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This slow cooker beef brisket is fall-apart tender, so juicy and flavorful and you won’t believe how simple the ingredient list is! This slow cooker brisket had everyone’s seal of approval – rave reviews every time!
Crockpot beef brisket is great as a side dish with mashed potatoes or served as beef brisket sandwiches. The slow cooked mushrooms are just as delicious as the slow cooked brisket. You will savor every bite. This one is also awesome for meal planning because leftovers refrigerate REALLY WELL!
And it’s about time we share more SLOW COOKER recipes!! We love easy, juicy, melt-in-your mouth meat and it is my favorite way to use our slow cooker.
This Beef Brisket slow cooker recipe is adapted from theKitchn. Recipe updated 10/10/17 garlic amount reduced from 8 cloves to 6 to account for varying sizes of garlic cloves. Use 6 medium garlic cloves and be sure to chop the garlic (do not press garlic for this slow cooker recipe).
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Beef Brisket Recipe:
3 Tbsp Olive oil to sauté, divided
4 lb beef brisket
2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper, or to taste
2 medium (1 lb) yellow onions, sliced into thick strips
1 lb mushrooms, thickly sliced
6 medium garlic cloves, peeled and chopped (not pressed)*
2 cups low sodium chicken or beef broth/stock
2 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

*Garlic Tip: it is easiest to mince this quantity of garlic in a food processor. Do not use a garlic press for this recipe.
How to Make Slow Cooker Brisket:
1. Generously season brisket with about 2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper. Heat a large heavy skillet or cast iron pan over high heat. Add 1 Tbsp olive oil and when hot, add brisket (fat side down). Sear 4-5 minutes per side or until browned on both sides. Transfer to slow cooker with the fat side facing up.


2. In the same pan, add 1 Tbsp olive oil and sliced onions. Sautee 5-7 minutes or until onions are caramelized. Place onions over brisket. In the same pan, add more oil as needed and saute mushrooms until softened (5 min). Place mushrooms into the slow cooker. Sprinkle chopped garlic over the mushrooms.


3. Combine 2 cups chicken broth with 2 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce and pour mixture over the meat.

4. Cover and cook on low 7 to 8 hours or until cooked through and easy to pull apart with forks. Turn off slow cooker and rest for 15 minutes with the lid on. Remove and discard excess fat from the top** then pull the beef apart with forks and keep it in the slow cooker to soak up the juices which will add incredible flavor and keep the meat tender. Serve beef brisket and mushrooms, spooning the slow cooker brisket juices over the top.

**Picky Eaters Tip – I prefer my meat to be really clean and lean so I transfer the meat to a platter to make sure I have removed all of the fat, then return the shredded meat to the slow cooker.

This will thicken up when refrigerated but turns back into a beautiful broth when it is reheated ands YES, Leftovers keep super well in the refrigerator and can be warmed on a skillet or microwave, or the oven.
⬇ Print-Friendly Slow Cooker Beef Brisket Recipe:
Slow Cooker Beef Brisket Recipe

Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp Olive oil to sauté, divided
- 4 lb beef brisket
- 2 tsp sea salt , or to taste
- 1 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 lb yellow onions (2 medium), sliced into thick strips
- 1 lb mushrooms, thickly sliced
- 6 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped (not pressed)*
- 2 cups low sodium chicken stock or beef broth
- 2 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Generously season brisket with about 2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper. Heat large heavy skillet or cast iron pan over high heat. Add 1 Tbsp oil and when hot, add brisket (fat side down). Sear 4-5 min per side or until browned on both sides. Transfer to slow cooker, fat side facing up.
- In the same pan, add 1 Tbsp oil and sliced onions. Sautee 5-7 min or until onions are caramelized. Place onions over brisket. In the same pan, add more oil as needed and saute mushrooms until soft (5 min). Place mushrooms into the slow cooker and sprinkle chopped garlic over the top.
- Combine 2 cups chicken broth with 2 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce and pour mixture over meat.
- Cover and cook on low 7 to 8 hrs or until cooked through and easy to pull apart with forks. Turn off slow cooker and rest 15 min with the lid on. Remove and discard excess fat from the top** then pull the beef apart with forks and keep it in the slow cooker to soak up the juices which will add amazing flavor and keep meat tender. Serve beef brisket and mushrooms, spooning slow cooker juices over the top.
Notes
**If you prefer really clean and lean meat; transfer the meat to a platter to make sure all of the fat is removed then return the shredded meat to the slow cooker.
Note on Nutrition: the nutrition label will vary greatly based on how much you trim the fat from your meat. Also, keep in mind some of the salt and liquid may get discarded at the bottom of the pot.
Nutrition Per Serving
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Garnish with chopped chives or green onion to fancy it up. Garnish adds a beautiful pop of color and fresh flavor to everything. It is the easiest way to make your dish more beautiful for a dinner party.

I hope you fall in love with this brisket recipe slow cooker style! It’s so juicy and flavorful. I look at that photo and want it all over again! 😉 Enjoy this my friends!
P.S. Crazy for crockpot recipes? If you loved this crockpot brisket, don’t miss our most popular slow cooker lasagna!





Just made this. It’s delicious!!!!! If I could give it 6 starts I would. Thank you for the wonderful recipe. Can it be frozen? It’s a lot of meat 🙂
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Galina! I haven’t tried freezing this recipe, but here is what one of my readers wrote: ” We raise beef and I try many recipes – this is the BEST one I have found for brisket so far! For those of you with smaller families – don’t worry about making too much. I portion things out into containers and freeze them for another day.” I hope this helps!
Two questions: Do you think I can sear the meat and cook the onions the night before? So I can just throw it in the crock pot in the morning. And can I cook two briskets in one crock pot or should I use two? Thanks for the advice.
Hi Jennifer, yes, you should be able to prep it the night before and refrigerate it. I do not know if two briskets would fit, depends on the size of the crock pot and the briskets and I am not sure how that would affect the cooking time but if you experiment, let us know how it turns out.
This came out great. I did end up using two separate crock pots. I seared both briskets and cooked the onions all at the same time on my black stone griddle outside. Then prepped in crock pots the night before and stuck them in the fridge. Just had to get up at 3 AM and place them in the cooker and turn them on. It was perfect. Thanks for another great recipe.
You’re welcome, Jennifer. Glad you enjoyed this!
This is now in my top two recipes (#1 spot is reserved for a certain chicken fricassee). My friends rave about this dish whenever I serve it. Also, this makes the most delicious french dip sandwiches on baguettes with ajus [sp?]—amazing! Just one mod I would like to suggest to your already wonderful recipe. Before cooking the mushrooms, don’t add oil. Instead, deglaze the pan with a generous splash of dry vermouth. The mushrooms will thank you for it. 🙂
That’s wonderful! I’m so glad you love this recipe. Thank you for the review.
Came out delicious! I added green and orange bell peppers (sautéed like the mushrooms) and used portabella & shiitake mushrooms- came out great! Served with scalloped potatoes. Will definitely be preparing this again, already sent your recipe link to my family! Will slow cooking the meat for the full 8 hours make it dry or more soft? Mine was done at the 6 hour mark & the sauce helped it taste moist but without it felt a bit dry.
Hi Holly, the cut of meat (the fat content as well as the size) can affect the cooking time. If it’s a larger piece of meat, I would cook longer on low heat or until you reach your desired tenderness.
Thanks for sharing this! I’ve been bbqing all year and looking forward to it again this weekend! Excited to try pulled pork for my next family reunion.
You’re welcome, Anthony. I hope you’ll love all the recipes that you’ll try!
Hi Natasha, I kind of nervous to try your recipe (I don’t know why since everything I’ve tried from your site has been absolutely delicious!) since the last time I tied to cook a brisket in my crockpot it tuned out like shoe leather. I cooked it for the same amount of time with liquid. Do you have an idea why it would turn out so tough?
Hi Jennifer, I have tried this recipe a couple of times and it works well, the beef doesn’t turn out tough. Often, tough brisket comes about as a result of undercooking. The meat needs to be subjected to low temperatures for many hours in order to achieve that prized tenderness.
Thank you. I’m going to give it a try and let you know how it turns out.
Hi Natasha,
Do you think this can be done in an instapot? What would be the difference (from your experience, how different meat comes out from instapot vs a slow cooker) Need it fast and without any smell in the house 🙂
Hi Lily, I haven’t tested that, but I think it could work. Here’s what one of my readers wrote: “Cooked it in the instant pot under the slow cooking setting. I think, 9-10 hours would be better.” If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe, Lily!
Tried it, super easy, the whole family loved it. I added cayenne pepper for a little spice.
That is the best when the family loves what we make. That’s so great!
can it be cooked in the instant pot?
Hi Vered, I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe
I made your Slow Cooker Beef Brisket yesterday. This is the first brisket I’ve ever cooked. I did not add the salt because my husband and I are on low salt diets. We both loved it! I emailed the recipe to our 2 adult children, and I think they are going to make it also. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe with the online community! Diane S.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Diane! I’m so glad you all enjoyed it!
I love your website and recipes. Every recipe of yours has been a hit with my family. So delicious. I am cooking my whole special Valentines dinner for my husband and my boys with your recipes tomorrow and feel confident everything will be wonderful. Thanks!
You’re welcome! I bet they’re going to love this meal!
Great recipe for brisket! I ad extra onions as I love them! Have it with mash or greens! Thanks xx
Sounds great! Thanks for your good feedback, Lynne.
Hello! I prepared everything for this recipe and then realized my slow cooker is half the size of yours! Will this be an issue or will I have to adjust anything??
Hi Alexandra, as long as everything fits into your slow cooker without overflowing and leaving some space at the top for steam to escape, it should be ok with the same instructions.
Overall, it was yummy, especially with a mashed potato. Cooked it in the instant pot under the slow cooking setting. I think, 9-10 hours would be better. Also, next time, I will not shred it but will rather cut into into slices. After a day, onions became too mushy and blended with the meat. Didn’t taste that great after, unless you like mushy onions. Also, it was too much meat. Great for a crowd, but too much for a family of 2.
I also think that blending onions with juices after, and adding some cornstarch or flour to thicken it, would turn into a great gravy over the sliced meat
Hello Yulia, thanks for your feedback and for sharing your experience making this recipe with us. I hope you love every recipe that you try!
Made this yesterday, shredded and heated through with the juices made into an onion gravy, absolutely delicious and a cheap meal for 5 with enough left overs for sandwiches!! All for under £20.
Thanks for the recipes and the conversions too xx
I’m so glad you’re enjoying our recipes Andrea!
HI Natasha, will this work if cooked in the oven?
Hi Rowena, to be honest, I haven’t tried this recipe in the oven – I have always made it in the slow cooker so I hesitate to advise without trying it myself. If I were to test, I’d probably bake at 375 in a dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid for 3-4 hours or until the meat is very tender.
woh I am happy to find this website through google.
I’m glad you discovered our blog! I hope you enjoyed this recipe!
Wow!! Another winning recipe
My first time cooking a brisket & family loved it! Mine was 2.2lbs, I halved the ingredients but still cooked 7hours in slow cooker- PERFECT!!
Love it! Thanks for sharing that with us Ann and for giving an awesome review.
Can you use smoked mushrooms in this recipe?
Hi Eric, I honestly have never tried working with smoked mushrooms so I’m not sure.
Is 7-8 hours time for high or low setting of the slow cooker? Also, if I have 2lbs beef brisket instead of 4lb, how do I adjust the cooking time?
Hi Ipek! I also have a 2lb brisket; would be interested in knowing if time changed in slow cooker. May I ask how yours turned out?
Simple ingredients and it made a lovely gravy which I thickened and served with mashed potatoes. Next time I will use low sodium as it seemed a little salty, but nothing a little agave didn’t take care of in the gravy. Love your recipes. Thanks for something new.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it Julie!
Will make great sandwiches with some slaw on a nice bun
Yes! That would be a perfect combination!