisket, would you still recommend the same time, decrease time, or just monitor the temperature? Thanks
Cat
The French Onion Soup mix is from my Blog Post "Whole30 French Onion Soup Mix" which actually IS a Whole30 compliant Onion Soup Mix recipe. Also, Primal makes a Whole30 Dijon mustard. However, if you can not find a Whole30 compliant Dijon mustard, you can use regular Whole30 compliant yellow mustard.
Shaylene Hubbard
I've heard the term "holy mackerel" but I've also heard "holy macaroni". Sound like you combined the terms. 🙂
This sounds really yummy but unfortunately it is not actually whole 30 compliant. Neither onion soup mix nor dijon mustard are allowed on Whole 30.
Cat
Gald you liked it!
Mike
This was perfectly cooked and so easy. I started it in the morning and but late afternoon, I had dinner ready without really lifting a finger. Love the recipe.
Cat
You just made my day!!!! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Sherry
Oh wow! Made this today and it will definitely be a go to. Tastes just as good, if not even better, than a BBQ restaurant. My husband couldn’t stop raving about how good of a cook I am after this meal, lol. Thank you!
Cat
So glad you liked it! If it done sooner than expected, you can simply leave it in your slow cooker to keep it warm.
Jennifer
I just tried your recipe, it's amazing! I do have one question, it gone done sooner than expected, what do you recommend to keep warm or reheat?
Dale
This was so good! I can not believe that I have never tried cooking a brisket in the slow cooker! Thanks for the recipe and I will be making this instead of turkey for Thanksgiving!
Cat
Thank you for such a sweet comment and I am so happy to hear that your family enjoyed the meal!
Jimmy
I did never try it before but it came out so great for the first time, follow your recipe step by step. My family had a warmly dinner. Keep sharing!
Cat
I combine and make mistakes with expressions all the time...I still can't get the "half dozen in one and a dozen in the over" expression right (I know what I typed is wrong but I would have to Google to see what is the "right" expression!:-) I HOPE your brisket turned out tasting better than you have ever thought you could make!
PS - I love your email address!!!Cat
Thanks so much for the kind comment!
Cathy
I made this today. I only had to cook for 6 hours when it reached 180 degrees. I used a garlic dry mixture instead of the onion soup mix and I thought it was pretty good. I sliced the beef very thin and put some sweet and spicy bbq sauce on it. Rave reviews. I will make this again. Thanks for the recipe!
Amy
This sounds delicious! I’m trying it today! This will be my first time cooking brisket.
I laughed SO hard about he “holy macanoli” expression! That seems like something I’d do! It sounds like you combined the two expressions, “holy mackerel” and “holy cannoli”! I think I’m going to adopt your hybrid word, though. 🙂Cat
I haven't tried this recipe in an Insta Pot. I have other brisket recipes on my website that do use an Insta Pot so you could use those as a reference. Sorry I could not be of more help but PLEASE if you do make it in an Insta Pot, let me know how long you cooked it and I will add it to my post. Thanks!
Marie
What would be the setting and cook time if I’ll be using an insta pot? Im planning to make this on Sun for father’s day. Thank you
Cat
Sorry...I made a mistake in the actual post and made the correction. Both onions are sliced and placed at the bottom of the slow cooker. Hope that helps!
Cat
Sorry about the confusion! Both onions should go on the bottom of the slow cooker.
Dina
The recipes calls for two onions. I see that one onion is used for the bottom layer of the slow cooker but where is the second onion used?
Dina
The recipe calls for two onions but I’m only seeing one onion used for the bottom layer of the slow cooker. What is the second onion used for?
Cat
Thanks so much for such a nice comment!
Colleen
I bought a 3 lb. brisket and let it cook for 8 hours and it was so tender and juicy and absolutely delicious! It will be nice to make it again for a larger group. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Cat
I am so glad that the brisket was enjoyed by your family! Thanks for taking the time for commenting. It made my day!!
Joanne
Made 2 three and a half pound beef briskets and followed your instructions explicably and it was delicious. Not a cheap dish, but a real treat. Fed 10 and enough left over for next day sandwiches. Thx as didn’t take the whole day so I enjoyed family.
Cat
I would drop the time to 6 hours. I haven't tried it but I think that should accommodate the smaller brisket. If you wanted to check at the 5 hour mark, you are looking for the end temperature to be 190 degrees F. for pulled brisket. Remember though that the brisket continues to cook once you have removed it and let it sit for I usually remove my brisket at the 180-degree mark and once it has rested untouched, it hits 190 degrees.
I hope that helps and PLEASE let me know how it turns out and I will add any advice you have to my blog!amanda
How would you adjust time/ingredients for a smaller 2-lb brisket? Thanks!
Anonymous
I have made this several times and it always turns out absolutely yummy!
Cat
Thanks so much for commenting and am absolutely delighted you enjoyed it! Great tip for substituting in red wine...I will have to try it!
Dennis
So good! I substituted red wine for the broth, then used it to make a gravy! Delicious!!!!
Cat
A slow cooker is also known as a "Crockpot". The word "Crockpot" depicts a specific brand so the overall process of using a "crockpot" is considered "slow cooking".
Diane
I can help solve your conundrum! It's Holy Macamoly or Holy Mackeral. They are both used interchangeably. You were just one letter off. I'm looking forward to googling slow cooker as I don't know what that is. My "Mr. Grumbles" is the head cook in our house. He is very slow, almost sloth-like but I do not think that is what you were referring to when you mention a slow cooker. Thank you for all your recipes and the enormous amount of time this must take you every week to help the less healthy eaters change their ways.
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