A simple and satisfying comfort food, brisket cooked in a Crockpot is great for feeding a crowd.

Eat it as is, or turn the leftovers into any number of tasty meals.

before you get going cooking, verify you grab a brisket from the grocery store, notcorned beef.

Southern Living Slow Cooker Brisket shredded with sauce ready to serve

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

What Is Brisket?

Brisket is a cut of beef that comes from the lower part of the cow’s breastbone.

It is naturally tough, due to a lot of connective tissue.

Southern Living Slow Cooker Brisket ingredients

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

A long, slow cooking process breaks down the fibers and turns them soft.

The result of cooking this inexpensive, yet flavorful, piece of meat in a slow cooker?

You end up with a falling-apart tender meal that is endlessly versatile and relatively hands-off.

Southern Living slow cooker brisket seasoned with salt and pepper before cooking

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Should You Trim Brisket Before You Cook It?

Often times, we trim the fat off of our meat before cooking.

However, we suggest leaving the fat cap on your brisket so that it doesnt dry out while cooking.

Southern Living slow cooker brisket heating oil in dutch oven

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Should you put the brisket fat side up or down in the slow cooker?

you might trim the fat off once you are ready to slice (or shred) and serve.

If your brisket doesnt fit your Crockpot, simply cut it into two smaller pieces.

Southern Living slow cooker brisket recipe browning the brisket in a dutch oven

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This can actually make the meat tougher.

Can you overcook brisket in a slow cooker?

Cooking the brisket for too long can result in a lackluster texture and flavor.

Southern Living Slow Cooker Brisket browning the vegetables

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

verify to check on the brisket starting at seven hours to see how its progressing.

Cooking it longer (such as 10 hours) will not necessarily result in better meat.

How To Serve Slow-Cooker Brisket

Cooked brisket can be sliced against the grain or shredded.

Southern Living slow cooker brisket recipe adding the garlic and italian seasoning

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Toss it with your favorite barbecue sauce, and pile it high on buns with slaw.

Serve it in thick slices with roasted vegetables ormashed potatoes.

Prepare brisket:

Pat brisket dry and season with salt and pepper.

Southern Living Slow Cooker Brisket adding the liquid to the slow cooker

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Brown the brisket:

Heat a large Dutch oven or skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the oil to coat the pan.

Sear the meat until a deep brown, about 5 minutes per side.

Southern Living Slow Cooker Brisket adding the meat to the slow cooker

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Remove from the pan.

Cook until soft, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the garlic and Italian seasoning and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Southern Living Slow Cooker Brisket with vegetables in slow cooker

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

slow cooker; stir to combine.

Nestle the meat into the sauce, fat-side down.

Top with the vegetables.

Southern Living slow cooker brisket resting on cutting board

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or until fork tender.

Slice against the grain or shred with two forks.

Make sauce:

Strain the sauce through a fine mesh strainer into a medium saucepan.

Southern Living slow cooker brisket shredding the meat with 2 forks

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Press the vegetables with a wooden spoon to extract any remaining juices and discard solids.

Skim the surface of fat.

Simmer the sauce over medium-high heat for 5 minutes.

Southern Living Slow Cooker Brisket straining out the vegetables

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Thicken sauce:

In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup cold water and cornstarch.

Whisk the cornstarch slurry into the sauce and cook until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes.

Season to taste with additional salt and pepper, if needed.

Southern Living Slow Cooker Brisket simmering the sauce

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Serve the sauce over the brisket.

Southern Living Slow Cooker Brisket whisking the cornstarch into the sauce

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living slow cooker brisket serving with the sauce

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox