Description
This caramelized pulled beef brisket is slow-cooked to perfection with sweet onions, brown sugar, and savory spices. It’s melt-in-your-mouth tender, full of flavor, and perfect for family dinners, meal prep, or hearty sandwiches.
Ingredients
4–5 lbs well-marbled beef brisket
2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 cup beef broth
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp black pepper
1 tsp salt (or to taste)
1 tbsp oil (for sautéing onions)
Instructions
Prepare Brisket: Trim excess fat from the brisket, leaving about 1/4 inch. Mix paprika, cumin, black pepper, and salt, then rub evenly over the brisket.
Caramelize Onions: Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook onions slowly for 15–20 minutes until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Add minced garlic and sauté 2–3 more minutes.
Assemble Cooker: Place onions and garlic in the bottom of a slow cooker or Dutch oven. Place brisket on top. In a bowl, whisk brown sugar, soy sauce, beef broth, and apple cider vinegar. Pour over brisket.
Cook:
Slow Cooker: Cover and cook on LOW for 8–10 hours.
Dutch Oven: Preheat oven to 300°F, cover, and cook 3–4 hours.
Shred and Rest: Remove brisket, let rest 20 minutes, then shred with two forks. Mix shredded beef with some cooking liquid.
Optional Final Caramelization: Return shredded beef to a skillet with cooking liquid and cook 5–10 minutes on medium-high for crispy caramelized edges.
Notes
Caramelizing the onions slowly is key to achieving deep, sweet flavor.
Brisket tastes even better the next day! Store with cooking liquid to keep it juicy.
Chuck roast can be substituted for brisket if needed.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 8–10 hours (slow cooker) or 3–4 hours (Dutch oven)
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker / Braised
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ~6 oz
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 44 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg