Brisket Sandwich Recipe (2024)

Dinnertime is made easy with this amazing Beef Brisket Sandwich recipe! Grab just a few ingredients and let this cook while you work.

If you enjoy slow cooker recipes, check out my braised beef and braised beef short ribs recipe video!

Recipe Details

Busy days mean I need something that is easy to make and delicious. My slow cooker Beef Brisket Sandwich is just the meal for those days when you don’t want to think much about dinner.

• TASTE: Savory and flavored with shallots and garlic, this dry rubbed beef is cooked in a simple homemade barbecue sauce and broth.
• TEXTURE: This Beef Brisket Sandwich is full of juicy, tender meat. Served on a brioche bun, it’s so delicious.
• TIME: This takes 15 minutes to prep and about 4 hours to cook in the slow cooker.
• EASE: In this recipe, the slow cooker does all the work. It is so simple and easy, perfect for busy weeknight cooking.

What You’ll Need

Ingredient Notes

• Brisket Beef- This cut of meat is preferred because slow cooking it breaks down the connective tissue for tender, juicy melt-in-your-mouth meat.
• Ketchup– This adds sweet tomato flavor to the sauce.
• Molasses– This ingredient is both sweet and has a rich, dark flavor.
• Brown Sugar– For extra sweetness in the sauce.
• Liquid Smoke– To get that smoky flavor into this Beef Brisket Sandwich without a grill.
• Chicken Stock– Adds liquid to the sauce that helps braise the beef in the slow cooker.
• Garlic– Adds great pungent flavor to the meat as they cook together.
• Shallots– These have an oniony flavor that infuses into the brisket as it cooks.
• Dry rub- Chili powder, Salt, and Black pepper will be used for extra flavor in the meat.

Add-ins and Substitutions

• Substitute broth for wine- Add the rich flavor of wine to your brisket by using red wine in place of the broth. Braising it in this will keep it moist and tender while adding extra flavor.
• Use another sauce- You can use this homemade barbecue sauce, or try others. Russian dressing, worcestershire sauce, or this Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sauce can be added to the sandwiches.
• Skip the liquid smoke- If you don’t like that smoky flavor, you can skip this ingredient. The beef brisket sandwich has great flavor from the searing and then slow cooking with the other ingredients.
• Substitute the dry rub- You can use any dry rub you like, including store bought ones. Try this simple one or add other spices, such as paprika, mustard powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, or garlic powder.

How to Make a Beef Brisket Sandwich

• Add the dry rub. Combine thechili powder, salt, and black pepper, then generously rub both sides of the beef with the dry rub.
• Brown the meat. In a large skillet, heatolive oilover high heat and brown both sides of the beef.

• Mix the sauce. Thoroughly stir together the ketchup,molasses,brown sugar,liquid smoke, and chicken stock.

• Combine everything. Place the browned beef into the crockpot. Then add the sauce, minced garlic, and chopped shallots. Using a spatula stir gently to thoroughly coat the beef.
• Cook. Cook the brisket on high for 4-5 hours. Once the beef is cooked, remove it from the crockpot and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded beef back to the crockpot and serve warm with buns.

Pro Tip:Shred the meat with forks because the tines help pull the meat apart in easy to eat strips.

Recipe Tips

• Premix the dry rub- Mixing the spices together before adding them to the meat ensures an even distribution. You want the meat thoroughly covered by all of them.
• Brown the meat- This gives the brisket a delicious crust as well as releases great flavor. You can do it right in the slow cooker.
• Shred with forks- The tines of the forks slip right into the meat and shred it easily. This is the best method for pulling apart beef brisket.
• Add the meat back to the liquid- Before making your beef brisket sandwich, let the meat sit in the liquid in the crockpot after shredding for it to absorb a little more moisture and flavor.

FAQs

Serving Suggestions

This Beef Brisket Sandwich is juicy, flavorful, and perfect with so many sides. You can serve it with salad, soup, fries, or vegetables.

• Fries: Serve this sandwich with a side of Crispy Air Fryer French Fries, The BEST Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, Air Fryer Zucchini Fries, or Air Fryer Potato Wedges.
• Salad: Pair it with a Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad, Cucumber Radish Salad, Spinach Salad, or Avocado Corn Salad.
• Soup: Enjoy this Beef Brisket Sandwich with a bowl of Easy French Onion Soup, Clam Chowder Soup, Baked Potato Soup, or Tortellini Soup.
• Vegetables: Serve it with some Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli, Sauteed Garlic Asparagus, Roasted Air Fryer Vegetables, or Roasted Acorn Squash.

Make This Recipe in Advance

Make ahead: This is a great make ahead meal! Just set the meat to cook and then you can go about your day, with dinner ready when you are. Just shred the meat, assemble your sandwiches, and serve.

Storing: Store any leftovers of these Beef Brisket Sandwiches in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Freeze: You can freeze this brisket for up to 4 months. Flash freeze it on a sheet pan in a single layer, then store the pieces in a freezer ziplock bag (this makes it easier to thaw as much or as little as you like). Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat.

More Tasty Sandwiches!

Full Recipe Instructions

This recipe was originally posted on September 26, 2016, we’ve tweaked it a bit since then.