Slow Cooker Brisket With Caramelized Onions

By
David Venable
David Venable
David Venable is the author of three bestselling cookbooks and host of QVC's "In the Kitchen With David."
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Updated on 05/20/21
Slow cooker brisket

 

lenazap / Getty Images 
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 5 hrs
Total: 5 hrs 30 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1102 Calories
59g Fat
47g Carbs
94g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 1102
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 59g 75%
Saturated Fat 23g 113%
Cholesterol 321mg 107%
Sodium 630mg 27%
Total Carbohydrate 47g 17%
Dietary Fiber 6g 22%
Total Sugars 24g
Protein 94g
Vitamin C 25mg 125%
Calcium 156mg 12%
Iron 10mg 53%
Potassium 1626mg 35%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

It might not be on your holiday table (yet), but brisket is a staple for many families this season. We’re spreading the holiday cheer and making sure this classic dish is shared. Whether you’re celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, or any other holiday, my brisket is bound to make your special occasion unforgettable and delicious. Plus, you can make this main ahead of time and freeze it for a later date.

No matter which way you cook it, brisket is a hearty addition to any table. Smoked brisket has strong ties to Texas, but you will find it being served by many families celebrating the ​Jewish holidays. By smothering this dish in caramelized onions—and cooking it low and slow—your home is sure to be the best smelling on the block. Forget pine trees, brisket is the new scent of the season!​

Break yourself from the routine of ham, turkey, or your typical brisket recipe this holiday. You can expand your culinary horizons with my easy-to-prepare entrée—perfect for fending off the cold-weather chill and saving you time in the kitchen.

Ingredients

  • 1 (3 to 4-pound) beef brisket

  • 1 teaspoon salt, more to taste

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, more to taste

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • 10 cups onions, thinly sliced

  • 4 garlic cloves, smashed

  • 1 cup tomato purée

  • 1 cup beef stock

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar

  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Steps to Make It

  1. Season the brisket with salt and pepper.

  2. Heat a large skillet with oil on medium-high heat and then add the brisket, browning on both sides.

  3. Place the browned brisket into a slow cooker.

  4. Put the sliced onions and garlic in a skillet and sauté on medium heat until onions are caramelized about 20 minutes.

  5. In a bowl, stir together the tomato purée, stock, vinegar, sugar, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, along with additional salt and pepper if needed. Add the mixture to the skillet.

  6. Pour the onion mixture over the brisket, and place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on high for 5 to 5-1/2 hours.

  7. Remove the brisket and thinly slice against the grain.

  8. Serve with the sauce.

Glass Bakeware Warning

For premade casseroles or leftovers that are in a glass baking dish and have been refrigerated, do not place directly into a hot oven as the glass can shatter. Instead, place any cold glass bakeware into a cold oven to warm up while it preheats. Or, allow the bakeware to rest outside of the fridge for 30 minutes to reach room temperature while the oven preheats.

Tips

  • To cut against the grain, identify the direction of the muscle and tissue fibers (the grain) and slice perpendicular to how they run.
  • To make ahead: Cook the brisket according to directions above, up until slicing it. Remove the brisket from the slow cooker and place in an oven-safe baking dish. Top the brisket with onions and sauce. Let cool completely. Once cool, wrap the baking dish tightly with foil and freeze.
  • To reheat from frozen: Preheat the oven to 350 F. Place foil-wrapped baking dish in the oven for 1-1/2 hours. Remove the brisket and slice against the grain.