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Tender Smoked Bourbon BBQ Beef Brisket Slow Cooker Recipe

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A flavorful and tender beef brisket cooked low and slow in a slow cooker with a bourbon-infused BBQ sauce, delivering a smoky, juicy, and easy weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3–4 pounds whole packer beef brisket, trimmed of excess fat but leaving a thin layer for moisture
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce (e.g., Stubb’s Original)
  • ½ cup bourbon (e.g., Jim Beam)
  • ½ cup beef broth
  • 1 large onion, thinly sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt

Instructions

  1. Trim excess fat off the brisket, leaving about a ¼-inch layer. Pat dry with paper towels.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine BBQ sauce, bourbon, beef broth, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke (if using), smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Whisk until smooth.
  3. Spread sliced onion evenly on the bottom of the slow cooker.
  4. Place the brisket on top of the onions, fat side up.
  5. Pour the bourbon BBQ sauce mixture evenly over the brisket, coating all sides.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours. Check liquid halfway through and add broth if needed. Avoid lifting the lid frequently.
  7. After 8 hours, test brisket tenderness with a fork; cook up to 10 hours if needed.
  8. Remove brisket and let rest on a cutting board for 15-20 minutes.
  9. Slice brisket thinly against the grain and serve with extra warm bourbon BBQ sauce.
  10. Optional: For a caramelized crust, broil sliced brisket for 3-5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Searing the brisket before slow cooking is optional but adds extra flavor. Check liquid levels halfway through cooking and add broth if needed to keep brisket moist. Resting the brisket after cooking is important to retain juices. For a caramelized crust, broil sliced brisket briefly before serving. Recipe is forgiving and can be adapted with maple syrup or honey instead of brown sugar, and bourbon can be replaced with apple cider or beef broth for alcohol-free version.

Nutrition

Keywords: beef brisket, slow cooker, bourbon BBQ, smoked brisket, easy BBQ recipe, tender brisket, slow cooked beef

Find it online: https://prismtaste.com/tender-smoked-bourbon-bbq-beef-brisket-slow-cooker-recipe-easy-step-by-step-guide/