Description
This melt-in-your-mouth Slow-Cooked Caramelized Beef Brisket transforms a tough cut into perfectly tender, flavorful meat through low, slow cooking. The sweet-savory sauce creates an irresistible glaze with caramelized onions for a deeply satisfying dish that’s ideal for special occasions or comforting family meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 to 4 pounds beef brisket (trimmed of excess fat, but leave a little for flavor)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ¾ cup beef broth
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water (optional, for thickening)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the brisket for about 4–5 minutes per side until it gets a nice deep brown crust. Set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté the sliced onions for about 5 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the beef broth, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Place the seared brisket in your slow cooker. Top with the sautéed onions and garlic. Pour the sauce over the top, making sure it’s well covered.
- Cover and cook on low for 8–10 hours, or until the brisket is fork-tender.
- Optional: Transfer the brisket to a cutting board to rest. Pour the sauce into a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Whisk in the cornstarch and water slurry, and cook for a few minutes until thickened.
- Slice the brisket against the grain. Pour the caramelized sauce over the top and serve.
Notes
- For best results, slice the brisket against the grain to ensure tender, easy-to-eat portions.
- This recipe can be made a day ahead and reheated gently before serving for even better flavor.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
- Perfect for sandwiches the next day – try it on crusty rolls with extra sauce.
- The internal temperature should reach about 200-205°F (93-96°C) for optimal tenderness.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 110mg